God desires none to be destroyed, it hurts his heart.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.

God does not take pleasure in the destruction of anyone. People wonder why God does not just destroy the wicked. There are a couple of reasons. One is because he desires none to be destroyed so he is patient with them giving them a chance to repent. God always warns those who are doing bad and causing misery and suffering before he destroys them. Those God will destroy are deliberately ignoring his warnings. So the choice is theirs. Even those who worship God will ignore his warnings until it is too late and the destruction is upon them. The fact that destruction has not come on the wicked yet indicates there are still sheep to be found.

Abraham questioned Gods judgment, even though God can read their hearts and we cannot. He knows whether people will change or not. He was patient with Abraham and even gave Abraham time to learn that his judgment was righteous. God said if there was even ten righteous persons found he would not destroy Sodom.

God loves us so much he gave has only begotten son as a ransom to provide the way for us to achieve forgiveness and life. Does this seem like the actions of a cruel God? If we want to conquer the world we must learn to love as God does. There are many who won’t even acknowledge God and what he did for man. Many believe just because someone is nice it is ok for them to not believe in God. God gave his only begotten son as a ransom for all people. If they do not want to accept that ransom sacrifice by acknowledging what God has done for us then they have made their choice when the day of judgment is here. God has given them more then enough time to acknowledge the great things he has done for man and what Jesus has done. If they cannot find it in their heart to bring glory to God who has been so merciful then why should they be covered by the ransom. Why should God even acknowledge them if they do not acknowledge him and the things he has done? By associating with them we are telling God we believe it is ok for people to no accept what he and his son has done for man. We are given free will to choose what path we want to take. Those who do not love God and reject him have made their choice. God does not want them to be destroyed but it is the lack of people listening to God and it is because man leans on their own understanding that has brought the world to the condition it is in now. So those who choose not to let God guide them are by their actions saying Satan was right that we do not need God to guide us, and teach us. The state the world is in we can see that is not true we need God.

There are some who claim that the suffering people experience is God punishing them. That is ridiculous. The cause is mans sinful nature, some of our suffering is from others sins, some is from our own sins. Also man does not have the foresight and wisdom God has. We have thoroughly proven we can not make it without God. The farther man gets from God the worse things are getting. We are seeing the climax of the rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Those who are refusing to let God guide them and to obey God are contributing the the bad state the world is in right now. If God did not destroy those who put their faith in man instead of God the new paradise earth would not be possible. God does not want to destroy the wicked he has to in order for the original purpose for the earth to be fulfilled.

Some get caught up in acquiring material things which comes with a lot of stress in maintaining and keeping them. Families have been broke apart because the desire for money out weighed their desire to know God and they put money first in their life. If they do not value God they will not value family the way they should. Many have left greed overtake them resulting in others having to live in poverty.

God’s thoughts are higher then ours. We are imperfect humans. Those of us who except this fact will be looked down on by those who’s hearts have been hardened. Gods thoughts are higher then ours. Jesus perfectly reflected his heavenly father. God seated him on the throne in heaven. We can be certain , his judgment will be righteous and he will set matters straight very soon. The bible teaches we are to view others as superior to us and we are to put the interest of others before out own. Jesus set the example when he washed the disciples feet. This was a job usually done by servants. Jesus knew after he died and was resurrected he would be seated on the heavenly throne as a king at the time he did this. This tell you something about God also, because Jesus stated he did what he had seen his father do. The greed and poverty caused to others because of the greed would not occur of others had the same attitude as Jesus.

It is loving on God’s part to destroy those who have hardened their hearts. How could we have peace and happiness if the wicked are allowed to continue? It is their wickedness that is ruining the earth. If a person had a disease would you leave the disease in the body until it overtook and destroyed the whole body? Well if God does not destroy the wicked they would eventually ruin the whole earth. Would a loving God leave that occur? If you was a parent and had a child would you leave abusers continue to harm the child because you did not want the abuser harmed? If the wicked are left on the earth then there would be no way to restore the earth to a paradise because they would continue to ruin it.

To have true peace in these perilous times we need to listen to Jehovah. Let his word guide and protect us. In doing so it will keep us from losing site of our future hope. We need to take in God’s word and heed his warning to protect our hearts. As we learn and share the bible truths if we do not see the person changing and growing spiritually we may want to be cautious their heart may be hardened. There are those who appear to have a form of godliness or appear to have a form of godly devotion just as the pharisees did. We need to be very careful because they were compared to angels of light. Satan has been called an angel of light because he can easily deceive people leading them off into destruction.

It is not easy to worship God with your whole heart and whole soul if you have been taught things all your life that do not agree with what the bible teaches. We have to completely change our thinking often times. Some things are deeply entrenched and have become habit and take time to overcome. If you read a scripture and it may hurt you conscience causing confusion, you should ask yourself why? Is it possible my mind is in conflict because what I have been taught does not agree with what the bible is saying. By making certain of all you have been taught it prevents the angels of light from deceiving you. Do you reject any teaching that does not agree with what you have been taught. If so have you ask why the teaching may have caused you mental conflict or caused you to get upset? Many rejected Jesus because he was telling them what they needed to hear and not what they wanted to hear. Are you asking to have your itchy ears scratched. The closer we get to the new system the more important it is to make sure our worship is pure in God’s eyes and not mans. If we are not willing to make certain of what we have been taught and challenge what we have been taught how can we worship with our whole heart and whole soul? Jesus and the apostles wanted people to question things and wanted them to verify what they have heard by looking deeper into God’s word. They did not want people to just accept the things they were being told. We are to trust God with our whole hearts if something we have learned and believed all our life seems to conflict with the bible we should believe God’s word over what we have been taught, in doing so we are trusting God over man or the angels of light. We have to keep in mind those angels of light would deceive many , especially in the last days. In Isaiah we learn God rejected Israel because he said their hearts were far removed from him. They feared him based on commands of men they had been taught and not based on God’s word. A sign you have been deceived is when the worship is more based on tradition and the elementary things of the world ? The bible tells us to keep our minds focused on the things above. Many of the traditions and doctrine taught now days draws attention not to things like the heavenly kingdom and God’s glory but they focus on the physical things of the world which is passing away.

If all these things will be gone soon should we not focus on storing up treasures in heaven and focus on the things we cannot see like the heavenly kingdom and what it will do for the earth? All the things of this world including the traditions and doctrine that have been taught by man will be gone soon and so will those who refused to let them go. God requires exclusive devotion and the glory belongs to him. Why should we practice traditions that give glory to idols, images or mythical characters? Those very things have gotten Israel in trouble with God. If we are practicing traditions of man that God would not approve of like those in Jeremiah chapter 10 did, then we are in opposition to God because we are not worshiping him with our whole heart and whole soul. God called us to him to glorify him and not the things of the world or people of the world. His people are known by his name. Would we want people to think our God is more a material God then a spiritual one. All we do should bring God glory and draw their attention to his mercy, his power, and his love so we do not smear his good name. We are told we cannot drink of the cup of the devil and the cup of God at the same time. Our worship of God must be pure, all we do should bring God glory, not images or mythical characters.

Each life that has to be destroyed hurts God’s heart. Wouldn’t it be better if we brought joy to God through our actions and helped others learn to worship him in truth so they will not be destroyed. Jesus used the parable of one lost sheep to indicate that there is a lot of joy in heaven over just one sinner repenting. Can you imagine the joy they feel if we can teach and guide others to repent and to worship God with their whole heart and whole soul.

(1 Corinthians 10:20-24 20 No; but I say that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. 21 You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons. 22 Or ‘are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy’? We are not stronger than he is, are we? 23 All things are lawful, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 24 Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.)

(Isaiah 43:6, 7  6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth,  7 Everyone who is called by my name And whom I created for my own glory, Whom I have formed and made.’). ,

(Acts 15:16, 17) 16 ‘After these things I will return and raise up again the tent of David that is fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the men who remain may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, , 18 known from of old.’

(Ezekiel 33:11) 11Tell them, ‘“As surely as I am alive,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that someone wicked changes his way and keeps living. Turn back, turn back from your bad ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?”.

(2 Peter 3:8-10) 8However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 10But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed.

(Matthew 24:36-42) 36“Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 41Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 42Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

(2 Peter 3:5-7) 5For they deliberately ignore this fact, that long ago there were heavens and an earth standing firmly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; 6and that by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. 7But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people.

(Genesis 18:29-33) 29But yet again he spoke to him and said: “Suppose 40 are found there.” He answered: “I will not do it for the sake of the 40.” 30But he continued: “Jehovah, please, do not become hot with anger, but let me go on speaking: Suppose only 30 are found there.” He answered: “I will not do it if I find 30 there.” 31But he continued: “Please, here I have presumed to speak to Jehovah: Suppose only 20 are found there.” He answered: “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 20.” 32Finally he said: “Jehovah, please, do not become hot with anger, but let me speak just once more: Suppose only ten are found there.” He answered: “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33When Jehovah finished speaking to Abraham, he went his way and Abraham returned to his place.

(Deuteronomy 11:26-28) 26“See, I am putting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27the blessing if you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God that I am commanding you today, 28and the curse if you do not obey the commandments of Jehovah your God.

(1 John 4:4-10) 4You originate with God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in union with you is greater than the one who is in union with the world. 5They originate with the world; that is why they speak what originates with the world and the world listens to them. 6We originate with God. Whoever comes to know God listens to us; whoever does not originate with God does not listen to us. By this we distinguish the inspired statement of truth from the inspired statement of error. 7Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. 9By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. 10The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another. 12No one has seen God at any time. If we continue loving one another, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us. 13By this we know that we are remaining in union with him and he in union with us, because he has given his spirit to us. 14In addition, we ourselves have seen and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son as Savior of the world. 15Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in union with such one and he in union with God. 16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us.

(James 1:12-15) 12Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving Him. 13When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. 14But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. 15Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death.

(Ecclesiastes 8:9) 9All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm.

(1 John 2:15-17) 15Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 16because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. 17Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(Revelation 11:18) 18But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.

(Proverbs 2:21, 22) 21For only the upright will reside in the earth, And the blameless will remain in it. 22As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, And the treacherous will be torn away from it.

Some may think it cruel of God that even children have suffered judicial decisions of Jehovah but we must keep in mind God can read everyones hearts. He knows if they will change and that includes children. These children were interfering with God’s prophet. They knew right from wrong, God is righteous and his decisions are righteous.

(2 Kings 2:23-25) 23He went up from there to Beth′el. As he was going along the way, some young boys came out from the city and began to jeer at him, and they kept saying to him: “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24Finally he turned around and looked at them and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. Then two she-bears came out of the forest and tore 42 of the children to pieces.

(Matthew 13:15) For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back and I heal them.

(1 Corinthians 1:25-28) 25Because a foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and a weak thing of God is stronger than men. 26For you see his calling of you, brothers, that there are not many wise in a fleshly way, not many powerful, not many of noble birth, 27but God chose the foolish things of the world to put the wise men to shame; and God chose the weak things of the world to put the strong things to shame; 28and God chose the insignificant things of the world and the things looked down on, the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.

(Isaiah 48:17, 18) 17This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. 18If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea..

The bible can helps expose our short comings and those of others. How we and others respond will expose our and their heart condition. By paying attention we will know the things we will need to do to draw closer to Jehovah. It can protect us by revealing the hidden things in someones heart. If they refuse the correction from Jehovah and react negatively that exposes their true condition of their heart. If we see this we want to be careful because associating with such a person could cause our hearts to become hardened.

(Hebrews 4:12, 13) 12For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account..

(Proverbs 21:2) 2All of a man’s ways seem right to him, But Jehovah examines the hearts.

(Deuteronomy 29:19, 20) 19“But if someone hears the words of this oath and boasts in his heart, saying, ‘I will have peace, though I insist on walking in the ways of my own heart,’ to the ruin of everything in his path, 20Jehovah will not be willing to forgive him. Instead, Jehovah’s great anger will blaze against that man, and the entire curse written in this book will certainly come upon him, and Jehovah will indeed wipe out his name from under the heavens.

(1 Corinthians 10:6-13) 6Now these things became examples for us, in order for us not to desire injurious things, as they desired them. 7Neither become idolaters, as some of them did; just as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to have a good time.” 8Neither let us practice sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, only to fall, 23,000 of them in one day. 9Neither let us put Jehovah to the test, as some of them put him to the test, only to perish by the serpents. 10Neither be murmurers, as some of them murmured, only to perish by the destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have come. 12So let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall. 13No temptation has come upon you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out so that you may be able to endure it

(Ephesians 4:21-24) … 22You were taught to put away the old personality that conforms to your former course of conduct and that is being corrupted according to its deceptive desires. 23And you should continue to be made new in your dominant mental attitude, 24and should put on the new personality that was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty..

(Romans 12:1, 2) 12 Therefore, I appeal to you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. 2And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God..

(Revelation 21:1-8) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” 5And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6And he said to me: “They have come to pass! I am the Al′pha and the O·me′ga, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring of the water of life free. 7Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death..

(Isaiah 25:8) 8He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it.

(Ezekiel 34:25-28) 25“‘“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and I will rid the land of vicious wild beasts, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests. 26I will make them and the area around my hill a blessing, and I will cause the rain to fall at the proper time. Blessings will pour down like the rains. 27The trees of the field will yield their fruit, and the soil will give its produce, and they will dwell securely on the land. And they will have to know that I am Jehovah when I break their yoke bars and rescue them from those who enslaved them. 28They will no longer become something for the nations to prey upon, and the wild beasts of the earth will not devour them, and they will dwell in security, with no one to make them afraid..

(1 Corinthians 5:10-13) . . .. 11 But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.”

(Ephesians 5:4, 5) . . .. 5 For you know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no sexually immoral person or unclean person or greedy person, which means being an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and of God.

(Isaiah 40:10, 11) 10 Look! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will come with power, And his arm will rule for him. Look! His reward is with him, And the wage he pays is before him. 11 Like a shepherd he will care for his flock. With his arm he will gather together the lambs, And in his bosom he will carry them. He will gently lead those nursing their young.

(1 Peter 2:25) 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

(Proverbs 3:5-7)  5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding.  6 In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.  7 Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.

(Isaiah 29:13) 13 Jehovah says: “This people approach me with their mouth And they honor me with their lips, But their heart is far removed from me; And their fear of me is based on commands of men that they have been taught.

(Colossians 3:1-4) 3 If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep your minds fixed on the things above, not on the things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Christ in union with God. 4 When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then you also will be made manifest with him in glory.

(Matthew 22:37-40) 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.”

(Exodus 32:3-6) . . .. 4 Then he took the gold from them, and he formed it with an engraving tool and made it into a statue of a calf. They began to say: “This is your God, O Israel, who led you up out of the land of Egypt.” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. Then Aaron called out: “There is a festival to Jehovah tomorrow.” 6 So they got up early on the next day and began offering up burnt offerings and presenting communion sacrifices. After that the people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to have a good time.

(Hebrews 10:26-31) 26 For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a burning indignation that is going to consume those in opposition. 28 Anyone who has disregarded the Law of Moses dies without compassion on the testimony of two or three. 29 How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt? 30 For we know the One who said: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again: “Jehovah will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(Luke 15:1-7) 15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners kept gathering around him to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then he told them this illustration, saying: 4 “What man among you with 100 sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the 99 behind in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he gets home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

Trust God and Jesus above any human.

How to use.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.

Why why should trust Jehovah and Jesus above any human including those taking the lead among us.

When I speak of leaders , I will be speaking of spiritual leaders put in place by God and not political leaders though they sometimes do cross each other, their purpose was mainly to guide and lead Israel and prevent them from falling away from Jehovah. They were to make sure God’s people were taken care of spiritually. I am going to discuss the errors they made and how we are not to judge them or speak ill of them or murmur about their error. The errors those God chose made often times cost many lives. Some would survive. The bible doesn’t show exactly why some survived but it is most likely because they did their best to remain blameless while these things were occurring. I am writing this to show that God does some amazing things with imperfect humans. The bible tells us we all sin and fall short. So those leading us will error. We should not murmur against them. We need to know God’s word well enough and write it on our hearts well enough so that if our spiritual leaders error we will know what God would require of us.

When Moses was leading Israel through the wilderness. They had rebelled against God. They were complaining. God still commanded Moses to provide them with water by striking a rock with his staff. It may appear that Moses did as God ask but when he did this he did not sanctify God before doing it. Sanctify means to make holy, make clean, purify or venerate. Moses did not give a reason for his faith, he did not explain why Israel needs to have faith in Jehovah. He did not explain to them the importance of fearing God over anything else. Instead Moses judged the people and was bitter. He did not bring glory to God when he performed what God had asked him to do. He and Aaron did not give thanks, he did not remind Israel the things God had done for them when they were leaving Egypt. God continued to leave Moses and Aaron lead Israel but he and those who rebelled against God would not be permitted to enter the promised land. But God used Moses and Aaron to lead Israel to the promised land. Though the ones who rebelled did not get to enter the promised land God use two imperfect humans to guide their descendants to the promised land and their descendants got to see the fulfillment of the promise.

King David committed adultery. This was punishable by being stoned to death. Then he manipulated things so the womans husband would be killed in battle which is also punishable by death. Why did Israel not stone David to death? When a leader is appointed by God they are head accountable by God. He sent Nathan to king David to tell him a parable. Davids reaction revealed his heart condition. It left Jehovah knew David would repent and feel remorse when he was disciplined. God punished David and it resulted in David’s sins being exposed and he was humiliated. Not only this but David had lost some of God’s protections so he suffered many times and his sins even effected Israel and caused them to suffer. David again let God down. God had commanded Israel not to count the people. Yet David took it on himself to go against God’s will and count the people. Many died because of David’s error. David continued to petition God and he forgave David and showed him mercy. David continued to grow spiritually to a point God called him a man after his own heart. Israel for the most part continued to follow and obey king David as their king. Israel experienced peace after this and king David died knowing his son Solomon would build the temple.

God knows our short comings and when he chooses leaders he deals with them directly. We should not speak ill of them. Korah did this and lead many astray and it cost many of lives. By questioning Moses and Aarons right to lead Israel they were directly opposing Jehovah. He chose them and by questioning this they were actually questioning God’s authority and wisdom. I am sure the rest of Israel were aware of Moses and Aarons imperfections but they respected God’s authority and took God’s side in the matter when Korah rebelled and they remained loyal to Jehovah.

Aaron made an error when he gave into pressure of the Israelites and built an idol of a golden calf at the request of the people Aaron tried to down play his error by saying worshiping the calf was a celebration to Jehovah. While Moses was absent it was Aarons job to keep the Israelite’s from going astray. Aaron even made it seem as if he melted the gold and the calf just appeared. Aaron’ error cost 3000 people their lives because he did not stand his ground and gave in to the pressure of the people. If our spiritual leaders make errors we can be confident God will set matters straight. We should not gossip, or speak ill of them. Jehovah always set matters straight. Korah and others most likely knew what God required very well. But they cannot read hearts and also do not know what gifts a person has. Jehovah can read hearts and understands our gifts better then we ourselves do. God knows we will fall short the bible even tells us that. If we claim we do not fall short the bible tells us we are a liar. So to claim we will not make errors or fall short is arrogant. God can send his holy spirit to guide us but this does not mean we will not make errors. Look at Israel they were being directly guided by God and they still fell short many times.

