Study the Old Testament and God tells us what He expects of a nation and its people. When they deny Him and worship other objects He does not tolerate it. As I read China is building a number of long-range multiwarhead missiles, Russia continues to increase its nuclear power, North Korea continues to test its long-range missiles and Iran is building missiles and developing nuclear warheads, it becomes of great concern.

We have a president in favor of total nuclear disbarment and he seems to do nothing to establish protection to defend against foreign nations who are increasing their offensive armory. Our military leaders are stating that we need to add at least 1,000 nuclear warheads to our arsenal. In addition, we need to add tactical nuclear forces to our Army and Navy to deter attacks from North Korea and Iran.

Are we being set up to be destroyed?

Judges 10:6–10 “Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They served the images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all. So the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites, who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites (that is, in Gilead). The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress. Finally, they cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.” Verse 14 – (God said): “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!” NLT

What has always made the United States different? The foundation of our country was created on Christian principles to love God and love our neighbor. Sure, many no longer live by Christian principles but it is our constitution, our form of government and the average American’s acceptance, realizing the necessity to conform in order to live in the greatest nation in the world. Though corruption exists there are enough honest, hardworking men and women with the integrity to be productive within the system.

What would happen if the average American were to no longer be guided by Christian beliefs? We would lose our freedom and rely on the government to meet our needs. We would become very much like many of the European nations. Does it sound familiar?

How do we keep America as it has always been? Do we let our government control our economy and enact socialist laws and programs? Or, do we change the hearts of individuals to maintain our freedom and our ingenuity? There is a big difference in philosophies being presented to us during this presidential election time. When do Christians really get earnest in praying for our country and our leadership? When do we start praying that America needs a spiritual revival? We must never let the U.S. not be a Christian nation. The consequences could be disastrous.

President Abraham Lincoln referred to America as being evil. If you read the Old Testament books of I and II Chronicles you could describe America as an evil nation. During Lincoln’s time there was mob law. Men would get together and judge others, then cause blacks, gamblers, cattle thieves to be hung from a tree. There was little respect for the property of others and the government offered no protection.

In Chronicles, depending on who was king, they were described as being either evil or they followed God’s direction. If the king was evil, so was the nation and God punished them. If the king was a follower of God and as a nation the people worshipped Him, the nation became prosperous. During those times many special days were set aside when the people came together to worship God. Passover was a time of thanksgiving to God for saving their first born from being killed as were the Egyptians first born. Almost every month there is a time Jews set aside for days to worship God. Would we ever have a president that would place emphasis on worshipping God and scheduling days to do so?

What has happened to America? There is too much hate among us. I John 3:14–20 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” Do you see this Scripture being used in politics today?

Lincoln talked about the evils of America. Prior to his address at Gettysburg, 48,000 men were killed in three days on the battle field. Our country was full of hatred, anger and unforgiveness. We were a much divided nation full of evil. How would you rate America today as a nation comparing us to the time of the Civil War or how the Bible would define it in the Books of Chronicles? I would suggest God is not the one being worshipped and He is the one that either prospers or punishes a nation. Which one qualifies us? Are we an evil nation as defined by the Bible needing punishment or should God be prospering us?

It is my belief that God is allowing nations to build up forces to punish America just like He has done to Israel so many times. We apparently have a president who does not read the Bible or study history. The only hope we have, is for Americans to repent and ask God for protection.

As I write, the news coverage is about the death of Prince at the age of 57. This past week my daughter was in the hospital, a friend informs me that he has lung cancer and said he may not live past 2016 and another tells me that a lesion has been discovered on his brain. Having had bypass surgery on my heart and my family was told I had a ten percent chance of living and the nurses in ER said to my daughter-in-law, a nurse; I had no chance of living in 2007. When this happens to most individuals your thoughts are usually negative. It seems like you are being influenced by demonic spirits trying to convince you of the worse. However, that is the opposite of what Scripture tells us to do.

Isaiah 12:2 – “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 26:4 – “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” Psalms 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid?” NIV

Sometimes we may feel so unworthy that it is difficult to believe that God really loves us enough to answer our prayers. There can be times when we may least expect God to answer our prayer and He does. The more we see the Holy Spirit working in our lives, the greater we can be motivated to study His Word and pray. God knows what it takes to encourage us. So never give up and pray with the faith to believe your prayers will be answered. God doesn’t want us to fear. So if we want our prayers constantly answered, we must do as Scripture says.

James 5:15- “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Then why isn’t everyone that prays healed? We know that prayer is appropriate for every situation and is certainly appropriate in times of suffering and illness. Jesus sent out His disciples with instructions to heal the sick. I believe God answers every prayer. He may not do it in the way we expect or in the time we want. I have personally witnessed a number of individuals who were extremely sick that were healed and I believe was a result of prayer.

Fear! Isn’t it a lack of trust in God? Physical and spiritual walls must be broken through if we are to be free to stretch our endurance, abilities and potential. Athletes learn that they can catch their second wind only when they are willing to go through the pain of breaking through a wall of resistance. Once they push through that physical wall, their task becomes easier and their energy and endurance increase exponentially.

Just as athletes experience a physical wall of resistance, Christians encounter a spiritual one. It’s called fear. Most often this barrier is more difficult to break through because the Devil and his spirits of darkness often put the “wall of fear” before us.

How we respond to any given situation tells us a lot about ourselves. Scripture tells us that God allows things to happen so that He can use us as His disciples. God has a plan for each one of us. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, how willing are we to be used? Are we more interested in our plan or in His?

As we study the Bible, those dedicated most to God went through some terrifying circumstances. The Israelites, the prophets, judges, King David, Joseph to name a few who were mistreated, persecuted and faced death continually.

