A number of years ago I heard a story about a flea that was put into a jar with a lid on top.  The flea kept jumping trying to get out but it would hit its head on the lid with each jump.  After a number of tries the flea would quit trying, not wanting to endure the pain, and you could remove the lid and the flea would remain in the jar.

We cannot explain how Satan’s forces influence our thinking.  By faith we trust Scripture that tells us he is a negative influence.  Let me illustrate what it may be like to be under Satan’s control.  We have been placed inside the devil’s box with a lid over us.  Many of us have committed the sins of: pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony and laziness just to name some.  Our conscience tells us this is wrong and we feel guilty, unworthy and go through life with a lot of baggage.  We have been hurt by our mistakes as the flea was each time he jumped and possibly by what others have done to us.  Our baggage that we drag along with us keeps many of us from thinking positive thoughts and a willingness to take on life’s risks.  Satan’s emissaries use this guilt and baggage to keep us from stepping outside life’s box and allowing us to live as God had intended for us to live.  The goal of these evil forces is to keep control over our lives through guilt and fear and being disobedient to God’s ways.

Christ came that He may take the lid off the box that Satan’s forces have us in so we might enjoy the blessings that God has for us.  At first we rejoice in salvation and begin a new life while the lid comes off the box.  As we grow in spiritual maturity Christ keeps reaching His hand out to us trying to help us learn how to live outside the box with our new freedom.  However, we are often like the Apostle Peter who asked Christ to allow him to walk on water.  Christ did and Peter took a few steps and sank.  Often our situation is very similar.  We may take a step outside the box only to feel more secure getting back into our comfort zone inside the seeming security that the box presented.

It isn’t easy living outside the box because more is expected of us.  Satan’s forces often tell us living outside the box will require risk taking and it’s a boring life.  Like Peter, we do not have the faith or the trust to realize; outside the box was where God had intentionally planned for us to live.  He really can’t bless us as long as we are in Satan’s box; because Satan tells us we are not worthy enough to be blessed.

In some cases, Satan has made a pact with some individuals and has released them from the box because he knows they will serve him and they can be trusted.  Some become wealthy, powerful and others even idolized.  They can be politicians, actors, musicians, business people or religious fanatics.  There are no limits as to whom satanic forces may use to influence the world.

The Christian must realize that we too can live outside the box but, live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and compete with those serving the forces of evil.  The prince of darkness took control of the world when Adam and Eve relinquished the control God had given them prior to their sinning.  It is easier for some people to have allegiance to the world than to God.  The world is visible and can be seen and those who live by the rules of the world, many times receive greater material rewards and recognition than those who separate themselves from the world and live holy lives for God, who is not visible and live according to His ways.

What does it take as a Christian to grasp the hand of Christ and live outside the box and receive the blessings of joy, peace and eternal hope?  Scripture tells us we must be willing to give of our best, have faith and trust to believe the promises of Christ, be obedient and persistent, develop a relationship with God and others and be willing to do good deeds with unconditional love.  We must realize that negative fear comes from the devil and Christian love comes from God.  We must allow Christ to change our lives to such an extent that we no longer allow guilt and negative fears keep us from living as God had meant that we live.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” NIV

I believe one of the greatest blessings is knowing and never doubting that we can live in eternity with God.  However, we must escape the devil’s box that has enclosed us from childhood.  The only way that occurs is the acceptance of Christ as our Savior.  Our blessing is knowing the truth and the truth is what sets us free.  Are you rid of the baggage acquired from the past and have been forgiven of your sins?  Do you feel worthy of God’s love and have you accepted His offer to be one of His children?  When you have, begin watching for the many blessings that God can then give to you.  If you haven’t, you will not realize how many blessings you may have missed.

One of my blessings is to have been born in America.  Where else do they have the freedom of speech and worship as we do?  I am thankful for the career opportunities that exist.  I am thankful for our Christian heritage.  What other country has been blessed with the abundance that we have?  However, it didn’t just happen.  God made and prepared this country so that people could come who felt they didn’t have the freedom to worship as Scripture taught.  It reminds me of what He promised to some Israelites.