Very soon we will be put in positions where we have to decide do we obey God or do we obey man. We know we are to obey the superior authorities, but we are also told we obey God first. This is why it is very important to know when to let our yes mean yes and our no mean no. Since we are in the last days we know many will fall away and quit worshiping in truth even some of the elite we have been warned may fall away. If we write God’s word on our hearts and let it guide all we do when these things occur we will know what to do. If we do not trust Jehovah we could become like Korah and rebel against the arrangements God has made. Peter stated we must listen to God rather then men. Meaning in times were man may want us to disobey God, or do something contrary to what he would want us to do we must obey God because there is no authority above his. We have the example of Daniel and his companions. They chose obeying God rather then men knowing at times could put their life in danger. They also had the faith that whatever happened God would take care of them. When Daniel and his companions were wronged they did not take matters into their own hands they trusted Jehovah. We are told to love even our enemies. Now I will discuss the things Daniel and his companions endured.

Babylon had besieged Jerusalem and had taken many into captivity. Jehovah left this occur because of the rebellion of Israel against God. The king had ordered that some of the younger men that had been captured learn the language and writing of the Chaldeans. They were to be younger ones who were full of, wisdom, knowledge and discernment. They were allotted daily rations from the kings delicacies. Many of the foods they consumed in Babylon violated the laws that God had given Israel. Daniel and his companions knew they would risk offending the king if they chose not to eat those foods. In those times offending a king could cost you your life. Daniel and his companions petitioned the king and ask if they could have vegetables to eat and only water to drink. The king showed them mercy. He ask the king to compare the health of the youths who were eating the kings delicacies to the health of he and his companions at the end of ten days. The king agreed to his proposition. At the end of the ten days their appearance and health was better then the youths who were consuming the kings delicacies. Daniel and his companions eventually earned the kings respect enough they were given a lot of authority. Daniel was put in positions that many of us will experience now days. For example many medical procedures violate the laws of the new covenant Jesus had given us. Some products contain blood. We really need to do our research because they do not list all the ingredients in their products nor are they required to. Some of these products carry dangers and some are even experimental. Do you think God would want us to blindly go into things without researching them and carefully considering if this would go against what God would require? Just as in time past refusing to submit may put us in a situation where our lively hood and even our freedom may be at risk. It may even hinder our ability to worship just as in times past when , true worship was hindered and obstacles were put in the way. Obedience to Jehovah is the most important because it is him who is the giver of life. Things have progressed now to the point Satan and his people are not only trying to force things on those who worship in truth that may go against what God requires. If you do not comply there is a lot of pressure put on people. There is a lot of hatred and anger directed at them and many have lost their jobs for refusing to comply. Most are aware of who the beast is in the bible and the beast has many sub organizations set up such as WHO. WHO has been pressuring member nations to enforced these medical procedures and to put pressure on those who do not comply. They have even petitioned religious leaders world wide to pressure those in their congregations to comply. This is laying the ground work for compliance because WHO is part of the United Nations. The United Nations and it’s allies are the beast mentioned in the bible. Very soon the beast will have authority over the whole earth and we will be ask to turn our backs on God and to bow to the beast receiving the figurative mark. Those who receive the mark by submitting to the beast will, are going to be destroyed. There is a fine line between obeying the superior authorities and obeying Jehovah. Satan and his people have done a good job of blurring these lines and making it difficult to know what we should do. Jesus warned that even some of the elect may fall away and Peter reminded them to stay alert so they would not be drawn away. If this could occur to even the elect, this shows us how much more we should stay on the alert.

These are frightening times for many. Disease is rampant, famine is rampant, man is destroying the earth almost to the point of no return, violence and wars are rampant. All these are being exaggerated to induce fear. Fear causes the brain to pretty much shut down and we lose our ability to reason. If we fear God above all other things it works as a protection and prevents others from inducing panic and fear. Many corporations especially the biotech, pharmaceutical and medical industries have been caught deceiving people and doing very harmful things and then covering it up. Governments world wide have been caught often times helping them cover up the harm these industries are doing. When we are weighting matters would it not be wise to consider those things when determining if we should trust those entities before we go forward with things they may be asking us to do? Even now there are experimental medical procedure practically being forced on people. The data coming out is showing these medical procedures are causing a lot of death and harm. There is a lot of reliable information coming out showing the medical communities and governments world wide are covering up the harm these medical procedures are doing. Greed for power and money has blinded many. Fear of the consequences that a person may suffer if they do not comply is blinding people. We need to put fear of God first so we cannot be blinded as these things occur. Very soon the beast will be fully in power. The lines have become so blurred that many will bow to the beast and not even realize it until it is too late. Even now if people do not get these experimental medical procedures their religious organizations are banning their members from attending the meetings. WHO has been pressuring religious organizations world wide to pressure their members into getting these experimental medical procedures. Thousands have already died from them. You can see things are being put in place slowly for the mark of the beast. Even now they are working on a currency that would be used world wide. The United Nations has already put things in place to control trade and they are working on implementing a method of payment for goods that would be used by the whole world. So very soon the beast will be in full power. Those of us who stay alert and know what God requires have no need to fear because when these things start to occur we know it is a sign our deliverance is near. We will be put in a position very soon where we will not be able to by sell or trade if we do not bow down to the beast. Daniel and his companions set a good example of putting fear of God first instead of fear of man or the consequences they would suffer for putting obedience to God over obedience to man when obeying man would mean they would have to rebel against God.

The king had built a golden idol. We know we are not to bow down to idols. Jesus and the apostles reaffirmed this in the new covenant. Daniel and his companions refused to bow to the idol. They were called in front of the king and told if they did not bow to the idol they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. The king ordered that the furnace be made exceptionally hot and for Daniel and his companions to be thrown into the furnace. They were not sure if it would be God’s will to rescue them or not. But they informed the king if it was God’s will he would rescue them from the fiery furnace. They informed the king even if God did not rescue them they still would not bow down to his idols. The fire was so hot that the men who threw Daniel and his companions in the fire died while doing so. The next day when the king came to check on Daniel and his friends he found they were unharmed there wasn’t even the smell of smoke on them from the fire.

Very soon we will be ask to do things that we should not do. We have to keep in mind that it is little things the beast will do to get us to bow down to it. It may not be obvious, if we do not know God’s word well and have it written on our hearts, or if we leave ourselves get blinded by fear. We need to keep in mind that even death cannot separate us from the love of Jesus and the love of God. Now I will discuss when something similar happened to Daniel and his friends.

The satraps were always trying to manipulate the king so that he would turn against Daniel and punish him. The satraps were the chief representatives of the king. They had a lot of authority and over seen many things. Daniel and his friends had been put in positions of authority over them. They clearly did not like this so were constantly trying to undermine Daniel and his companions. They knew that Daniel would refuse to pray to any other God but the one true God. They knew that Daniel would continue to worship the one true God no matter what , so they manipulated the king into putting into law that no one could petition any God in matters but would have to petition the king. A petition is when a person is making a request , asking for something , or asking for relief. Though we are instructed in the bible we should petition our leaders, we are also taught to pray to God on the matters first. By implementing this law the king was removing God from the picture because Daniel was no longer permitted legally to petition God. So the law was trying to remove Daniels right to worship the one true God. The first thing Daniel did was to petition God concerning the matter. This resulted in him being thrown in a pit with lions. These were not normal lions. Often times the lions were starved and would have been very hungry. God sent his angels to protect Daniel and the lions did not harm Daniel. When the king seen this he had the men who tried to ensnare Daniel thrown into the pit and because they did not worship the one true God but rebelled against him the outcome for them was not good. But you can see how the satraps used what would seem like a little thing to try and trip Daniel up. Daniel could have false reasoned and thought as long as I obey God , I could petition the king instead of God and I will not die. But Daniel refused to cut God out of his life and his decision making. We should always put God first and in the decisions we make it should be God we petition first.

As the conclusion of this system draws nearer we need to rely on Jehovah God more then ever in our decision making. We are told in “Proverbs 14:15 15 The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step.” , we are also told “Proverbs 27:12 12 The shrewd person sees the danger and conceals himself, But the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.” So we need to make sure we are not naive and we weigh our decisions and do our research and most of all we should pray to God on matters before we make our decisions. We are not to let ourselves be fooled. We have been warned the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. We have also been warned Satan and the demons have been cast out of heaven and down to the earth and they know their time is short. We are warned Satan has great anger because of this. So we can be sure his deception and his attacks are going to increase. Jesus taught us how to stay in union with God. By trying our best to imitate him it will protect and guide us through these confusing times. As for these medical procedures they are a matter of choice. But when we make these choices we need to consider the time frame we are in. The history of the pharmaceutical industries , medical industries and government entities all working together to hide the harm being done by the pharmaceutical industry and of covering it up. These medical procedures are experimental. There is a very good chance they will cause a lot of harm. The evidence coming out now is showing this is true. Thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been injured. They do not know what the long term effects of these experimental medical procedures will be but for many their lives have already been destroyed or even taken by these experimental procedures. Many medical professionals have been stating publicly when they try to report adverse reactions to the medical procedures they are ostracized and even lose their jobs. Their are still many medical professionals speaking out even though they know their lively hood and reputation is at stake. Many victims are speaking out stating their adverse reactions are not being reported. Why would people risk their careers and risk having their reputations smeared if these things are not true? Many medical professionals lost their jobs because they refused to get the experimental procedure base on the harm they are seeing it cause. So it would be wise to weight the risk. As for myself I will choose not to get the experimental medical procedure because of the long criminal history of the pharmaceutical industry. They have a proven record of betraying peoples trust. Many in the medical community has a history of covering up for the pharmaceutical industry. These are not conspiracy theories they are things that have been proven to occur many times. Would God really want us to put our confidence in an entity that has such a long criminal history? Not only that but would God want us to put our confidence in government entities that have been caught helping the pharmaceutical industry cover up their criminal activity? As I stated this is a matter of conscience but the bible tells us we are not to be naive, and we should be shrewd and conceal ourselves from danger.

How we treat those who make there choice should not be prejudiced, or with partiality or favoritism the bible warns if we do so we are sinning. As for me I will try to keep my distance from those who got the experimental procedure because the data coming out has shown they are the one keeping the pandemic going. This is not being partial or judgmental this is being cautious.

As for those taking the lead among us. We still have to obey and continue to take in the spiritual food they provide, but when it comes to secular decisions that is between us and Jehovah. When it comes to matters of conscience we need to consider all information, we need to look at all sides of a matter and determine the reliability of our sources. Do these sources have a reputation of being forthright and honest? Can those sources of information but trusted. We know in the last days many will fall away from Jehovah. We need to keep in mind they are imperfect humans also and will make errors. The bible says if we say we do not sin then we are a liar. The apostle Paul even mentioned the struggles he had in abstaining from sinning. If those taking the lead among us error we should not gossip or speak ill of them or do anything that may oppose Jehovah’s arrangement. Since they are appointed by Jehovah he will deal with them directly. It is not our place to question things. Jehovah always sets matters straight. He can read their hearts we cannot. We have to keep in mind we are imperfect also. Jehovah has done some amazing things throughout history with imperfect humans and he continues even now to do amazing things. Look how quickly he restored true worship even with the world conditions becoming worse. With opposition towards true worship being worse then it ever has and with all the distress and distractions now days, God still used imperfect humans to guide others back to him and taught us how to worship in truth and draw closer to him and Jesus. He accomplished all this using imperfect humans. If those taking the lead do make errors we can be certain Jehovah will set matters straight as he has in the past. This shows us the importance of being aware of our own short comings as the apostle Paul was , and the importance of putting Jehovah and what he would require before any man. We have many examples in the bible of those taking the lead falling short but they accepted God’s discipline and still carried out the work that God had ask them to do. So we have to be careful we do not judge those taking the lead. It is not our place to judge anyone especially those Jehovah has placed in position. We need to do as they have in the past. Those who knew what God required, still took in the spiritual food and did what God required while not partaking of the error. The bible tells us to test all we hear. This is something we should continue doing.

We can see how close we are to the beast being given full authority. The medical procedures were being forced on people. Those who refused them could not work, some were not even allowed to go in public so they could not go shopping for necessities. In some nations they even welded doors shut trapping people inside and they starved to death. WHO that is part of the United Nations put pressure on religious organizations to enforce much of this. This demonstrates how much authority and how easily the beast can influence people, nations and even religious organizations. We do not owe our faith to any human. Our loyalty and faith is to Jehovah God and Jesus first. We need to learn to be very aware of what the mark is and how to identify those who received the mark because it will not be as clear as people may think . If it was God would not of had it written in his world how to identify the mark and those receiving it.

Keep in mind what would be required because remember the mark of the beast is not a literal mark but a symbolic mark. So it will be acts of obedience to the beast. Putting the things the beast would require before what God would require. If we do not comply then our lively hoods, our homes, our security and even our lives will be threatened. We may even be required to put our petitions to the beast first instead of God. The symbolic acts will be subtle and not obvious. When this one world order is implemented, they will most likely implement a system of purchasing and selling things that will be used world wide. This most likely will come with things that are subtle that may require us to do things that may not seem very serious but remember God requires exclusive devotion and it is him we petition above man. We need to keep in mind that many who are worshiping in truth will also be deceived by the beast so now more then ever we need to make it a habit to give God thanks, give him glory and do all we can to sanctify his name. We should always petition God first and get in the practice of doing these things so when the time arrives we will be fully prepared and not easily deceived. We need to write this scripture of how Jesus responded when Satan was trying to tempt him. “(Matthew 4:9, 10) . . .” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

As things wind down we should question the things we hear even more. We were warned some would would sneak in among us and teach some deceptive things. Not only that but God is using imperfect humans , he told us if we know God we will know if something is from God or from their own originality. So is it wrong to question when those taking the lead tell us to do something and we have knowledge they may not have? Should we blindly obey. Of course not. The pharmaceutical and medical industry have a history of covering up the harm the pharmaceutical industry has done. Not only that but again the pharmaceutical industry had a long history criminal recored. It would not be wise for someone to blindly submit themselves to an experimental medical procedure. We need to question why the FDA tried to have the data hidden for 55 years. They have covered up for the pharmaceutical industry before. The fact they attempted to do that should have us asking questions. They are imperfect humans and cannot know everything. We are also warned there are some who can appear as angels of light so it is wise to be cautious. If they ask us to do something that we know Jehovah would not want us to do this is a matter of conscience. If they request we get an experimental medical procedure and the effects are still unknown is this something Jehovah would want us to subject ourselves to, especially considering the history of those who developed and those who are promoting these experimental injections. The information is now coming out showing these experimental medical procedures may have caused many more deaths then the Pandemic has. Many harmed by the experimental procedures are being discredited and pushed aside as being paranoid or even pretending to be ill. This will hurt their hearts but they also need to keep in mind we are all imperfect. To ignore the harm being done is a dishonor to those who have been harmed or families who lost loved ones because of the experimental injection. Jehovah knows the truth in matters and I am fully confident he will set matters straight. The apostle Paul said we must continue in the faith, this includes those taking the lead among us. So not matter what we may have to endure there is one truth and we have to continue taking in spiritual food and not let anything deter us, even things we may experience in the congregation. We need to work on developing the mindset of Christ so if something occurs that may not be what Jehovah would want us to do we will be certain of what he requires. When it comes to matters of conscience many of us know people personally who have been injured by the experimental medical procedures. To ask someone to submit to these and put pressure on others to submit to this experiment is putting undo burden on them this is something we have been told not to do. It can be a stumbling block. The apostle Paul warned all things are lawful but not all things are advantageous. The data is coming out showing those who submitted to the experimental medical procedures are the cause of the pandemic continuing. They are spreading the infections. We are to treat our bodies as our temple. If a person looks at the patents for these experimental injections they would see there are many disgusting and toxic things in those injections. They are not required to list all the ingredients so it takes diligence to find out what they contain. Often times the ingredients are in code and to find out what the ingredient is we have to do a search on Pubmed of that code. This is how I learned some of the injections have fetal tissue and animal tissues in them. Studies have shown these things cannot be completely filtered out of the injections. These experimental injections have been show to have a negative efficacy. They actually make someone more prone to Covid infection this is why those getting the injections are keeping the pandemic going. Not only this but with the new data coming out , it is becoming clear these injections severely damage the immune system making those who received them more prone to infection. We are not to seek our own advantage. If we demand someone submit to an experiment that is proving to be a dangerous and harmful one, Would we be truly seeking the advantage of others? With the data now being released showing how harmful these injections are making such demands and ignoring the evidence and demanding or pressuring people to get them could result in them being harmed or even killed. It also results in the pandemic being prolonged which could cause more harm and cost more lives could carry blood guilt. If this does occur it does not mean the person is blood guilty it may mean they do not have the knowledge or seen the harm being done and may truly believe making these types of demands are for the good of others. But this also comes back to things that are a matter of conscience. They should not ignore the concerns of others who have seen the harm first hand , or who has seen the data being released and are very aware of the harm being done. I do know Jehovah is going to hold all accountable who are responsible for the harm that is being done and has been done. Anyone who believes humans that even though the bible has warned are easily corrupted and fooled and who have a proven track record of corruption is being unreasonable if they ask others to blindly trust them or the pharmaceutical industry. This could cause a stumbling block for many. Surely we do not want this to occur. There are those who may choose the experimental medical procedure. We should not hold this against them. Some I am learning do not know how to find the information concerning these injections so only have mainstream media as a source of information. They truly may not be aware of the harm being done. It can take months for those who got the procedure to realize they have been harmed. By then the medical community will blame it on something else such as genetics or call their illness idiopathic, which is calling the cause of illness unknown. Fortunately many medical professionals and even those involved in the research are speaking out and the truth is becoming very difficult for them to hide. So much so they have been removing those speaking out from social media. But these people have been persistent and have become whistle blowers so the truth will come out. We just need to be patient and not let it deter us or cause us to lose faith and continue to cling to our spiritual family as much as possible. We may even have doubts about those taking the lead. We have to keep in mind that God restored true worship. We know the future promises he gave us. Though things may seem overwhelming , we can have confidence that some of the 144,000 will be with us through this great tribulation to guide us because the bible tells us in Revelation the end will not come until they have all been sealed. Keep in mind if someone is telling you not to question things they either have something to hide or they have doubts about what they are saying. If they had full confidence in what they were saying or recommending they would welcome questions. The truth defends itself. When a person has to be silenced there is something to hide.

Many claim that vaccines are a blessing from God. I provide a link below why this is not true.

(Numbers 20:9-13) ⁹ So Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, just as He had commanded him. ¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron called the congregation together before the crag, and he said to them: “Hear, now, you rebels! Must we bring out water for you from this crag?” ¹¹ With that Moses lifted his hand up and struck the crag twice with his rod, and much water began to pour out, and the assembly and their livestock began to drink. ¹² Jehovah later said to Moses and Aaron: “Because you did not show faith in me and sanctify me before the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not bring this congregation into the land that I will give them.” ¹³ These are the waters of Merʹi·bah, where the Israelites quarreled with Jehovah, so that he was sanctified among them.

(Numbers 16:8-11) ⁸ Moses then said to Korʹah: “Listen, please, you sons of Leʹvi. ⁹ Does it seem to you such a little thing that the God of Israel has separated you from the assembly of Israel and allowed you to approach him in order to perform the service of Jehovah’s tabernacle and to stand before the assembly to minister to them, ¹⁰ and that he brought you near to him along with all your brothers, the sons of Leʹvi? Must you also try to secure the priesthood? ¹¹ For this reason, you and all your supporters who are gathering together are against Jehovah. As for Aaron, who is he that you should murmur against him?”

(Numbers 16:28-30) ²⁸ Then Moses said: “By this you will know that Jehovah has sent me to do all these things, that it is not of my own heart: ²⁹ If these people die a natural death as all men do and if their punishment is the same as that of all mankind, then Jehovah has not sent me. ³⁰ But if Jehovah does something extraordinary with them and the ground opens and swallows them and everything that belongs to them and they go down alive into the Grave, you will certainly know that these men have treated Jehovah disrespectfully.”

