Hearing about what God has done for others in their time of need often helps us to have faith that He will take care of us as well. Even though this miracle happened a long time ago the principle of God’s provision still applies.
Think about it In 1921, several British men became lost in the Sinai Desert during a sandstorm. They waited for rescue, but after several days they had run out of water. Desperately they decided to try to dig a well. One of the men remembered the story in the Bible in which Moses struck a rock and brought forth water for the children of Israel. He told his friends that they were in the same Sinai Desert that Moses was in, and there was a large rock nearby. Why not trust in God just like Moses did and try to find water? The thirsty men immediately began to swing at the rock with a small pick axe they had. At the first stroke, water began flowing out of the rock. A miracle! The men were able to drink the clean, sweet water until they were finally rescued, proving that an Old Testament miracle could happen even in the 20th century and can also happen in any century because God has promised in Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
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Sealing of God’s People and the Seven Trumpets of the Tribulation
Revelation chapter 7 describes how God holds back His avenging angels till those who were His servants on Earth had received this seal. We don't know what form this seal will take, although it seems to be a spiritual rather than an actual physical mark. One thing we do know is that those who receive it are His people, and they are not on the receiving end of these plagues. It is the followers of the Antichrist who are on the receiving end, those who are trying to persecute and kill the ones who refuse to worship the Beast. For all the trouble, pain, and hurt they try to inflict on those who love Jesus, it sounds like the Antichrist and his followers come off the worst for it. Revelation chapters 8-10 relay what will happen when the Seven Trumpets of the Tribulation are sounded in Heaven and seven mighty and fearsome angels begin to execute the judgments of God on the Antichrist's empire. (Please remember that these posts are just an over views of what is going to happen so I don’t go into detail about everything that is prophesied or an explanation as to what it might be, we will have to wait to understand what all these creatures and events are and the timing of them are. However we do know all these things will happen.) In brief of the Seven Trumpets of the Tribulation:
The next endtime post will be posted on Sept 1. A lot of people think Heaven is sitting around on a cloud playing a harp all day, doing nothing except being "holy"—and they don't find it very appealing! Thank God that is not what Heaven is like!
Heaven is not a state or condition. Heaven is a place. "I go to prepare a place for you," promised Jesus. "In My Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2).--CLA Heaven is a pretty practical, common sense, down-to-earth place! Heaven is not so terribly different from this present existence to where we can't even comprehend or understand it. Otherwise, when we arrived there, we would be completely lost and we wouldn't be able to relate to it. We're going to be surprised when we discover that things in Heaven are normal and natural, much like this life. Of course, it will be better, much more beautiful and supernatural, without all the troubles, trials, tribulations, suffering, tears and pain we have here. However, it will still be enough like this life that we will survive the change and not suffer some sort of traumatic "culture shock." It'll be life very much like we're living now, only without the bad and evil. Heaven is not a place of eternal rest, but a place of eternal life. Concerning the loved ones who have passed on … do not try to make me believe that they are doing nothing, merely resting, careless ever. That would imply the condition of Hell, not of Heaven.--Campbell Morgan We must get away from the traditional idea that the saints in Heaven have one eternal holiday; that they have nothing to occupy them save playing a harp and incessantly singing.--H. Lockyer The material universe … even down to the smallest electron, is in motion. Heaven undoubtedly is a very active place. Suns and planets are speeding through the universe at terrific speeds. Nothing could be further from the truth than the old idea that in Heaven the people are just sitting around, or lolling about, with nothing to do—an idle, stagnant life. It is inconsistent to imagine a Heaven in which people would sit under the shade of the trees, or on the bank of the River of Life, twanging a harp—"perhaps a thousand strings"—and spend an eternity in a do-nothing world! … We cannot conceive that God would put us in another world with renewed and enlarged powers of body and mind, and leave us with nothing to do.--Leewin B. Williams In Heaven we shall not rest from our work, but from our labors. There will be no toil, no pain in the work. We're going to have plenty of work to do, but it's going to be a lot easier than here. There'll be no sorrow, no sickness, no pain, no weariness, no death, no more tears, no more crying. That's certainly going to make things easier. We're going to have rest in Heaven compared to what we've had in this life, but we're also going to have something to do. We'd eventually be unhappy if we didn't! The thought of eternal rest is boring. If we had nothing to do and no responsibilities, living would become a bore and a burden. Paradise … is a place of beauty because it is a place of growth.