Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”   My study Bible says that “God knew us long before we were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you.  When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that He has a purpose in mind for you.”

The Bible is very clear that God has a plan for us and he created us with the abilities to fulfill whatever that plan might be. Satan has an agenda to keep us from performing what God had intended for us.  Satan plants the seeds of insecurity, low self-esteem, unworthiness and even fear to stop us from completing what God intended. He may use parents, siblings, teachers or employers to put us down.  It seems he finds ways to discourage and defeat us, but only if we allow it.  Most people live lives with God-given gifts that they have never developed or used.  What would the world be like if we all sought God’s intended plan and we used our talents to go with it?

If you were to assess your life so far, who has made the greatest impression on you, God or Satan and his emissaries? If you have allowed Satan to determine your life’s direction do you think you may have missed something?  The fact is most of us never believed that God made us special or had anything to do with who we are.  Some may understand that God has a plan for their life but they choose their own purpose and direction.

Over the years I have offered employees promotions to management positions.  Almost without exception they asked: “Do you really think I can do that?”  My answer was always:  “If I didn’t think you could do it I would not be offering you the opportunity.”  It reminds me when God asked Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.  Moses started making all kinds of excuses. It’s as if Moses had no faith or trust in God and he was allowing his perceived inadequacies to limit his potential. Are we any different than Moses?  However, God assured Him that He would tell him what to say and promised to guide him in his confrontation with Pharaoh.  We read in Romans 9:17 – “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’”  There are a number of Scriptures that tell us God has a plan for both believers and non-believers.

Have you ever wondered if you could overcome the fears you deal with, what are you really capable of doing? The American dream is still available to those who realize that it won’t be given to them; we have to prepare and then earn it.  I have read many books on the power of positive thinking.  I have studied management principles and went to numerous work-related seminars to improve my skills.  The one book that has helped me the most is studying the Bible. Scripture convinced me that I could do all things through Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible helped me to deal with my unworthiness, inadequacies, fears, etc. After studying and reading the Bible for years I was convinced God had a plan for me. In addition, I could expect the help from the Holy Spirit Just as God had helped Moses.  I realized my purpose was much different and significantly smaller but, God cared about me as he does you.

One thing I learned was the importance of preparation that the Apostle Paul continually stressed.  It was the key to success.  I learned the seriousness of trusting in God’s promises.  I became aware that the Holy Spirit was given to us that we might have confidence and comfort in what we were doing, a guiding hand to do it well and a purpose in life.  God had opened doors through which we could chose to enter. Yes, there were times that doors slammed shut and probably kept me from going in the wrong direction.

Have you lived most of your life believing that everything was up to you?  Did you realize that the more problems you faced and the more you overcame was God allowing you to build character and perseverance?  Did you face situations realizing that God knew what you were facing? Did you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through it so that you might learn by the experience?  Or did you get mad at God for allowing it to occur as many sometimes do?

Life can be more gratifying when we know that what we are doing is what God had intended we do.  God’s plan may be that you are a Christian mom or dad to your children or even grandchildren.  It may be the influence you could be as a sales clerk waiting on customers with the right spirit.  God didn’t plan that we all would be potential presidents or senators. However, if we are doing God’s plan I am sure it is something that we really enjoy doing.  Always remember, if we are living our life to please God, in doing so, He will make sure His intended plan is being accomplished regardless of what we end up doing.

Christians were asked in a poll: What keeps you from witnessing more?  The unexpected answer was: I am not proud of the way I live and I don’t want to come across as a hypocrite.  I might suppose if we were aware of the way many Christian leaders live we wouldn’t be surprised at the answer.  Over the years I have witnessed Christians doing things that would make one wonder if they were even saved.

Who ever said living a Christian life would be easy?  The Apostle Paul having written much of the New Testament said in Romans 7:15 – 16 – “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.”