(Numbers 16:31-35) ³¹ As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split apart. ³² And the earth opened and swallowed them up, along with their households and everyone who belonged to Korʹah and all their goods. ³³ So they and all who belonged to them went down alive into the Grave, and the earth covered them over, so that they perished from the midst of the congregation. ³⁴ All the Israelites who were around them fled at their screaming, for they said: “We are afraid that the earth may swallow us up!” ³⁵ Then a fire came out from Jehovah and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

(Deuteronomy 32:50-52) . . ., ⁵¹ because both of you were unfaithful to me among the Israelites at the waters of Merʹi·bah of Kaʹdesh in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not sanctify me before the people of Israel. ⁵² You will see the land from a distance, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.

(Numbers 16:1-3) 16 Then Korʹah the son of Izʹhar, the son of Koʹhath, the son of Leʹvi, got up together with Daʹthan and A·biʹram the sons of E·liʹab, and On the son of Peʹleth, of the sons of Reuʹben. ² They rose up against Moses along with 250 Israelite men, chieftains of the assembly, chosen ones of the congregation, prominent men. ³ So they gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them: “We have had enough of you! The whole assembly is holy, all of them, and Jehovah is in their midst. Why, then, should you exalt yourselves above the congregation of Jehovah?”

(2 Samuel 11:2-6) ² One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the rooftop of the king’s house. From the rooftop he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful. ³ David sent someone to inquire about the woman, and he reported: “Is this not Bath-sheʹba the daughter of E·liʹam and the wife of U·riʹah the Hitʹtite?” ⁴ Then David sent messengers to bring her. So she came in to him, and he lay down with her. (This happened while she was purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Afterward, she returned to her house. ⁵ The woman became pregnant, and she sent a message to David: “I am pregnant.” ⁶ At this David sent a message to Joʹab: “Send to me U·riʹah the Hitʹtite.” So Joʹab sent U·riʹah to David.

(2 Samuel 11:14-17) ¹⁴ In the morning David wrote a letter to Joʹab and sent it by the hand of U·riʹah. ¹⁵ He wrote in the letter: “Put U·riʹah in the front lines where the fighting is fiercest. Then retreat from behind him, so that he will be struck down and die.” ¹⁶ Joʹab had been carefully watching the city, and he stationed U·riʹah where he knew there were mighty warriors. ¹⁷ When the men of the city came out and fought against Joʹab, some of David’s servants fell, and U·riʹah the Hitʹtite was among those who died.

(2 Samuel 12:1-6) 12 So Jehovah sent Nathan to David. He came in to him and said: “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had very many sheep and cattle; ³ but the poor man had nothing but one small female lamb, which he had bought. He cared for it, and it grew up together with him and his sons. It would eat from the little food he had and drink from his cup and sleep in his arms. It became as a daughter to him. ⁴ Later a visitor came to the rich man, but he would not take any of his own sheep and cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” ⁵ At this David grew very angry against the man, and he said to Nathan: “As surely as Jehovah is living, the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶ And he should pay for the lamb four times over, because he did this and showed no compassion.”

(2 Samuel 12:7-12) ⁷ Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I myself anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I was willing to give you your master’s house and put your master’s wives in your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And as if that were not enough, I was willing to do much more for you. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of Jehovah by doing what is bad in his eyes? You struck down U·riʹah the Hitʹtite with the sword! Then you took his wife as your wife after you killed him by the sword of the Amʹmon·ites. ¹⁰ Now a sword will never depart from your own house, because you despised me by taking the wife of U·riʹah the Hitʹtite as your wife.’ ¹¹ This is what Jehovah says: ‘Here I am bringing against you calamity from within your own house; and before your own eyes, I will take your wives and give them to another man, and he will lie down with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² Although you acted in secret, I will do this in front of all Israel and in broad daylight.’”

(2 Samuel 12:7-12) ⁷ Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I myself anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I was willing to give you your master’s house and put your master’s wives in your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And as if that were not enough, I was willing to do much more for you. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of Jehovah by doing what is bad in his eyes? You struck down U·riʹah the Hitʹtite with the sword! Then you took his wife as your wife after you killed him by the sword of the Amʹmon·ites. ¹⁰ Now a sword will never depart from your own house, because you despised me by taking the wife of U·riʹah the Hitʹtite as your wife.’ ¹¹ This is what Jehovah says: ‘Here I am bringing against you calamity from within your own house; and before your own eyes, I will take your wives and give them to another man, and he will lie down with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² Although you acted in secret, I will do this in front of all Israel and in broad daylight.’”

(2 Samuel 12:7-12) ⁷ Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I myself anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I was willing to give you your master’s house and put your master’s wives in your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And as if that were not enough, I was willing to do much more for you. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of Jehovah by doing what is bad in his eyes? You struck down U·riʹah the Hitʹtite with the sword! Then you took his wife as your wife after you killed him by the sword of the Amʹmon·ites. ¹⁰ Now a sword will never depart from your own house, because you despised me by taking the wife of U·riʹah the Hitʹtite as your wife.’ ¹¹ This is what Jehovah says: ‘Here I am bringing against you calamity from within your own house; and before your own eyes, I will take your wives and give them to another man, and he will lie down with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² Although you acted in secret, I will do this in front of all Israel and in broad daylight.’”

(2 Samuel 24:10-14) ¹⁰ But David’s heart was struck with remorse after he had numbered the people. David then said to Jehovah: “I have sinned greatly by doing this. And now, Jehovah, please forgive your servant’s error, for I have acted very foolishly.” ¹¹ When David got up in the morning, Jehovah’s word came to Gad the prophet, David’s visionary, saying: ¹² “Go and say to David, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “I am giving you three options. Choose the one that I should bring on you.”’” ¹³ So Gad came in to David and told him: “Should seven years of famine come on your land? Or should you flee for three months from your adversaries while they pursue you? Or should there be three days of pestilence in your land? Now consider carefully what I should reply to the One who sent me.” ¹⁴ So David said to Gad: “It is very distressing to me. Let us fall, please, into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

(Acts 13:21-23) . . .. ²² After removing him, he raised up for them David as king, about whom he bore witness and said: ‘I have found David the son of Jesʹse a man agreeable to my heart; he will do all the things I desire.’ ²³ According to his promise, from the offspring of this man, God has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.

(1 Chronicles 22:17-19) ¹⁷ David then ordered all the princes of Israel to help his son Solʹo·mon: ¹⁸ “Is not Jehovah your God with you, and has he not given you rest on every side? For he handed over to me the inhabitants of the land, and the land has been subdued before Jehovah and before his people. ¹⁹ Now determine with all your heart and soul to seek Jehovah your God,. . .

(Exodus 32:23-29) ²³ So they said to me, ‘Make for us a god who will go ahead of us, for we do not know what has happened to this Moses, the man who led us up out of the land of Egypt.’ ²⁴ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold must take it off and give it to me.’ Then I threw it into the fire and out came this calf.” ²⁵ Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had let them go unrestrained, so that they were a disgrace before their opposers. ²⁶ Then Moses took his position in the gate of the camp and said: “Who is on Jehovah’s side? Come to me!” And all the Levites gathered around him. ²⁷ He now said to them: “This is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said, ‘Each of you must fasten on his sword and pass through all the camp from gate to gate, killing his brother, his neighbor, and his close companion.’” ²⁸ The Levites did what Moses said. So about 3,000 men were killed on that day. ²⁹ Then Moses said: “Set yourselves apart for Jehovah today, for each of you has gone against his own son and his own brother; today he will give you a blessing.”

(Exodus 32:1-4) 32 Meanwhile, the people saw that Moses was taking a long time coming down from the mountain. So the people gathered around Aaron and said to him: “Get up, make for us a god who will go ahead of us, because we do not know what has happened to this Moses, the man who led us up out of the land of Egypt.” ² At this Aaron said to them: “Take the gold earrings from the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people began taking off the gold earrings that were in their ears and bringing them to Aaron. ⁴ Then he took the gold from them, and he formed it with an engraving tool and made it into a statue of a calf. They began to say: “This is your God, O Israel, who led you up out of the land of Egypt.”

(Romans 13:1-4) 13 Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. ² Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves. ³ For those rulers are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you want to be free of fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; ⁴ for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword. It is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath against the one practicing what is bad.

(1 Peter 2:13-17) ¹³ For the Lord’s sake subject yourselves to every human creation, whether to a king as being superior ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish wrongdoers but to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorant talk of unreasonable men. ¹⁶ Be as free people, using your freedom, not as a cover for doing wrong, but as slaves of God. ¹⁷ Honor men of all sorts, have love for the whole association of brothers, be in fear of God, honor the king.

(Acts 5:29) ²⁹ In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.

(Romans 12:17-21) ¹⁷ Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” ²⁰ But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.

(Daniel 1:3-9) ³ Then the king ordered Ashʹpe·naz his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. ⁴ They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chal·deʹans. ⁵ Furthermore, the king assigned to them a daily ration from the king’s delicacies and from the wine he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service. ⁶ Now among them were some from the tribe of Judah: Daniel, Han·a·niʹah, Mishʹa·el, and Az·a·riʹah. ⁷ And the principal court official assigned names to them; he gave to Daniel the name Bel·te·shazʹzar, to Han·a·niʹah the name Shaʹdrach, to Mishʹa·el the name Meʹshach, and to Az·a·riʹah the name A·bedʹne·go. ⁸ But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies or with the wine he drank. So he asked the principal court official for permission not to defile himself in this way. ⁹ And the true God caused the principal court official to show Daniel favor and mercy.

(Daniel 3:3-7) ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces assembled for the inauguration of the image that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up. And they stood in front of the image that Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up. ⁴ The herald loudly proclaimed: “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and language groups, ⁵ that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.” ⁷ So when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, and all the other musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and language groups fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up.

(Mark 13:21-23) ²¹ “Then, too, if anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘See! There he is,’ do not believe it. ²² For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen ones. ²³ You, then, watch out. I have told you all things beforehand.

(2 Peter 3:17-18) ¹⁷ You, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on your guard so that you may not be led astray with them by the error of the lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. ¹⁸ No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

(Luke 21:25-28) ²⁵ “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. ²⁶ People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”

(Daniel 3:3-7) ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces assembled for the inauguration of the image that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up. And they stood in front of the image that Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up. ⁴ The herald loudly proclaimed: “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and language groups, ⁵ that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.” ⁷ So when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, and all the other musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and language groups fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar had set up.

(Daniel 3:13-15) ¹³ Then Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar, in a furious rage, ordered Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go to be brought in. So these men were brought in before the king. ¹⁴ Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar said to them: “Is it really true, Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, that you are not serving my gods and that you refuse to worship the image of gold that I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the zither, the triangular harp, the stringed instrument, the bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image that I have made, fine. But if you refuse to worship, you will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who can rescue you out of my hands?”

(Daniel 3:21-23) ²¹ So these men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, garments, caps, and all their other clothing, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. ²² Because the king’s command was so harsh and the furnace was exceptionally hot, the men who took up Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go were the ones killed by the flames of the fire. ²³ But these three men, Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

(Daniel 3:16-18) ¹⁶ Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go answered the king: “O Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.”

(Daniel 3:26, 27) ²⁶ Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar approached the door of the burning fiery furnace and said: “Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, you servants of the Most High God, step out and come here!” Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go stepped out from the midst of the fire. ²⁷ And the satraps, prefects, governors, and the high officials of the king who were assembled there saw that the fire had had no effect on the bodies of these men; not a hair of their heads had been singed, their cloaks looked no different, and there was not even the smell of fire on them.

(Romans 8:37-39) . . .. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Daniel 6:6-11) ⁶ So these high officials and satraps went in as a group to the king, and they said to him: “O King Da·riʹus, may you live on forever. ⁷ All the royal officials, prefects, satraps, high royal officers, and governors have consulted together to establish a royal decree and to enforce a ban, that for 30 days whoever makes a petition to any god or man except to you, O king, should be thrown into the lions’ pit. ⁸ Now, O king, may you establish the decree and sign it, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be annulled.” ⁹ So King Da·riʹus signed the decree and the ban. ¹⁰ But as soon as Daniel knew that the decree had been signed, he went to his house, which had the windows of his roof chamber open toward Jerusalem. And three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed and offered praise before his God, as he had regularly done prior to this. ¹¹ At that time those men burst in and found Daniel petitioning and pleading for favor before his God.

(Daniel 6:12) ¹² So they approached the king and reminded him about the royal ban: “Did you not sign a ban stating that for 30 days any man who makes a petition to any god or man except to you, O king, should be thrown into the lions’ pit?” The king replied: “The matter is well-established according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be annulled.”

(Daniel 6:16, 17) ¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the pit of lions. The king said to Daniel: “Your God whom you are continually serving will rescue you.” ¹⁷ Then a stone was brought and placed over the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet ring of his nobles, so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel.

(Daniel 6:18-24) ¹⁸ The king then went to his palace. He passed the night fasting and refused any entertainment, and he could not sleep. ¹⁹ Finally at the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ pit. ²⁰ As he got near the pit, he called out to Daniel with a sad voice. The king asked Daniel: “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you are continually serving been able to rescue you from the lions?” ²¹ Daniel immediately said to the king: “O king, may you live on forever. ²² My God sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not harmed me, for I was found innocent before him; nor have I done any wrong to you, O king.” ²³ The king was overjoyed, and he commanded that Daniel be lifted up out of the pit. When Daniel was lifted up out of the pit, he was completely unharmed, because he had trusted in his God. ²⁴ The king then gave an order, and the men who had accused Daniel were brought, and they were thrown into the lions’ pit, along with their sons and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the pit before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

(1 John 5:18-21) ¹⁹ We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. ²⁰ But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us insight so that we may gain the knowledge of the one who is true. And we are in union with the one who is true, by means of his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life everlasting. ²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

(1 Timothy 5:20, 21) . . .. ²¹ I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to observe these instructions without any prejudice or partiality.

(James 2:8, 9) . . .. ⁹ But if you continue showing favoritism, you are committing sin, and you are convicted by the law as transgressors.

(Ephesians 5:6) Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.

(Hebrews 13:9) Do not be led astray by various and strange teachings, for it is better for the heart to be strengthened by undeserved kindness than by foods, which do not benefit those occupied with them.

(Revelation 12:7-9) ⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Miʹcha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. ⁹ So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

(Revelation 12:11, 12) . . .. ¹² On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.”

(Romans 7:21-25) ²¹ I find, then, this law in my case: When I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me. ²² I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, ²³ but I see in my body another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin’s law that is in my body. ²⁴ Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? ²⁵ Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, with my mind I myself am a slave to God’s law, but with my flesh to sin’s law.

(1 John 1:8-10) ⁸ If we make the statement, “We have no sin,” we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we make the statement, “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.

(1 John 4:1) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2) However, brothers, concerning the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you ² not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.

(Revelation 13:11-18) ¹¹ Then I saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, but it began speaking like a dragon. ¹² It exercises all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight. And it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first wild beast, whose mortal wound was healed. ¹³ And it performs great signs, even making fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the sight of mankind. ¹⁴ It misleads those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs that it was permitted to perform in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived. ¹⁵ And it was permitted to give breath to the image of the wild beast, so that the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed all those who refuse to worship the image of the wild beast. ¹⁶ It puts under compulsion all people—the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free and the slaves—that these should be marked on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody can buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ This is where it calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number, and its number is 666.

(Matthew 4:9, 10) . . .” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

(1 John 4:1) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God. . .

(2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2) However, brothers, concerning the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you ² not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.

(John 7:14-17) ¹⁴ When the festival was half over, Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. ¹⁵ And the Jews were astonished, saying: “How does this man have such a knowledge of the Scriptures when he has not studied at the schools?” ¹⁶ Jesus, in turn, answered them and said: “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him who sent me. ¹⁷ If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or I speak of my own originality.

(2 Corinthians 11:12-15) ¹² But what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis for being found equal to us in the things about which they boast. ¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their end will be according to their works.

(Colossians 1:21-23) ²¹ Indeed, you who were once alienated and enemies because your minds were on the works that were wicked, ²² he has now reconciled by means of that one’s fleshly body through his death, in order to present you holy and unblemished and open to no accusation before him— ²³ provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, established on the foundation and steadfast, not being shifted away from the hope of that good news that you heard and that was preached in all creation under heaven. Of this good news I, Paul, became a minister.

(2 Corinthians 1:23, 24) . . .. ²⁴ Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing.

(1 Peter 5:2, 3) ² Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers, not under compulsion, but willingly before God; not for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.

(Romans 14:13-18) ¹³ Therefore, let us not judge one another any longer but, rather, be determined not to put a stumbling block or an obstacle before a brother. ¹⁴ I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; only where a man considers something to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ For if your brother is being offended because of food, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not by your food ruin that one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore, do not let the good you do be spoken of as bad. ¹⁷ For the Kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit. ¹⁸ For whoever slaves for Christ in this way is acceptable to God and has approval with men.

(Colossians 3:1, 2) 3 If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Keep your minds fixed on the things above, not on the things on the earth.

(1 Corinthians 10:23, 24) ²³ All things are lawful, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. ²⁴ Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.

(1 Corinthians 6:19, 20) ¹⁹ Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God? Also, you do not belong to yourselves, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in your body.

(1 Corinthians 10:31-33) ³¹ Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory. ³² Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks and to the congregation of God, ³³ just as I am trying to please all people in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, so that they may be saved.

(Revelation 6:12-7:4) ¹² And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the entire moon became as blood, ¹³ and the stars of heaven fell to the earth as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind drops its unripe figs. ¹⁴ And the heaven departed as a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and every island was removed from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the high officials, the military commanders, the rich, the strong, every slave, and every free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ And they keep saying to the mountains and to the rocks: “Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷ because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” 7 After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. ² And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, having a seal of the living God; and he called with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, ³ saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” ⁴ And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:

(Revelation 6:10, 11) . . .” ¹¹ And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been.

This is a link to information I put together showing vaccines are not a blessing from God.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/04/14/are-vaccines-a-gift-from-god-as-some-claim/

How do we know what time frame we are in concerning the end of this system of things?

Written by Lee Stevenson sorry I am not a very good editor.

How do we know we are in the final minutes of this system of things and that man’s rule is coming to an end? Why should we take note of the times we are in?

How do we determine what time frame we are in when it comes to the time of the end of this system of things? Many of the things Jesus mentioned have occurred throughout the history of the earth. If these things have always occurred then what would be different , what could help us determine when the time of the end started?

Some things to take note of is that these things would start to occur simultaneously and on a grand scale. The things would occur at a level they have never occurred before. In 1914 war broke out that effected every nation on the earth. Such a thing had never occurred before. Shortly after that a flu pandemic occurred that killed millions of people. A pandemic of this magnitude had never occurred before. Wars and pandemics have occurred throughout history but they have never effected the whole earth. Disease is so rampant now days that many have come to accept having an illness as being a part of normal life. Cancer is so rampant on the earth that babies are now being born with cancer. Violence is so rampant that many feel it is necessary to carry a weapon to protect themselves. Famine is occurring on a scale it has never occurred before. Even people who live in some of the wealthiest nations in the world have starved from famine. Millions each year die from famine. Hatred would abound and most would not let love guide their actions and would put their confidence in their own understanding causing even more confusion and suffering as man depends more and more on their own understanding. Wars and threats of wars are occurring on a grand scale even now. Man has developed weapons of mass destruction that could destroy all life on earth if the weapons were used. These things have never occurred before. So it has become clear the time of the end of this system started in 1914. We need to ask ourselves why did this occur and what does all this mean?

We were warned the great apostasy would come first. False teaching would become rampant causing many different sects of religion to arise. The bible tells us because of the things those who follow the false teachings would do, it would cause Jehovah’s good name to be spoken of abusively. This behavior would even cause people to scoff at the warnings of the times we are in. This does not mean all hope is lost. So not only will there be corruption on a world wide scale like has never occurred before but even religion would become corrupted.