I believe God allows Christians to go through pain, suffering or problems to get us to respond. Scripture says that once we accept Christ as our Savior, God will make us more Christ-like. When a Christian goes through problems, suffering or pain, as in my case, you immediately turn to God. Whatever it takes to drive us closer to a personal relationship with God is actually good for us. I wrote in “Miracle on the Hudson” that when a miracle takes place and a person realizes it, it can change the purpose and direction of their entire life. I have read of service men in a life and death situation promise God that if He will save them, they will live for Him the rest of their lives. Go through serious medical problems and see if you do not become more concerned about life after death and eternity.

We will all have needs, whether they are physical, mental, spiritual or financial. God promises to meet those needs. Yet, we worry and wonder why God, at times, is not meeting our needs. I have prayed with a number of people who seemed that all looked hopeless. They had lost faith and were struggling with why God was not answering their prayers. There is a reason for everything. If you ever find yourself in that situation read the following Scripture: Philippians 4:11b–13 & 19 “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength… And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

I found myself not only content but trusting that God would do what was best for me and meet my needs. There was not one minute I can remember worrying whether I would continue to live or not. The point I wish to get across is that knowing the Bible teaches that God’s Spirit is with us every second. I trust God completely and know that He loves me and wants what is best for me. Suffering does get our attention and it is great that we know that God is with us to take us through it.

Matthew 6:25–27 & 33 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

These past nine years I have had good health! I lived 32 years after my first bypass with good health. Did God get my attention and has life changed since 1984 and the first operation? You bet! I praise Him that I am still able to work each week and glad that the stock market is doing better.

You must believe what the Bible says; God is in control. The devil can do only what God allows him to do. As a Christian, God’s Spirit is in you. God loves you and knows everything you are planning to do. He also has a plan for your life and wants what is best for you. If you believe this the following is for you.

The reason I write this, I believe God had opened a number of doors and He has closed doors in my life. I can recount numerous times I have been given opportunities that changed my life’s direction. I had no intention of going to college but God encouraged me to get an education and He made it financially possible. That changed my entire life. I am a believer!-

From the moment we were born, God knew if our name was going to be in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we would live with Him in eternity. If we were in it, God had a plan for each one of us and He gave us a temperament to enjoy doing it. We can accept or reject and still stay in the Book! We all know that our body’s carnal and self-centered nature will reject God and His plan at least for a time. It is up to our soul and spirit if we want to accept what God has planned. When we receive Christ as our Savior this requires a commitment and obedience to His will. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we must prepare for temptations and trials that will come. Probably the stronger our will and the more self-control we have our testing will be greater. We must know God’s purpose and general Will for those who have become Christians before we get to His plan.

I Thessalonians 5:16 – 19 – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;”

These are important verses for people, especially if they find themselves in troubling times being tested and going through life’s trials. We are to have an attitude of prayer at all times. How else are we to develop a relationship with God? As Evil tempts, the bad decisions we make or problems coming from others, never come from God. However, God allows what happens in our lives, especially if we caused it. But no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in, as believers, the Holy Spirit is with us to check us, inspire, encourage and guide us through it. We are to give thanks that God’s Spirit is there with us. His Spirit can give us peace and joy through any situation. And God’s Will can be fulfilled by each of us. We must learn to trust God completely and in all things. We must believe He is in charge of everything in our lives? In 1987 I was given an opportunity to start my own business. I believed that it was God’s will and trusted that He would help me. In fact, He built our business and others have told me they had experienced the same help from God.

Each day we are told to “pray continually”. That doesn’t mean on our knees throughout the day. It requires an attitude of prayer, as we go about living our lives. We are to give thanks to God and live filled with “joy always”. Throughout the day we must not ignore the Holy Spirit who is there to help us do God’s Will and fulfill His plan. Could it be that God is preparing us on earth for eternity?

We are told to give thanks in all things. That does not mean to give thanks for all things but “in” all things. When evil or something occurs that we have little control over our thanks is that God’s Spirit is with us to see us through any situation. It is very difficult for each believer not to assume they can handle anything on their own. But God allows some situations in order to build our faith so that we learn to trust Him completely. Without trusting God and asking for the Holy Spirit’s help some times our self-centeredness gives into temptations. When that happens it is quite hard to feel a sense of joy.

Joy comes from a continuous relationship with Christ and an awareness that the Holy Spirit is within us to meet our need. “Don’t put out the Holy Spirit’s fire.” We must keep in contact throughout the day.

It would be very unusual for a believer not to face times of spiritual, emotional, physical or financial suffering. Romans 5:3 – 4 – “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

In God’s eyes, suffering can be a positive and to us it is a negative. Suffering can test our patience. But usually God will not allow things to get out of control. He normally doesn’t give us more than we can handle. The Bible tells us we are under God’s protection. But if God were to protect us from all temptations and trials how would we develop perseverance, character and hope?

If we have the mind-set that no matter what happens in our lives it is a part of God’s plan and He is allowing it for a particular purpose; could we then handle temptations and trials more positively? As we approach life realizing that God has it planned out for us, then be aware that He also wants us to succeed with the help of His Spirit within us, to take us through each situation knowing that we will be better off once we have defeated the trial and completed the test.

Think of all the testing Paul went through. II Corinthians 11:25 – 27 – “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” Yet, he was filled with hope, peace, joy and love. Why? Because of His relationship with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that was in him. He had absolute trust in God. We must have the same. He knew that God was allowing everything that happened and God had planned out his life. Paul’s goal was not to be safe, prosperous and famous. He was preparing for the next step, living God’s plan and doing God’s Will while on earth.

Let me end with this illustration. You have an opportunity to make millions of dollars. However, there are people doing everything to stop you from doing so. Is He teaching you to be tenacious that all things do not come easy or is He telling you He does not want you to have that opportunity? It may not be the best thing for you. Do you become angry with those stopping you or do you try to find out why God is not allowing this to happen in your life? If it is the last then shouldn’t we give thanks in all circumstances and not blame the other people or get angry? We must continue striving to make it happen with the idea: is it God or people blocking that opportunity? If it’s God, better look for something else. If it is other people, God will help you find a way around the problem. One thing that keeps us from accepting God’s plan is fear. This is why we must learn to know when the Holy Spirit is encouraging us or is it demonic spirits discouraging us?