We must never underestimate the power of sin and never try to fight it without the power of the Holy Spirit.  We must understand we are surrounded by Christians trying to live up to Christ’s teachings and standards in their own strength, frustrated, disillusioned, depressed and close to giving up.

Romans 7:17 – 20 –  “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

It is so much easier to trust in our own strength, which is our comfort zone, than trusting in Christ.  Too often we fail to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit within.

Ephesians 1:13 – 14 – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

When we are saved our proof is being sealed by the Holy Spirit.  It is our guarantee that we have been forgiven, redeemed and have become adopted into the family of God.  If we do not have the Spirit of God within us we do not belong to Christ.  The Spirit is the guarantee of coming immortality, a guarantee of our inheritance and the pledge given to believers by God to assure them that the glory of the life to come, promised in the gospel, will actually happen.

John 15:4 – 5 –  “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Many people try to live a moral, good and honest life.  However, Scripture says the only way this can be done is by following Christ and live as He taught.  We must be connected into Christ for our nourishment.  If not we could be missing the special gifts that He has available for us.  We are told we cannot, in most situations, live a holy and righteous life in our own strength.  It requires the Holy Spirit.  We are told without the Spirit we can do nothing.  It is not possible to live a Christian life on our own.  There are millions who have proved this Scripture to be true.

Unfortunately, not everyone who accepts the Holy Spirit accepts Him without reservations and conditions. Many believers are not willing to stop living as the world lives. And this includes the workplace. We receive the Holy Spirit but are unwilling to allow Him control over our lives. When the Holy Spirit checks us, too often we ignore Him, for what He’s bringing to our attention that needs changing interferes with our lifestyles. When we want something, we deliberately do not pray about it because we don’t want to be told no. For example, a person buying a home in 2005 that they could not afford in 2009.  Then, when crises come, they wonder why God allowed the crises to happen. The Bible says we must develop the mind of Jesus and live as He instructed. That is not possible if we refuse to accept the Holy Spirit’s checks and guidance.

I have mentioned that over the past eleven years our Bible study group meets every Friday.  We often discuss how difficult it is to stay in constant communication with the Holy Spirit.  Our self-centeredness assures us that we can make decisions on our own.  In fact, it seems we have a tendency to ignore the Holy Spirit except during daily prayer time.  Yet, we realize that God gave us a Helper to live life as God intended.  There are numerous Scriptures that tell us of the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us.  Then what seems to be the problem that allows us to ignore or refuse to ask the Holy Spirit for help throughout the day?  We believe it is either the unwillingness or inability to surrender and completely allow the power of the Holy Spirit to control.

What must we surrender?  It is our self-centered nature that is capable of sinning.  We are constantly struggling with, should we do it my way or God’s way?  Our battle is whether we rely on our strength or trust in the Spirit that is within us.

Surrendering our self-centeredness is not something that is instantaneous as raising a white flag on the battlefield.  Surrender seems to become a daily struggle.  If there is such a thing as a complete surrender to the Holy Spirit it comes only when one becomes spiritually mature.  It would be like believing we no longer are self-centered.

I have met Christians who seemed to have totally surrendered. They appear to have a life of hope, joy and peace.  No situation seems to distress them.  They totally rely upon the Holy Spirit to meet their every need.  They never seem to worry.  They believe that all things work to the glory of God.  Whatever hand is dealt to them, they feel confident to play it out knowing God has a plan.

If you are struggling with life in general, you may want to assess whether you are surrendering daily to selfishness and instead accept the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Surrendering may be the hardest part of living a Christian life.

Matthew 6:33 – 34 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Wars that the Jews have gone through beginning in 1948 through 1973 are minor compared to what is to come.  People will see that God intervenes to the point that in the end there will be little doubt that there is a God and the Jews are His covenant people.  If not, people will lose faith in the infallibility of Scripture.  The destruction that is about to come will be so catastrophic that some nations will become somewhat uninhabitable.