All these things are occurring because God has sat Jesus on the throne, and one of the first things he did was cast Satan and the demons out of heaven. Because of this they are vengeful because they know their time is short. They want nothing more then for the destruction of the earth and to take down as many with them to the pit of destruction with them. The bible warned whoa to the earth when this occurs. Another sign that Jesus has been seated on the throne is that true worship would be restored and those who worship in truth would spread the good news of the heavenly kingdom in all the earth. The bible also showed those who returned to true worship would have a clear understanding of the prophesies concerning the last days and they would spread this knowledge throughout the earth preparing people for what is about to occur. This kingdom message and the good news of the kingdom has been told throughout the earth and most have had the opportunity to hear it.

This may seem like fearful times but those who returned to true worship do not have to worry these things have to occur as the rebellion that started in the garden of Eden has run it’s course our king appointed by Jehovah God is seated on the throne and these are all signs he is going to set matters straight very soon and that the end of this system is very near. The truth and message of the good news of the heavenly kingdom has reached all the earth which is one of the final signs that will occur. The earth has reached a point were disease and death is rampant. People are living in constant fear there will be a world war and the weapons of mass destruction will be used. People no longer live in security, and hatred is so rampant that peace is becoming difficult to find. It is clear we are in the final minutes of this system and the heavenly kingdom with Jesus as our king is going to restore the earth and all the suffering and evil things occurring on earth will not occur again. Those who prepare and stay on the watch and are taking note of the time frame we are in do not have to fear. God will give Jesus the command to save those who have stayed awake and who remained loyal to save and protect them. Many will walk through the great tribulation into the new system. This is a time to be happy because we now know Jesus is seated on the throne and redemption is near and the end of all the bad is very near. Very soon we will be able to enjoy peace, with no more suffering, violence, illness, greed, or suffering caused by man relying on their own understanding. There will be no more tears only joy. The best part is there will be no more death and those who make it through the great tribulation will get to see the loved ones they lost to death when they are resurrected. We only have to endure a little longer. I know these times may seem overwhelming but keep looking forward better times are very very near. We need to persist in reading God’s word, remaining loyal and faithful and persist in prayer now more then ever. Many of the things in this system especially the world governments will be gone soon and they will be replaced by the heavenly kingdom. Many of the material things of this world will hold no value but it is the treasures we store in heaven that will save us. So we need to focus more on spiritual things now then ever before. Let’s do our best to keep our eyes focused on the heavenly kingdoms and the hope it has given us so we do not lose sight of the things that will not pass away because this system and the things in it will be gone soon and so will the hope of those who put their faith in the world and the things in it.

Many peoples identities are based on what they may own, or the reputation they may have built for things they have done or even the knowledge they have. Build our identities with God, make are reputation in things pertaining to God. Our spiritual treasures are forever and cannot be done away with they are stored in heaven. If our treasures and hope are on spiritual things based on the hope given us by the future promises, no matter what we may lose we still keep our identities and are certain of who we are. For those who base their identity and hope on things that are passing away what do they have to identify with? What hope do they have if they put their faith in the world and the things in it?

(Mark 13:18-20) ¹⁸ Keep praying that it may not occur in wintertime; ¹⁹ for those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation that God created until that time, and will not occur again. ²⁰ In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen, he has cut short the days.

(Revelation 11:18) ¹⁸ But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”

(Revelation 12:7-12) ⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Miʹcha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. ⁹ So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. ¹⁰ I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! ¹¹ And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. ¹² On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.”

(Genesis 6:11, 12) ¹¹ But the earth had become ruined in the sight of the true God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹² Yes, God looked upon the earth, and it was ruined; all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.

(Romans 15:3-6) . . .” ⁴ For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant you to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that unitedly you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2 Peter 1:20, 21) ²⁰ For you know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. ²¹ For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.

(2 Peter 3:14-16) ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved ones, since you are awaiting these things, do your utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace. ¹⁵ Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you according to the wisdom given him, ¹⁶ speaking about these things as he does in all his letters. However, some things in them are hard to understand, and these things the ignorant and unstable are twisting, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

(Proverbs 14:6)  ⁶ The scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge comes easily to the person with understanding.

(Proverbs 9:7, 8)  ⁷ The one who corrects a ridiculer invites dishonor, And whoever reproves someone wicked will get hurt.  ⁸ Do not reprove a ridiculer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-5) 5 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. ³ Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness.

(Matthew 24:43, 44) ⁴³ “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

(Jude 5-7) ⁵ Although you are fully aware of all of this, I want to remind you that Jehovah, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those not showing faith. ⁶ And the angels who did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place, he has reserved with eternal bonds in dense darkness for the judgment of the great day. ⁷ In the same manner, Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah and the cities around them also gave themselves over to gross sexual immorality and pursued unnatural fleshly desires; they are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire.

(Matthew 24:3) ³ While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”

(Mark 13:8) ⁸ “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in one place after another; there will also be food shortages. These are a beginning of pangs of distress.

(Matthew 24:4-22) ⁴ In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, ⁵ for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. ⁶ You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. ⁸ All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. ⁹ “Then people will hand you over to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. ¹⁰ Then, too, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will arise and mislead many; ¹² and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who has endured to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. ¹⁵ “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment), ¹⁶ then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house, ¹⁸ and let the man in the field not return to pick up his outer garment. ¹⁹ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! ²⁰ Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; ²¹ for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. ²² In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-5) 2 However, brothers, concerning the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you ² not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here. ³ Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things?

(2 Timothy 3:1-7) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. ⁶ From among these arise men who slyly work their way into households and captivate weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

(1 Timothy 4:1-5) 4 However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. ³ They forbid marriage and command people to abstain from foods that God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith and accurately know the truth. ⁴ For every creation of God is fine, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ for it is sanctified through God’s word and prayer over it.

(2 Peter 3:5-7) ⁵ For they deliberately ignore this fact, that long ago there were heavens and an earth standing firmly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; ⁶ and that by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. ⁷ But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people.

(Matthew 24:36-44) ³⁶ “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ³⁸ For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, ³⁹ and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴² Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

(Luke 17:22-30) ²² Then he said to the disciples: “Days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, but you will not see it. ²³ And people will say to you, ‘See there!’ or, ‘See here!’ Do not go out or chase after them. ²⁴ For just as lightning flashes from one part of heaven to another part of heaven, so the Son of man will be in his day. ²⁵ First, however, he must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ Moreover, just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of man: ²⁷ they were eating, they were drinking, men were marrying, women were being given in marriage until that day when Noah entered into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise, just as it occurred in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. ²⁹ But on the day that Lot went out of Sodʹom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ It will be the same on that day when the Son of man is revealed.

(2 Peter 2:1-3) 2 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These will quietly bring in destructive sects, and they will even disown the owner who bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. ² Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. ³ Also, they will greedily exploit you with counterfeit words. But their judgment, decided long ago, is not moving slowly, and their destruction is not sleeping.

(Daniel 12:4) ⁴ “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”

(Hosea 3:4, 5) ⁴ It is because for a long time the people of Israel will dwell without a king, without a prince, without a sacrifice, without a pillar, and without an ephʹod and teraphim statues. ⁵ Afterward the people of Israel will come back and look for Jehovah their God and for David their king, and they will come trembling to Jehovah and to his goodness in the final part of the days.

(1 John 4:11-21) ¹¹ Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we continue loving one another, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us. ¹³ By this we know that we are remaining in union with him and he in union with us, because he has given his spirit to us. ¹⁴ In addition, we ourselves have seen and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son as savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in union with such one and he in union with God. ¹⁶ And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in union with God and God remains in union with him. ¹⁷ In this way love has been made perfect in us, so that we may have freeness of speech in the day of judgment, because just as that one is, so are we ourselves in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear out, because fear restrains us. Indeed, the one who is fearful has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love, because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ²¹ And we have this commandment from him, that whoever loves God must also love his brother.

(Jude 17, 18) ¹⁷ As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to you: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.. . .

(Micah 4:1-3) 4 In the final part of the days, The mountain of the house of Jehovah Will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, And it will be raised up above the hills, And to it peoples will stream.  ² And many nations will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah And to the house of the God of Jacob. He will instruct us about his ways, And we will walk in his paths.” For law will go out of Zion, And the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem.  ³ He will render judgment among many peoples And set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, Nor will they learn war anymore.

(Daniel 12:10-12) ¹⁰ Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand. ¹¹ “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and the disgusting thing that causes desolation has been put in place, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² “Happy is the one who keeps in expectation and who arrives at the 1,335 days!

(2 Thessalonians 2:6-12) ⁶ And now you know what is acting as a restraint, so that he will be revealed in his own due time. ⁷ True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. ⁸ Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence. ⁹ But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders ¹⁰ and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. ¹¹ That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, ¹² in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

(Romans 13:11-14) ¹¹ And do this because you know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers. ¹² The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore throw off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light. ¹³ Let us walk decently as in the daytime, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in immoral intercourse and brazen conduct, not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh.

(Matthew 24:31-35) ³¹ And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity. ³² “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. ³⁴ Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

(Hebrews 1:1-4) 1 Long ago God spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets on many occasions and in many ways. ² Now at the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. ³ He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. ⁴ So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.

(Revelation 21:7, 8) . . .. ⁸ But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.”

(Revelation 13:14-18) ¹⁴ It misleads those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs that it was permitted to perform in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived. ¹⁵ And it was permitted to give breath to the image of the wild beast, so that the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed all those who refuse to worship the image of the wild beast. ¹⁶ It puts under compulsion all people—the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free and the slaves—that these should be marked on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody can buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ This is where it calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number, and its number is 666.

(2 Peter 3:8-13) ⁸ However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. ¹⁰ But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed. ¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, ¹² as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat! ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.

(Isaiah 13:9) Look! The day of Jehovah is coming, Cruel both with fury and with burning anger, To make the land an object of horror, And to annihilate the land’s sinners from it.

(Zephaniah 1:18) Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury; For by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed, Because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

(Matthew 12:36, 37) I tell you that men will render an account on Judgment Day for every unprofitable saying that they speak; ³⁷ for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Acts 17:31) Because he has set a day on which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has provided a guarantee to all men by resurrecting him from the dead.

(Colossians 3:15-17) ¹⁵ Also, let the peace of the Christ rule in your hearts, for you were called to that peace in one body. And show yourselves thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of the Christ reside in you richly in all wisdom. Keep on teaching and encouraging one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs sung with gratitude, singing in your hearts to Jehovah. ¹⁷ Whatever it is that you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.

(Psalm 37:29) ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

(Revelation 21:3, 4) ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(Daniel 2:44) ⁴⁴ “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever. . .

(Luke 1:30-33) . . .. ³¹ And look! you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. ³² This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, ³³ and he will rule as King over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his Kingdom.”

(Revelation 19:11-16) ¹¹ I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. ¹² His eyes are a fiery flame, and on his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, ¹³ and he is clothed with an outer garment stained with blood, and he is called by the name The Word of God. ¹⁴ Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. ¹⁵ And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

(Revelation 19:19-21) ¹⁹ And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. ²⁰ And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who worship its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur. ²¹ But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

(Revelation 7:13-17) ¹³ In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. ¹⁶ They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, ¹⁷ because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”

(Luke 21:25-28) ²⁵ “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. ²⁶ People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”

(Matthew 6:19-21) ¹⁹ “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How can we survive the war of Armageddon?

How to use.

Written by Lee Stevenson. Sorry I am a lousy editor.

Very soon we will be given a choice to turn our backs on God and worship the beast and put our faith in man and this system of things or to remain faithful and loyal to God and put our faith in the future promises he has given us. Just as in times past Satan and his people will put extreme pressure on those who oppose them and choose to remain loyal to God. They will take many peoples belongings, persecute them in many ways, some may be killed, some will be arrested. When these things occur we have no need to fear. I well explain why we should not be in fear and how we can prepare for the things that are about to occur.

Now more then ever wealth and acquiring material things should be the least of our concerns. This system is clearly winding down and we are in the final minutes. In times past when a nation was going to be judged God would have his people flee or go into hiding. Before this occurred he prepared them spiritually by having them repeatedly read from his word until it was written on their hearts and guided all they did. He also had them simplify their lives. Some had to flee, some had to go into hiding and many times some were very wealthy and had to leave all that wealth behind. In times past there were some who ended up being destroyed with the nations that were judged because they tried to cling to the wealth they had or they were too frightened of leaving the life they had been used to. We need to follow Abraham’s example. He was very wealthy and God instructed him to leave most of it behind including some of his family for hope in a future promise that he would not live to see. He and his wife were very old yet God promised his seed would bless people of all the nations. Because Abraham had faith he did as God ask. We know that Jesus was from Abraham’s bloodline and he fulfilled this promise. Because of Abraham’s faith it was counted as righteous on his part. A lack of faith is a very serious sin in God’s eyes so we need to work on building our faith in God. The way we can do that is by learning how he protects and takes care of those who love, obey and trust him.

The bible warns love of the world and the things in the world, for example showy things, power, or wealth does not originate with God. It is not wrong to have those things but it is wrong if we pursue those things and leave them crowd out worship of God and taking in knowledge of him and Jesus. Many know the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. If we get caught up in the things of a world we can be easily swayed and manipulated by Satan, we could slowly start putting our faith in the world and the things in it. Money, gold, and silver will be worth nothing very soon. The bible warned us many of the things in this system would be gone soon. So why put our faith in things that will be perishing. God is eternal and does not die. He is the giver of life. Because Jesus defeated Satan God has given him much authority including authority over death which will be the final enemy to be destroyed. So even if man killed us, if we died for righteous reasons, we will be remembered during the resurrection just as Jesus was and he was resurrected so we have no need to fear even death.

True happiness does not come from what we own, any power we may have or anything else in this world. God did not put Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden and say now become wealthy and powerful. He told Adam and Eve to make the whole earth like the garden. We have no word that would accurately convey what the word for the garden meant, but it had a meaning very similar to words we use to describe amusement parks. So we know the garden must have been very fun and very pleasant. Adam and Even had no reason not to trust God. He put them in a garden that had plenty of food. He provided all they needed. So when Satan convinced them that they did not need God and that they would not die. They should have known he was not being truthful because God did nothing that should have made them lose trust in him. They should have known life comes from God and that Satan was lying when he said they would not die. It is a lesson for everyone if someone is saying things about God that may cause us doubt or cause us to put our faith in man or ourselves we should not listen. By Adam and Eve listening they got swayed to put faith in themselves and it brought death and a lot of misery on man. Man has had thousands of years to try and do things without God’s guidance and wisdom. We have tried every means necessary to end crime, violence, poverty, pestilence, wars, greed, selfishness, death and many other things that come from rejecting God. We have tried every form of government and we have failed miserably. When Adam and Even rebelled against God this brought imperfection on man. Not only is man imperfect but we lack the foresight and wisdom God has to be able to do things without him. We have thoroughly proven that lie to be wrong. Because we have the long history of the mistakes man has made and the many failures of man, and all the things I mentioned above have only gotten worse, the original lie in the garden has been thoroughly proven to be wrong. So when the world turns on those worshiping God wholeheartedly we need to keep in mind no matter how many people there are and no matter what weapons they have we have God. No one is wiser or more powerful then God. So there is nothing man could do that God could not protect us from or undo. As for them when they experience God’s rage there will be nothing to protect them. They will not be able to escape his justice. When this occurs God will provide for his people, he will protect them. Yes some may die or be arrested but they will not be forgotten. So even death will not separate us from the love of Jehovah God and Jesus.

I provided scriptures below that show God did not leave faithful ones go without food clothing or other necessities. We may suffer most of our lives because of this wicked system but we need to endure to the end because the new system is forever. This system will be gone soon. In the new system we will have all the time we want to pursue things we may want to do. For example I desire to have donkeys and many other things. I am not making it a goal to acquire donkeys and to acquire land to raise them because I know this system will be gone soon and many of us will lose all we have or even have to leave it behind. I prefer trying to keep my life simple for now and to keep a waiting attitude on God knowing all this is temporary and will be gone soon. If we make it into the new system anything we own no man can or will take it from us. We will be ruled by the heavenly kingdom and guided by God so man will not make the errors and be blindly trying to solve problems because in the new system God will be guiding us and teaching us. Death , illness and all the other bad things will be done away with. We will have all the time we need to pursue things that make us happy and not have things that bring , stress , sadness or any other bad things. The bible tells us the bad memories will be replaced by the good. The bible also tells us before we are done speaking our prayers will be answered. Imagine a life free from death , free from illness. Imagine a world free from unrighteousness , free from the consequences of man making bad decisions. Even when man has good intentions often times we make decisions that we think are good and they can effect others negatively because we lack the foresight and wisdom God has. So the world will be free of the errors man makes by putting faith in ourselves. So many of the problems caused by our decisions will no longer occur because we will be guided and taught by God. The bible tells us he will instruct us in the new system and because his knowledge is so vast we will never be able to learn all he knows. Look at Jesus he was the very first creation of God’s so he has been with God the longest, there are many scriptures that indicate he is still learning from God.

So we need to do things to prepare for the many things we were warned would occur like the pestilence, famine, violence and many other things are going to get much much worse very soon. As in times past we need to heed the warnings and prepare. In times past when famine was prophesied God’s people would take the necessary steps in order to prepare. For example Joseph new there would be a drought. So he stored enough grain to last until the drought was over. Also when it was not possible for God’s people to prepare God provided for them and protected them. We need to know our bibles well because when these things occur the bible tells us God will call the things to mind we have learned to help guide us through it. For some friends and family will turn on them and hand them over to the authorities. We do not have to worry about what to say or do. The bible tells us God will send the holy spirit to guide what we say and do.

Just as in times past it may appear that Satan and his people have the upper hand on those who worship God wholeheartedly but often times God left them believe they had the upper hand but he was actually letting them be lured into a trap. Just as when Israel crossed the sea and God parted it for them. Egypt pursued them. When the last of the Israelite’s had gotten across God left the sea consume the Egyptian army. Not a single Egyptian soldier survived. One angel defended God’s people and it wiped out an entire army. Jesus has legions of angels at his commend. A legion can be up to ten thousand. So we know Jesus has tens of thousands of angels at his command to protect God’s loyal ones. We only need to endure a little while longer and soon things will be much much better.

I posted scriptures below they I would recommend reading so we can write God’s word on our hearts and be prepared. Better times are near we just need to endure a little while longer. We need to persist in prayer and taking in God’s word and writing it on our hearts now more then ever. To improve our chances of surviving the war of Armegeddon. All the signs are in place that it is going to occur very soon.

(Genesis 12:1-3) 12 And Jehovah said to Aʹbram: “Go out from your land and away from your relatives and from the house of your father to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will become a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who calls down evil on you, and all the families of the ground will certainly be blessed by means of you.”

(Romans 4:16-22) ¹⁶ That is why it is through faith, so that it might be according to undeserved kindness, in order for the promise to be sure to all his offspring, not only to those who adhere to the Law but also to those who adhere to the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. ¹⁷ (This is just as it is written: “I have appointed you a father of many nations.”) This was in the sight of God, in whom he had faith, who makes the dead alive and calls the things that are not as though they are. ¹⁸ Although beyond hope, yet based on hope, he had faith that he would become the father of many nations according to what had been said: “So your offspring will be.” ¹⁹ And although he did not grow weak in faith, he considered his own body, now as good as dead (since he was about 100 years old), as well as the deadness of the womb of Sarah. ²⁰ But because of the promise of God, he did not waver in a lack of faith; but he became powerful by his faith, giving God glory ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to do. ²² Therefore, “it was counted to him as righteousness.”

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(1 Timothy 6:5-8) . . .. ⁶ To be sure, there is great gain in godly devotion along with contentment. ⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. ⁸ So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.

(John 17:3-5) ³ This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. ⁴ I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. ⁵ So now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.

