My thoughts on the end times....

 

  To truly understand the second coming of the Lord and even the book of Revelation, I would advise you to do a thorough Bible study. Some people don't know the depth of just how bad things will get, such as starvation, disease, etc.

 As I went about my study of Eschatology-the branch of theology or doctrine concerning the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the last judgement. I found that there are three different major approaches to explaining Bible prophecy.

• Amillennialism-is a view in Christian end-times theology named for its rejection of the theory that Jesus Christ will have a thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. This is in opposition to premillennial and some postmillennial interpretations of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation.

• Post Millennialism- is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after (Latin post-) the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper. The term subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast to premillennialism and, to a lesser extent, amillennialism.

• Pre Millennialism- is the belief that Jesus Christ will literally and physically return to the earth and take the righteous back to heaven with him. This return is referred to as the Rapture, and rather than Jesus descending to touch the Earth, the righteous will be raised to meet Him in the air. Bible passages such as 1 Thes 4:16-17 & Rev 20:1-6 are cited as evidence. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus' physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration of the millennium. It is distinct from the other forms of Christian eschatology such as postmillennialism or amillennialism, which view the millennial rule as occurring either before the second coming, or as being figurative and non-temporal. 

 My belief is that we are in a premillenial state, that although the Bible does use many symbols and figurative language that it should be taken in its literal form. I am terrified to know in what ways people that do NOT accept the Lord and live their lives for Him will have to endure. After all there will come a time when He will remove His hand from them. I just wish people that haven't seen the truth or seen how imperative it is to follow Him would finally realize that we are closer than they think to our Lord's second coming.

 Being on God's side of this spiritual battle is a treasure to me. I NEVER want Him to take His hand off of me or my family. The book of Revelation is a gift that God has given us so that we can see how all of this is going to end. I pray daily for those of you that don't believe or follow Him. The Father is an awesome Father that only wants the best for His children.

What Does It Mean To Become "Christ-like"?

 Coming to God and believing that His son died on the cross for our sins is only part of the equation to living more Christ-like. We must die to self daily to remain even close to His likeness. We must also become like little children.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NIV

What does this passage mean? This passage tells us that we should humble ourselves before the Lord and become unassuming as a child would. To become more Christ-like and advance further in our Christian walk we will have to combat sin and the temptation of it on a continual basis. We are living in a world full of darkness that is fighting to get at our souls. So it is important that we remember that just because we get saved we are not protected from the damages and weight of sin. We will need the Lord's help continually to be protected from that. I have listed below some ways that could help us all stay the course to becoming more Christ-like.

Prayer-Prayer can get you through some of the hardest times in your life. But prayer will also bring you closer to Him
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God's Word-Reading and meditating on God's word is a good way to get His words ingrained into your soul and your daily life.

 Attending a Bible Based Church-Staying in constant contact and surrounding yourself with believers is another way to compound the effect of Jesus Christ in your life and strengthening you to remain in Him.

 

 God wants us to depend on Him. He knows without Him we will not survive the evil that is lurking around every corner.

 

 

 

True Believers Experience Doubt

This blog post is based on the Prayer and Song of Faith located in Habakkuk 3

 Sometimes we can do all the right things as believers and still feel like we made the worst possible decision even when we felt that God helped us along the way and had a hand in getting us to that point.

 This happened to me recently when after a long year of the worst job that I believe I ever had, decided it was time to move on. This job by the way was an answer to prayer to begin with. We just didn't get it. This job was all my family and I had asked God for and more. The only drawback was that it was night shift. But in spite of that we soldiered on. But that soldiering didn't last long. I struggled. My family struggled. It had become a noose around our necks. So we began praying and seeking God constantly. It was on every breathe. It was very hard to stick with it and see God in it all. We had major doubts with no visible light at the end of the tunnel.
 

 Then after a long years battle, job opportunities started flowing steadily in. Then we immediately changed our prayers to request from God that he eliminate all the wrong possibilities. Because NOTHING is more important than being in His will. And it wasn't long until He answered all the prayers we had prayed and everything turned around. We have seen a lot of things that changed as a result of that time in the valley.

 It was in this valley that me family and I clung to God like never before. Admittedly, there were times when we grew weary and wanted to give up. But we just knew He had a purpose. We tried to have unyielding faith to get us through to the next leg of our journey.

Thoughts on False Teachers

 False teachers has been a source of contention since the time Jesus walked the earth and probably beyond and it remains till this very day. The Bible tells us to be on guard (2 Peter 2:1-22). I make it a point to research what I hear so that I will not apply the wrong things to my life. It is our responsibility to search for truth and hold fast to it. With all the technology we have at this day and time we can find an assortment of books, quotes, and videos we can use to learn from. But we must choose the one who speaks the truth.

 If what we see and hear is based solely on the Bible we are home free. BUT, if it is based on man's own interpretation this, is where we run into problems. In 2 Peter 2:1-22, Peter has made it incredibly easy for us by giving us characteristics and actions of the false teacher. The false teachers of Peter's day can still be found in the modern world. Nothing has really changed except for the fact that their games have gotten bigger and their ways even more conniving.

 Go to God in prayer and let the Holy Spirit be your guide against the things you are unsure of. Let God, the Holy Spirit and God's word lead you because in this sinful world we need to lean on God's understanding not our own.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit from a Pentecostal Perspective

 While there are several varying aspects from the different denominations concerning the Holy Spirit and His works. Some denominations refer to Him as an "it" or a "thing", as if He has no personality or purpose. The Bible clearly states that this is not true. The Holy Spirit is a person, He has feelings and thoughts.[taken from the book The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris].

 Since becoming a Christian the baptism of the Holy Spirit has intrigued me. Although, I haven't yet received this gift I eagerly await for it to be given to me. During some of my in depth Bible studies, I have learned that being baptized in the Spirit is a source of supernatural power. Not only does this enable preachers and laymen to minister to all kinds of people with needs ranging from healing on down to raising the dead.

 Even today there are documented reports in countries all over the world of sight being restored, the deathly ill being healed. These reports are not limited to only those miracles. But to others such as people receiving salvation and revival breaking out in areas that otherwise would not hear the gospel.

 It is plain to see in the Bible in Romans 8:27,"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Also here in Acts 15:28,"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:"

There are several more that I didn't reference here. Bottom line, I have learned that the Holy Spirit is just as much a living being as God or Jesus is. And that while we believe that we receive the Holy Spirit upon conversion. It is also far to say that that act alone is NOT the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the people experienced on the day of Pentecost. It is clearly shown that in John 20:22."And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

Jesus in all His wisdom left us with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and I believe if He hadn't we would all be in big trouble. The Holy Spirit helps us get through each moment,day by day so that we are focused on God's will for our lives. He also helps us to stay with the course that has been set before us.