Those who have studied the Bible realize that Satan is behind what is about to happen.  Two biological Jewish men are in the headlines striving to promote a one-world government.  They are George Soros an American and a Jew by birth and President Ahmadinejad of Iran.  According to London’s The Daily Telegraph, President Ahmadinejad was born a biological Jew and his family converted to Islam when he was 8 years old.   Both want to see what Revelation says will happen in the end times, a government ruled by the antichrist.  Soros is promoting a one-world government with open borders.  President Ahmadinejad is striving for an Islam Caliphate.

The term Caliphate refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represents a form of government that governs according to an existing constitutional law whereas the government has power to rule over people according to Islamic law.   Sunni Islam stipulates that the head of state, the caliph, should be selected by Shura (a method by which Islamic leaders select a leader) and elected by Muslims or their representatives.

Both men believe that Israel must be destroyed before the ultimate goal can be reached.  These two biological Jewish men are working behind the scenes to promote the destruction of Israel.  Never underestimate the power of Satan and evil.  There are many interpretations of Scripture and this is what I believe.

I believe Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, Israel’s neighbors, will launch an attack.  The Old Testament tells us in Obadiah 1:15 & 18 – 19 – “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head….Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The LORD has spoken. People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.”

Many believe that Esau’s descendants are the Palestinians. There are others who believe the tribe of Esau has already been destroyed.  So we cannot say for sure that this Scripture applies.  However, it seems to fit what is happening.  The ruling party of the Palestinians is Hamas.  Their constitution states that they are not allowed to negotiate with Israel over peace.  They must continue to fight until Israel no longer exists.  I believe an attack will be instituted by the Palestinians and the other nations will join them.  We have recently seen private citizens from these nations try to force their way into Israel but were repelled.

One reason we believe Syria will be involved is found in Scripture.  Isaiah 17:1 – “A prophecy against Damascus: ‘See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.’”   This is the oldest continuous city in the world.  It has never been left in a heap of ruins.

Muslims nations have hated the Jews for centuries.  One reason they want to destroy Israel is to prove that Mohammed and the Koran or Quran is correct and Jesus and the Judeo/Christian Bible are not.  Muslims believe destroying Israel will allow the twelfth Imam, Mahdi to come back and rule the earth as the messiah.

There are other reasons.  Each Muslim nation and their form of government have been complete failures when it comes to democracy.  Their people have had no hope for individual freedom or prosperity.  In fact, unemployment among young people has always been unusually high.   Over the centuries, the only way they could respond to their nation’s population’s disappointments is to generate anger against an enemy.  They picked Israel, then the United States and non-Muslims to hate.  The U.S. is one of the few nations that has helped and aided Israel in their defense.  Musharraf, the president of Pakistani said: “Today we are the poorest, the most illiterate, the most backward, the unhealthiest, the most unenlightened, the most deprived and the weakest of the entire human race.”

To keep their people under control it is necessary that they create chaotic times.  Some of these North African countries are financially broke.  For example, Egypt is being ruled by the military.  They are running out of food and cannot afford to buy fuel and are close to running out.  Similar situations are happening in other Middle-Eastern nations. How long can Libya last with no money coming in from the production of oil?  Read the headlines about Syria. These countries are in worse shape now than they have been for years.   What can their leaders do to divert the people’s minds off of hard times?  Attack Israel and blame her for all of their problems.  It is my belief that this will happen shortly because hungry, oppressed people wanting freedom, will stand to be patient only so long.  These nations are in no position to provide hope that better days are ahead.

The war with Russia, Iran and others will come later after the first attack fails.  God says He will allow Biblical prophecy to be fulfilled in order to prove that He is God and give each individual a chance of obtaining salvation before the Day of Judgment.  However, Satan will blind most people spiritually just as He has blinded many Jews.  This we know because there will be a time when Israel will make a peace treaty with the antichrist thinking he could be their Messiah.

God did not create us to fail.  To become successful requires hope and purpose.