(Psalm 37:29) ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

(Matthew 25:41-46) ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. ⁴² For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat; and I was thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they too will answer with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”

(Isaiah 41:10-14) ¹⁰ Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness.’ ¹¹ Look! All those getting enraged against you will be put to shame and humiliated. Those who fight with you will be brought to nothing and perish. ¹² You will search for men who struggle with you, but you will not find them; The men at war with you will become as something nonexistent, as nothing at all. ¹³ For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, The One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.’ ¹⁴ Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel, I will help you,” declares Jehovah, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel.

(2 Kings 4:1-7) 4 Now one of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to E·liʹsha, saying: “Your servant my husband is dead, and you well know that your servant had always feared Jehovah. Now a creditor has come to take both of my children as his slaves.” ² At this E·liʹsha said to her: “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She replied: “Your servant has nothing at all in the house but a jar of oil.” ³ Then he said: “Go outside, ask for containers from all your neighbors, empty containers. Do not limit yourself to a few. ⁴ Then go in and close the door behind you and your sons. Fill all these containers, and set the full ones aside.” ⁵ So she left him. When she closed the door behind her and her sons, they passed the containers to her, and she kept pouring. ⁶ When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons: “Bring another container to me.” But he said to her: “There are no more containers.” At that the oil stopped. ⁷ So she came in and told the man of the true God, and he said: “Go, sell the oil and pay off your debts, and you and your sons can live from what is left.”

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10) . . .To keep me from becoming overly exalted, I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, so that I might not be overly exalted. ⁸ Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. ⁹ But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in times of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

(2 Corinthians 4:7-12) ⁷ However, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the power beyond what is normal may be God’s and not from us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement; we are perplexed, but not absolutely with no way out; ⁹ we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ Always we endure in our body the death-dealing treatment that Jesus suffered, that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are ever being brought face-to-face with death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death is at work in us, but life in you.

(Judges 7:19-22) ¹⁹ Gidʹe·on and the 100 men who were with him came to the edge of the camp at the start of the middle night watch, just after the sentries were posted. They blew the horns and smashed the large water jars that were in their hands. ²⁰ So the three bands blew the horns and shattered the large jars. They held the torches in their left hands and blew the horns in their right hands and they called out: “The sword of Jehovah and of Gidʹe·on!” ²¹ All the while each man stood in his place all around the camp, and the whole army ran away, shouting as they fled. ²² The 300 continued to blow the horns, and Jehovah turned the sword of each one against the other throughout the camp; and the army fled as far as Beth-shitʹtah, on to Zerʹe·rah, as far as the outskirts of Aʹbel-me·hoʹlah by Tabʹbath.

(2 Chronicles 20:22-24) ²² When they began joyfully singing praises, Jehovah set an ambush against the men of Amʹmon, Moʹab, and the mountainous region of Seʹir who were invading Judah, and they struck each other down. ²³ And the Amʹmon·ites and the Moʹab·ites turned against the inhabitants of the mountainous region of Seʹir to destroy and annihilate them; and when they finished with the inhabitants of Seʹir, they helped to destroy one another. ²⁴ But when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness and looked toward the crowd, there they saw their carcasses fallen to the ground; there were no survivors.

(Daniel 6:18-23) ¹⁸ The king then went to his palace. He passed the night fasting and refused any entertainment, and he could not sleep. ¹⁹ Finally at the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ pit. ²⁰ As he got near the pit, he called out to Daniel with a sad voice. The king asked Daniel: “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you are continually serving been able to rescue you from the lions?” ²¹ Daniel immediately said to the king: “O king, may you live on forever. ²² My God sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not harmed me, for I was found innocent before him; nor have I done any wrong to you, O king.” ²³ The king was overjoyed, and he commanded that Daniel be lifted up out of the pit. When Daniel was lifted up out of the pit, he was completely unharmed, because he had trusted in his God.

(Hebrews 11:32-12:3) ³² And what more will I say? For time will fail me if I go on to relate about Gidʹe·on, Baʹrak, Samson, Jephʹthah, David, as well as Samuel and the other prophets. ³³ Through faith they defeated kingdoms, brought about righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the force of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from a weak state were made powerful, became mighty in war, routed invading armies. ³⁵ Women received their dead by resurrection, but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Yes, others received their trial by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than that, by chains and prisons. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slaughtered by the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in need, in tribulation, mistreated; ³⁸ and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and dens of the earth. ³⁹ And yet all of these, although they received a favorable witness because of their faith, did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise, ⁴⁰ because God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us. 12 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up.

(Joel 2:32) ³² And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, just as Jehovah has said, The survivors whom Jehovah calls.”

(Jeremiah 29:11-14) ¹¹ “‘For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² And you will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’ ¹³ “‘You will seek me and find me, for you will search for me with all your heart. ¹⁴ And I will let you find me,’ declares Jehovah. ‘And I will gather your captives and collect you together out of all the nations and places to which I have dispersed you,’ declares Jehovah. ‘And I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to go into exile.’

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) 5 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. ³ Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness. ⁶ So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But as for us who belong to the day, let us keep our senses and put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet ⁹ because God assigned us, not to wrath, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or are asleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore, keep encouraging one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.

(Hebrews 2:14-18) ¹⁴ Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil, ¹⁵ and that he might set free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For it is not really angels he is assisting, but he is assisting Abraham’s offspring. ¹⁷ Consequently, he had to become like his “brothers” in all respects, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Since he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.

(Revelation 2:9-11) ⁹ ‘I know your tribulation and poverty—but you are rich—and the blasphemy by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but they are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison so that you may be fully put to the test, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: The one who conquers will by no means be harmed by the second death.’

(Daniel 3:16-18) . . .. ¹⁷ If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.”

(Daniel 3:17-29) ¹⁷ If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.” ¹⁹ Then Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar became so furious with Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go that the expression of his face changed toward them, and he gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual. ²⁰ He ordered some of the mighty men from his army to bind Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace. ²¹ So these men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, garments, caps, and all their other clothing, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. ²² Because the king’s command was so harsh and the furnace was exceptionally hot, the men who took up Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go were the ones killed by the flames of the fire. ²³ But these three men, Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. ²⁴ King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar then became frightened and quickly rose up and said to his high officials: “Did we not tie up three men and throw them into the fire?” They answered the king: “Yes, O king.” ²⁵ He said: “Look! I see four men walking about free in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed, and the fourth one looks like a son of the gods.” ²⁶ Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar approached the door of the burning fiery furnace and said: “Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, you servants of the Most High God, step out and come here!” Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go stepped out from the midst of the fire. ²⁷ And the satraps, prefects, governors, and the high officials of the king who were assembled there saw that the fire had had no effect on the bodies of these men; not a hair of their heads had been singed, their cloaks looked no different, and there was not even the smell of fire on them. ²⁸ Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar then declared: “Praised be the God of Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go, who sent his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted in him and went against the command of the king and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ I am therefore issuing an order that any people, nation, or language group that says anything against the God of Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go should be dismembered, and their houses should be turned into public latrines; for there is no other god who is able to rescue like this one.”

(Matthew 26:52-55) ⁵² Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than 12 legions of angels? ⁵⁴ In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must take place this way?” ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowds: “Did you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the temple teaching, and yet you did not take me into custody.

(2 Kings 6:15-17) ¹⁵ When the attendant of the man of the true God rose early and went outside, he saw that an army with horses and war chariots was surrounding the city. At once the attendant said to him: “Alas, my master! What are we to do?” ¹⁶ But he said: “Do not be afraid! For there are more who are with us than those who are with them.” ¹⁷ Then E·liʹsha began to pray and say: “O Jehovah, open his eyes, please, that he may see.” Immediately Jehovah opened the attendant’s eyes and he saw, and look! the mountainous region was full of horses and war chariots of fire all around E·liʹsha.

(2 Kings 19:35, 36) ³⁵ On that very night the angel of Jehovah went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the As·syrʹi·ans. When people rose up early in the morning, they saw all the dead bodies. ³⁶ So King Sen·nachʹer·ib of As·syrʹi·a departed and returned to Ninʹe·veh and stayed there.

(Romans 8:35-39) ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Jeremiah 17:7, 8)  ⁷ Blessed is the man who puts his trust in Jehovah, Whose confidence is in Jehovah.  ⁸ He will become like a tree planted by the waters, That sends out its roots to the stream. He will not notice when heat comes, But his leaves will always flourish. And in the year of drought he will not be anxious, Nor will he quit producing fruit.

(Matthew 13:18-23) ¹⁸ “Now listen to the illustration of the man who sowed. ¹⁹ Where anyone hears the word of the Kingdom but does not get the sense of it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; this is the one sown alongside the road. ²⁰ As for the one sown on rocky ground, this is the one hearing the word and at once accepting it with joy. ²¹ Yet, he has no root in himself but continues for a time, and after tribulation or persecution has arisen on account of the word, he is at once stumbled. ²² As for the one sown among the thorns, this is the one hearing the word, but the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ As for the one sown upon the fine soil, this is the one hearing the word and getting the sense of it, who really does bear fruit and produces, this one 100 times more, that one 60, the other 30.”

(1 Peter 5:6-11) ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, ⁷ while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. ⁹ But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. ¹⁰ But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. ¹¹ To him be the might forever. Amen.

(1 Corinthians 15:26-28) ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

(John 5:27-30) . . .. ²⁸ Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment. ³⁰ I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

(Psalm 37:1-18) 37 Do not be upset because of evil men Or envious of wrongdoers.  ² They will quickly wither like grass And shrivel like green new grass. ב [Beth]  ³ Trust in Jehovah and do what is good; Reside in the earth, and act with faithfulness.  ⁴ Find exquisite delight in Jehovah, And he will grant you the desires of your heart. ג [Gimel]  ⁵ Commit your way to Jehovah; Rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.  ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like daybreak, And your justice like the midday sun. ד [Daleth]  ⁷ Keep silent before Jehovah And wait expectantly for him. Do not be upset by the man Who succeeds in carrying out his schemes. ה [He]  ⁸ Let go of anger and abandon rage; Do not become upset and turn to doing evil.  ⁹ For evil men will be done away with, But those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth. ו [Waw] ¹⁰ Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. ¹¹ But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. ז [Zayin] ¹² The wicked man plots against the righteous; He grinds his teeth at him. ¹³ But Jehovah will laugh at him, For He knows that his day will come. ח [Heth] ¹⁴ The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows To bring down the oppressed and the poor, To slaughter those whose way is upright. ¹⁵ But their sword will pierce their own heart; Their bows will be broken. ט [Teth] ¹⁶ Better is the little of the righteous one Than the abundance of many wicked ones. ¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But Jehovah will support the righteous. י [Yod] ¹⁸ Jehovah is aware of what the blameless go through, And their inheritance will last forever.

(Isaiah 65:17-25) ¹⁷ For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart. ¹⁸ So exult and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For look! I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joy And her people a cause for exultation. ¹⁹ And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people; No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress.” ²⁰ “No more will there be an infant from that place who lives but a few days, Nor an old man who fails to live out his days. For anyone who dies at a hundred will be considered a mere boy, And the sinner will be cursed, even though he is a hundred years of age. ²¹ They will build houses and live in them, And they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. ²² They will not build for someone else to inhabit, Nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full. ²³ They will not toil for nothing, Nor will they bear children for distress, Because they are the offspring made up of those blessed by Jehovah, And their descendants with them. ²⁴ Even before they call out, I will answer; While they are yet speaking, I will hear. ²⁵ The wolf and the lamb will feed together, The lion will eat straw just like the bull, And the serpent’s food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” says Jehovah.

(Hebrews 5:7-10) ⁷ During his life on earth, Christ offered up supplications and also petitions, with strong outcries and tears, to the One who was able to save him out of death, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. ⁹ And after he had been made perfect, he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him, ¹⁰ because he has been designated by God a high priest in the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek.

(John 5:30) ³⁰ I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

(John 6:37-40) ³⁷ All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and I will never drive away the one who comes to me; ³⁸ for I have come down from heaven to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none out of all those whom he has given me, but that I should resurrect them on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.”

(Matthew 10:19-23) ¹⁹ However, when they hand you over, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak, for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; ²⁰ for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you. ²¹ Further, brother will hand brother over to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and will have them put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all people on account of my name, but the one who has endured to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, you will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives.

(Luke 21:12-19) ¹² “But before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name. ¹³ It will result in your giving a witness. ¹⁴ Therefore, resolve in your hearts not to rehearse beforehand how to make your defense, ¹⁵ for I will give you words and wisdom that all your opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute. ¹⁶ Moreover, you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷ and you will be hated by all people because of my name. ¹⁸ But not even a hair of your heads will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will preserve your lives.

The war of Armageddon, are you prepared?

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am a lousy editor.

Some things are going to happen very soon that will be very frightening if we do not prepare. Also if we do not heed God’s word it could result in us not knowing what to do. So now more then ever we need to persist in prayer, in taking in knowledge of God and Jesus. This will help get us through what is about to occur. This war that about to occur is called the war of Amageddon. It is not going to be fought by God’s people but it will be God and Jesus who will defend them and it will be the nations and people of the earth who oppose God and Jesus that is involved in the battle.

We know that the world will turn on those who worship in truth and see them as defenseless. They will not have fortified walls or weapons so they will be viewed as vulnerable. The world will attack God’s people. We need not to fear. When this occurs those who oppose God will not be around much longer. He will experience his anger, and justice and he will protect his people and destroy those doing the destroying. We will have not need to fight. He will send Jesus who will be commanding legions of angels. As for food and clothing God always provided for his people in the past during times of hardship so we can be certain he will provide for his people again. Jesus will rule as king until all of his enemies are destroyed even death before he hands the thrown back over to his father. He has full authority over everything except God himself so we know he has all he needs to protect us and to accomplish the work God has given him.

We will not be able to buy sell or trade if we refuse to bow to the beast. But those who side with the beast will be destroyed those who remain loyal to God will be given the gift of eternal life. We will not have to worry about food or clothing God has always provided for his people when they were in need and they ask him to help them. So he will give us protection , food and clothing we have to remember to ask. We need to learn now more then ever to pray to God frequently. Since these things will all be gone soon we should focus more now on spiritual things because the things in the new system are forever and we will have all the time we need to pursue things that make us happy.

Those attacking God’s people will believe their wealth is going to protect them but they will lose everything and because they attacked God’s people they will be much worse off because they do not have God to help them.

Many will falter because they did not heed the warnings and prepare. But when these things occur those who prepared themselves will shine because they will have written God’s word on their hearts and will be guide so they were produce fruits during these times of distress. This is when it will really become clear who the sheep are and who the goats are.

Those who should be in fear are those who chose to oppose God or turn their backs on him because they are going to experience some very fearful things, and they will experience destruction. When these things occur we do not need to be afraid it is a sign our deliverance is very very near. Many will walk through the great tribulation and those ones will live forever.

(Ezekiel 38:8-23) ⁸ “‘“You will be given attention after many days. In the final part of the years you will invade the land whose people have been restored from the ravages of the sword, collected together out of many peoples onto the mountains of Israel, which had long been lying devastated. The inhabitants of this land were restored from the peoples, and all of them dwell in security. ⁹ You will come against them like a storm, and you will cover the land like clouds, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”’ ¹⁰ “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘In that day thoughts will come into your heart, and you will devise an evil plan. ¹¹ You will say: “I will invade the land of unprotected settlements. I will come against those living in security, without disturbance, all of them living in settlements unprotected by walls, bars, or gates.” ¹² It will be to take much spoil and plunder, to attack the devastated places that are now inhabited and a people regathered from the nations, who are accumulating wealth and property, those who are living in the center of the earth. ¹³ “‘Sheʹba and Deʹdan, the merchants of Tarʹshish and all its warriors will say to you: “Are you invading to get much spoil and plunder? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, to take wealth and property, to seize a very great spoil?”’ ¹⁴ “So prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “On that day when my people Israel are dwelling in security, will you not know it? ¹⁵ You will come from your place, from the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly, a vast army. ¹⁶ Like clouds covering the land, you will come against my people Israel. In the final part of the days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may know me when I sanctify myself through you before their eyes, O Gog.”’ ¹⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘Are you not the same one I spoke about in the former days through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for many years that you would be brought against them?’ ¹⁸ “‘On that day, the day when Gog invades the land of Israel,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘my great rage will flare up. ¹⁹ In my zeal, in the fire of my fury, I will speak; and in that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ Because of me the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts of the field, all the reptiles that creep on the ground, and all humans on the surface of the earth will tremble, and the mountains will be thrown down, and the cliffs will fall, and every wall will collapse to the ground.’ ²¹ “‘I will call for a sword against him on all my mountains,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. ‘Every man’s sword will be against his own brother. ²² I will bring my judgment against him with pestilence and bloodshed; and I will rain down a torrential downpour and hailstones and fire and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many peoples with him. ²³ And I will certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.’

(Revelation 12:10-17) . . .“Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! ¹¹ And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. ¹² On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.” ¹³ Now when the dragon saw that it had been hurled down to the earth, it persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. ¹⁴ But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is to be fed for a time and times and half a time away from the face of the serpent. ¹⁵ And the serpent spewed out water like a river from its mouth after the woman, to cause her to be drowned by the river. ¹⁶ But the earth came to the woman’s help, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon spewed out from its mouth. ¹⁷ So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her offspring, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness concerning Jesus.

(Haggai 2:22) I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and annihilate the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariot and its riders, and the horses and their riders will fall, each one by the sword of his brother.’”

(Zechariah 14:13) “In that day confusion from Jehovah will be widespread among them; and each one will grab hold of the hand of his companion, and his hand will come against the hand of his companion.

(1 Corinthians 15:24-28) . . .. ²⁵ For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

(Revelation 14:14-15:1) ¹⁴ Then I saw, and look! a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ Another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary, calling with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: “Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” ¹⁶ And the one seated on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped. ¹⁷ And still another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary that is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ And still another angel emerged from the altar, and he had authority over the fire. And he called out with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying: “Put your sharp sickle in and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes have become ripe.” ¹⁹ The angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great winepress of God’s anger. ²⁰ The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress as high up as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia. 15 And I saw in heaven another sign, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues. These are the last ones, because by means of them the anger of God is brought to a finish.

(Revelation 11:17, 18) . . .. ¹⁸ But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”

(Isaiah 13:9-13)  ⁹ Look! The day of Jehovah is coming, Cruel both with fury and with burning anger, To make the land an object of horror, And to annihilate the land’s sinners from it. ¹⁰ For the stars of the heavens and their constellations Will not give off their light; The sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed its light. ¹¹ I will call the inhabited earth to account for its badness, And the wicked for their error. I will put an end to the pride of the presumptuous, And I will humble the haughtiness of tyrants. ¹² I will make mortal man scarcer than refined gold, And humans scarcer than the gold of Oʹphir. ¹³ That is why I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken out of its place At the fury of Jehovah of armies in the day of his burning anger.

(Zephaniah 1:18-2:3) ¹⁸ Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury; For by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed, Because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.” 2 Gather together, yes, gather yourselves, O nation that feels no shame.  ² Before the decree takes effect, Before the day passes by like chaff, Before the burning anger of Jehovah comes upon you, Before the day of Jehovah’s anger comes upon you,  ³ Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, Who observe his righteous decrees. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) 5 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. ³ Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness. ⁶ So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But as for us who belong to the day, let us keep our senses and put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet ⁹ because God assigned us, not to wrath, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or are asleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore, keep encouraging one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.

(Revelation 13:16-18) ¹⁶ It puts under compulsion all people—the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free and the slaves—that these should be marked on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody can buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ This is where it calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number, and its number is 666.

