Maybe you will help me.  Occasionally I will read other blogs.  Sometimes there will be 10 to 20 comments or replies made on that one blog.  I have posted 192 and in total received 148 comments, less than one per blog.  On average there will be between 100 and 200 who read the blogs each week.   On June 7, 2010 I wrote: “God must protect Israel”.  More people have read that blog than any other.  There have been two comments and one just recently on a blog that should have drawn many.  Please feel free to agree or disagree or whatever.  Let me hear from you.

A sequel to “God must protect Israel” is “How ‘will’ God protect Israel?”  With what is going on in Egypt and the Middle East I thought an update would be appropriate.

For years I have read and studied chapters 36 through 39 of Ezekiel and have read enough about these Scriptures to know that this war has not yet taken place.  History has also indicated that Iran and Russia have been bitter enemies for centuries.  This is the first time in history that they have become true allies.

Scripture tells us that (Magog) Russia and (Persia) Iran and others will be led to invade Israel.  Ezekiel 38:4 – “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.”  Ezekiel goes on in 38:9 – “You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.”

I have often wondered what would be the hooks that God would put in their jaws to bring them to invade Israel.  I recently wrote Israel has located a huge amount of gas off the Israeli coast that is capable of supplying many European countries for many years. (Isaiah 45:3 – “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”) This new find could supplant the supply that is now coming out of Russia.  Russia has been using gas to blackmail some nations. Russia’s loss of supplying gas to other nations could cause the Russian army, with Iran and others, to attack Israel as described in chapters 37 – 39 of Ezekiel.

On the front page of the December 30, 2010 Wall Street Journal is an article that Israel has located a large reservoir of gas that could last 100 years.  It has now been confirmed how gigantic this discovery is.  The WSJ article states: “The field contains 16 trillion cubic feet of gas—making it the world’s biggest deepwater gas find in a decade.”  In addition, they have located 1.7 billion barrels of oil.  (According to the WSJ, same story, A U.S. Geological Survey says there is 122 trillion cubic feet of gas.  That is equal to half the proven gas reserve of the U.S.)

This discovery is causing diplomatic furor with other nations.  For example, Lebanese politicians are asking oil companies to explore off their coast.  Israel and Lebanon, still at war, are now fighting over offshore resources.  Money makes people crazy and that is what is now happening in the Middle East.

Should this war as prophesized happen no one will come to Israel’s rescue, as America has always done.  Scripture says that God will destroy the armies from the north.  Everyone will know that it was a “God Thing”.

If you follow current events you may be aware that Moscow has aggressively pursued political, economic and military ties to Iran in defiance of U.S. and European protests.  Russia has authorized the sale of nuclear technology to Iran.  They are training nuclear scientists and are providing them with the latest in armament.

Since May 14, 1948 when Israel was established, Middle-Eastern nations have tried to destroy them.  The Bible says that before the Russian and Iran led war, Israel will live in a time of calm and will accumulate great wealth.  Great wealth hasn’t happened yet but could be in their future.

As we look behind the “iron curtain” Russia has hugely increased their defense budget, including new aircraft, rockets and the size of their army.  The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes it is his duty to prepare the way for the Islamic messiah by destroying the Jews and Christians.  Thus, he has vowed to annihilate the U. S. and Israel and is preparing his military and nuclear weapons to accomplish that.  As we continue in Ezekiel 39:2 & 4 – “I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals.”  How close are we getting to the time when Ezekiel’s vision will come to pass?  Couldn’t the oil and gas discovery be the hooks that Ezekiel predicted?

Ezekiel 38:18 – 22 – “This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.  In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.   The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.  I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.   I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.”

Ezekiel raises many questions: Will Russia supernaturally be destroyed?  The Bible says the devastation will be like something we have never seen before.  It is believed that we will see a resurgence of religions worldwide.  We assume this will give the world one last chance for salvation before the War of Armageddon that will follow later.  Is Egypt the beginning of the resurgence of religions worldwide?

Jewish religious leaders had become so involved in their culture, sacrifices, traditions and rules that they failed to love God or others.  So a Religious leader asked Jesus, of the 613 Jewish laws what was the most important.

Luke 10:27 – Christ answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

We realize that Jesus was saying it isn’t the laws or obedience that matter it is our relationship with God and others.  If we continue to love God and others with an unselfish love the laws would not matter.