The older one gets, the more they wonder what it may be like dying. Most people fear death because they do not know what to expect. If you knew that things would be better and you could live in peace forever, never being sick and having a new immortal body, would that take the fear away? This is what the Bible says will happen to those who accept Christ as their Savior. Do you believe this promise?

Dr Moody in 1976 published his book entitled “Life after Life”. After reading his book it gave me a different perspective in what happens when a person dies. I read an interview that Dr. Moody gave describing what people who have had a near death experience shared when they came back to life.

“They say they became aware of what’s described as a tunnel, a passageway, a portal, and they go into this tunnel, and when they come out, they come out into a very brilliant, warm, loving and accepting light. People at this point describe such amazing feelings of peace and comfort. In this light they say that relatives or friends of theirs who have already died seem to be there to meet them and to greet them and to help them through this transition. Another thing they’ll often tell us is that at this point they are met by some religious figure — Christians say Christ, Jews say God or an angel. They say in this setting that this being, in effect, asks them a question, and they all say that words can’t convey it — that communication in this position does not take place through words as you and I are now using, but rather in the form of an immediate awareness. The way they summarize this question, or try to put it into words, is they say that he asks, in effect, “What have you done with your life? How have you learned to love?” At this point, they say, they undergo a detailed review of everything they have ever done in their lives. This is displayed around them, they tell us, in the form of a full-color, three-dimensional panorama, and it involves every detail of their life, they say, from the point of their birth right up to the point of this close call with death.”

I wrote when I was in my teens a neighbor lady would describe things to my folks that were going to happen and they did. One example she told me I was going to be invited to go out of town to a party and I shouldn’t go. Two weeks later I was invited to go to a skating party out of town. I couldn’t this time. On the way they were involved in a serious car accident. She was continually seeing into the future and in most cases they happened as she had described.

In the past few years more and more information has been given on paranormal experiences. Ghost stories and haunted buildings are on TV and there are a number of movies describing paranormal situations.

So what do we know happens after death? Prior to the resurrection of Christ, when a person died under the Old Covenant, both believers and non-believers went to Sheol (Hell or Hades). It was a temporary dwelling place for the soul. Luke describes a story that Jesus told in Luke 16:19 -26. The story concerned a rich man and Lazarus a beggar. They both died and went to Sheol. However, one went to Abraham’s bosom or Paradise and the other went to a “place of torment”. The rich man who was in agony saw Lazarus standing beside Abraham. He called out to Abraham and asked that he have pity on him and have Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water and cool the rich man’s tongue. Abraham stated there was a great chasm between them and that he could not get to the place of torment from Paradise. Meaning once you are in the place of torment you could not cross over. Many believe the chasm between them was the Abyss or the Bottomless Pit where the most evil spirits are housed until the Antichrist will come.

The Bible is very clear about our ability to communicate once we die regardless whether we are a child of God or a non-believer. Those who have had a near death experience all say that they were asked: “What have you done with your life?” I have read where some having a near-death-experience believe they had gone into hell and it changed their lives forever once they recovered. Others tell of an experience that was so beautiful that it was indescribable.

The Bible has describe to me a place so exhilarating and exotic, where a number of relatives and friends are waiting to greet me that it will be like a reunion. My mother was one of ten children and we use to have a reunion where more than fifty relatives would show up. That will be one of the many benefits of heaven.

You cannot help but morn when a relative or friend passes on. It is human and normal. However, should we not be grateful and pleased when a Christian dies that they are going to a far greater place than any of us could ever imagine? More funerals should be times of celebration for the rewards that a believer will receive for having lived a holy life, putting God first in all things and loving others as ourselves.

I know a number of you are 100% believers that the climate is going to heat up and both coasts of America will be 20 feet underwater within the next few years. As a result, we need to change using fossil fuels and everything in the future must be renewable sources. That includes vehicles, energy producers and any power which causes CO2. Many are excited about electric cars that run on electricity. However, since 1998 there has been little change in temperature. Therefore, it is no longer called global warming. It has been changed to climate change. Now they can say any change in weather, such as: historic snows, record cold, droughts, heat waves or storms are now classified as man-made climate change.

According to Investment Business Daily, former United Nations climate official Ottmar ‘Edenhofer says: “One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy. This has almost nothing to do with the environmental policy anymore, with problems such as deforestation or the ozone hole,” said Edenhofer, who co-chaired the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working group on Mitigation of Climate Change from 2008 to 2015.” He says that climate change policy is used to redistribute the world’s wealth.

If all of the oil, coal and gas nations that produce these fossil fuels were shut down, what would happen to their economies? What would happen to Saudi Arabia if they were unable to sell their oil? These people, using global warming or climate change, would change capitalism and establish global welfare states. Their plan is to intentionally change the current economic system so that all nations would be dependent on a one-world government to meet their needs.

The final result would be to have a one-world government with every nation following the same laws and judicial system. A one-world religion and dissenters would be punished and shunned. A one-world economic system would be established with a cashless economy in order to trace every transaction. In order to control the population everyone would be given a national number. Without that number they could neither buy or sell or hold a job. It would also require all Americans to give up their guns and ammunition. The 2nd amendment would have been done away with, as well as all of our constitution.

To those who are Christians and Bible believers, it tells us where all of this is heading. In the 13th chapter of Revelation, it tells about the Antichrist. Revelation 13:5–6 “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.” He will be given 3½ years to do anything in the world that he wants. During this time he will unite all nations and all religions under his authority. He will merge Moslems, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants, etc. He will set himself up in the Temple the Jewish people will soon build.

Revelation 13:7 “It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” It appears the Antichrist’s goal will be to eliminate every Christian from the earth.

Revelation 13:8 “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.” There will be people who continue to worship God and those who will worship the Antichrist. If a person’s name is in the Book of Life, because he has trusted in Christ for his salvation, apparently they will be given a power that enables them to withstand the powers of Satan and allows the Antichrist to do whatever without a Christian losing faith or taking the mark.