Doing my research and reading national newspapers I didn’t realize the number of people who live everyday without hope.  Whether it is in the Middle East, Africa, Mexico or the poorer sections of American large cities many live in areas where government is corrupt, incompetent and dysfunctional. Many suffer from malnutrition, unemployment, living where there is a lack of security and in heavy crime areas, feeling despair and stress without sufficient finances to provide medicine and nutritional needs.  Many are members of religions that offer little hope and no assurance of eternal life in heaven.  A number of Americans feeling sorry for these people’s condition want to change the governmental process to socialism.  However, they do not realize it is the corrupt, incompetent and dysfunctional governments that are taking away their hope, freedom and not allowing each individual to have opportunity and purpose in life that socialistic forms of governments are supposed to provide.

My purpose for writing is to share with those who are living in better conditions but have little or no hope for the future because they have allowed  others to define who they are or what they can become.  Who you associate with and who you listen to really matters.  Life offers tremendous  0pportunities.  I came from a very poor background when my father died I was six.  In the fifth grade I took a paper route and began earning enough to buy my clothes and other necessities.  I have never been unemployed since.  Rules for younger people today have changed and many no longer have the opportunities some of us who are older did.  They are afraid some adult will take advantage of a young person and work them too hard.  I know what it is like to live without hope and to live with hope. I like living with hope so much better and you can also.

If you knew that God created you to be successful and positive would you live differently? I believe most people allow the devil to blind them  spiritually.  If you have never heard what the Bible teaches and what God promises, Satan and his demons wouldn’t have to worry about you trying to improve the world by testifying about the gospel to others. He is no longer concerned that your life will change spiritually.   So what does he do?  He puts people into your life that have a critical spirit who hold you back from doing what God created you to do.  Who you associate with can alter your purpose, faith and vision.  They can destroy any hope you may have.  There are people who you think are friends who will discourage you from being what God intended you to be.  Only associate with people who are encouragers, believe in you and treat you as a child of God.  Stay away from all those who have that critical spirit. They can bring you down or discourage you from finding your purpose.

My life changed dramatically when I accepted Christ and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  I guarantee accepting Christ will change your life if you follow His teachings.  If you understand what God promises and trust Him there should be no anxiety, depression, despondency or despair in your life.  What is your attitude as you wake up each day?  Do you start the day dreading it without hope or do you awaken wondering what opportunities God will give you today?  If you have the Holy Spirit in your life are you listening to His counseling or are you relying on what others say who may be jealous of any success you may have?

You may be working in an environment where being a Christian causes you to be under relentless pressure to be productive in a climate where Christian principles are often viewed as irrelevant, quaint or a sign of weakness.  We cannot let others define who we are.

I Thessalonians 4:7 & 8 – “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

If you want hope in your life begin living a holy life following the instructions God has given you.  It is more than just being spiritual.  He has instructed us how to live life in all areas: physical as well as spiritual. We have learned what foods are good for us, how disciplined and how stress-free our life style should be and the affect it can have on our health.  We have been told we must have a life purpose, feel we are achievers, live guilt-free lives, develop personal relationships and emphasize the importance of love.  We are told not to hate anyone, even our enemies.  Hate can be a physical destroyer of the body.  If you have true love in your heart there cannot be hate.  We are told to forgive.  Holding grudges or desiring revenge can also affect our health.  Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Following His rules will make you a “new person” both spiritually and physically. Don’t associate with people, as friends, if they have hate, apathy and lack love for others.

We are told by medical research that those who live happy lives and those living by (Biblical) ethical principles significantly increase one’s longevity as well as their success.  John 14:20 – 27 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’  Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’”  Do you  understand what Christ is teaching?  Christ will teach us how to have hope and joy and not to worry.

Christ talks about God’s love for us and the Holy Spirit that will live in us.  Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things.  Christ then says He leaves His peace and we are not to be troubled and  not be afraid.  The Bible in so many ways tells us to have love, joy and peace.  We are not to allow the stress and worries of the world to be a dominant part of our lives.