(Mark 8:34-38) ³⁴ He now called the crowd to him with his disciples and said to them: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the good news will save it. ³⁶ Really, what good will it do a man to gain the whole world and to lose his life? ³⁷ What, really, would a man give in exchange for his life? ³⁸ For whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

(1 Timothy 6:9, 10) ⁹ But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains. . .

(Matthew 6:24-34) ²⁴ “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches. ²⁵ “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? ²⁶ Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? ²⁷ Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? ²⁸ Also, why are you anxious about clothing? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin; ²⁹ but I tell you that not even Solʹo·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. ³⁰ Now if this is how God clothes the vegetation of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? ³¹ So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’ ³² For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. ³⁴ So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.

(Matthew 6:1-4) 6 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in front of men to be noticed by them; otherwise you will have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. ² So when you make gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ³ But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your gifts of mercy may be in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you.

(Luke 18:9-14) ⁹ He also told this illustration to some who trusted in their own righteousness and who considered others as nothing: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me, a sinner.’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

(Psalm 37:1-13) 37 Do not be upset because of evil men Or envious of wrongdoers.  ² They will quickly wither like grass And shrivel like green new grass. ב [Beth]  ³ Trust in Jehovah and do what is good; Reside in the earth, and act with faithfulness.  ⁴ Find exquisite delight in Jehovah, And he will grant you the desires of your heart. ג [Gimel]  ⁵ Commit your way to Jehovah; Rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.  ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like daybreak, And your justice like the midday sun. ד [Daleth]  ⁷ Keep silent before Jehovah And wait expectantly for him. Do not be upset by the man Who succeeds in carrying out his schemes. ה [He]  ⁸ Let go of anger and abandon rage; Do not become upset and turn to doing evil.  ⁹ For evil men will be done away with, But those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth. ו [Waw] ¹⁰ Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. ¹¹ But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. ז [Zayin] ¹² The wicked man plots against the righteous; He grinds his teeth at him. ¹³ But Jehovah will laugh at him, For He knows that his day will come.

(Luke 12:32-34) ³² “Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has approved of giving you the Kingdom. ³³ Sell your belongings and give gifts of mercy. Make money pouches that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure in the heavens, where no thief gets near and no moth consumes. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your hearts will be also.

(Luke 12:13-21) ¹³ Then someone in the crowd said to him: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ He said to him: “Man, who appointed me judge or arbitrator between you two?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them: “Keep your eyes open and guard against every sort of greed, because even when a person has an abundance, his life does not result from the things he possesses.” ¹⁶ With that he told them an illustration, saying: “The land of a rich man produced well. ¹⁷ So he began reasoning within himself, ‘What should I do now that I have nowhere to gather my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my storehouses and build bigger ones, and there I will gather all my grain and all my goods, ¹⁹ and I will say to myself: “You have many good things stored up for many years; take it easy, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Unreasonable one, this night they are demanding your life from you. Who, then, is to have the things you stored up?’ ²¹ So it goes with the man who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.. . .

(Philippians 4:10-13) . . .. ¹¹ Not that I am saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be self-sufficient regardless of my circumstances. ¹² I know how to be low on provisions and how to have an abundance. In everything and in all circumstances I have learned the secret of both how to be full and how to hunger, both how to have an abundance and how to do without. ¹³ For all things I have the strength through the one who gives me power.

(1 Timothy 6:8) So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.

(Hebrews 13:5) Let your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.”

(1 Timothy 4:8) ⁸ For physical training is beneficial for a little, but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and the life that is to come. . .

(John 17:3) ³ This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

(1 Timothy 6:17-19) ¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. ¹⁸ Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, ¹⁹ safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life. . .

(Matthew 13:22) As for the one sown among the thorns, this is the one hearing the word, but the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

(Mark 10:23) After looking around, Jesus said to his disciples: “How difficult it will be for those with money to enter into the Kingdom of God!

money first mentioned in the bible

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.money first mentioned in the bible

(Psalm 37:29) ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

(Matthew 25:44-46) . . .’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life. . .

(Genesis 13:1-4) 13 Aʹbram then went up out of Egypt to the Negʹeb, he and his wife and all that he had, together with Lot. ² Aʹbram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. ³ He camped in one place after another as he traveled from the Negʹeb to Bethʹel, until he arrived at the place where his tent had been between Bethʹel and Aʹi, ⁴ to the place where he had previously built an altar. There Aʹbram called on the name of Jehovah.

(Genesis 12:1-3) 12 And Jehovah said to Aʹbram: “Go out from your land and away from your relatives and from the house of your father to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will become a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who calls down evil on you, and all the families of the ground will certainly be blessed by means of you.”

(Proverbs 15:27) ²⁷ The one making dishonest profit brings trouble on his own household, But the one hating bribes will keep living. . .

(Proverbs 22:7)  ⁷ The rich one rules the poor, And the borrower is a slave to the lender.

(2 Kings 4:1-7) 4 Now one of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to E·liʹsha, saying: “Your servant my husband is dead, and you well know that your servant had always feared Jehovah. Now a creditor has come to take both of my children as his slaves.” ² At this E·liʹsha said to her: “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She replied: “Your servant has nothing at all in the house but a jar of oil.” ³ Then he said: “Go outside, ask for containers from all your neighbors, empty containers. Do not limit yourself to a few. ⁴ Then go in and close the door behind you and your sons. Fill all these containers, and set the full ones aside.” ⁵ So she left him. When she closed the door behind her and her sons, they passed the containers to her, and she kept pouring. ⁶ When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons: “Bring another container to me.” But he said to her: “There are no more containers.” At that the oil stopped. ⁷ So she came in and told the man of the true God, and he said: “Go, sell the oil and pay off your debts, and you and your sons can live from what is left.”

(Proverbs 11:27, 28) . . .But the one searching for bad—that is what will surely come upon him. ²⁸ The one trusting in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the foliage. . .

(Jeremiah 17:7, 8)  ⁷ Blessed is the man who puts his trust in Jehovah, Whose confidence is in Jehovah.  ⁸ He will become like a tree planted by the waters, That sends out its roots to the stream. He will not notice when heat comes, But his leaves will always flourish. And in the year of drought he will not be anxious, Nor will he quit producing fruit.

(1 Peter 5:6-11) ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, ⁷ while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. ⁹ But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. ¹⁰ But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. ¹¹ To him be the might forever. Amen.

A new name.

Written by Lee Stevenson. Sorry I am a lousy editor.

When God restored true worship his people would be given a special name. I will let the scriptures show what this name would be. God’s name has been removed from many bibles but in some it can still be found in Psalm. It is an english interpretation of the tetragrammaton of YHWH. No one knows what the original name was pronounced like. Most names in the bible no one knows the true pronunciation. It is the meaning that matters. Jehovah means “one who causes to become”. So if someone wanted to play on words and the proper pronunciation we could get caught up in debates that lead to no one learning anything because the name Jesus, Isaiah or any other name in the bible we could question the pronunciation on. It is the meaning of the names or the person the name represents that is important. There is only one true God. He is the one that caused everything to become or caused everything to come about. Gods name originally appeared thousands of times in the bible. I can see why Satan had inspired to have God’s name removed. Satan, Devil and other terms used in the bible are not his name but are words that describe certain aspects of him this is why in some areas of the bible Satan is referred to as the oppressor and even serpent. If he could not be worshiped by name then he would almost definitely be jealous of people knowing God’s name. When true worship is restored there would be identifying marks that would make his people stand out.

(Psalm 83:18) ¹⁸ May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

(Isaiah 65:13-15) ¹³ Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Look! My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. Look! My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. Look! My servants will rejoice, but you will suffer shame. ¹⁴ Look! My servants will shout joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, But you will cry out because of the pain of heart And you will wail because of a broken spirit. ¹⁵ You will leave behind a name that my chosen ones will use as a curse, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will put each of you to death, But his own servants he will call by another name. . .

(Isaiah 62:2)  ² “The nations will see your righteousness, O woman, And all kings your glory. And you will be called by a new name, Which Jehovah’s own mouth will designate.

(Isaiah 43:6, 7)  ⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth,  ⁷ Everyone who is called by my name And whom I created for my own glory, Whom I have formed and made.’

(Acts 15:14-18) ¹⁴ Symʹe·on has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written: ¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return and raise up again the tent of David that is fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, ¹⁷ so that the men who remain may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, ¹⁸ known from of old.. . .

(Jeremiah 14:9)  ⁹ Why are you like a man who is stunned, Like a mighty man who cannot save? For you are among us, O Jehovah, And your name has been called on us. Do not abandon us.

(Revelation 14:1-5) 14 Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. ² I heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was like singers who accompany themselves by playing on their harps. ³ And they are singing what seems to be a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to master that song except the 144,000, who have been bought from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones who keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, ⁵ and no deceit was found in their mouths; they are without blemish.

(Isaiah 43:10) ¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and have faith in me And understand that I am the same One. Before me no God was formed, And after me there has been none.

(Acts 1:6-8) ⁶ So when they had assembled, they asked him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” ⁷ He said to them: “It does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction. ⁸ But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Ju·deʹa and Sa·marʹi·a, and to the most distant part of the earth.”

(Luke 4:42-44) ⁴² However, at daybreak he departed and went to an isolated place. But the crowds began searching for him and came to where he was, and they tried to keep him from going away from them. ⁴³ But he said to them: “I must also declare the good news of the Kingdom of God to other cities, because for this I was sent.” ⁴⁴ So he went on preaching in the synagogues of Ju·deʹa.

(Matthew 24:14) ¹⁴ And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The time of restoration is near be happy.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am a lousy editor.

I know times may seem scary and difficult but we have no need to fear and we have a lot of reason to be happy. I will discuss why in this article. What is the restoration, how and why will it occur? What will this time of restoration bring about?

The times of restoration are very near. Very soon God will have Jesus put and end to mans rebellion. We know it started in the garden of Eden. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that man did not need God to rule over and guide us. Satan also accuses us and say man only loves God because he blesses and protects them. We have repeatedly seen these lies proven wrong thoroughly which mean the time of restoration is very near. The original purpose for the earth is very very near. Satan , and the demons who also opposed God will be gone soon. They will no longer be able to corrupt man. Jesus provided the perfect ransom which man could not provide by dying spotless without sin, in doing so he defeated Satan putting to rest all the lies. Jesus thoroughly proved them all to be wrong. Those who chose Satans side in things will also be destroyed. By not accepting Jesus as our redeemer and king, or accepting that his heavenly father is the one true God they take Satan’s side in matters. Those who take God’s side in matters and Satan’s side in matters will be figuratively marked so we must be very cautious who we associate with very soon because those who receive Satan’s mark the mark of the beast are going to turn on those who receive God’s mark. We must use the bible now more then even in guiding our associates and friends. The time of restoration is near we only have a little longer and all sickness, illness, morning, death, oppression, wars, violence, disease, hunger, crying and many other bad things will be gone.

False religion which Satan, the demons and those who promote it has been used to deceive man into rebelling against God very soon it also will be done away with because it is a tool used by Satan to deceive , mislead or corrupt many. This also will be done away with and man will not longer be corrupted or deceived into rebelling against God. So this restoration is also a spiritual restoration.

We may have to flee, or to go into hiding but we can be certain as in times post God is behind us protecting us. We are going to experience some tribulations and trials during these times and many of us already are. These build and strengthen our faith and assurance that Adam and Eve were wrong and that we cannot do it without God. Even when man has good intentions we lack the foresight and wisdom God has. Even very good people have made decisions , they thought would help others. It may have helped one group of people but often times hurts another. Man can be easily deceived and corrupted. God and Jesus cannot be deceived or corrupted.

You may say to yourself I know some pretty nice people who do not believe in God or Jesus. You have to consider this. They are taking the three villains side in matters by putting their faith in man which is the very things that has cause things to escalate on the earth to the point they have. We are in a time were there is no middle of the road you are either for God or against him. We cannot be indecisive, associating with such ones can effect us unknowingly and make us indecisive which could cost us our eternal lives when things suddenly wind down. We need to lead by example and show others whos side we have chosen , in doing so we make it clear to Jehovah God and our king Jesus Christ who’s side in matters we have chosen. We will either desire to have the names of Jehovah and his soon Jesus figuratively written on our foreheads or we will chose to have the name of the beast which is those who oppose God written on our foreheads. If we have the name of the beast written on our foreheads we forfeit the chances of eternal life. Stay strong the time of restoration is very near and it will be well worth it. The time for restoring true worship is occurring now and will continue into the new system. Knowing clearly what God requires will protect us and helps us to walk into the new system.

If we endure trials or tribulations we need to keep in mind the future promises. The promise of the new earth in which there will be no suffering, death or tears. If we are in peril or our lives may be threatened we need not fear God will remember us in the day of resurrection because death has been defeated and will be destroyed so has not hold on those who have died and will have no hold on faithful ones who have died and may die they to will be restored.

We know Jesus loves us as much as God does so we do not have to have fear, neither of death or things to come when we my have to flee or go into hiding because Jesus is our king. God has given him full authority over everything except God himself. So he has legions of angels at his command and a deep love for those who do their best to follow his example. When these things start to occur we need to keep in mind it is the time of restoration and in order to make the way for the new system these things must occur. Afterwards these things will never occur again. Those who remained obedient and faithful will leave in peace and happiness and never have want for anything. The bible assures us before we are finished praying God will have answered our prayer in the new system. We may have to leave some thing behind as God’s people did in the past but we have to keep looking forward. All this is temporary and much better times are coming and there will be less stress involved in owning a home or in our daily living. If we are in fear of what is coming either we have chosen the wrong side or we are not putting faith in the future promises. We must work to keep in mind the future promises and trust God and Jesus wholeheartedly, we have no need for fear because even death could not separate us from God and his only begotten son Jesus. The work Jesus does in restoring God’s right to rule over man and putting an end to the original lie in the garden will endure forever and things like we are experiencing in these last day will never occur again. We should not be viewing this as the last days but we should be viewing it as a time for restoration to occur. When things wind down and get very trying we should not be afraid but need to look to the future promises and keep in mind the destruction of the wicked and destruction of world governments will be a restoration not something dreary or scary. So if we have to go into hiding or have to flee we have to keep in mind we will be going into hiding or fleeing because Jesus is ending mans rule and restoring God’s right to rule over man and all the mourning, and pain are about to end.

(Acts 3:19-26) ¹⁹ “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself ²⁰ and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must hold this one within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old. ²² In fact, Moses said: ‘Jehovah your God will raise up for you from among your brothers a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. ²³ Indeed, anyone who does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.’ ²⁴ And all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed him, as many as have spoken, have also plainly declared these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your forefathers, saying to Abraham: ‘And by means of your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶ God, after raising up his Servant, sent him to you first to bless you by turning each one of you away from your wicked deeds.”

(Hebrews 2:14) Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil,

(Jude 14-18) ¹⁴ Yes, the seventh one in line from Adam, Eʹnoch, also prophesied about them when he said: “Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads ¹⁵ to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.” ¹⁶ These men are murmurers, complainers about their lot in life, following their own desires, and their mouths make grandiose boasts, while they are flattering others for their own benefit. ¹⁷ As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to you: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.”

(Isaiah 2:2-4) ² In the final part of the days, The mountain of the house of Jehovah Will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, And it will be raised up above the hills, And to it all the nations will stream.  ³ And many peoples will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, To the house of the God of Jacob. He will instruct us about his ways, And we will walk in his paths.” For law will go out of Zion, And the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem.  ⁴ He will render judgment among the nations And set matters straight respecting many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, Nor will they learn war anymore.

(Isaiah 61:4-9) ⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins; They will raise up the desolated places of the past, And they will restore the devastated cities, The places that lay desolate for generation after generation.  ⁵ “Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.  ⁶ As for you, you will be called the priests of Jehovah; They will call you the ministers of our God. You will eat the resources of the nations, And about their glory you will boast.  ⁷ Instead of shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout joyfully over their share. Yes, they will possess a double portion in their land. Everlasting rejoicing will be theirs.  ⁸ For I, Jehovah, love justice; I hate robbery and unrighteousness. I will faithfully give them their wages, And I will make an everlasting covenant with them.  ⁹ Their offspring will be known among the nations And their descendants among the peoples. All who see them will recognize them, That they are the offspring whom Jehovah has blessed.”

Amos 9:10-15 ¹⁰ They will die by the sword, all the sinners of my people,

Those who are saying, “The calamity will not come near us or reach us.”’

¹¹ ‘In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen,

I will repair the breaches,

And I will restore its ruins;

I will rebuild it as in the days of long ago,

¹² So that they may take possession of what is remaining of Eʹdom,

And all the nations on whom my name has been called,’ declares Jehovah, who is doing this.

¹³ ‘Look! The days are coming,’ declares Jehovah,

‘When the plowman will overtake the harvester,

And the treader of grapes, the one carrying seed;

And the mountains will drip with sweet wine,

And all the hills will flow with it.

¹⁴ I will gather back the captives of my people Israel,

And they will rebuild the desolated cities and inhabit them;

They will plant vineyards and drink their wine,

And make gardens and eat their fruit.’

¹⁵ ‘I will plant them on their land,

And they will never again be uprooted

From their land that I have given them,’ says Jehovah your God.”

(Isaiah 60:18) No more will violence be heard in your land Or destruction and ruin within your boundaries. And you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

(Matthew 26:52) Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.

(Isaiah 9:14-10:11) ¹⁴ Jehovah will cut off from Israel Head and tail, shoot and rush, in one day. ¹⁵ The elder and highly respected one is the head, And the prophet giving false instruction is the tail. ¹⁶ Those leading this people are causing them to wander, And those who are being led are confused. ¹⁷ That is why Jehovah will not rejoice over their young men, And he will have no mercy on their fatherless children and their widows Because all of them are apostates and evildoers And every mouth is speaking senselessness. In view of all this, his anger has not turned back, But his hand is still stretched out to strike. ¹⁸ For wickedness burns like a fire, Consuming thornbushes and weeds. It will set fire to the thickets of the forest, And they will go up in clouds of smoke. ¹⁹ In the fury of Jehovah of armies The land has been set on fire, And the people will become fuel for the fire. No one will spare even his brother. ²⁰ One will cut down on the right But still be hungry; And one will eat on the left But will not be satisfied. Each will devour the flesh of his own arm, ²¹ Ma·nasʹseh will devour Eʹphra·im, And Eʹphra·im Ma·nasʹseh. Together they will be against Judah. In view of all this, his anger has not turned back, But his hand is still stretched out to strike. 10 Woe to those who enact harmful regulations, Who constantly draft oppressive decrees,  ² To deny the legal claim of the poor, To deprive the lowly among my people of justice, Making widows their spoil And fatherless children their plunder!  ³ What will you do on the day of reckoning, When destruction comes from afar? To whom will you flee for assistance, And where will you leave your wealth?  ⁴ Nothing remains except to crouch among the prisoners Or to fall among the slain. In view of all this, his anger has not turned back, But his hand is still stretched out to strike.  ⁵ “Aha! the As·syrʹi·an, The rod to express my anger And the staff in their hand for my denunciation!  ⁶ I will send him against an apostate nation, Against the people who infuriated me; I will command him to take much spoil and much plunder And to trample them like mud in the streets.  ⁷ But he will not be inclined this way And his heart will not scheme this way; For it is in his heart to annihilate, To cut off many nations, not a few.  ⁸ For he says, ‘Are not my princes all kings?  ⁹ Is not Calʹno just like Carʹche·mish? Is not Haʹmath like Arʹpad? Is not Sa·marʹi·a like Damascus? ¹⁰ My hand has seized the kingdoms of the worthless gods, Whose graven images were more than those of Jerusalem and Sa·marʹi·a! ¹¹ Will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols Just as I have done to Sa·marʹi·a and to her worthless gods?’

(Exodus 14:19) Then the angel of the true God who was going ahead of the camp of Israel departed and went to their rear, and the pillar of cloud that was in front of them moved to the rear and stood behind them.