I have read this Scripture many times and have heard a number of sermons.  What does it really mean to love your neighbor?  Ask that question and more than likely you will get a number of different answers.  Some will say it is your brothers and sisters in the Lord. In fact, I would give an answer probably different from any you would give.

A neighbor is someone that needs help and we can help.  A neighbor is how we treat others in a way we would want others to treat us.  The golden rule was a guide given to help each person to know what was right and what was wrong.  It is a test of morality in how we react to others and their needs.  It requires a heart of humility and a generous spirit.  Pride can block our love for God as well as our love for others.

When I was a high school teacher I wanted to make each student receive more knowledge and help them become capable of dealing with the world.  I made more on my summer job than I did teaching for nine months.  It wasn’t just a job or the money.

As a supervisor for Birds’ Eye Frozen Foods I had a choice to put out an excellent product or surpass production quotas.  As important as quotas were it was more important to put out the best product we could.  I didn’t want to put out spinach with weeds in it for the sake of a quota.

As a store manager I believed if you treated the customers fairly, gave them the best service possible, with a smile and took care of their problems they would continue to be a repeat customer.

As an investment advisor we always have a choice.  What we suggest for an investment will it be to my benefit financially or is it best for the client?  Many commission salespeople will put what is best for them ahead of what would be better for the customer.  We have recently seen this in the housing crises.  Assessors were over valuing homes in order to get business.  Real estate agents would sell homes that made them the most commissions to people who couldn’t really afford them.  Financial companies were making loans to people without verifying whether they could ever make the payments.  Insurance companies were insuring that these mortgages were safe because it was very profitable until they had to pay off.  Greed was everywhere including politicians who were encouraging that homes should be sold to anyone who wanted one.  If you didn’t co-operate they would send in auditors to make your life miserable.

Doesn’t loving your neighbor as yourself mean—treat others like you would want to be treated?  Regardless of what our job is who do we look out for?  Doesn’t loving our neighbor mean putting what is best for them rather than what is best for me.  What kind of a world would this be if everyone did what is best for the person they are selling to or providing services.  Is a mechanic following Christ’s principle if he tells you that a new starter is needed when the old one works well? In every store I told our mechanics that if I found them overselling they would be terminated. What about the air conditioner repairman who tells you that you need a new condenser when only a fuse was needed?   The things I have seen over my lifetime would make most anyone a very cynical person.

Doesn’t loving our neighbor mean: when we have a choice, treat others like you would want to be treated and never take advantage of anyone—ever.  Wouldn’t Christ define this as loving your neighbor also?

Non-Christian Jews did not believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah and never accepted Christianity.   In the early church many Jewish converts to Christianity did not like Paul preaching that a Gentile could become a Christian without first becoming a Jew and adhering to Jewish laws, traditions, circumcision and customs.  They also felt threatened that more Gentiles were becoming Christians than Jews.  While Paul was under house arrest in Rome he wrote a letter to Christians in Ephesus explaining God’s purpose for the church.

Ephesians 3:1 – 6 – “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.  In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.  This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

In the Old Testament God stated that faith would be the principle that would be used to judge all people.  The Jews were told that Christ would come to confirm the promises given to the Jews and their descendants but also that the Gentiles could glorify God for His mercy.

In Paul’s letter he writes that we can know God through Christ that gives us a picture and the character of God.  He also shares that Christ came to give us a gospel that was free of the law.  Paul backs up his preaching by giving evidence through the Old Testament.   Genesis 22:18 & Acts 3:25 – “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.”

Scripture had not prophesized the church as we know it.  It was given by Christ to Paul through a revelation and confirmed to other apostles.   Therefore, the mystery that Paul is telling the Ephesians was God’s plan, that had been hidden, was to build His church a body of believers.  He would baptize Jews and Gentiles into it.  There would be no difference between them and they would be blessed equally.  The church has been described as the “mystical body of Christ”.  It would be headed by Christ and it was God’s way of spreading the good news—the gospel.  The Holy Spirit would give it and its believers God inspired faith, wisdom, knowledge and power to spread God’s “will” and God’s “grace” to mankind. One purpose for the church was to offer salvation to the world.