We all realize there are no guarantees that we will always have hope, happiness and healthful lives.  There will always be wars, plagues, accidents and illnesses.  However, the more scientists have explored and discovered the intricacies of the body, the more they realized that by following God’s guidelines it will even give us better health and a longer life.  Most scientists would never give God the credit. Those of us who have read and studied the Bible realize the importance of following God’s manual both physically and spiritually. If you do not have hope in your life and associate with people that do not believe in you or have a positive attitude, you are not following Christ’s teaching.  The Bible guarantees you to be a new creation if you will accept Him and following his guidance.  Plan and count on it!

When I was asked to blog in April 2009 concerning “God Things” I stated I would try to blog twice a week.  It has been an amazing experience how I have felt led by the Holy Spirit to come up with different blogs.  This brief note is to tell you this is number 226 and for the month of May over 1,000 read or at least went to this site.  What also inspires me is that some of you continue to read them.  I just hope, in some small way, they have been insightful and made you think about “God Things”.  Shortly, the book I have talked about will be published.  I will let you know the date soon.

For those of us who are veterans of a foreign war but did not engage in actual battle feel a little uneasy when they are recognizing us for our previous participation.  The closest I came to battle was being on a Navy ship off the coast when we had an alert that planes were headed our way.  I was a radio operator on a destroyer and sat with ear phones listening to what might be occurring.  The planes were intercepted and nothing ever happened. 

However, there are service men who actually lived daily, facing an enemy and wondering if this would be their last day alive. I listened to stories from those who participated in battle that scared the pants off of me. I heard stories of what it was like sitting in a fox hole and being shot at; then given an order to advance against an enemy that was out there but they couldn’t see.    

I have heard stores from nine of my older cousins that fought in World War II.  My grandfather was a farmer/preacher who was a real prayer warrior.  He prayed constantly for his grandsons.  One day he told our relatives not to worry that God assured him that all his grandsons were coming home alive.  There was not a doubt in his mind that God had answered his prayers. 

One of my cousins was a Navy fighter pilot and had flown 112 missions in the south pacific.  On one occasion, returning back to base, his engine quit and he crashed on the shore of a small island.  He was knocked unconscious and the plane was on fire.  A member of his squadron saw what had happened and landed his plane on the beach.  He ran over and pulled him out saving his life.  A short time later a PBY seaplane landed.  He was brought to the plane on a raft.  He became a minister until his retirement.

My cousin Jim had two liberty ships sunk and had to swim until help arrived.  My cousin Lee was a corpsman.  He was involved in the invasion of Iwo Jima.  The doctor and crew Jim was with returned to the ship.  Jim had to take another boat back to the ship.  His crew’s boat was blown up and all were killed.  Normally he would have been in the same boat.

My cousin Floyd belonged to General Patton’s tank division.  He was a point man directing the tanks against the enemy.  They would drive a jeep to the enemy lines.  They then would go on foot, scout out the enemy and advise the tanks which direction to go.  The life expectancy for men performing this job was less than thirty days.  He went with Patton through Africa, Italy and into Germany.

Each of my cousins had similar stories to tell.  My uncles and aunts seemed to know when they needed to pray for a certain cousin.  Later, they found out that the times they were led to pray were the times my cousins were facing serious situations.   My aunt tells of a time when she just felt the need to go to her knees and pray for her son.  It was when his ship had been hit and a number of his crew was killed.  Their ship limped into port. 

Every Memorial Day at church, veterans are asked to stand and be recognized.  It has been somewhat of an embarrassing time for me realizing what so many went through and how little I had participated.  But most people have no idea what some of our veterans have gone through.  They were willing to give their lives for their country if needed and millions have.  They are the ones who deserve our recognition.