Revelation 13:9–10 “Whoever has ears, let them hear. “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.”

During the Tribulation, Christians had better realize that God is still in control and they need to live according to His ways. During this time Scripture tells us it is better to stand up for one’s faith than to take up arms and attempt to fight. We are required to show endurance and faith. If we are to die a martyr’s death, then so be it. Our willingness to be a martyr may give others the faith they need to stay the course. Don’t fall into Satan’s trap and turn away from God when hard times come. Instead, use those tough times as opportunities for testifying for God.

Many believe that true believers will be raptured prior to the Antichrist taking over. There will be many who know there is a God and that Jesus Christ is His Son and Our Savior. However, they had not accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. Once they see Christians raptured they will then accept Christ and become converted. It is these Christians that many believe Scripture is describing.

I am not advocating that we not be good stewards of the earth, air and water. These are all necessary for survival and we need to keep them clean. But they are not to be worshipped.

This past Easter 2016, over 61,000 attended Easter services from Central Christian Church in Henderson, NV. During these services, including our satellite churches, over 1300 accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is what took place:  Romans 10:8–10 “But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

We are taught according to Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Having been a Christian over 50 years, I have experienced God having kept His promise in my life and met my needs.

But I must warn you, there is a great possibility that you could immediately be confronted by demonic influence every day of your life. At the same time, the Holy Spirit will do everything to help you grow spiritually to become more Christ-like. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t seem like a battle goes on in one’s mind to continue living like the world or live for God.

God’s purpose for everyone created, He wants us to become a part of His family and spend eternity with Him, Christ and the Holy Spirit. To be with God in eternity, we must learn how to live a holy life while on earth. Therefore, we all are told to be financially prepared for retirement and that we understand. God is saying: become spiritually prepared for eternity and we must know what is expected.

We must be careful as to what we allow into our lives. 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

The world is hostile to godliness. We must strive for personal purity. Satan wins many victories over Christians who are negative and divisive. Here is how Scripture tells us to live: Mark 12:30–31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Christian love can create circumstances in which conflicts can be solved. The gospel message is that love corrects man’s selfishness and perverted love. God’s love, as we know, is unconditional, unlimited and impartial. This love is not automatic or mechanical. It is this love that changes a person’s life. This is the kind of love Christ wants us to accept and practice. The more people that practice this type of love the more peaceful the world would become. Love is the one thing that can change everything and overcome hate!

The moment one is saved from our sins, our goal is described in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians verses 2 to 8 “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

As the Bible tells us, we are to live a holy life. Living a holy life is not possible without love. Love only exists when a person feels free. You cannot force someone to love. We can measure how much we love God by how much we love others. Are we compassionate and encouraging? Are we willing to accept our commission to influence others to also prepare for eternity?

We need to live a vision driven life. That vision is to do whatever it takes to please God. We must stay focused because Satan will do whatever he can to break that focus. But develop a vision of heaven and the years that we will live through eternity.

While we are selecting our next president, do you see Christian examples? We can judge one’s behavior by how they treat others. We need a leader who can help a nation that needs to repent and again worship God. I am afraid we are not seeing an example of Christian love. Love is one’s greatest way to inspire and influence others. We need to set the example for others.

Scripture and history tells us that God selected Abram and Sarai to begin a new nation. During the Old Testament times people worshipped pagan gods made of medal, stone or wood. There were no laws or rules to live by and immorality was rampant and women and children were treated as slaves with no rights.

God tells Abram to take his family and move to a distant country and He would promise Abram the following. Genesis 12:3 – 5 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.”

God told Abram that he was to live by the Commandments he would be given and he was to influence other nations. God made his Covenant conditional. Abram had to do what God asked him to do and he did. God’s purpose in creating Israel was to have a nation of people He called His own. This nation was to live by God’s standards of morality and they were to be an example to all of the other nations. This small nation throughout history has made a Godly impact on the world.

Abram built a number of altars to symbolize communion with God and a place for worshipping God. The altars were to remind the small nation of Israel of God’s promises and protection. God was to be at the center of every one’s life. Others nations began to realize that Israel’s God blessed them more than their gods were blessing them. The Israelites were able, with God’s direction and help, to drive out all of the immoral nations on land that God had given to Israel.

Genesis 17:4 – 8 – “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

The Old Testament covers God’s relationship with the nation of Israel and through His supernatural interventions, many believed there was a God and Creator of earth and humans. However, the 613 rules that the Jews were living by, did not make the change in behavior God expected from the Jews. Since God’s Covenant was conditional depending on the obedience of His people He sent His Son Jesus Christ to bring a New Covenant not only for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well. The New Covenant was based on God’s grace and the command that we love God with all of our heart and strength and others as ourselves. Love fulfills the Old Covenant and replaces it.

We believe that God chose America to do what Israel was told to do under the Old Covenant and didn’t. God used America to spread the New Testament gospel and to tell the world that God sent His Son to forgive the sins of those who would accept Christ as their Savior and God as our Creator. God’s purpose has been to prepare people for an eternity that would be spent with Him. Throughout history God has continually asked for obedience. During that time, most denied, rebelled and were disobedient.

Consider: there would be no Israel if it were not for the United States. Most every nation is anti-Israel and would like to destroy them. The Germans, Spain, Russia and others have tried to destroy the Israelites. Had it not been for America there would be no nation in 1948. President Johnson stopped Russia from attacking Israel.

America was also chosen so that all nations could see that by using Judeo/Christian principles He would bless them and use them to provide peace in the world by making the US a superpower. The result of God’s blessing, America has been protected as He also promised Israel’s protection.

America’s constitution was based on the beliefs of Christian men that God created all of us with unalienable rights. It basically says what our government cannot do. To protect our rights, the constitution was written to protect us from our government’s power by limiting what it could do. Our rights and freedom come from our Creator and not from our government.