--C.L. Allen After death we are given another chance for the fulfillment of the best in the individual life. Eternal life overcomes all human limitations.--C.L. Allen I feel within me that future life. I am like a forest that has been razed; the new shoots are stronger and brighter. I shall most certainly rise toward the heavens. … The nearer my approach to the end, the plainer is the sound of immortal symphonies of worlds which invite me. For half a century I have been translating my thoughts into prose and verse: history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song; all of these I have tried. But I feel I haven't given utterance to the thousandth part of what lies within me. When I go to the grave I can say, as others have said, "My day's work is done." But I cannot say, "My life is done." My work will recommence the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes upon the twilight, but opens upon the dawn.--Victor Hugo Death is the opposite of retiring. Jesus made a promise to those who are faithful in this life: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:23). Death is the emancipation of the soul into greater activity.--C.L. Allen The future life is where we will go on helping to bring the universe to perfection, which is God's grand ultimate aim. [The purpose of life] is to help God run the universe. Everyone in that better land will be busy all the time, and the environment will be perfect all the time for doing the work which God assigns to all.--Edwin Markham By Luz Alemana, Germany
Around Christmas 2019 I received an email from a dear sister in Japan who wrote about John’s work with the Syrian refugees, which said: “Whenever I receive John’s newsletters I wonder what more could I do than send a little donation. At least I can make others aware of these dear people’s situation, and of course, if you can help, please do. I am living in Fukuoka with still 10 degrees in December, in a warm apartment and with a warm shower and plenty of food and clothes. I can’t imagine to live in a tent in winter with not even sufficient clothes. But that is only the physical side. There is the loss of loved ones and terrible memories, traumas, and injuries, and the list goes on and on.” The above phrase in italics turned a key in my heart, and I asked John if he needed my help in Turkey at the border with Syria. He said that the month of May would be a good month to come, but somehow I felt I couldn’t wait that long, and John said, “Okay, come in March.” In this article I want to share about the amazing time I had these last nearly three and a half months here in southern Turkey. I arrived on March 4th. I came from Berlin, Germany. The plan was for me to stay for a month, helping as a volunteer with the Syrian refugees. Coronavirus was just starting in Turkey when I arrived. Since we were still free to travel, we went to visit a family of Syrian refugees in a city on the Mediterranean Sea. John’s charity helped them get a flat where they could live a decent life with their four small daughters, away from the tent cities with thousands of refugees. There, the father could receive the medical help he needed so desperately. He had been tortured both by ISIS and the regime, and was in very serious physical condition, paralyzed. The medical help he needed was supplied by various sponsors. He is doing much better now! The mother and oldest daughter prepared an amazing meal for us. The children and the parents were very friendly and outgoing. Their faces have a special light and their smiles are so pure! After all this family has been through, it is a miracle of God that they don’t show any bitterness or hardness of heart. After this trip we went to Reyhanlı, a city right at the Syrian border. There three rehabilitation centers are partially sponsored by donors. Formerly strong young men, who have lost their legs or arms (or sometimes all their limbs) during the war, live together in these homes. Through the donations of generous sponsors, many receive medical help. We brought some wheelchairs for the most needy. They were so thankful! Imagine a big man having to be carried around by a helper all the time like a little child, unable to walk on his own. Having a wheelchair gives them back a small amount of dignity. One young man who has no legs told us how hard it was for him to be continually on the receiving side; he longs to be someone who can contribute to help others instead. There are about 90,000 amputees from the Syrian civil war living in different tent cities and towns; some never get any help to improve their lives. Shortly after the lockdown happened and all flights were cancelled, I couldn’t travel back to Germany on April 4th as I had planned. That was a pleasant surprise! Then the month of Ramadan started and donations came flooding in like never before! John nearly collapsed under the enormous amount of work he had to do to take care of all the legal paperwork to register every penny that was given to the charity, and to organize and document every single food box that was given out to refugees in their slum homes or in their tent cities and also across the border in Syria, where millions of internally displaced persons are living in squalor. The situation with COVID-19 was getting worse. “STAY HOME” was a sad, cruel joke for many refugees who are homeless and who would have loved to be able to go back to their homes, if they existed. On top of that, they were told to wash their hands regularly, but most of the children in the new informal tent settlements couldn’t have a wash for a week because of lack of water! Through many sponsors, nearly 300 water tanks (each one holding 1000 liters) were donated for over 30 tent cities in northwest Syria. This helped the families have access to water—what a blessing! Even small plastic swimming pools were sponsored, and many children had fun playing together in the hot weather. There is so much to tell. I can’t find the words to tell you about the wonderful work being done here by John and his amazing volunteers, who seem to work nonstop to make the lives of these families better! Tomorrow I have to fly back to Germany, but my heart is overflowing with all the love I have received here through all these wonderful people. I would be so happy to come back! If you would like to read more about John’s work go to https://radgiving.weebly.com and look under the Update page for Syrian Refugee Team Updates. God's People will do exploits and the Two Endtime Witnesses