We have just pasted the day when we were all to have seen the world end according to Harold Camping.  You may not be ready for another prediction but one is coming.  What if I were to tell you that December 21, 2012 was the end of the world as we know it?  I then went on to explain what signs tell me that the end was coming.   The Mayan and Hopi’s predictions are that the world will end on that specific day.  A number are taking this prediction much more serious than the May 21^st prophecy.  Thousands of people in the Netherlands have been 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. Do you believe the false prediction by Harold Camping will make people more questioning and less concerned about December 2012?

What if I were to tell you that you can know whether you will be raptured or not when the time comes.  Many of us believe Christ will come again twice.  The first time is to meet believers in the air as they are caught up or raptured.  The second time will be when He comes to earth to rule for a thousand years with those who are members of God’s family.  As we have repeatedly tried to point out, no one knows when that will be.  However, I too have a prediction.

First, let me share some background information.  I spent 23 of my 29 years as a store manager.  My last store, based on today’s inflation, would be doing about 55 million in sales.  I would have loved it if we had a cashless society, which is being predicted, and no money to handle.  We would not have to rely on making change and coming up with shortages even with registers telling how much to give back.  The second thing that would have been most advantageous would be having a small RFID implanted on every person. RFID is a tracking system that uses intelligent bar codes to track items in a store.  The code would start with the number 666-.   We could use a wand and be assured that people were who they said they were.  It would let us know if they had money to pay for the purchase.   This would revolutionize retailing and be a store manager’s dream.  Of course, there could be some negatives attached.

I do not think the rapture, believers caught up into the air to meet Jesus, will come before everyone, still living, will be given the test whether they will accept that mark (possibly an implanted RFID, the size of a pin head) or not.  This will be our ultimate test.  Will we trust what the Bible says or will we ignore and turn our back on Scripture when it comes to taking the mark?  Wouldn’t this eliminate any excuses on Judgment Day?  The day of the rapture, those not having a mark will rise into the air to meet Christ.  Those having the mark will remain and go through the Tribulation.  You made the choice and would have no excuse when being judged.

Revelation 13: 16 & 17 – “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”

Revelation 14:9 – 11 – “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,  they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 16:2 – “The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.”  Everyone has been warned not to take the mark.  Only truly committed Christians refused to take the mark and they will be raptured.

Revelation 20:4 – “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

False teachers can leave out Scripture to make their case.  This is exactly what Harold Camping did claiming to know the exact date the world would end.  We cannot say, those beheaded because of their faith died before the rapture or after.  All we are told is they came to life and reigned with Christ.  Unless we know for sure we cannot make the statement the rapture will not occur until we are required to make the choice.

Some people predicting end times, the time of the rapture or who will make it to Heaven and who won’t can be very convincing to those who have not studied their Bible.  Be careful who you listen to and what they teach.  Then check it out for yourself!

I have no idea whether the “Mark of the Beast” will be a test to see who is raptured.  However, if I wanted to I could use certain Scripture to convince some that this would be their test.  But, then I too could be labeled a false teacher.

My first thought was, has President Obama ever read the Bible? The day prior to Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu coming to America to address congress, President Obama tells Israel what they must do to have peace in the Middle East.  He tells them they must give up the land that they took during the war in 1967.  Most everyone who is aware of what is going on in Israel realize it would make them completely unable to defend themselves.  The president rewards bad behavior by serving up a border plan just after the Hamas-Fatah unity government in the same week that Mahmoud Abbas essentially declared perpetual war against Israel. Does he not recognize that Hamas, an Iranian backed group, is a terrorist organization and has vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth? 

The Times also reported that the timing of Obama’s speech was planned intentionally to preempt Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Tuesday.  None of this seemed to make any sense to me. 