Isaiah 41: 17 – 20 – ““When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them.  I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.  I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.  I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.  I will fill the desert with pools of water.  Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.  I will plant trees in the barren desert—cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.
I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means—that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.”

When was the last time you thanked God for giving to we Americans such a beautiful country with a tremendous amount of natural resources?  In addition, He took Christian men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to provide our constitution and laws to guide us.  You have allowed us to become the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth.  One of our purposes is to become the world’s peace keeper and to spread Your gospel to all peoples in every nation.  For the millions of America Christians we have been grateful.  It was Abraham Lincoln that established the Thanksgiving holiday in gratitude to our Creator.

After 400 years we have done as many before us.  We turned the purpose of the original holiday to material things rather than the giving of thanks to God Who deserves it.  Instead of counting our blessings and achievements we are hearing too much whining.  People are not content and satisfied with what they have; they want more and are not always willing to earn it.

I am blessed for knowing God’s Word and what He promises.  He allows me to have a personal relationship with Him.  He provides me with His Holy Spirit into my life that guides and watches over me.  He gives me my faith and what wisdom I have.  I live a life of peace with a joyful, positive attitude.  He inspired me to be motivated and be prosperous.  There are times He has protected me from accidents and serious problems.  His Spirit has taught me to have a servant’s heart, to be confident and stay humble.  He has instructed me to share love and be generous with what He has given me.  He teaches that we can all be successful.  We can be successful parents, teachers or leaders in whatever endeavor we choose.

Why are so many Americans disrespectful and disobedient to God?  They refuse to rely and be dependent upon God and put their trust in self or government.  Why are they takers rather than givers?  Show me someone having fame or fortune that has the same joyful and peaceful calmness that many needy Christians, living as Christ has instructed us, have.

One thing that God taught, we were to give a tenth of what we had to the Temple or His ministry. It had to be our very best, without spot or defect. Yet it is so hard for so many to be givers.  What would motivate them to give to God’s ministry as taught by Scripture?  What blessing could they receive?

Matthew 6:20 – “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

Being generous and giving is like storing up treasurers in heaven.  I have wondered if someone like Billy Graham were taken to heaven like the Apostle John was and God said: Tell My people, every time Christians charitably give it is recorded in heaven.  Those who give will receive a 20% return annually, compounded and that amount will be given to them when they spend the 1000 years with Christ on earth.  Do you think Christians would give more knowing it was being recorded for their future use?

It shouldn’t just be on Thanksgiving that we count our blessings but, daily.  If you watch carefully and patiently you will see God intervening in your life.  These “It’s A God Thing” occur more than we realize unless we are alert and expecting.   I count each as blessings!

I have been concerned with our current administration’s seeming unconcern for the safety of Israel.  When President Obama tells the Jewish people: We have got your back, what does he really mean?  Presently, rockets are being fired on Israel and we have said very little as to what our plans in this might be.  I would have expected more by now.  However, the president said that Israel has every right to defend itself and it is apparent they are.

The news reports that Hamas is shelling Israel, from Gaza with Iranian made rockets, upward of 200 per day capable of reaching up to 50 miles into Israel.  Recently Israel has destroyed Hamas’s long-range arsenal.  The threat of a nuclear attack from Iran appears to be getting closer or will they ship a nuclear bomb to one of their Hamas’s bases to hit Israel?  Hamas has units in Iran, Sudan and Lebanon in addition to the Gaza Strip all desiring to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  Will America intervene?

In my daily reading of the Bible I came across Isaiah chapter 31 and as often happens, it made me think that what was written hundreds of years ago could apply today.

Isaiah 31:1 – 3 – “What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.   In his wisdom, the Lord will send great disaster; he will not change his mind.  He will rise against the wicked and against their helpers.  For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When the Lord raises his fist against them, those who help will stumble, and those being helped will fall.  They will all fall down and die together.”  NLT

I believe the Lord is telling the Israelites that they should not be looking for military help from other nations.  They were told to put their trust in God for their protection.  In fact, if they put their trust in others rather than God, He could not protect them. That doesn’t necessarily reject help from others but their dependency must be from God and not others.  So what is Israel doing now?  Are they repenting and praying or continuing to live in a secular manner?  Don’t we ever realize when bad things sometimes happen, God is telling us to change direction, repent and start focusing on Him?