However, America is doing what Israel did and is rejecting God and expanding the government over God. We know the punishment Israel has received from history by being disobedient. Why shouldn’t Americans expect God to treat us the same way? Has there ever been a more contentious time in politics than what is going on now? The only hope America has is to repent and begin worshipping God and living according to His Commandments: to love Him and others as ourselves. If there is little chance that would happen, then shouldn’t we Americans be prepared for God’s blessings being withdrawn?

Every nation that has accepted socialism or communism has failed or is failing. Argentina is the best example. Years ago, it was the number two economy in the world and now they are close to bankruptcy. Shouldn’t we live as our founding fathers planned, accepting God as our Creator and limited government?

Having worked with thousands of people I did not realize how many were fearful of making mistakes. I guess it was because God did not make us perfect, I expected to make mistakes and God would help me correct them. Making a mistake wasn’t pleasant but it wasn’t the end of the world. I guess it was my belief that I could do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

What about Christians who are so afraid of making a mistake they are not willing to take any chances? Can God really use them and count on them to do His will? I heard a minister say that no matter where we as believers go, God will find us and He is with us at all times.

God does not expect us to be perfect. If we read our Bible we will know that. One of the things I have observed over the years, many Christians ignore that they have the Holy Spirit within them. Read what happened at Pentecost when the 120 received the Holy Spirit and how He changed everyone’s life. Prior to that the Apostles were afraid and then they became extremely bold in spreading the gospel.

In Philippians 3:12 – 16 – “ Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

All that Paul had done he still had not reached perfection. If he hadn’t reached perfection what does that say about us? Living a holy and righteous life is a process. We will never reach perfection until we enter Heaven. Paul encourages believers to press forward toward what lies ahead and forget about the past. This means we are to look forward to what is ahead and not to worry about the past. If you have a perfectionist personally that seems almost impossible to do. That would be something we would need to pray about daily. We need to ask God to help us remember we are not perfect people and that is why Christ came as our Savior. If we were perfect, we would not need Christ to die for our sins.

God does not want us to make mistakes but He knows everyone will. Therefore, we must learn to lean on the Holy Spirit to check and guide us. When we pray, ask God to help us overcome the feeling of living a life paralyzed by fear and imperfections so that we can fulfill His purpose for our lives and guide us toward the plan that God have made for each of us.

We must continually remind ourselves Satan works on us to keep us down. Thinking negative thoughts will keeps us from being a blessing to others. There are times when the Holy Spirit will encourage us in helping others and we will refuse because we do not want to make a mistake and say or do the wrong thing. Not all thoughts come from God and we must realize that demonic influences often keep us from doing what God wants.

To overcome a low self-esteem we are told to focus on others and in helping others, it will improve how we feel about ourselves.

Prior to and Under the Old Testament, people lived like ‘animals’ doing whatever their lustful desires wanted. Many worshipped pagan gods made of medal, stone or wood. They sacrificed their children to these gods. Women and children were no more than chattel or slaves. It wasn’t unusual to sell their children or provide their daughters for Temple prostitution.

It appears we are headed back toward pagan ways. We are aborting our babies, sexual immorality is accepted and there is more hate in the world than love. Christians are being killed by the thousands because of their faith.

The Old Testament tells us that God chose Abraham and Sarah to show the world that there was a God who created everything and every human and He was not happy with the way people were living. Most know the story of God selecting Moses to lead a nation who had spent 430 years in Egypt as slaves, to a new land that would be theirs and they would worship and obey God.

God promises the Israelite nation that if they will be obedient to His laws He would provide peace for them. Leviticus 26:6 & 9 – “‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.”

However, they were not obedient. Leviticus 26:18 – 20 – “If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.”

Numbers 14:11 – “The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?” God gave to Moses laws for the Israelites to live by. The religious leaders added more until there were 613 laws that the people had to acknowledge and keep. Breaking many of these laws resulted in the person being stoned to death.

God sent His Son Jesus Christ to bring us a New Covenant that would make the Old one unnecessary. John 12:44 – 50 – “Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Jesus makes the claim that when he confronts a person, they are confronted by God, and in listening to Him they are listening to God. In Him God meets man and man meets God. The result ends in judgment. Jesus tells us He did not come in the wrath of God but in His love. Yet His coming is a judgment. Jesus said that what these Jews heard in the last day will judge them. But if a person knows right and does wrong he judges himself. Once we know the truth, the truth will be a witness against us.

Christ came to fulfill the Law. Romans 13:8 – 10 – “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Scripture is telling us a person who was in debt and could not repay would be thrown in jail with no means to get out. We are told that love is a never-ending debt that can never be repaid. We will always owe love whereas financial debt is a mandate to be paid back.

Since love fulfills the laws, how can we love our neighbor as ourselves if we do not love ourselves? Psychologists tell us that people who focus on others rarely suffer from low self-esteem. Do we have concern for those who have physical and spiritual needs?
I Timothy 1:15 – “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” John 3:17 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The moral of this blog is to recognize that laws, most often, do not change the behavior of man. Yet, our politicians believe we need more and more. The only thing throughout history that changed man was the acceptance of Christ as one’s Savior. It was when a person received into their heart the Holy Spirit; they received a love that changed their lives for the good. This is why it is so important that the church accept the commission to spread the gospel throughout the world. Have we not yet learned, only love will overcome hate?

This is why Jesus came to save the world and each of us.

Having had heart bypass surgery in 1984 and then again in 2007, this past Thursday another 911 call at 3:15 a.m. and a rush to the hospital. In 2007 my family was told I had a ten percent chance of living. It has been over 30 years that my heart has not been functioning correctly. As a result, I have read and studied the Bible as to what happens when a person dies.

The Bible tells us death is like falling asleep and having your soul immediately present with the Lord or separated forever from God. Death is not an end, it is a transfer to one’s next life.

A recent survey indicates 81% of Americans believe there is life after death. And 9% believe there may be life after death and 10% believe there is absolutely no life after death.