The Bible promises that during this time we will do exploits. This is very important because the plan for the Lord's people during this momentous and trouble-filled time is to witness to others and teach them and instruct them as to what is going on. The Antichrist regime will be horrible and oppressive, and many people are going to hate it and will want to know what they can do about it. Those who know God will be in their element because they will have multitudes of hungry hearts to win and teach the good news of God's Word and Jesus' imminent return. People are going to be more receptive than ever then, just like they are now in times of personal trial, emergency, catastrophe, illness, or accident. A lot of people are going to believe then, and many are going to need salvation and need the good news. Those who understand from the Bible what's happening and what's going to happen will be a great encouragement to millions of people throughout the earth. It costs something to witness, and in that day it is definitely going to cost some dedicated Christians who "know their God" their lives. The Antichrist is going to try to wipe them all out because they'll be telling the truth and exposing him. They're going to be "instructing many," warning them of who he really is. And he and his forces are going to be furious. But if you love the Lord, don't fear the Tribulation. God's a much greater enemy to the Antichrist forces than they are to you. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). As His Word has said, "It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you" (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Powerful men and women of God, just like the ancient prophets and prophetesses of old, are going to be God's leaders and have supernatural, miraculous powers to protect and defend their flocks and followers and help them survive to the very end. Two such witnesses are mentioned in the following passage in Revelation 11:
Certainly the power of these two witnesses is awesome. But it is not unprecedented. Elijah called down fire from Heaven and caused it not to rain for three years in Israel (2 Kings 1:9-15; 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1); Moses and Aaron brought plagues on their oppressors and caused the waters to be turned to blood (Exodus 7:17-21; 9:13-26). So these powers have been available to God's chosen before, and they will be available again in the Endtime. It's going to be a time of great victory and marvelous testimony so that the whole world will hear. Multitudes of believers are going to survive right up until the very coming of the Lord. So there are going to be many people still functioning for the Lord and surviving and living by faith and preaching the Gospel. There are going to be millions of them still alive to see the Lord come. And although there's going to be the most hell the world has ever known, there's also going to be the most heavenly power and defense and help and protection. It's going to be a time of great victory over the forces of Satan and tremendous triumph over the anti-Christ wicked. The Tribulation is not going to be a rampaging victory for the Devil. Supernatural, miraculous victories are going to be won over him and all of his powers. Don't think that God's people are all just going to be cowering, hunted victims. Many will be mightily empowered to fight and battle in the defense of the Gospel right up to the end, alongside all the forces of Heaven, aided by the curses and plagues that God unleashes on the wicked. Next endtime post will be posted on August 30. Hearing about what God has done for others in their time of need often helps us to have faith that He will take care of us as well. Even though this miracle happened a long time ago the principle of God’s protection still applies.
Think about it: A Chinese Christian man was asked to give money that would be used for sacrifices to idols, in order to protect his house from fire. He refused, saying that he trusted in the living God, not idols. When the ceremony finished, a fire started right on the street where this man lived. Over 120 houses were burned. As the flames approached his house his neighbours tried to convince him to escape, but he refused. In front of everyone the man prayed to God to show that He alone was the Lord of Hosts and could send angels to rescue him from the fire coming ever closer. The fire came closer and closer, until there was only one house between the flames and his own house. Suddenly the wind changed, and the fire did not come any closer to the man’s house. He and his house were saved, by the only One who could. God promise still remains the same today for those who trust in Him. Isa 43:2b ... when you walk through the fire, you shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. Back to what is happening to God’s people.