God would bless the Gentiles as spiritual equals was not a new revelation.  The mystery was that God’s plan of salvations and His blessing would bring the hope of eternal life to every individual on earth through Christ.  The church would be a spiritually united community that would worship God and abide by his commandments to love one another.  The church, as a whole, has many failings.  But in most ways it pursues the purpose God had intended.

Our minds are developed by the world and the way we live.  The world lives separated from God.  Our background, our parents and those who surround us inject into us a mind that thinks as the world teaches.  Who we are, what we think, our beliefs and our behavior come from a worldly mind.

My father died of tuberculosis when I was six.  My mother and I moved to a small rural city into a three room home.  It had one bedroom, a living room and kitchen with no hot water.  I slept on a cot in the living room.  When I was in the seventh grade my mother remarried and we moved to the city where we had an indoor bathroom with hot water and a bathtub.

I went to a grade school from 1^st to the 8^th grade.  When I was in the third grade I became active in sports.  Sports were something that gave me a sense of achieving and being accepted.  I learned the importance of being competitive and the importance of practice and preparation to excel.  I believed that success in life could be earned through setting goals and using the same methods used in sports.

It wasn’t until I left the Navy that I turned my life over to Christ.  II Corinthians 5:17 – 18 – best describes my reaction to salvation.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!   All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:”   A definite change took place when I received the Holy Spirit.  However, my mind changed very little.  I still was just as competitive and goal oriented as ever.

It took a number of years reading and studying the Bible until I realized that I still had a way to go to become spiritually mature.  One thing that may help Christians struggling and falling short of living a holy and righteous life is to put into practice what it says in Philippians 2:5 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”  The Bible says that Christ came as a servant and was very humble.  He loved others and spent much time with those who were the neediest.

What have we made the most important things in our lives?  Is our mind still on the things of the world or do we have the same mindset as Christ?  We are to imitate Christ in how we live.  How many believe they have reached that point?  Actually, if we are spiritually mature we would say none of us.  Yet, this is what we are told we must do, is to develop the “mind” of Christ.

We know if Christ were in our place God would be first, family second, others third and then the career would follow.  How many Christians really place God first?  Judge them by their love for Him, their commitment, obedience to Christ’s teaching such as tithing, serving, etc.  How about our families?  Do we spend time with them doing things as a family?  Too many guys put careers first and playing golf or spending time elsewhere?  The family gets whatever time is left over and that is not always quality time.  It is difficult to change from having a worldly mind to having a mindset as Christ.

Too often those who reach their goal find that once it is obtained it is not as gratifying as they had expected.  No matter how much one acquires with a worldly mind it never seems to be enough.   This is a problem that took me a while to realize.  I reached a number of goals and then found they were not as satisfying as I had expected.  Sometimes it is too late for many men before they regret the lack of time spent with their family.   Some may only realize it when their children are all gone.  Many times I have wished I could start all over again.  It just seems it took a long time before I realized what Scripture was teaching.  I spent too much time earning an income and not enough time learning how to develop the “mind” of Christ.  Hope you will give this some consideration!

In spite of ourselves God blessed us with a Christian family who are living actively by serving Him.

Many years ago I read a book.  The author was in a hotel room and outside there was a sign that kept blinking: ICAN.  He finally looked out his window and the sign was a part of AMER—ICAN.  He went on to write a book entitled “I CAN”.

It seems we are going through an era when many believe that I don’t need too, the government will take care of me.  Americans are good people capable of doing about anything they think they can.  We are a people, well educated, competitive with free spirits.  Many believe that all things are possible.

As great as America is there was a time I remember a different America.  I was raised in a rural town.  Our neighbors were God-fearing people.  They were honest and hard working.  They were very charitable and if you needed help they were there to assist.  It was the expected thing to do.  They believed America’s best days were ahead and they were.  We were a nation with morals and ethical principles.  Millions of foreigners waited years to immigrate to our shores.  When they arrived they immediately assimilated into our culture, learned our language and strived to become citizens.

I spent four years in the U.S. Navy.  I lived with men from all over the country.  They were as patriotic as anyone can be.  They counted it an honor to serve their country.  We were engaged in war during my term.  Our ship patrolled off the coast and that was as close to battle as I got.  I don’t know of any of my fellow servicemen that were not willing to fight for our country.