I am afraid that Israelites are like many Americans.  We put our trust much more in our military than we do in God.  It is great to be prepared however; we must understand that we have a more reliable defense from God than all the weapons we have accumulated.  When it comes to terrorism I would be less concerned if we were the Christian nation I remember as a child.

American soldiers have fought enough wars to realize there have been many times when God has intervened and saved many from potential disaster. I had seven cousins in World War II and you should listen to some of their “A God Thing” stories. Having served in the Navy, during war time, I have heard many war stories when results seemed supernatural. I have lived through enough wars: World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. to realize the affect it has on one’s prayer life when either you or a family member is involved.  But do we need wars and rumors of war to set our priorities toward God?  I certainly trust God more than I do government.  I see Israel needing America’s help only if they refuse to repent and put their trust in God.

Our winning World War II could have been the ability to create the atomic bomb.  The use of the bomb potentially saved millions of lives.  It did end our war with Japan.  What if we didn’t have the mental capacity to build some of the defense armament we have today?  Are we just smart or did God instigate the idea in the minds of U. S. engineers for American use rather than for our enemies?  It is sad to see Americans ignoring God and living immoral, secular lives.  Can we count on God’s help in times of need as we have in the past?  I hope so but wouldn’t it be better to know so?

There are a number of groups trying to take God out of our society.  Don’t let them!  Americans: Stop being deceived by Satan and his emissaries and turn to God.  Don’t you realize Satan wants Israel and America destroyed and we both need God’s protection?

Only a fool believes there is no God.  What are the odds of evolution?  Every species, insects, birds, fish, animals or humans there is a male and a female.  Each can reproduce its own kind.  The male thinks and acts differently than the female.  What are the chances that this could just evolve without defects and originate from blobs? What blob of dust did the hummingbird come from? I do believe in some evolution.  Young ladies are much prettier today than they were 200 years ago.   So can we believe the prophecies of the Bible?  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.

God tells us there will be a time when the world, as we know it, will end and a different new world will exist.  Those of us who believe in God and the Bible want to know what we might expect when the end happens and what will this new world be like.  Isaiah 11:10 – “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.”  Christ will reign and all nations will live in perfect peace and live according to His ways.  I certainly do not dread the end times regardless how bad they will be.  I am looking forward to living throughout eternity in a resting place that will be glorious with Jesus in charge rather than living with Satan and his emissaries who are running this place.  Matthew 24:3 – “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’”

Matthew 24:21 – 22 – “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.   ‘If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.’” The elect or some Christians will go through this period and the time will be shortened because of them.

Matthew 24:4 – 25 warns us to let no one deceive us.  We will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  Nation will rise against nation.  There will be large earthquakes, famine and disease.   Christians will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death.  (Believers: Your faith will increase and fear of death will be diminished.) We will be hated by all nations because of our belief in Christ.  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 strongest and most faithful Christians.  II Peter 3:17 – “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”

We are told Cross references:

1. Matthew 24:21 : Eze 5:9; Da 12:1; Joel 2:2
2. Matthew 24:22 : ver 24, 31

the end of the age will be challenging.  Religious men will come saying they are Christ or His representative and will deceive many.    One-third of the population will be killed before God steps in to stop it.  Without God’s intervention it is possible that the world’s population could be destroyed.

I Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 – “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  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.”  To read about the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth read Revelation Chapters 20 thru 22.

This new world will not be boring.  Einstein, Edison, Ford, Jobs and others made a difference.  Don’t you think God can create things we could only dream about?  God created the enjoyment of marriage.  He will do whatever it takes to keep us happy with peace and joy in our hearts.  Some of us will die and go to Heaven where God has had years to prepare mansions for us to enjoy.  Others will be caught up into the air and return with Christ to populate the earth under His control.  He will be able to control the weather as He did on the Sea of Galilee.  We will have an economic system that will be fair to all.  We will have jobs and responsibilities.  We will be given new immortal bodies and will never get sick or die because of how we think, live and what we eat will preserve us. Do you realize how many health problems and deaths result from having an unforgiving attitude?