If you ask the average person if they are afraid of dying, what do you think the response would be? It would probably depend on a person’s age, their past experiences and what they might expect from the future. We have no supporting evidence but we would suppose the greatest fear most older people have is the fear of dying. Why does fear affect the lives of so many people? God created a perfect universe and a perfect Adam and Eve. He did not create Adam and Eve to have fear. We know that Christ lived without fear. Genesis 3:8-10 tells us that once Adam and Eve sinned, they became fearful. On earth, before God cursed it, there was absolutely nothing to fear. Once God cursed the earth, man developed fear. There are two kinds of fear. Positive fear requires that we not stand in the middle of a busy freeway and challenge oncoming cars. Negative fear can be a fear of failing, thus an unwillingness to try something that requires faith, confidence or trust. Fear prohibits most people from ever using their full potential or abilities.

When a person dies there are two places their spirit and soul will go and that is heaven or hell. How do we know who goes where? I John 3:10 writing to Christian believers says: “This is how we will know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” Since the Bible tells us that Satan works on people’s fears and promotes hate, on which group do you believe he is placing his attention?

It isn’t unusual for Christians to have fear based on past guilt, a feeling of unworthiness or a belief that we probably deserve punishment. In most cases it is a lack of trust in God and possibly placed there by demonic influence. When God says that Christ died that our sins could be forgiven and wiped clean and no longer remembered, can we trust God to really mean what He promises?

Fear can be the enemy of faith if we let it. Too often our fear is that we just can’t live up to God’s standards. Our faith and trust in God must help us to overcome our feelings, emotions and the belief that we are unworthy. We must sincerely rely on the promises of God and never on our feelings, which can deceive us.

How do we get rid of negative fear? I John 4:18 states: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Perfect love involves faith and confidence and cannot coexist with fear or hate in one’s heart. The Bible says that Christ died to free us from the slavery of fear. Hebrews 2:14 & 15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Since fear has to do with death, failure and punishment, it should not be a part of a Christian’s experience. Maybe if we know more about what happens after a person dies it may, at least partially, overcome one’s fear of dying.

I Corinthians 15:51 reads: “Listen, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” And verse 55: “Where O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?”

Physical death can be our doorway to heaven where our spirit and soul shall live with God, Christ and positive-loving people forever. Should we be fearful to walk through death’s door? Not if we have accepted God’s promises.

Knowing about Hell tells us something about Heaven.

Prior to the resurrection of Christ, when a person died under the Old Covenant, both believers and non-believers went to Hades or Hell depending upon their Bible translation. It was a temporary dwelling place for the soul. Psalms 49:15, “God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol or Hell.” Read Luke 16:19-26 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “ (Once a person is in the Place of Torment, they were unable to cross over.) Purgatory is covered later!

Christ tells us these two men who died went to Hell. Lazarus went to Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom and the rich man ended up in a Place of Torment. Therefore, we can determine that Hell had three separate divisions: Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise (a place of comfort), a Great Gulf that separates them and a Place of Torment. Where some of the confusion comes, is thinking Hell is the “Lake of Fire”. Luke 16:25 says, Lazarus was “comforted here” and the rich man was “in Agony” and asked that his tongue be cooled, because he was in agony in this fire. And the rich man is still there in agony at least 2000 years later. For those in Paradise, Daniel 12:2 says, “You will rest and then at the end of the day, you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance and others will receive their everlasting contempt.” Therefore, Christ says there are two separate places in Hell or Hades divided by a chasm or gulf. Many believe the gulf could be the Abyss or the Bottomless Pit where evil spirits are housed. (Acts 2:34 “David did not ascend to Heaven.”) (John 3:13 – According to John, Jesus said: “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.”) This was before Christ was resurrected.

In Hebrew, Sheol is the word used to describe Hell or Hades. When Sheol is translated into English in some Bibles, the following verses are referring to Hades or Hell: Prior to Christ’s resurrection, everyone went to Sheol which was either paradise or Hell.
· Sheol, a place where the dead exist – Proverbs 9:18 KJV
· You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol. – Psalms 86:13 KJV
· Sheol, a place for the wicked and those who forgot God – Psalms 9:17 KJV
· A godly Jacob expected to go to Sheol – Genesis 44:29 Amplified O.T.
· All men will go to Sheol, the realm of the dead. – Psalm 89:48 Amplified O.T.

Some confusion exists believing that Hell or Hades was a place of torment where only the unrighteous waited for judgment. However, for the followers of God, there was Paradise or Abrahams’ bosom, a place of comfort for those who were righteous but had not been forgiven of their sins. Hopefully, this will be helpful as we continue our study. In the future, at the Day of Judgment, after Christ’s 1000-year rule on earth, Satan, the fallen angels and all non-believers will be thrown into a ‘Lake of Fire’.

When Christ was crucified He went from the cross to Sheol or Hell. Matthew 12:40, “The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Some believe Ephesians 4:8-11 – “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men. (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)” This reveals that Paradise is no longer located in Hell and the Old Testament saints were taken by Christ up into heaven. They could not enter the presence of God until Christ’s resurrection and their sins had been forgiven. This is what they believe these Scriptures mean:

Christ descended into Hell to set the ‘captives free’ and take them to heaven to be with Him. He gave the ‘gift of salvation’ to those still alive by grace through faith. Under the New Covenant believers being converted, which occurred after Pentecost, and once they receive the Holy Spirit, may go directly to heaven where we join those saints from the Old Testament as well as New Covenant believers. (II Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23) The Paradise section of Hell is now empty and Christ holds the keys to the other two divisions. (I Thessalonians 4:14: We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.) The reason the Old Testament believers were held temporarily in Paradise was because the blood of animals could not forgive sins. It took Christ’s blood to do that. Once Christ’s blood was shed, it allowed Him to have the key and open the door to Paradise and take the Old Testament Saints with Him to heaven. The thief on the cross next to Christ was told; “today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Jesus did not say He would see him in heaven.