It seems we have been given too much.  We have become a tremendously prosperous country.  It reminds me of the Old Testament when God would bless the Israelites only to later punish them for their idolatry, their disobedience and having turned from living according to His Commandments.

The American dream is still available to those who realize that it won’t be given to them; it has to be earned.  I have read many books on the power of positive thinking.  I studied management principles and went to numerous seminars to improve my skills.  The one book that has helped me the most is studying the Bible.  One thing I learned was preparation.  It was the key to success.  I learned the importance of trusting in God’s promises.  I became aware that the Holy Spirit was given to us that we might have comfort, guidance, a purpose in life and to become free from the ways of society and our worldly, self-centered nature.

One thing I learned was preparation and trusting God was the key to success in everything.  I have used the illustration that professional basketball players often would shoot five hundred baskets a day, every day.  My grandson is a drummer and plays before thousands every week.  He had a God-given dream that someday he would be a drummer.  He had never played the drums before.  His talent is God-given but it didn’t just happen.  He set goals, made a commitment to practice and did for many, many hours.  He was willing to take risks by playing in the school band when he had little skills.  Today, too many have dreams but they are unwilling to pursue them.  It takes too much time and energy and they fear failure.

I am convinced that we can go back to being that country that we were just a few years ago when we believed all things were possible.  With God’s help we can be a people who believe “I CAN” and will do what many believe is impossible.  But to God there is nothing that is impossible.  We must do as Scripture says and develop the “mind of Christ”.  Then when we have a God-given dream we will react with “I CAN”.  If God can make a king out of David, a Sheppard boy—the lowest of all jobs, then He can make us a success if we will only co-operate.

This past week meeting with a number of clients I was told two stories that encourages me to write about Christian’s who lack peace, joy or contentment in their lives.  Speaking from experience, I know it is possible to have stressful jobs and yet have complete peace and live a joy-filled life.  Maybe the reason is I expect it is because the Bible promises it.  For those who have recently started reading these blogs, I have been a high school coach and athletic director; I have been in nine different retail stores and managed multi-million dollar stores.    I have had thousands of people under my supervision.  There were recessions that required reducing the number of employees and I understand what management has gone through these past three years.

Since 1987, as an investment advisor, I have invested and managed portfolios, with the help of others, for more than 500 clients.  I have seen the stock market go down 56% and was responsible for protecting client’s investments.  Some would consider these as being stressful occupations.    I point this out so you will realize I understand stress.  Compared to the stress that the Apostle Paul was under mine is very minor.  Paul is the one who teaches us to live with peace and joy and expect it.

Scripture is very clear that we can never find true peace, joy and happiness until we learn to become content.  To be content and godly comes from our attitude toward God and living according to His will as I described in my blog: “You can do anything you believe you can do.”

This is what I expect from Scripture:  Galatians 5:22 – 23a – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  (NLT) Colossians 3:1 – 3 – “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Story number one:  The uncle of a friend is a millionaire many times over.  He has accepted Christ as his Savior.  But there has been little peace or joy in his life.  There is nothing that he could not have or afford.  Yet the greatest desire would be to have peace and some joy in his life.  It appears he has but a short time to live.  Yet, as a Christian he has never had the luxury of receiving what Paul says the Holy Spirit is willing to give him as described in Galatians 5:22 – 23.

Story number two:  Business partners that I have worked with for many years, one is a Christian.  He is active in a local church.  Those who work with him tell me he is untruthful and takes credit for things in which he is not responsible.  He gossips, bad mouths others and is suing someone who he feels took advantage of him, which others say is not true.  Over the years I have seen a negative, somewhat unhappy person.  I would guess he has missed the joy and peace that many Christians have from outward actions.  One owner has millions and the Christian owner has little.

It is my personal belief that many Christians never died to this life and want the material things that the world says we must have.  They think about the things of this earth and not the things of heaven.  They set their sights on worldly things rather than on the realities of heaven where Christ sits at God’s right hand.