In the new world when we live with Christ, we will have our same temperaments; we will remember what we have learned under the world’s old age.  We will live as families and know those who were our friends on earth.  Imagine what the earth will be like with no Satan and everyone living at peace with each other.  There will be no hostilities or fear.  We will get up each day looking forward to what’s ahead.  After the 1000 years on earth those remaining true to Christ will be transported to a new heaven and earth where there will be no oceans only the river of life.  The old world will be destroyed by fire and those who never believed and did not accept Christ will be destroyed forever.  Imagine what God has created for His children who continually obey Him.  I believe it is an impossible dream to envision.

Revelation 21:1 – 5b – “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, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell 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.”   He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Who ever thought heaven would be boring and there wouldn’t be fun things to do, doesn’t know God.  I just hate dying to get there.

Christians, accept it, you may not like it but God chose President Obama over Governor Romney.  My many years of studying Biblical prophecy persuaded me to believe that God has a plan for the end times that is now beginning to take place.  I recently wrote that God would determine who the next president of the US would be.  I believe the person He would chose for president would indicate how much closer we are getting to what the Bible describes as the rapture of Christians, when we meet Christ in the air and the time of great Tribulation on earth.

Those who have followed me over the past three years know that anytime an event takes place my response is: God what are we to learn from this experience?  It appeared to me that Gov. Romney was going to be elected until Hurricane Sandy occurred. Sandy stormed into New Jersey and New York when we had a full moon, a high tide and unusual situations. One of President Obama’s critics, Republican Gov. Chris Christie was telling America how great of a job President Obama was doing. I believe this changed the momentum from Romney to President Obama.  Think!  Who can control the weather besides God?

I have previously stated that God chose two nations to prove through these countries that He was God.  Under the Old Covenant He chose Israel so the world could see God through that nation.  Under the New Covenant He later chose America so that others could see Him as God.  The way He blessed Israel and then had to punish them also applies to America today.  America has strayed so far from the concept of the original founding fathers that it is no longer able to serve God’s intended purpose as peace maker of the world and gospel deliverer.  This leaves the world in a very precarious condition.  Wars and rumors of wars, an unusual amount of large earthquakes and all of the things Christ shared would be signs that the end was in sight.

The Bible does not say we are headed for a one-world government but it sure is indicated.  Daniel 7:23 – 26 – “Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.  ‘But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.’”

Revelation 13:7 & 8 – “And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.

The indications are that President Obama wants to change us from a nation with a capitalist economy to a social justice economy.  We believe this is the fulfillment of prophecy toward the one-world government described in the Bible.  This is why I believe God chose President Obama to bring us nearer to the end of the world as we now know it.  It has to happen someday.   How much longer do you think God is going to allow the immorality of the way the world lives today?  How much is He willing to take?  We saw His intervention in the Old Testament and what He did to Sodom and Gomorrah. Prophecy states that one-third of the population will be destroyed.

Just think, when the end time comes we will have 1000 years of peace when Christ reigns.  Why would a Christian believer not want this to happen sooner rather than later?  Wouldn’t you want to raise your family in a more peaceful environment?  Think how great God’s love is and He wants only the best for His children.

Isaiah 11:6 – 10 – “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.  The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.  The cow will graze near the bear.  The cub and the calf will lie down together.

The lion will eat hay like a cow.  The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.  Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.  Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.  In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world.  The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.”  My next blog tells about the glorious place.

For years the world has yearned for peace, yet it has always been fleeting.  The League of Nations failed and the United Nations has done little better.  The United Nations has a Security Council, a Peace Building Commission, a Disarmament Commission, a Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, a Human Rights Commission and others.  Yet, there are wars and rumors of wars continually.  There is corruption in almost every form of government.  Everyone wants peace and true justice and fail to find it. 

In the 10th chapter of Genesis it tells of a person named Nimrod.  It is believed that he was the founder of a great, evil Babylonian empire.  Genesis 11:1 – “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.”  It had a one-world government.  They built a 300 foot structure, possibly a pyramid with steps going up the side.  Their plan was to build a tower that reached to the heavens.  Genesis 11:5 – 7 – “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.  The LORD said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.  Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’”  So God scattered the people throughout the world and they began speaking different languages.  It doesn’t seem to be God’s plan for a one-world-government. 