We also are told that Jesus did not ascend to heaven while He was in the center of the earth. Sunday, the day of His resurrection, He would not permit Mary to touch Him because He had not yet gone to heaven. According to (John 20:17) “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Later, the disciples touched Him. (John 20:27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

The Abyss is described as a bottomless pit where the worst of demonic spirits are all held and from where the Antichrist will come. They are locked up until God determines to release them onto the earth during the Great Tribulation. Some believe this could be the gulf between Paradise and the Place of Torment.

Purgatory was supposedly a place men went to do penance or suffer for the sins they had committed in order to purify themselves for a better afterlife. There is no indication anywhere in our Scripture that supports the suggestion that those in Hades or Hell can be granted the opportunity to receive salvation or that there is a Purgatory. Those who enter the Place of Torment have no hope for escape. Isaiah 38:18 – “The grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise, those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.” Knowing about Paradise and Hell provides some assumptions for heaven.

What do we know about heaven?

We know very little. We know many confuse heaven with the new earth and the new heaven that God will create for believers when this old world disappears. (Isaiah 66:22 says: “As the new heavens and the new earth that I will make, declares the Lord.”) We know that we must be saved and forgiven to get there. We will be able to recognize people as they did in Paradise. We know there will be a lot of singing and worshipping. There will be a multitude of angels in heaven. We know there will be no pain, tears, sorrow or death. We know that God and Christ are there. Matthew 22:30 tells us there will be no marriages as we will be like angels. Luke 20:29-38 – “’Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second one married her and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’ Jesus replied: ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

We may assume heaven is a temporary holding place for the souls of believers until God’s plans are fulfilled for Christ to come back to earth to rule for a 1000 years. (In heaven, one day may be as a 1000 years to God.) After that we know we will be transported to a new earth that is indescribable and beautiful which will be covered later.

The Great Tribulation must take place before Christ comes to rule the earth.

Matthew 24:4 – 25 tells us to watch out and let no one deceive you. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation. There will be famines and earthquakes. You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by all nations because of me. There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and will never be equaled again. There will be false prophets. They will perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect. There will be seven years that the Antichrist will rule called the time of Tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 18 – “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command and the dead in Christ will rise first. (The dead may refer to those having died and are in heaven.) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” This has been called the rapture. I Corinthians 15:52 reads that we will be changed and receive an imperishable body and will become immortal. The Bible says we will be like Christ. 1 John 3:2 – “When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

The question has always been: when will believers be raptured? Will it be prior to the seven years of Tribulation, in the middle at 3½ years or when it is finished? During the Great Tribulation there will be massive earthquakes, chaotic plagues, stars will fall from the sky and the oceans and streams will turn to blood. There will be disease such as AIDS and worse. Some believe the church will be raptured before the Tribulation. Some believe it will be after 3½ years while Satan is ruling. Others believe we will be raptured after the seven years of Tribulation. (Pre-Mid-Post)

How do we know if we will be taken? Ephesians 1:13 tell us, “We were marked in Christ with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” If we have received the Holy Spirit we have been sealed. The knowledge that the Holy Spirit is in our lives is all we need to know to be assured that we are saved, secure and one of God’s children. Thus, if we are alive we will be raptured.

Following the Rapture

Revelation 20:4 & 6 – “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 for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

Those who came to life, (we believe those coming from heaven) will rule with Christ a thousand years on this earth. And, they will not die a second time for they will rule with Christ during the thousand years. We believe the earth will have its curse removed and it will be an environment similar to what it was like before Adam’s sin. As Peter says, if God promised it, He then knows how to do it.

At the end of the thousand years Satan is let loose once again. Rev. 20:7 – 10 – Satan will convince millions to go to war against Christ and His people. Scripture says a fire will burn them up and the Devil and his followers will be thrown into the “Lake of Fire”. From the beginning of time, anyone whose name was not entered in the “Book of Life” was hurled into the “Lake of Fire”. This is where all non-believers will end up. (2nd Peter 3:7, 10, 12 – Luke 21:25-27 – Malachi 4:1.)

Rev: 21:1 – 4 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Gone will be our present earth, destroyed by fire according to 2nd Peter 3:7. The new world is prepared for God’s people. God, Christ and the Holy Spirit will live with His people as God did with Adam and Eve in the garden. There will be no more pain, mourning or death for the old order is gone. Our diets will be different as we eat fruit from the Tree of Life. The same tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat. There will be no sun and sin is banished. Christ said that He was going away to prepare for us a mansion. Keep in mind that we are talking about the new earth. Our present heaven, the third heaven as Paul describes in II Corinthians 12:2 where God dwells now, is not necessarily paved with streets of gold. In this heaven, it doesn’t talk about eating or describe how we will live.

Rev 21: 5 “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

God says He is making everything new. Those who are victorious will inherit all these blessings and He will be their God and they will be His Children. Those who do not accept Christ, as their Savior will spend eternity separated from God.

Revelation 21:15-18 “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold.”
The angel measured the city, its gates and its walls. It was 1400 miles square. Its walls were 200 feet thick. The new earth will be a perfect cube. The Holy of Holies in the Old Testament temple was also a perfect cube. The measurements are all in multiples of 12. The number 12 in the Bible stood for perfection and completeness. There are 12 tribes, 12 apostles and the walls surrounding the earth will be 12 by 12. The walls will have 12 layers. There will be 12 gates. It will be large enough to hold in excess of one billion people. The walls being 200 feet thick symbolize security. Everything on the new earth will radiate the presence of God. It will have no impurities; nothing will impede its ability to transmit God’s Glory.

Revelation 21:19 & 22 – “The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.” “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

The picture of walls made of jewels reveals that the New Jerusalem will be a place of purity and durability. On the new earth there will be no need for a temple because God’s presence will be everywhere. He will be worshiped throughout the city.