We must be appreciative of everything God has allowed us to have rather than focusing on the things we do not have.  So many people have the problem of coveting what others have.  Do you in your prayers thank God for the talents and the life you do have?  Be thankful that you live in America and not in the squalor of some countries.  It may not be possible to be at peace, be joyful and content all of the time, but to not be should only be a rarity.  People who have won multi-million dollar jackpots, their joy and contentment are there only for a brief period of time.  Once they become broke, and most do, life seems to turn ugly.  We must keep in mind that peace, joy and contentment comes from within and not from without. I once read that we were created and put on this earth that we may bring joy to God.  Unless that is our goal we may never sense fulfillment or satisfaction.  In giving pleasure to God, we fulfill the deepest and most basic needs of our own lives.

How important is everything we have accumulated? As Scripture points out: “For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.”  I have read many times those who become wealthy their biggest problem is staying rich.  They let the world set their standards rather than living according to God’s will.  In fact, many allow riches or striving to become rich destroy their lives.  Yet, believers and non-believers many times are willing to trade contentment and salvation for material gain.

One of the devil’s greatest ploy is to deceive us into thinking we can gain joy, peace, happiness and contentment through obtaining wealth or the accumulation of material items.  The trap is that we then find that we never have enough and become willing to do things we should not be doing.  The Bible then tells us that many, inside the devil’s trap, their love of material things causes them to be controlled by a ruthless, insatiable desire that can never be satisfied.

Striving to live as the world lives has caused many believers to: “wander from the faith and pierce themselves with many griefs.”  They allow their worldly desires to replace God in their lives.  Instead of finding the things promised in Galatians 5:22 – 23 they end up with a lack of peace, joy, happiness and contentment.  For too many believers, each day life becomes a battle.

If you have been a Christian very long and have studied your Bible you are familiar with the story of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve chosen apostles, who betrayed Christ.  For those who may not know here is a little background information.

Judas was believed to belong to a group and was known as a Zealot.  It was a Jewish patriotic party started to resist Roman aggression.  The Zealots resorted to violence and assassination in their hatred of the Romans.  Judas must have believed Jesus was the Messiah and would lead the revolt against the Romans.

He was selected by Jesus and appointed treasurer for the apostles.  It is apparent that he would become a factor in the revolution and receive a high position in God’s kingdom on earth.  Judas as many Jews had misunderstood prophecy coming from Daniel.  2:44 – “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 7:13 – 14 – “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

What an honor to be in the planning stages to defeat the Roman armies.  He heard everything that Jesus taught but his background and beliefs were so imbedded that he could never grasp what Christ was teaching.  Most of the world has the same mindset.  They believe what they believe and that can never change.  They ignore the facts and believe everyone else is wrong but themselves.

After three years of being in the group he knew that Jesus was not fulfilling what Judas believed a Messiah should be doing.  Christ talked about serving and not being served.  He told them about death on a cross. Was he trying to force Jesus to use His powers to prove He was the Messiah?  It could be that he no longer believed that Jesus was God’s chosen one.  Judas had become so disillusioned that he allowed Satan to enter into him.

Luke 22:3 – 4 – “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.  And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”

God has a reason for everything.  I keep wondering what was Christ’s purpose of choosing Judas in the first place knowing that he would betray Him.  Was it to show that the devil can be an integral part of any religious denomination?  Or, without an open heart and the willingness to accept Christ, a person could allow a satanic spirit to enter their body?  At least it shows us that even Satan did not understand God’s plan.  The death on the cross and the resurrection was God’s main plan.  It not only tells us a lot about Judas but what Satan doesn’t know.  Apparently Satan knows Scripture but doesn’t necessarily know what it means.  Do you know people like that?  Much of the Bible can be read and misunderstood without the Holy Spirit interpreting.

Check out my Facebook page @ http://on.fb.me/gprrSf. I have 182 blogs and you can search through the different topics easier. If you become a member, you’ll be notified every time I post a blog.

Genesis 13:15 – “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”  Throughout the Bible God made a covenant with Abraham that the land he was given would be his heirs forever.  Yet, in AD 70 the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and ruled the covenant land.

Deuteronomy 28:64 – 65 –  “Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.”  Over the pursuing years the Israelites were scattered throughout the world.  The majority of the world seemed that the prophecy to Abraham in the Old Testament was no longer valid.

Galatians 3:29 – “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Some Christian theologians believed that Christ’s Church replaced Israel and the Catholic Pope was God’s appointed ruler.  Therefore, the Jews rejection and crucifixion of God’s Son transferred God’s blessing from Israel onto the church.