We now have many American progressives, socialists, communists and Muslims desiring to form a one-world government.  Who do you think was behind Nimrod’s evil one-world government and those planning a one-world government today?  You win if you said Satan.  What was God’s reaction to the evil Babylonian empire?  He didn’t allow it.  However, the situation may be different this time as we read what happens in the end-times from Revelation and the actual forming of a one-world-government. 

There are a number of leaders in most every nation who believe that a one-world government would be the only way the world could have total peace.  They never seem to be able to provide an answer to what would the consequences be?  What kind of laws would we have?  Who would enforce them?  What kind of justice would corrupt leaders provide?  What people dream and hope for seldom comes to fruition.  Notice each form of government has failed to provide the assurance of peace. 

As long as there is evil in the world and man’s carnal nature is out-of-control, there is little chance for lasting peace.  However, there will be a time:

Isaiah 11:4 – 10 – “He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited.  The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.   He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.  In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.  The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.  The cow will graze near the bear.  The cub and the calf will lie down together.  The lion will eat hay like a cow.  The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.  Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.  In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world.  The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.” NLT

God promised that the Messiah, a descendant of King David, would rule forever.  He will be the only one that will reign and provide honest treatment for everyone. Who else will know the thoughts of each individual?  During Christ’s rule the world will have universal peace.  Everyone will have knowledge of the Lord and know His ways.  God will write the laws in the hearts of every person.  He will be our God and we will be His people.  This peace will not only be extended to humans but to ferocious beasts who will be as tame as a kitten.  This will only happen after all unbelievers will be removed from His leadership.    

Isaiah 40:10 & 11 – “Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.   He will rule with a powerful arm.   See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.   He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” 

God will provide a safety net for the least able members of society.  He will be protective yet gentle in watching over all people.  We will not need a government to take care of us we will be dependent upon God.  God says He takes a hold of our right hand so we will not fear.  Do you feel His grip?  Do you sense His help?  If not you may need to look at the three things.  Do we have confidence that God will keep His promises?  Will we feel accepted by Him?  We will unquestionably be able to know God’s plan for each of us.  Do we believe He will want us to do well and be achievers every minute of each day? If then, why not now?

You may wonder why good people sometimes do bad things. It may be that they believe what they are doing is really what needs to be done. Or, one’s sinful nature is not controlled and some acts of that nature are hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy and others.

It all starts at birth when we have been given a conscience. It doesn’t take long before we become aware of what is right and what is wrong. We then learn from those who surround us. Our conscience can be swayed to believe whatever we are seeing or learn from others. We can become morally corrupt or morally honest. If we were raised by parents who were addicted and possibly in prison from time to time we could have a conscience that anything goes. It is also possible to be raised by religious fanatics or zealots. Our conscience or our spirit determines what options we take throughout life.

The Bible tells us that once we reach maturity we will be judged by God as being under His law. This requires living by many of the laws given in the first five books of the Bible under the Old Covenant. We are also told that on our own it is impossible to do. However, through Christ we have been given a choice to accept Him as our Savior and be freed from the law and live under the New Covenant of grace. It requires that we allow our conscience or spirit to surrender to the old ways and allow it to become reprogrammed to the love of God. This means the old nature of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy and others die out and be changed to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as described in Galatians 5:22. We are no longer motivated by the fear of the law that enslaved us but motivated by the love of God that frees us.

Why, after a person has accepted Christ and repented, do they continue to do things that they know are wrong, sinful and possibly evil? The conscience does not completely die out and reverts to previous conditions. However, you cannot disobey God and not suffer the consequence.

As a store manager I was told that at least 25% of our employees would steal from us if they had the chance. It would amaze me when a key person was caught stealing and had to be terminated. I wondered what would make someone risk a good paying job for a few dollars. This is what I learned:

Many have a poor or weak self-image. People feeling worthy and secure don’t normally do things that are unethical. People with poor self-images may have a real need for acceptance and do things because everyone else seems to be doing it and getting away with it. They react to whatever environment they are in. Some will do whatever is necessary to receive bigger bonuses and feel justified in doing so. Others will do what they feel must be done to get a promotion. In the minds of good people they seem to be able to rationalize and justify their actions.