(Isaiah 52:12) For you will not depart in panic, Nor will you have to flee, For Jehovah will go ahead of you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

(Isaiah 58:8-10)  ⁸ Then your light will shine through like the dawn, And your healing will spring up quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, And the glory of Jehovah will be your rear guard.  ⁹ Then you will call, and Jehovah will answer; You will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am!’ If you remove from among you the yoke bar And stop pointing your finger and speaking maliciously, ¹⁰ If you grant to the hungry what you yourself desire And satisfy those who are afflicted, Then your light will shine even in the darkness, And your gloom will be like midday.

(1 Peter 5:6-11) ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, ⁷ while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. ⁹ But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. ¹⁰ But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. ¹¹ To him be the might forever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:25-34) ²⁵ “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? ²⁶ Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? ²⁷ Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? ²⁸ Also, why are you anxious about clothing? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin; ²⁹ but I tell you that not even Solʹo·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. ³⁰ Now if this is how God clothes the vegetation of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? ³¹ So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’ ³² For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. ³⁴ So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.

(Matthew 19:27-29) ²⁷ Then Peter said in reply: “Look! We have left all things and followed you; what, then, will there be for us?” ²⁸ Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit everlasting life.

(Hebrews 10:32-34) ³² However, keep remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle along with sufferings. ³³ At times you were publicly exposed both to reproaches and to tribulations, and at times you shared with those who were having such an experience. ³⁴ For you expressed sympathy for those in prison and you accepted joyfully the plundering of your belongings, knowing that you yourselves have a better and an enduring possession.

(Romans 8:35-39) ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14) ¹³ Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus.

(John 5:28, 29) Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.

(Isaiah 26:19) ¹⁹ “Your dead will live. My corpses will rise up. Awake and shout joyfully, You residents in the dust! For your dew is as the dew of the morning, And the earth will let those powerless in death come to life.

²⁰ Go, my people, enter your inner rooms,

And shut your doors behind you.

Hide yourself for a brief moment

Until the wrath has passed by.

²¹ For look! Jehovah is coming from his place

To call the inhabitants of the land to account for their error,

And the land will expose her bloodshed

And will no longer cover over her slain.”

27 In that day Jehovah, with his harsh and great and strong sword,

Will turn his attention to Le·viʹa·than, the gliding serpent,

To Le·viʹa·than, the twisting serpent,

And he will kill the monster that is in the sea.

 ² In that day sing to her:

“A vineyard of foaming wine!

 ³ I, Jehovah, am safeguarding her.

Every moment I water her.

I safeguard her night and day,

So that no one may harm her.

(Acts 2:22-28) ²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ was a man publicly shown to you by God through powerful works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know. ²³ This man, who was handed over by the determined will and foreknowledge of God, you fastened to a stake by the hand of lawless men, and you did away with him. ²⁴ But God resurrected him by releasing him from the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held fast by it. ²⁵ For David says about him: ‘I keep Jehovah constantly in front of me, for he is at my right hand that I may never be shaken. ²⁶ On this account my heart became cheerful and my tongue rejoiced greatly. And I will reside in hope; ²⁷ because you will not leave me in the Grave, nor will you allow your loyal one to see corruption. ²⁸ You have made life’s ways known to me; you will fill me with great joy in your presence.’

Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

(1 Corinthians 15:20-28) ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. ²¹ For since death came through a man, resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. ²² For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own proper order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence. ²⁴ Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone. . .

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Why should we raise ourselves up in times of such distress?

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am a lousy editor.

We learn about what seems like scary and dire times. The bible says many their would be great anguish. Yet the bible tells us to stand up straight and lift up our heads. This is a sign Jesus is seated on the throne and deliverance is near. The things that are occurring are occurring because Satan and the demons know they do not have much time left and that the new system is very near and will restore the earth to what it was originally intended to be. A paradise like with no suffering or death. Many will walk through the great tribulation into the new system. Some of us may have to flee or go into hiding but we have no reason to fear if we remain faithful and loyal to God. In times past God’s people have had to flee and go into hiding when he had judged nations. This is will be the final time and things like this will never occur again. I had discussed how the disgusting thing was the beast mentioned in Revelation. God will cut it’s attack on those who worship in truth short. Their destruction along with their allies will be sudden. Just as in times past when God judged a nation the destruction was very sudden. All who opposed God or did not heed his warnings were destroyed when those nations were destroyed. So to escape we have to pay attention , listen to the warnings so we know when it is time to flee or hide.

Why in these times we should be happy? I will discuss this next.

(Luke 21:25-31) ²⁵ “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. ²⁶ People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.” ²⁹ With that he told them an illustration: “Notice the fig tree and all the other trees. ³⁰ When they are budding, you see it for yourselves and know that now the summer is near. ³¹ Likewise also you, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.

(Luke 21:20-24) ²⁰ “However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. ²¹ Then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her, ²² because these are days for meting out justice in order that all the things written may be fulfilled. ²³ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! For there will be great distress on the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.

(Mark 13:14-20) ¹⁴ “However, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let the man on the housetop not come down nor go inside to take anything out of his house; ¹⁶ and let the man in the field not return to the things behind to pick up his outer garment. ¹⁷ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! ¹⁸ Keep praying that it may not occur in wintertime; ¹⁹ for those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation that God created until that time, and will not occur again. ²⁰ In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen, he has cut short the days.

(Mark 13:14-20) ¹⁴ “However, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let the man on the housetop not come down nor go inside to take anything out of his house; ¹⁶ and let the man in the field not return to the things behind to pick up his outer garment. ¹⁷ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! ¹⁸ Keep praying that it may not occur in wintertime; ¹⁹ for those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation that God created until that time, and will not occur again. ²⁰ In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen, he has cut short the days.

Just as in Noah’s day some will survive and make it into the new system and work to restore the earth. There will no longer be world wide division but there will be peace and those living on the earth will not fight wars they will be the meek. There will be no more suffering no more tears and no more pain. Seeing these things occur lets us know Jesus is starting to set matters straight. It may seem like God is delaying but he desires none to be destroyed so until every sheep is found the destruction will not occur. God is also giving people time to repent. He can read peoples hearts and know if there are others who will return to pure worship. So if things seem delayed we know there are still those out there who need God’s word and are searching for God. As this system winds down the distinction between those being called by God and those who oppose him is becoming clearer and clearer.

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(Zephaniah 3:8, 9)  ⁸ ‘So keep yourselves in expectation of me,’ declares Jehovah, ‘Until the day when I rise up to take plunder, For my judicial decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them my indignation, all my burning anger; For by the fire of my zeal the whole earth will be consumed.  ⁹ For then I will change the language of the peoples to a pure language, So that all of them may call on the name of Jehovah, To serve him shoulder to shoulder.’

(Psalm 37:27) . . .And you will remain forever. ²⁸ For Jehovah loves justice, And he will not abandon his loyal ones. ע [Ayin] They will always be guarded; But the descendants of the wicked will be done away with. ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

(2 Peter 3:8-13) ⁸ However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. ¹⁰ But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed. ¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, ¹² as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat! ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.

(Romans 2:3-11) ³ But do you suppose, O man, that while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But according to your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment. ⁶ And he will pay back to each one according to his works: ⁷ everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; ⁸ however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be tribulation and distress on every person who works what is harmful, on the Jew first and also on the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.

(Isaiah 11:4-9) ⁴ He will judge the lowly with fairness, And with uprightness he will give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth And put the wicked to death with the breath of his lips.  ⁵ Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, And faithfulness the belt of his hips.  ⁶ The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, And with the young goat the leopard will lie down, And the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together; And a little boy will lead them.  ⁷ The cow and the bear will feed together, And their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull.  ⁸ The nursing child will play over the lair of a cobra, And a weaned child will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake.  ⁹ They will not cause any harm Or any ruin in all my holy mountain, Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah As the waters cover the sea.

(Revelation 7:11-14) ¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, ¹² saying: “Amen! Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” ¹³ In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. . .

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(Revelation 7:1-3) 7 After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. ² And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, having a seal of the living God; and he called with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, ³ saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.”

(Matthew 25:31-46) ³¹ “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. ³⁵ For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; ³⁶ naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. ⁴² For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat; and I was thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they too will answer with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”

We can find comfort in knowing Jesus cares about us. When he was on earth he perfectly reflected his heavenly father Jehovah God. Here cared enough to give his life for us. He suffered as we suffered so we can find comfort in knowing he understands our trials and tribulation and wants nothing more then to end the suffering. Death will be no more, Jesus defeated death when he died sinless and resisted all temptation and remained faithful and loyal to God. So the final act Jesus would do in fulfilling God’s will is to bring death to nothing then he will hand the kingdom back to our heavenly father Jehovah. We will not even remember the bad things that occurred in the new system because the bad memories will be replaced with good memories. In the new system the bible tells us when we pray before we call out God will hear our prayers. While we are yet speaking he will hear those who make it into the new system.

Since we know these times are very very near we can be sure God and Jesus care and even death cannot separate us from their love. Jesus was taught by God when he was along side him in heaven and we seen how he healed the sick, felt compassion for those who were hungry. He showed his sorrow when someone died and even showed he had the power to resurrect the dead. So very soon if we remain faithful , loyal and strong we may see our loved ones we lost in death. We only have a short while longer things have rapidly sped up and this wicked system does not have much time life and happy and joyful times are very very near.

(Matthew 9:35-38) ³⁵ And Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity. ³⁶ On seeing the crowds, he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples: “Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

(John 18:35-37) . . .” ³⁶ Jesus answered: “My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.” ³⁷ So Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”

(John 10:16-18) ¹⁶ “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my life, so that I may receive it again. ¹⁸ No man takes it away from me, but I surrender it of my own initiative. I have authority to surrender it, and I have authority to receive it again. This commandment I received from my Father.”

(Acts 24:14, 15) . . .. ¹⁵ And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

(1 Corinthians 15:20-28) ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. ²¹ For since death came through a man, resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. ²² For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own proper order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence. ²⁴ Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

(Isaiah 65:17) For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart.

(Isaiah 65:24) ²⁴ Even before they call out, I will answer; While they are yet speaking, I will hear.

(Romans 8:35-39) ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(John 8:27-30) . . .. ²⁸ Jesus then said: “After you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And the One who sent me is with me; he did not abandon me to myself, because I always do the things pleasing to him.” ³⁰ As he was saying these things, many put faith in him.

(John 6:37-40) ³⁷ All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and I will never drive away the one who comes to me; ³⁸ for I have come down from heaven to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none out of all those whom he has given me, but that I should resurrect them on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.”

(Hebrews 12:1, 2) 12 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A great tribulation is about to occur we need to prepare.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not every good at editing.

We are in the time of judgment. Things are rapidly winding down. God has warned us what to look for so we could prepare. God also built up his peoples faith and courage in times past before judgment started. I am going to cover in this blog post how God prepared people and how he also prepared them to receive the the promises he had given them. Those who choose to oppose the beast and refuse to get the mark will be seen as vulnerable just as God’s people were seen in times past. God always protected and saved them no matter how powerful the enemy seemed. God has saved his people and protected them in the past and he will again when the whole world is judged. There is nothing that is secret to him so we have to patiently wait as things are exposed. We are told many will doubt we are in the last days so we have to expect that many will have hardened hearts and will not believe the warnings even with all the signs occurring around them they will be blind to the truth. The bible warns many will choose to believe the lie. So just as in times past we will be criticized by others including our own family and friends for sounding the warning. We have to be patient Jesus is going to expose the truth even now we see the corruption being exposed in world wide governments and religion world wide.

(Exodus 15:8-10)  ⁸ By a breath from your nostrils waters massed together; They stood still, holding back the floods; The surging waters congealed in the heart of the sea.  ⁹ The enemy said: ‘I will pursue! I will overtake! I will divide spoil until I am satisfied! I will draw my sword! My hand will subdue them!’ ¹⁰ You blew with your breath, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in majestic waters.

(Ezekiel 38:10-12) ¹⁰ “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘In that day thoughts will come into your heart, and you will devise an evil plan. ¹¹ You will say: “I will invade the land of unprotected settlements. I will come against those living in security, without disturbance, all of them living in settlements unprotected by walls, bars, or gates.” ¹² It will be to take much spoil and plunder, to attack the devastated places that are now inhabited and a people regathered from the nations, who are accumulating wealth and property, those who are living in the center of the earth.

(1 Corinthians 4:5) ⁵ Therefore, do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes. He will bring the secret things of darkness to light and make known the intentions of the hearts, and then each one will receive his praise from God.

(2 Peter 3:2-4) . . .. ³ First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires ⁴ and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.”

(Matthew 24:48-51) ⁴⁸ “But if ever that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ ⁴⁹ and he starts to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, ⁵¹ and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.

One of the requirements God has is his people had to worship in truth. They could not have any other gods. As a matter of fact in times past God’s people were known by his name Jehovah, which means one who brings about or causes to happen. In times past those who opposed true worship learned to fear Jehovah’s name because he protect and those who worshiped him in truth and called on his name. When Jesus was restoring true worship he made God’s name known. Many bibles have removed God’s name and have taken it from the bible. How can they know what god is the one true God if they do not know his name. God is a general term and not a name. Even the bible stated there were many God’s but only one true God. If there was someone who promised to protect you but you did not know his name or anything about him would you really trust that person? If people do not know the name of the one true God or do not know anything about him could they fully put trust in him?

(Exodus 23:27-33) ²⁷ “I will send the fear of me ahead of you, and I will throw into confusion all the people you encounter, and I will cause all your enemies to flee from you in defeat. ²⁸ I will send the feeling of dejection ahead of you, and it will drive the Hiʹvites, the Caʹnaan·ites, and the Hitʹtites out from before you. ²⁹ I will not drive them out from before you in one year, so that the land does not become desolate and the wild animals of the field multiply against you. ³⁰ Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. ³¹ “I will set your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Phi·lisʹtines and from the wilderness to the River; for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out from before you. ³² You must not make a covenant with them or their gods. ³³ They should not dwell in your land, so that they may not cause you to sin against me. If you should serve their gods, it would surely become a snare to you.”

(Malachi 1:11) ¹¹ “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations. In every place sacrifices will be made to smoke, and offerings will be made to my name, as a pure gift; because my name will be great among the nations,” says Jehovah of armies.

(Deuteronomy 28:9, 10) . . .. ¹⁰ All the peoples of the earth will have to see that Jehovah’s name has been called upon you, and they will be afraid of you.

(John 17:25, 26) . . .. ²⁶ I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them. . .

We will be asked to leave many things behind. Abraham was very wealthy and he had to leave all this behind. Noah when he entered the ark knew he would be leaving everything behind and never see it again. Many knew they would not see the future promises but they still had faith that God would fulfill what he had promised. Just as Noah survived the flood many who God has found worthy will survive when God’s great day arrives and the fire of his rage consumes the earth.

(Hebrews 11:7-16) ⁷ By faith Noah, after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith. ⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, although not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the very same promise. ¹⁰ For he was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith also Sarah received power to conceive offspring, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who made the promise. ¹² For this reason, from one man who was as good as dead, there were born children, as many as the stars of heaven in number and as innumerable as the sands by the seaside. ¹³ In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land. ¹⁴ For those who speak in such a way make it evident that they are earnestly seeking a place of their own. ¹⁵ And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

(Hebrews 11:32-38) ³² And what more will I say? For time will fail me if I go on to relate about Gidʹe·on, Baʹrak, Samson, Jephʹthah, David, as well as Samuel and the other prophets. ³³ Through faith they defeated kingdoms, brought about righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the force of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from a weak state were made powerful, became mighty in war, routed invading armies. ³⁵ Women received their dead by resurrection, but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Yes, others received their trial by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than that, by chains and prisons. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slaughtered by the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in need, in tribulation, mistreated; ³⁸ and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and dens of the earth.

(Zephaniah 1:18-2:3) ¹⁸ Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury; For by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed, Because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.” 2 Gather together, yes, gather yourselves, O nation that feels no shame.  ² Before the decree takes effect, Before the day passes by like chaff, Before the burning anger of Jehovah comes upon you, Before the day of Jehovah’s anger comes upon you,  ³ Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, Who observe his righteous decrees. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger.

So how did God prepare those who put faith in him? He first restored true and pure worship. Then he prepared their hearts by having them take in and apply his word so it would guide all they do. Those who delivered the messages and were helping to restore true worship often times were not viewed favorably even by their own people. They often times had to go into hiding , even Jesus sometimes had to do this. Jesus and many of the past prophets did not tell the people what they wanted to hear they told them what they needed to hear. So that we do not get misled or become hardened in our hearts we need to know our bibles well so that we cannot be misled. When you read your bibles there are many examples where they had more love for the false teachers who tickled their ears then for those delivering the truth and trying to teach people what God required. Just as the anger always came to a head and they would attack and try to kill those restoring true worship this will occur again on a world wide scale. Many of us will have to flee or go into hiding. We must do our best to desperate ourselves from false worship so we do not suffer the same fate they will suffer. So we must figuratively write his word on our hearts so it will guide all we do. When we do not understand something we must look into it deeper so we do not get misled. We know the destruction is going to come quickly at a time no one expects so we must be prepared just as Noah and others in times past prepared.

(1 Kings 18:3-6) ³ Meanwhile, Aʹhab called O·ba·diʹah, who was over the household. (Now O·ba·diʹah greatly feared Jehovah, ⁴ and when Jezʹe·bel was doing away with Jehovah’s prophets, O·ba·diʹah took 100 prophets and hid them 50 to a cave, and he supplied them with bread and water.) ⁵ Aʹhab then said to O·ba·diʹah: “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we can find enough grass to keep the horses and mules alive and not have all our animals die.” ⁶ So they divided between themselves the land they were going to pass through. Aʹhab went alone by one way, and O·ba·diʹah went alone by another way.

(1 Kings 19:9-18) ⁹ There he entered a cave and spent the night; and look! Jehovah’s word came to him, telling him: “What are you doing here, E·liʹjah?” ¹⁰ To this he said: “I have been absolutely zealous for Jehovah the God of armies; for the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, your altars they have torn down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword, and I am the only one left. Now they are seeking to take my life away.” ¹¹ But He said: “Go out and stand on the mountain before Jehovah.” And look! Jehovah was passing by, and a great and strong wind was splitting mountains and breaking crags before Jehovah, but Jehovah was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but Jehovah was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake, there was a fire, but Jehovah was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a calm, low voice. ¹³ As soon as E·liʹjah heard it, he wrapped his face in his official garment and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice asked him: “What are you doing here, E·liʹjah?” ¹⁴ To this he said: “I have been absolutely zealous for Jehovah the God of armies; for the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, your altars they have torn down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword, and I am the only one left. Now they are seeking to take my life away.” ¹⁵ Jehovah said to him: “Return, and go to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazʹa·el as king over Syria. ¹⁶ And you should anoint Jeʹhu the grandson of Nimʹshi as king over Israel, and you should anoint E·liʹsha the son of Shaʹphat from Aʹbel-me·hoʹlah as prophet to take your place. ¹⁷ Anyone escaping from Hazʹa·el’s sword, Jeʹhu will put to death; and anyone escaping from Jeʹhu’s sword, E·liʹsha will put to death. ¹⁸ And I still have left 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bent down to Baʹal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

(2 Timothy 3:15-17) . . .. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

(2 Peter 1:19-2:3) . . .. ²⁰ For you know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. ²¹ For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. 2 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These will quietly bring in destructive sects, and they will even disown the owner who bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. ² Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. ³ Also, they will greedily exploit you with counterfeit words. But their judgment, decided long ago, is not moving slowly, and their destruction is not sleeping.

(James 4:4) Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God.

(Revelation 18:4) And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.

(1 Corinthians 10:21, 22) ²¹ You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons. ²² Or ‘are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy’? We are not stronger than he is, are we?