My second thought was—could God be using the president to push the world closer to the end-times?  I voted for Jimmy Carter, primarily because he was a Christian.  I then for years believed that he was the most incompetent president we have ever had.  Hearing what President Obama said in his speech and now I am thinking, maybe Carter’s pushing out the Shah of Iran and allowing Ayatollah Khomeini to take over was God, using Carter, to activate His end-time plan.  Look what Iran has turned into and now they are arming themselves with nuclear armament to destroy Israel and the United States. We have a choice: Each president’s foreign policies were ill-advised or God chose them knowing what they would do.  

 As I read and listen to the news, what President Obama’s speech may have done, is damage the peace talks to such a degree that peace will never be reached in our lifetime.  Some leading Democrats have reacted rather negatively.  Many Democratic Jews, some of his stanches financial supporters, are really upset.  Some, this past week, vowed not to vote for him in the next election.   This is what U. S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton said in regard to the President’s speech: “Let us never forget that the lack of progress thus far in the peace process stems directly from the Palestinians’ outrageous refusal to directly negotiate after historic Israeli concessions. Rather than choose dialogue, the Palestinians have instead partnered with a terrorist organization that intentionally targets and murders Israeli citizens, continues to hold Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit prisoner, and denies Israel’s very right to exist. Hamas is not a partner for peace; they are a prescription for terrorism.”

“Israel, our closest ally and the one true democracy in the region, is surrounded on all borders by nations undergoing dramatic change brought on by the ‘Arab Spring.’ Any discussions about an Israeli-Palestinian peace process cannot mask the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict and the fact that Israel is surrounded by states that deny her existence and repeatedly attack her borders.”

It is evident that the president’s popularity and approval rating with the Muslims has dropped to about a 20% average.  Was he using Israel to try to increase his approval rating with the Muslims?  Why would he offend Israel the day the prime minster is headed to America?  He must realize that no other president or congress has ever made such a request to give up this amount of land.  In fact, the U. S. has had an agreement that they would never ask Israel to go back to 1976 boundaries.   

Condemning Yemen and Bahrain, demanding Syria to stop shooting demonstrators, stop taking political prisoners and allow human rights probably will get little response.   What happens if the Muslim Brotherhood takes over Egypt making that nation not a democratic state?  Their next phase could be to threaten Israel.  Why is the president shaking his finger at our friends and allies and bowing to potential enemies? Is this what God intended? 

We are seeing many of the things Revelations says will happen in the end time.  Are we getting close to a cashless economic system?  Will there be a one-world leader before long?  Are we getting closer to a one-world religion?  Are we getting what we deserve or what God has planned?  You be the judge and make your own decision! 

Do you believe God is in control and picking our leaders as Scripture says?  When Moses faced Pharaoh – Romans 9:17 – “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’”  Has Presidents Obama and Carter been raised up for the very purpose of initiating the end-times?  What do you think; is this too farfetched?

If you are a Christian I would not expect you to be too concerned about this particular day.  However, if you are not a believer I would imagine you may be checking out different blogs to see what might actually happen.

January 6th, 2011 I wrote a blog regarding the prediction that the rapture of Christians would occur.  It started as follows: “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 21st, 2011, this 5-month period of horrible torment will begin for all the inhabitants of the earth.  It will be on May 21st 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 who has guaranteed that the end of God’s grace will be over.  The days ahead will be the great Tribulation.   So you should consider making plans and being prepared.

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.”

It sure sounds like we are living in the end times according to the above Scripture. Yet what are we to believe when we read the following Scriptures?  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.”

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.

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 false 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.

So what should we be doing if nothing unusual occurs after Saturday the 21st of May?  God has a plan for everyone.  The problem is most will not accept it.  Many just reject God and ignore Him.  Some are not aware that God has a plan for them.  Others understand that God has a plan but, they choose their own purpose and direction and continue to live as a sinner.  God tells us His plan is that everyone would accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and become a member of His family.  It guarantees eternal life with Him.

Prior to every birth God has laid out a plan. We have been given a choice to accept His plan or do our own thing.  When Moses faced the Pharaoh in the Old Testament this is what the Bible says: Romans 9:17 – “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’”  There are a number of Scriptures that tells us God has a purpose for everyone, both believer and non-believer.

