Hold Fast That which is Good

Today is January 20, 2007. I just placed a link on Grace Couny about the situation with the saints in Iraq. The address is long, so instead of retyping it, please go to Grace County in the links and it's in the current top posting. Or type in the address

www.timbob.wordpress.com

Perilous times are here and we're getting it from every angle. The falling away is taking place, but it will become a stampede, I think, when things begin to fall apart as they must. If you know Jesus as your Savior, please don't let such words get you down; only down on your knees in prayer; the place that we all need to be as we see these things approaching. Jesus really is returning. Eternity with joy unspeakable lies just ahead. Don't faint; don't let the events of this world or it's seductive campaigns lead you astray. I fear that the times ahead are going to be so traumatic that every one of us will be caught off guard to one degree or another. Stablish your heart and trust God completly as he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Malachi 3:16-18 "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then they shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth god and him that serveth him not.

Saints; we need to speak often one to another to encourage and exhort each other. We need to most of all, get as close to the Lord as we can possibly get. We dare not follow from afar in these final moments of the age.

The Greatest Show on Earth

Websters has a compound definitions for the word "show." The second set would fit here.
2-show: demonstrative display, outward appearance, a false semblance.

Revelation 13:13 "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men"

Revelation 16:13-14 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

These verses describe two time frames in which demonic power will bring forth miracles for the sole purpose of causing men to follow them. In earlier posts (Confusion of Forces and Confusion of Forces II) the differecne between true and false miracles was discussed. True miracles from God will bring glory to God and will result in a deliverance or revelation. The name of Jesus Christ will be glorified in each case. For example, the blind man in John chapter 9 had a twofold purpose. First, Jesus healed him and this man could now see all that was around him. Second, God was glorified as he gave this man sight. And such is the case today when someone is healed from an illness or deliverd from an oppression of any type. Freedom is received and God is glorified. But the false signs of the wicked one will bring no deliverance or freedom. On the contrary, they will cause the world to wonder after the beast and receive his mark so that they can continue to purchase beer and pretzels.

Ours is a culture that's well accustomed to "watching things." In a few weeks, Americans will sit in their assigned recliners and watch the super bowl. Folks are mezmerized by entertainment and theater; staged events that have no bearing on realiy, but woo the spectators. Lately, there's been a form of programming called "reality shows" in which folks are placed into a staged set of circumstances and it's classified as "real" Too much of the news reporting today is an abundance of theater and shallow on content; analyzing various aspects of events but never getting to the bottom of things. (I guess that such should be expected. We really can't expect CNN to understand the implications of the eagle nation of Daniel chapter seven being engaged in a deployment along the Euphrates and Hiddekel (Tigris) Rivers. The significance of these rivers is mentioned in a post done way back in July or August called "Principalities Powers, and Angry Bablyonians. (I think that's the one)

This is a common topic on this site because the deceptions are real and the stakes are eternal. The world is set for "prime time" in which the man of sin will make his play and the final phase of the last days will be set in motion. The one thing that we must be ever so careful of is to ensure that our hearts are firmly established. This also has been mentioned before; that the illusions will be so strong as to appear to disprove the faith of Jesus through signs, miracles, science, and common sense. The devil always appeals to elements of fleshly understanding and insight.

I cannot seem to impress this one thought enough; that being enough to where I feel in my heart that I've adequately impressed it. Our faith will be tried in the coming days and months like no other time. Using common sense reasoning will no longer work and those that truly "KNOW THEIR GOD" and have that personal intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will be the only ones who will be able to stand.

Hebrews 5:14 "But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

The time to develop discernment is the present. This is a daily prayer of mine; asking the Lord to grant discernment to all that love him as the days are filled with voices and doctrines like no other time in history. I'll use a secular example to explain this. Do you remember the second Indiana Jones movie. (I think it was 1984) Near the beginning, this lady was chasing after a diamond around the floor of this night club while a brawl was in progress. A container of ice cubes hits the floor and suddenly, this diamond is lost in the midst of these ice cubes. That's a good picture of things today. This will grow even more intense at the end draws ever closer.

James 5:8 "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

The world is filled with a host of various doctrines; many of which appear christian and many that appeal to almost any liking. They all serve the same purpose, that being to obscure the gospel. This is warned of in scripture and one must give it the utmost of attention. I ask the Lord daily to please reveal to me any place where I am proclaiming error, and the courage to admit to it when I know of it. The bible is my final authority on all matters, but I'm far from perfect and Gods word is infanitly deep. (Jeremiah 33:3 and James 1-5-8) There is one thing that I know is contrary to much of todays teaching but I believe to be the accurate deciphering of scripture. That's the timing of the rapture which I believe takes place after the tribulation. I always ask anyone to not take my word or simply follow the scriptures that I use to support this, but to check it out on their own. We all must take a Berean approach to teachings as the times are dark and men are not enduring sound doctrine. Two more passages.

Revelation 22:18-19 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Three things that can be learned from this.

( 1 ) God speaks through his word. He preserves his word for every generation.

( 2 ) He severely deals with anyone who adds to or takes from his word. Any who uses his word in deceptive fashion or for causes others to doubt its authenticity.