Do you believe that God would break His promise to Abraham?  It seems that since AD 70 there has been no time that the Israelites have lived in peace.  1 Thessalonians 5:2 – 3 – “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  Do you ever remember a time that the Israelites believed they were at peace and living safely?

I believe the Bible is predicting a time that the Jews will accept a peace treaty believing that it will end all wars with their enemies and they can live in peace. But it will be only for a short time.  Revelation 6:4 – “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other.”

Luke 21:25 – 28 – “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

It is not hard to understand why we have had our presidents try to develop peace in the Middle East.  For the Jewish people will be deceived believing that they can have peace.  It comes but only for a short time.  No matter who or how hard they try peace will not come until God wills it to happen.  When that happens the following will be a time of devastation.  It seems to me the longer we live without peace in the Middle East the longer it will be before the end time.

In my previous blog I used the following Scripture: II Thessalonians 2:3 – 5 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Many continue to wonder how close we are to the end time. A poll indicated a number believe we are in the last days—meaning within five to ten years. We have a few people predicting the exact day.  Remember, many believe the Jews will enter into a peace treaty before it happens.  We will then see the man of lawlessness revealed and rule from the temple.  So it looks like the end is still a little further off.  Prepare for retirement, you may have to provide for a while longer. However, we are told numerous times to be alert and always prepared spiritually for that day.   In fact many of us may not be alive when that happens.  If we are spiritually prepared the end-time should never matter—except to get others to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I don’t discount the fact that we are living in a time similar to what occurred during Noah’s life.  (Luke 17:16 – “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.”)  I suppose if I lived in Mexico, parts of Africa and Asia I might think we were living in the time of tribulation.  I base much of my belief on what is happening to Israel. Because Israel is the fig tree and that is what Christ told us to watch.  (Mark 13:28)

May I make it clear that I do not sense that I have any prophetic gift of knowing the future.  My interpretation comes by studying the Bible for many years and hopefully common sense.  I am in disagreement with a number of Christian authors and my purpose is to provide another outlook.  Too many self-proclaimed theologians are predicting things that are taken out of context.  All my writings on prophecy are strictly a personal opinion after praying and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.  I have no guarantee that He gives me His guidance.

“By God’s grace and tremendous mercy, He is giving us advanced warning as to what He is about to do.  On Judgment Day, May 21^st, 2011, this 5-month period of horrible torment will begin for all the inhabitants of the earth.  It will be on May 21^st that God will raise up all the dead that have ever died from their graves.  Earthquakes will ravage the whole world as the earth will no longer conceal its dead (Isaiah 26:21). People who died as saved individuals will experience the resurrection of their bodies and immediately leave this world to forever be with the Lord. Those who died unsaved will be raised up as well, but only to have their lifeless bodies scattered about the face of all the earth. Death will be everywhere.”  The above is the belief of Harold Camping of Family Stations radio and TV ministry.

II Peter 3:10 – 12 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”

Revelation 6:12 – 14 – “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.”

What are the signs of the time telling us?  II Timothy 3:1 – 5 – “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

Other teachers tell us that the world will end on December 21, 2012 according to Mayan and Hopi’s predictions.  Thousands of people in the Netherlands are preparing for that day by accumulating emergency supplies.  It has been circulating on the Internet, in books and recently a motion picture.  Rumor has it that the government is actually preparing secret underground bunkers.

Jesus Christ Himself taught that no man knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return.

I Thessalonians 5:1 – 3 – “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  Paul taught that believers know all that they need to know.  Christians have nothing to fear in Christ’s second coming but we must stay alert and ready.

II Thessalonians 2:3 – 5 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Scripture is very clear the Day of the Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.   In the early church some believed Christ’s second coming had already happened.  In chapter two Paul tells the church not to be unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy from false teachers.  I have read where some predicted the second coming in the 1940s, 1988 and 1994.  Who are you going to believe—the Apostle Paul or today’s teachers?  When anyone tells you the world is going to end on a certain date refer them to II Thessalonians 2:3 – 5.  Ask them if the man of lawlessness has been revealed and has the rebellion occurred?  If so, who is he?  What temple is he in proclaiming himself to be God?  When that happens I believe CNN and Fox News will let us know!  I believe the rapture will occur prior to that but at least we will be here long enough to witness its coming.