I want to mention this one point as many Christians believe they will be rapture at the beginning of the tribulation but actually it is at the end. Notice it says immediately after the tribulation Jesus will come back and gather us together. So as much as we might want to avoid the Antichrist and his reign of terror, it seems like Christians alive on Earth at the time the Antichrist assumes power will, barring their deaths, remain on Earth during his reign. So if we are going to be here during the tribulation let’s look at some of the things that are predicted for us during the tribulation.
The woman in this vision is obviously giving birth to Jesus Christ. The first interpretation to come to mind is that she is Mary, the human mother of our Lord when He was on Earth. But things get a bit confusing with this interpretation when it says the woman fled into the wilderness for 1,260 days. Several times the Bible refers to the second half of the Antichrist's seven-year reign as the Great Tribulation. "Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). Daniel talked about this time when he wrote, "At that time Michael [the archangel] shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time" (Daniel 12:1). The Bible even tells us several times how long this Tribulation period will last, using several different yet synonymic terms: "three and a half years," "42 months," or "1,260 days" (Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:7; Revelation 11:2-3; 12:14; 13:5). If these 1,260 days where "the woman" flees into the wilderness are the Tribulation period—which it seems they are—then the woman described above could not be Mary, as she long ago left this world for her heavenly reward. So the identity of this woman must have a different interpretation. Could this woman symbolize the believers of all time, the people of God, into whose lineage Jesus was born? This seems to be a viable interpretation, as during the 1,260 days of Tribulation the true Christians will be in the "wilderness" of this world. They will be outcasts, persecuted by the Devil and the Antichrist government forces, and many will be on the run and not able to live in the cities that will be the centers of Antichrist domination. However, God doesn’t leave us comfortless as He says in the last part of the verse “where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” So we can take heart God will take care of us as well as telling us exactly how many days it’s going to be. The next endtime post will be posted on August 27. Hearing about what God has done for others in their time of need often helps us to have faith that He will take care of us as well. Even though this miracle happened long ago God can still speak to you and send His protection.
Think about it: Li was a twelve year old girl who lived in China during the 1950’s. Her father, a Christian pastor, had been arrested by the Communist government and sent to work in an iron ore mine in the north-east of China. His wife and five children, including Li, decided to join him in order to visit in the hope he would be released. They built a rickety house out of old boards near the camp. After several months of enduring hard labour, poor food, and freezing temperatures, the pastor went to be with the Lord. His family was devastated and wondered how they would survive. They had sold everything they owned in order to pay for the train tickets for the entire family. The pastor’s wife decided to try to find a job, but Li said, “No Mother. You cannot leave. The baby and the younger children need you here. I am the oldest. I will go and find work.” Li went to the Director of the prison camp and said, “My father was sent here because of his love for Jesus Christ. That was his only crime. He was a good man who loved Jesus and other people. Now that he is gone, we have no food, no money and no place to live. Is there any work I could do here at the camp?” The Director remembered her father. Giving in to the compassion in his heart, the man said, “There is something you could do, but it is boring and pays very little.” She took the job right away. The director took her to the mine where over 3,000 prisoners worked. He said, “Do you see that red button? Your job will be to stand by it all day and if someone tells you to press it, do so immediately. That is the alarm button, which sets off a siren deep underground. If the miners hear it, they must get out as fast as they can. Never press the button by accident, only when you are told to.” So Li stood by the button day after day, week after week. She and her family were very happy when she finally received her first salary, even though it was only a few dollars. One day Li was standing at her post as usual when she heard a voice saying, ‘Press the red button.’ She turned around, but no one was there. A few moments later she heard the voice again saying, ‘Press the button.’ When the voice came a third time, she realized it must be the Lord speaking to her. She pressed the button, even though she did not understand why. All 3,000 miners scrambled to get out of the mine, while the Director charged up to where Li was, demanding to know why she had pressed the button. No sooner had all the prisoners gotten safely out than there was a large earthquake in the whole area, which completely destroyed the mine! It was destroyed so completely that it was never rebuilt. There was a profound silence as everyone looked at the little girl who had pressed the button. The Director finally asked her, “Comrade Li, how did you know to press the red button?” Li answered boldly, “The Lord Jesus Christ told me to press the red button. He told me three times before I obeyed. Jesus is the only way that you can know the true and living God. He loves you, and showed you His love today by saving your lives! You must turn from your sins and give your lives to Him!” All 3,000 prisoners and the Director asked God for forgiveness, and prayed to receive Jesus in their hearts. Anti-Christ Mortally Wounded