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.

RECAP: Lately if you have been listening to many sermons you will find ministers are emphasizing how much God loves us and they are trying to help us improve our self-worth. As Christians, God adopts us into His family and treats us as one of His children. Do you see God as a good or bad parent? Do you see yourself as a “black sheep” of the family? We must all allow the Holy Spirit to change our nature to being positive and acceptable. If we can allow our conscience to be reprogrammed and develop a relationship with Christ that we believe is acceptable, we should not need to be doing bad things regardless what others are doing.

Every time I read the 2nd chapter of Isaiah I am reminded of how close we are getting to the end times.  Verse 2 reads: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”

We are told that Christ will return and rule in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:4  –  “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

Having visited Jerusalem with a number of our church members, I have been interested in the possibility of their temple being rebuilt.  Studying Bible prophecy it indicates that this will only be done in the last days and close to the time when Christians will be raised up into the air to meet our Messiah, Jesus Christ.  In doing research I have learned that there is an interfaith talk with Muslims who believe it is possible to share the temple mount. However, the majority of Muslims are strictly against such a project.

Presently the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim Mosque is located in such a way that If Muslims agreed, the temple could be constructed adjacent to it. Presently, the Temple Institute has been preparing for the temple’s existence.  Some of the instruments and furniture have been produced getting ready for the future temple.  Some have indicated that one goal of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to rebuild the temple.  If that were to occur it could precipitate an immediate war with surrounding Islamic nations.

The Temple Mount is under Islamic control.  From a political perspective it would be almost impossible  to reach any kind of an agreement.  Yet, Scripture indicates a time is coming when a settlement will be reached and the temple can be built.  It is possible that it could be constructed in a one or two year period with modern equipment. It appears only certain Jews will be allowed to be involved in its construction.  It is considered holy ground and non-Jews could desecrate the property.

What will allow the temple to be built?  Will it take a war?  It appears the only time the Jews and Muslims agree is at the end of a war.  Politically, it does not seem that a peaceful agreement could ever happen; especially when many Muslims wish to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  What could ever cause them to relinquish control of the Temple Mount or share it? All we know is that God will allow it to happen in His time.

Here is what we read: there is coming a time when there will be peace in the Middle-East.  A major world power will allow the temple to be erected.  I do not believe it will be an Islamic one.  We know that the Antichrist will rule from Jerusalem for 3½ years. It is very possible that Germany and the European Union could be the ones that brokers peace.

We believe, according to Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, there could be a war instigated by Iran and Russia.  This is when we read in Isaiah that Damascus could be destroyed.  Then Daniel says: 9:27 – “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.” NLT

We know the Antichrist will make the peace.  We just do not know who that is or from which country he will come.  But we know that Jesus will return and He will judge all nations.  We are told there will no longer be any weapons of war.  The entire world will be at peace.  Everyone will be believers who have returned with Jesus to rule for 1000 years and live according to His teaching.

Prior to the war of Armageddon, the church, with the Holy Spirit will be raptured or taken up.  There is just too many who disagree as to when that will happen.  It could be at anytime, but possibly later.  Our goal is not to be left behind and we are to help others go with us.

Armageddon is the final war between God and those nations that are anti-God.  Scripture tells us it will be held near Mount Megiddo at the southern end of the Esdraelon Valley. It is about 70 miles north of Jerusalem.  (Rev. 16:16) It is the final time that nations try to destroy Israel and take Jerusalem.

After Russia, Iran and other nations were defeated as covered in Ezekiel, an Asian army of 200 million came to Israel.  Revelation 9:15 – 16 – “And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.”  Led by unified kings from the East they will kill millions on their way.  Like the previous battle with Russia, Iran and others this Asian army coming from the north is destroyed.  It is very evident that God protects His covenant people and their covenant land.   According to Zechariah 14:12 – “This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.”  This sounds like what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah or is it a result of nuclear retaliation?

God provides a description of the future.  There will be no excuses.  If we are getting close to the end times, are you spiritually ready?  Wouldn’t you want to be taken prior to all of this happening when God raptures His people?