Revelation 21:23-25 “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”

The city doesn’t need a sun or a moon for light. God’s glory is its light and Christ is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light and the earth’s kings will bring in their splendor. Its gates shall never be shut because there is no night. In the new earth there will be no need for a sun or a moon. The temperature will be very comfortable the year around. There will be no darkness because it cannot exist in the presence of light. Since there will be no sin in the presence of God there will be no need for darkness or a need to lock the gates. We will walk in the light of God.

Revelation 21:27 “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The glory and honor of the people will be brought into the city. Nothing sinful will enter the city and no one who defiles (does shameful things), or deceives; only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be able to enter. The Holy City will be beyond one’s imagination when it comes to beauty. God’s kingdom will remain forever for those who are believers. God’s foreknowledge is absolute. He has known from the beginning of time who would worship Him and who would not. Scripture tells us if we die with Christ we will live with Him forever. (Matthew 19:28-30)

Revelation 22:1-2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

We know there was a time when humans ate only vegetables and fruits. We believe this will be our diet in the new earth. Water, which is necessary for life will come from a river that is crystal clear. The leaves of trees will cure all the hurts of nations. We will have no fears for God will provide all of our needs.

Revelation 22:3 & 4 – “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

The throne of God and the Lamb will be at the center. His servants shall worship God and offer their services. They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads. Nothing cursed will be in God’s presence for He has lifted the curse that He placed on earth banishing Adam & Eve from the garden. God and His children will never live in an imperfect setting. Our relationship to God in eternity means there will probably be duties that we are required to perform. God’s face has not been seen since Adam and Eve were in the garden. However, we will see the face of God and we will be sealed with the Spirit of God. Our character and our behavior shall be the same as Christ. We shall have a close relationship with Him. He will not always be on a throne but walking among His people.

Revelation 22:5 – “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”

No one will need lamplight or sunlight for God will be our light. We shall rule with Him forever and ever. This indicates there will be no more evil in the world or need of darkness. The night and day was to mark the passage of time. In the New Jerusalem, in eternity, there is no need to measure time. We shall rule with Him forever and ever, which has been the promise and hope of every Christian. This is what it is all about. Is living a disciplined life, saved, totally surrendered, having repented and committed to Christ for eighty some years or however many, worth forever and ever?

Revelation 22:6 & 7 – “The angel said to me: ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.’”
An angel said these are dependable and accurate words for everyone. God has sent His angel to tell you what must take place and soon. “Tell them I am on My way.” Blessed are those who keep the prophecy of this book. An angel is attesting to what John has written is trustworthy and true. Throughout history God has told His prophets what the future holds. God told Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and the other prophets what would happen at the end of the age and it was told to John so that a comprehensive presentation could be put into this one book, the Book of Revelation. The word ‘soon’, as I will return soon, could be interpreted to mean imminent, implies with certainty and suddenly. It has also been interpreted to say, when these events occur, as described in Revelation, they will happen in quick succession.

Revelation 22:8-11 “I, John saw all of these things with my own eyes and heard them with my ears. I fell down to worship the angel that showed me. He objected saying, I am a servant just like you and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God! Then he said not to put this book away on a shelf for time is near. Let those doing wrong continue; the one who is evil, let him be; the one who is good should continue to be good and the one who is holy should continue to be holy.”

John, we believe a cousin of Jesus, didn’t just imagine what he had written. Could an Apostle of Christ, one that Jesus had in His inner-circle, possibly make this up? Daniel had seen many things in heaven and he was commanded not to tell what he had seen because it was not a message for Daniel’s time. John is being told, everything you have seen and heard you are to make sure it becomes published. God wants His promises available for everyone to read. This is also how we will know when events unfold so we will not allow the Antichrist to deceive us. The angel is not recommending evil living. Do not be swayed by how others live. The consequences of how we live will determine the choices we make and the heavenly rewards that we will receive.

Revelation 22:12-15 “I’m on my way. My reward is with me. I will reward everyone according to what they have done. I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end. How blessed are those who have washed their robes. The Tree of Life is theirs for good and they will walk through the gates of the city. All the evildoers will live outside the city.”

We believe this is an illustration that nothing evil will enter the city. Scripture tells us that the evildoers were cast into the Lake of Fire. The reason for walls around the city was to denote security. Walls are not needed if the gates are always open. In the Old Testament rewards were often immediate for living according to God’s principles. In the New Testament the rewards in most cases were to be deferred until Christ’s judgment. Otherwise all good Christians would be rich based upon Old Testament history. Rewards probably will be based more on one’s heart and attitude, their love for God and others, rather than having been a teacher, minister or never missing a church service. However, it is very clear in verse 12, “My reward is with me and I will give to every one according to what he has done.” This is why our church emphasizes serving, giving of our time and money, being in a small group and becoming connected to God and others. But it is not works but deeds that will receive rewards. Works is defined as expecting something in return for what we do for others. Deeds meaning we serve with unconditional love expecting nothing in return for our service.

Mark 13:24–31 tells more about the second coming. How can we know that we will go to heaven? I John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” These verses tell us if we love our brothers and sisters we will have life. If we have hate in our hearts and not love we will die. If you want to know what true love is Christ gave us an example. He laid down His life that our sins could be forgiven. Real love may require real sacrifice. How much are we willing to help others? What does it mean to lay down our lives for another? It may mean giving up our rights; it may mean putting others’ needs or interests above our own. Love produces being selfless and sacrificial giving. It may mean serving others without any expectation that they reciprocate. Two Christians who marry and have this kind of love in their hearts can have a lifetime of happiness. Their lives are not dead, they are children of God and they are alive.

I John 3:21 & 22 “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”

I John 3:24 “Those who obey his commands live in him and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us. We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” The Apostle John tells us there are ways to know we are going to heaven: We have unconditional love in our hearts and we do not hate fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and we know by seeing Holy Spirit inspired supernatural events taking place in our lives. The Holy Spirit teaches us, we receive fruits from the Holy Spirit and we are led or checked by the Holy Spirit.