( 3 ) We are all going to be judged by the things that are written in the word of God and as such diligent study is imperative. My fervent desire is to cause any who passes by to seek the Lord and spend time searching the scriptures. One more verse; one that should cause us all to think and continuously examine ourselves.

Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

A deception will appear as ironclad accuracy and yet it will be a lie. Saints of God, we all need to walk in the Spirit at all times and hide the word of God in our hearts. Everything is soon to be shaken and mens hearts will be failing them for fear as the end times prophesies come to pass. If you're born again, please don't let this get you down. The darkest hour is always before the dawn and Jesus is soon to appear. Hold fast the profession of your faith and I'll close with the following verse.

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Please commit this verse to memory.

The Hour of Temptation

All of the following verses are of great importance to this subject.

Isaiah 57:1 "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Matthew 16:25 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Revelation 21:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Temptation is a defining moment in which a person is presented with an opportunity to embrace that which resides beyond the will of God. The first incident of temptation transpired in the garden of Eden (Genesis Chapter 3) when the serpent beguiled Eve to eat fruit from the tree that God forbid to be eaten from.

Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die."

As you read the account, a number of aspects are worth bringing up.

( 1 ) The serpent was subtle. The devil knows how to seduce another and he proved it when he convinced a third of the angels to abandon their first estate and follow him in rebellion against the very Creator of all that is. He is a smooth operator to be sure.

( 2 ) The fruit was desirable. It appealed to the fleshly desire to eat that which is good. Undoubtedly, all of the other fruit in the garden was good too, however, this fruit looked especially good. Just as the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

( 3 ) It would provide access to the knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge will cause one to harbor pride. This is why the apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh. It was to keep him from being exalted above measure, in light of all the revelation that God had given him.

I Corinthians 8:1 "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."

There's an unavoidable connection between knowledge and pride and this aspect was included in the serpents pitch. As you know, Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world, and they were cast out of the garden. All of the sorrows, torment, wars, deseases, heartaches and devastation that's in the world is the result of this temptation.

Another instance of temptation, one that we must all give heed to, involved Jacob and his brother Esau. Genesis chapter 25 sets the scene. In verses 29-34, Esau comes in from the field and is faint. (at the point of death) He asks Jacob to give him some pottage and bread which leads to the following exchange.

Genesis 25:31-32 "And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Esau sought to save his life in this world (see Matthew 16:25) and as a result he made a very bad decision. He sold his birthright for a morsel of meat. His heart was set on the preservation of the physical.

Hebrews 12:16-17 "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

The account of Esau is really important as it provides an example of the mechanics of temptation; that being the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All of these were present, both in the garden and in the situation involving Esau.

Temptation lies in wait just every corner and can come at you when you least expect it. The devil knows your weakness and he knows precisely when you're the mose susceptible to persuasion. At this moment, temptation will present itself and suddenly, a decision will be required of you. Do you please God or do you seek that which the flesh delights in.

As I write this, the stage is being set for the greatest temptation to ever confront the inhabitors of the earth. You know it as the mark of the beast. Nearly everyone has heard of it, nearly everyone knows what the number of the beast is, and almost everyone knows that one must not take this mark. The time is fast approaching in which the antichrist will be in power. He will seduce the population of the world and make christianity look like a relic from the pages of history. Arms will stand on his side and he will cause craft to prosper. He will institute the mark; without which you will be unable to buy, sell, work, or function in society. He will seek to kill anyone who refuses to take the mark.

Revelation14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of god, and the faith of jesus."

The beast system will appeal to all of the elements previously mentioned. It will fulfill ones desire to preserve their physical life, it'll appeal to common sense, it will seem to be another example of "better living through chemistry" and it will make anyone who rejects it to look like a backwards thinking bonehead. The pitch for the beast system will be so enticing that the saints will have to stand by faith and faith alone. If you're born again and you have the Holy Ghost abiding within, don't worry. Jesus will never leave you. The next verse is quoted often here, so lets write it down again.

Daniel 11:32 "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits."

These times are upon us. The world is coming together through an array of social, economic, and geopolitical manuverings. The various things that are transpiring here in the Eagle nation of Daniel chapter 7 are very telling. The NSA, which monitors all phone calls and internet proceedings, the shadow government, invasive monitoring systems, and soon "customized chips for all." Everything is coming together quickly. While there is still time, we must be about our Fathers business with an utmost sense of urgency. TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THIS AGE!

The return of Jesus Christ is at hand. As I close out this post tonight, I would ask that you keep this in the forefront of your mind. Too many of us have become dull of hearing as this has been talked about for generations. The moment will arrive when Jesus returns and every eye shall behold him; including yours. The moment will come when every knee shall bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, including yours. If you have never asked him to save you from your sins, please, for your own sake, do it today. Before you finish reading this post, turn to Jesus who is ready and willing to forgive you of every sin, regardless of how terrible it is. If you're already born again, it's imperative that you draw increasingly closer to God and look to him always. Don't follow afar off. The times are perilous and soon everything will be shaken beyond measure. Look to Jesus and don't worry about the storm. He will abide with you always. I'll close out with two familiar verses.

II Corinthians 4:17-18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."