What if you are concerned about what happens this Saturday and you are not a believer.  Do you realize there will be a day when what has been predicted will occur?  Will you be left behind to go through the worse times the earth has ever endured?  Wouldn’t it be better to accept what God has planned for every one of us rather than doing our own thing and taking a chance?

My wish is that everyone would accept the plan God has prepared for them.  God’s eventual plan was that millions and millions of seekers would accept Christ as their Savior.  To see all that has happened from beginning to end of those who became believers and see how their lives have been changed is an experience that is gratifying.  God promises to those who are committed and follow His plan, that He will bring them joy, peace and meet their needs.  True to His promise this does happen.

When you awake Sunday May 22, 2011; thank God that you have been given another chance to accept Christ as your Lord if you haven’t already.  When Christ comes for the believers, if you have not already accepted, you will be missed.  Think about the consequences!

It would be very difficult or probably impossible to convince a non-believer in God that America is being punished.  For those who do believe in a creator, unless they have studied the Bible, they probably couldn’t be persuaded either.  Yet, the Bible tells us God is in total control.  Natural disasters or political and economic turmoil that happens are either caused or allowed to occur by God, if you believe He is in control.   There were those who witnessed Jesus stop the violent wind and calm the Sea of Galilee when their boat was in danger of capsizing.  We, as believers, know God has the power to do anything without exception.

II Chronicles 7:14 – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Would you consider America is in the process of being healed?  From my vantage point it appears just the opposite.  Has anyone noticed the severe weather patterns and nature’s disturbances these past few years?  Massive hurricanes, devastating tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes erupting, extreme blizzards, draughts and flooding, heat and cold waves and forest fires, is this normal?  Has there been a time in the past few years that America has not been in a war or had to deal with some type of global strife?   What about our potential economic bankruptcy as a nation?   It seems many Americans are at each other’s throats and not just our politicians.    It is scary just thinking about it.  This is not the America I knew growing up.

If you are an anti-God and non-believer in a creator, you may believe that all of the natural disasters are a result of man-made global warming or climate change.  I believe global warming’s purpose, to some, is to repudiate that there is a God in control. If God can destroy the earth by flood or later by fire you think He could not cool it down if humans caused it to overheat?   For those who believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word don’t you think God would have given us a warning if we could destroy the earth?  He has instructed us in everything else.  He tells us how to clean our utensils, what to eat and what not to.  Is destroying the earth, by human means, too insignificant?

I John 5:19 – “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”   Is it possible that God is not punishing America?  It is Satan who God has given control and he is the one creating our natural disasters and economic turmoil.

Take our past and present administrations seemingly negative stance toward Israel.  That alone is enough to see America punished.  Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Does it feel like we are being cursed as a nation or blessed?  Can we trust God to keep His promises?

For those who read and believe the Bible, do you believe America warrants being punished by God?  Let’s consider some of the facts.  Genesis 6:12 – 13 – “God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.’”

I previously wrote that in the end times Christ predicted that people would live as they did during the time of Noah and the flood and Lot, when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.   (God, are we there yet?)  Let’s look at our record.  How would you rate the U.S. using the following with 1 being the best and 10 being the worse?  Many American’s rejection of God, greed, corruption, abuse of drugs, immorality, depravity and sex orgies, abortions, evil in the hearts of people, hating America and others!  This is just a short list.  Take your ratings and add them up.  Do Americans deserve to be punished?  It doesn’t matter what we think.  God is the final judge.  Do you think our best option might be to pray to God, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways and ask God to forgive us of our sins and heal our land?  Do you think that would change things?  The answer will be determined by where you are spiritually.  Do you trust what God says or not?  If the majority says they do not believe in God or at least do not trust Him, then there is little chance or hope things will get much better.  I hope this helps in making future preparations.