This part is a little complicated but don’t get bogged down here the main point is at this time the Anti-Christ dies and comes back to life fully possessed by the Devil and demands all the world to worship him. We know that this is referring to the seventh head, the Antichrist, because a few verses later on we see that the Antichrist has a false prophet who "causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the … Beast [the Antichrist], whose deadly wound was healed … telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the Beast who was wounded by the sword and lived" (Revelation 13:12-14). This assassination attempt on the Antichrist is the pivotal moment in his satanic career. A mortal wound is one that you die from. If he doesn't die from it, it cannot be said he was mortally wounded. This "head," in other words, is definitely dead. The Antichrist has been killed. End of story? No! He comes back from the dead. His "healing" is such a "miracle" that "all the world marvels." Revelation 17:8 again states that "those who dwell on the earth will marvel … when they see the Beast that was, and is not, and yet is." Now things are going to get even more intriguing as we are presented with a riddle. "And the Beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition" (Revelation 17:11). This Beast of Revelation has only seven heads. So where does this eighth one pop up from? Somehow an eighth personality has entered the equation. When the Antichrist first rises to power and confirms the seven-year Covenant, he is the head of the seventh great empire. But he is not yet really completely anti-Christ; he hasn't yet been fully possessed of the Devil. But "in the middle of the week," three and a half years after confirming the Covenant, he is killed and resurrected. This "resurrection" would serve as his credentials to divinity. It seems that it is at this point the Antichrist becomes possessed completely by the Devil. He looks like the very same man, the seventh head, only he is now the eighth. The Bible records a definite behavior change at this point. The man is obviously evil of heart to begin with, but now he is no more Mr. Pretend-Nice-Guy. He will no longer be the same man who brought world peace, solved the thorny problem of Jerusalem, and made the Covenant. Now "the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition [Hell or damnation], who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Devil is the ultimate megalomaniac. Satan has always wanted to be worshiped as God. He even tried to get Jesus to "fall down and worship [him]" (Matthew 4:9). And now he is demanding that the world worship him. Satan in the form of a man is finally going to get what he's been after all the time, kingship of the world, and to be worshiped as God. The Antichrist Beast will be Satan incarnate, Satan in the flesh, just as Jesus was God in the flesh. And this will result in hell on earth during those last three and a half years of the Antichrist's reign. "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months" (Revelation 13:5). The next endtime post will be posted on August 25. We're still going to be learning in Heaven. We will still be developing and are not yet absolutely perfect. That's what the future is all about—to continue the learning process that we have begun here. We've all still got a lot to learn!
God has a lot of things to teach us in Heaven, things we didn't learn in this life. Contrary to popular belief, the moment we land in Heaven we don't immediately know everything! If we did, we'd be God Himself—all-knowing. God has left that for the rest of time and eternity in order to give us something to do in the hereafter. We'll be able to learn more about the past and why things happened, as well as God's logic and purposes and the meaning of it all. Eternity is a constant learning process. It will be another grade, another step, a chance to do what we failed to do before and to learn what we failed to learn before. Thank God for eternity! We've all probably got a lot of bad habits to change and failures to make up for. Maybe God will give each of us a chance to meet people who we've wronged and straighten things out and tell them we're sorry. Paul observed, "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7). He was referring to material things, wealth. However, we will take our knowledge and experience and training from this life with us into the next life. In Heaven, God will reveal what on Earth He chose to conceal. In Heaven, a lot of things will be different, but many things are going to be the same, enough so that we'll still be able to use much of the knowledge, skills, talents and experience that we have gained in this life. God will not allow all the training we have received to be wasted. This life is just your schooling for what you have to do when you graduate. We will be able to travel backward or forward in time and see what has been and what is going to be, as well as experience the glorious wonderful present! We will see, hear, feel and experience the very events of the past, just as they happened. God will probably allow us to ask questions about and discover some of the things we've always been curious about. Isn't it marvelous to think about how we will be able to actually meet and talk to people who lived throughout history? Heaven is not the end: It's only the beginning! |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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