(Jeremiah 16:11-13) ¹¹ You must reply to them, ‘“Because your forefathers abandoned me,” declares Jehovah, “and they kept following other gods and serving them and bowing down to them. But me they abandoned, and my law they did not keep. ¹² And you have behaved far worse than your forefathers, and each one of you follows the stubbornness of his wicked heart instead of obeying me. ¹³ So I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your forefathers have known, and there you will have to serve other gods day and night, because I will show you no favor.”’

(Revelation 16:8-11) ⁸ The fourth one poured out his bowl on the sun, and to the sun it was granted to scorch the people with fire. ⁹ And the people were scorched by the great heat, but they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent and give glory to him. ¹⁰ The fifth one poured out his bowl on the throne of the wild beast. And its kingdom became darkened, and they began to gnaw their tongues because of their pain, ¹¹ but they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their ulcers, and they did not repent of their works.

(Revelation 16:15, 16) ¹⁵ “Look! I am coming as a thief. Happy is the one who stays awake and keeps his outer garments, so that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.” ¹⁶ And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Armageddon. . .

(Revelation 19:19-21) ¹⁹ And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. ²⁰ And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who worship its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur. ²¹ But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

In times past God would have Israel read his statutes over and over so they would remember them and live them so it would guide and protect them. When you read God’s word a part of your life it prevents the world from robbing you of your identity and give us much more confidence and faith in God. Almost no matter what we endure we can remain happy. So it is very important to set aside time for studying the bible daily and meditating on it. We must be cautious of those who do not want to read the full world of God because it can reveal the intention of the heart so some may react violently when they are faced with the truth. Things are rapidly winding down and very soon we will be told to stop sharing the bible truths. We are not to just believe the bible but we are to meditate on what we have read and research the things we have heard to make sure they are true.

(James 1:22-25) ²² However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, and he goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. ²⁵ But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does. . .

(Matthew 7:24-27) ²⁴ “Therefore, everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them will be like a discreet man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house, and it caved in, and its collapse was great.”

(Hebrews 4:12, 13) ¹² For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account. . .

(Joshua 1:7-9) . . .Do not deviate from it either to the right or to the left, so that you may act wisely wherever you go. ⁸ This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth, and you must read it in an undertone day and night, in order to observe carefully all that is written in it; for then your way will be successful and then you will act wisely. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and strong. Do not be struck with terror or fear, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go. . .

(Acts 17:10, 11) . . .. ¹¹ Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·niʹca, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Some of the final prophecies marking the last days have been fulfilled. Only a few have not and that is for the harlot , the beast and it’s allies to establish one government world wide and to buy sell or trade they will try to force people to bow down to the beast instead of God. They will require people to put their faith in a human government instead of God. The beast will offer false hope. Then the beast will turn on the harlot which is false worship and destroy her. The beast is the disgusting thing that Jesus mentioned that we are to be aware of . It is the final act of rebellion against God. It started in the Garden of Eden when Satan convinced Adam and Eve they did not need God to rule over them and guide them. It will come to a climax when man tries to replace God on a world wide scale. Once the beast destroys false religion Satan and his people will become angry and try to destroy those who are worshiping God in truth and then the beast and people world wide would turn on true worship. The bible warns us we will need to flee at this time. Jesus warned some will not even have time to grab their coats we may have to flee so suddenly. The bible does not say if you experience persecution. When you worship it truth it says you will experience persecution. Some may experience it sooner then others. You see these supposed teachers of God’s word that the world is very fond of. They get paid a lot of money. These ones are very famous. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and they will turn on the sheep when the tribulation starts. The world is found of what belongs to it and we know the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. Jesus only had the clothes on his back. He did not charge in order to teach. As a matter of fact he stated you received God’s word free you give it free. The apostles worked when they were in service to try and relieve the burden on the congregations they were visiting. Those who follow Jesus examples will be willing to give their lives for their sheep. Jesus referred to ones like that as white washed tombs.

(Matthew 24:15-22) ¹⁵ “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment), ¹⁶ then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house, ¹⁸ and let the man in the field not return to pick up his outer garment. ¹⁹ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! ²⁰ Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; ²¹ for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. ²² In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.

(Luke 21:20-24) ²⁰ “However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. ²¹ Then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her, ²² because these are days for meting out justice in order that all the things written may be fulfilled. ²³ Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! For there will be great distress on the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled. . .

(2 Timothy 3:12, 13) ¹² In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. ¹³ But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.

(Matthew 16:24) Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me.

(John 15:20) Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe

(John 15:17-23) ¹⁷ “These things I command you, that you love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me also hates my Father.

(John 10:12-15) ¹² The hired man, who is not a shepherd and to whom the sheep do not belong, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and flees—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them— ¹³ because he is a hired man and does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the fine shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I surrender my life in behalf of the sheep.

(Matthew 10:6-8) . . .. ⁷ As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ ⁸ Cure the sick, raise up the dead, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free.

(Acts 8:18-24) ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying: “Give me this authority also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive holy spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the free gift of God with money. ²¹ You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not straight in the sight of God. ²² So repent of this badness of yours, and supplicate Jehovah that, if possible, the wicked intention of your heart may be forgiven you; ²³ for I see you are a bitter poison and a slave of unrighteousness.” ²⁴ In answer Simon said to them: “Make supplication for me to Jehovah that none of the things you have said may come upon me.”

(John 10:13-15) . . .. ¹⁴ I am the fine shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I surrender my life in behalf of the sheep.

(John 15:13) No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.

(1 John 3:16) By this we have come to know love, because that one surrendered his life for us, and we are under obligation to surrender our lives for our brothers.

(1 Timothy 4:1, 2) 4 However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron.

(2 Peter 2:3) ³ Also, they will greedily exploit you with counterfeit words. But their judgment, decided long ago, is not moving slowly, and their destruction is not sleeping.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. . .

(Matthew 23:27-31) ²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of every sort of uncleanness. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the graves of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous ones, ³⁰ and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have shared with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ Therefore, you are testifying against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

(2 Timothy 2:2-5) . . .. ³ As a fine soldier of Christ Jesus, take your part in suffering adversity. ⁴ No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the commercial businesses of life, in order to gain the approval of the one who enrolled him as a soldier. ⁵ And even in the games, anyone who competes is not crowned unless he has competed according to the rules.

We have to build our faith now. A time is coming when indecisiveness could cost us our lives. By building our knowledge of God, by learning to rely on him and to seek him out often in prayer we build our faith. Many are indecisive and are like waves on the ocean whichever way the wind blows this is the way they will go. By knowing what God requires and worshiping him in truth we know when to make our yes mean yes and our no mean no which will protect us and get us through what is about to occur. By studying Gods word. Praying to him and working towards our payers we are building our faith. The bible tells us anything done without faith is a sin. So we must have faith in God’s word, faith in the future promises. We must have faith that he has seated Jesus on the heavenly thrown and is about to give Jesus the command to set matters straight. Right now God may tolerate our serving two masters but the time for indecisiveness will end and if we are serving two masters and not serving God wholehearted it could cost us our life. The bible does not say if we experience tribulation and persecution it says when we experience it. Some may experience them sooner then others but we all will experience it. We can find comfort in Gods word knowing Jesus is going to set matters straight and many will walk through the great tribulation. Just as in times past when God judged a nation his people had to flee or go into hiding to escape the judgment we to will have to flee or go into hiding. When it is time to flee to delay would show a lack of faith and we have covered how doing anything without faith is a sin. We have to trust God with our whole soul, and our whole minds.

(James 1:5-8) . . .. ⁶ But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. ⁷ In fact, that man should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah; ⁸ he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways.

(Isaiah 55:6, 7)  ⁶ Search for Jehovah while he may be found. Call to him while he is near.  ⁷ Let the wicked man leave his way And the evil man his thoughts; Let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy on him, To our God, for he will forgive in a large way.

(Romans 14:22, 23) . . .. ²³ But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because he does not eat based on faith. Indeed, everything that is not based on faith is sin.

(Matthew 6:24-32) ²⁴ “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches. ²⁵ “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? ²⁶ Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? ²⁷ Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? ²⁸ Also, why are you anxious about clothing? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin; ²⁹ but I tell you that not even Solʹo·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. ³⁰ Now if this is how God clothes the vegetation of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? ³¹ So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’ ³² For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

(James 1:2-4) ² Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, ³ knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything.

(Luke 10:25-28) ²⁵ Now look! a man versed in the Law stood up to test him and said: “Teacher, what do I need to do to inherit everlasting life?” ²⁶ He said to him: “What is written in the Law? How do you read?” ²⁷ In answer he said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ He said to him: “You answered correctly; keep doing this and you will get life.. . .

(Matthew 24:20-22) ²⁰ Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; ²¹ for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. ²² In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short. . .

(Daniel 12:1) 12 “During that time Miʹcha·el will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book. . .

(Revelation 7:13-17) ¹³ In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. ¹⁶ They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, ¹⁷ because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”

(Jeremiah 25:31-33) ³¹ ‘A noise will resound to the ends of the earth, For Jehovah has a controversy with the nations. He will personally pass judgment on all humans. And he will put the wicked to the sword,’ declares Jehovah. ³² This is what Jehovah of armies says: ‘Look! A calamity is spreading from nation to nation, And a great tempest will be unleashed from the remotest parts of the earth. ³³ “‘And those slain by Jehovah in that day will be from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be mourned, nor will they be gathered up or buried. They will become like manure on the surface of the ground.’

So how can we identify true worship? We were warned the great apostasy would exist for a while before true worship was restored. Jesus also stated the gate to life is narrow and few would take it indicating most would not worship in truth. The great apostasy has been revealed by those teaching how to worship in truth and giving hope in the future promises the heavenly kingdom will bring. As a matter of fact the preaching of the heavenly kingdom throughout the whole earth is one of the final prophecies. This world wide work has been done in every nations from door to door. This witnessing work would expose the great apostasy and expose false worship. The bible said we would know them by their fruits and just as the pharisees talked a good talk and appeared to be righteous on the outside their hearts were far removed from God and they put undo burdens on people with their traditions of man. They lacked humility to serve others. Jesus set the example of how a real servant of God would behave when he washed the disciples feet which is something a servant would have done. We are warned that destructive sects would arise many there would be many led astray by false teaching and it is why there are so many different religious sects now days. We know we are in the last days because there would be signs of world wide distress. It is this witnessing work that will help to defeat Satan. He accuses just as he did Job saying that people only obey God not because they love and trust him but because he blesses them. So when we endure hardships and still love and trust God we are proving Satan to be the liar that he is.

(Matthew 7:13-20) ¹³ “Go in through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it; ¹⁴ whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are finding it. ¹⁵ “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men.

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-5) ³ Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things?

(2 Peter 2:1-3) 2 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These will quietly bring in destructive sects, and they will even disown the owner who bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. ² Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. ³ Also, they will greedily exploit you with counterfeit words. But their judgment, decided long ago, is not moving slowly, and their destruction is not sleeping.

(John 13:2-11) . . .. ³ So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he came from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the evening meal and laid aside his outer garments. And taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. ⁵ After that he put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry them off with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him: “Lord, are you washing my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” ⁸ Peter said to him: “You will certainly never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew the man who was betraying him. This is why he said: “Not all of you are clean.”

(Isaiah 43:10) ¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and have faith in me And understand that I am the same One. Before me no God was formed, And after me there has been none.

(Matthew 24:14) ¹⁴ And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

(Revelation 12:10-12) . . .“Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! ¹¹ And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. ¹² On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.. . .

So lets cover some more aspects to true worship. For example what are some things God required in the past? In the past they were to use no images in their worship of heaven above or earth below. We are to worship in spirit. God requires exclusive devotion. We are told not to learn the customs of the nations which can be a form of idolatry. Often times these customs involve materialism as expressions of love or involve giving honor to mythical characters instead of God. God requires exclusive devotion.

The nation of Israel would become a spiritual nation in fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that his seed would bless all the families of the ground. Jesus fulfilled this and other covenants which opened the door for those who were not a part of Israel to become a part of the spiritual nation that the new covenant Jesus made had brought about. Jesus told the pharisees the nation would be taken from them and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. So this nation would be given to those restoring true worship. The nation of Israel had God’s perfect laws to guide them and they still failed miserably which demonstrated that the heavenly kingdom under Jesus rule in the heavenly kingdom is the only thing that can restore true worship and fix all the things man has done. The pharisees new of the bible prophecy but resisted Jesus because it meant they would need to change and accept the changes that were going to be made as Jesus fulfilled the old covenants and instituted the prophesied new covenant. Jesus gave us an example of what this true worship would look like but as shown earlier after the last of the apostles died the great apostasy would exist for a while then true worship would be restored.

(Matthew 4:10) Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.

(Exodus 34:13-16) . . .. ¹⁴ You must not bow down to another god, for Jehovah is known for requiring exclusive devotion. Yes, he is a God who requires exclusive devotion. ¹⁵ Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, because when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone will invite you and you will eat from his sacrifice. ¹⁶ Then you will surely take some of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves to their gods.

(Deuteronomy 5:8-10) ⁸ “‘You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. ⁹ You must not bow down to them nor be led to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me, ¹⁰ but showing loyal love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

1 John 5:19-21 ²⁰ But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us insight so that we may gain the knowledge of the one who is true. And we are in union with the one who is true, by means of his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life everlasting. ²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

(Jeremiah 10:1-4) 10 Hear the word that Jehovah has spoken against you, O house of Israel. ² This is what Jehovah says: “Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Because the nations are terrified by them.  ³ For the customs of the peoples are a delusion. It is just a tree of the forest that is cut down, Worked by the hands of the craftsman with his tool.  ⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold And fasten it with hammer and nails so that it will not fall over.

(Genesis 12:1-3) 12 And Jehovah said to Aʹbram: “Go out from your land and away from your relatives and from the house of your father to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will become a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who calls down evil on you, and all the families of the ground will certainly be blessed by means of you.. . .

(Galatians 3:7-14) ⁷ Surely you know that it is those who adhere to faith who are sons of Abraham. ⁸ Now the scripture, foreseeing that God would declare people of the nations righteous through faith, declared the good news beforehand to Abraham, namely: “By means of you all the nations will be blessed.” ⁹ So those who adhere to faith are being blessed together with Abraham, who had faith. ¹⁰ All those who depend on works of law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the scroll of the Law by doing them.” ¹¹ Moreover, it is evident that by law no one is declared righteous with God, because “the righteous one will live by reason of faith.” ¹² Now the Law is not based on faith. Rather, “anyone who does these things will live by means of them.” ¹³ Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: “Accursed is every man hung upon a stake.” ¹⁴ This was so that the blessing of Abraham would come to the nations by means of Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promised spirit through our faith.

(Matthew 21:43, 44) ⁴³ This is why I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits. ⁴⁴ Also, the person falling on this stone will be shattered. As for anyone on whom it falls, it will crush him.”

(1 Peter 2:8-10) . . .. ⁹ But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies” of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ For you were once not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not been shown mercy, but now you have received mercy.

(Hosea 2:23) ²³ I will sow her like seed for myself in the earth, And I will show mercy to her who was not shown mercy; I will say to those not my people: “You are my people,” And they will say: “You are my God.. . .

(Galatians 3:26-29) ²⁶ You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. ²⁹ Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s offspring, heirs with reference to a promise.

(Romans 10:11-15) ¹¹ For the scripture says: “No one who rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. There is the same Lord over all, who is rich toward all those calling on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” ¹⁴ However, how will they call on him if they have not put faith in him? How, in turn, will they put faith in him about whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent out? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!”

So what would this spiritual Israel be called? Where would they come from? The bible teaches us that these people would be from throughout the whole earth. We get a clue also in the scriptures when God states he will take a people out of the nations for his name. This nation of Israel would be a people who once were not God’s people but the ransom sacrifice opened the door for people from all nations of the world to worship the one true God. Just as God’s people were called by his name in the post and known for using his name so would those who returned to worshiping in truth.

(Hosea 2:23) I will sow her like seed for myself in the earth, And I will show mercy to her who was not shown mercy; I will say to those not my people: “You are my people,” And they will say: “You are my God.”’”

(Romans 9:25, 26) ²⁵ It is as he says also in Ho·seʹa: “Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not loved, ‘beloved’; ²⁶ and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

(Amos 9:9-12)  ⁹ ‘For look! I am giving the command, And I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, Just as one shakes a sieve, And not a pebble falls to the ground. ¹⁰ They will die by the sword, all the sinners of my people, Those who are saying, “The calamity will not come near us or reach us.”’ ¹¹ ‘In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen, I will repair the breaches, And I will restore its ruins; I will rebuild it as in the days of long ago, ¹² So that they may take possession of what is remaining of Eʹdom, And all the nations on whom my name has been called,’ declares Jehovah, who is doing this.

(Acts 15:12-21) . . .. ¹³ After they finished speaking, James replied: “Men, brothers, hear me. ¹⁴ Symʹe·on has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written: ¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return and raise up again the tent of David that is fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, ¹⁷ so that the men who remain may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, ¹⁸ known from of old.’ ¹⁹ Therefore, my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, ²⁰ but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For from ancient times Moses has had those who preach him in city after city, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.”

(Isaiah 43:5-7) ⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring from the east And gather you together from the west.  ⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth,  ⁷ Everyone who is called by my name And whom I created for my own glory, Whom I have formed and made.’

(Revelation 3:12, 13) ¹² “‘The one who conquers—I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will by no means go out from it anymore, and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that descends out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. ¹³ Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.’

How can someone put God to the test?

Written By Lee Stevenson

 

This was inspired by something someone said to me. They were eating foods that are known to cause chronic illness. They said that they could eat what they wanted because God would protect them. Jesus would not willfully put himself in harms way to test God and we should follow his example. By willfully putting ourselves in harms way then we are testing God which is something we are told not to do.

Why would Jesus not test God? What harm would it do? Why our trials and tribulation should not cause us to put Jehovah to the test.

As you read the scriptures you will see two examples of how Israel tested God. They tried tempting him and they also lacked faith and constantly ask for proof that he could do as he promised. It also includes whether we believe God’s word is true or not. Jesus had no doubt about the truth of God’s word and quoted it to show Satan the Devil that he did not doubt what Jehovah could do and did not doubt Jehovah’s word.

(Matthew 4:5-7) 5 Then the Devil took him along into the holy city, and he stationed him on the battlement of the temple 6 and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him: “Again it is written: ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’”

Testing God is a sin, it is saying we do not believe him and that we do not have faith that he can or will save us and fulfill his promises.

(Psalm 78:16-22) 16 He brought streams out of a crag And caused waters to flow down like rivers. 17 But they continued to sin against him By rebelling against the Most High in the desert; 18 They challenged God in their heart By demanding food that they craved. 19 So they spoke against God, Saying: “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” 20 Look! He struck a rock So that waters flowed and streams flooded out. “Can he also give us bread, Or can he provide meat for his people?” 21 When Jehovah heard them, he became furious; A fire blazed against Jacob, And his anger flared up against Israel 22 Because they did not put faith in God; They did not trust in his ability to save them. . .

Many in Israel seen Jehovah’s miracles first hand and still lacked faith. It was their sins and vanity that caused their lack of faith. This often times resulted in Jehovah having to destroy them because they were spreading their sinful nature and causing others to lose faith.

(Numbers 14:20-24) 20 Then Jehovah said: “I forgive them according to your word. 21 But on the other hand, as surely as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of Jehovah. 22 However, not one of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness and yet have kept testing me these ten times and have not listened to my voice 23 will ever see the land about which I swore to their fathers. No, not one of those treating me without respect will see it. 24 But because my servant Caʹleb had a different spirit and kept following after me wholeheartedly, I will certainly bring him into the land where he went, and his offspring will take possession of it.

(Psalm 106:14-18) 14 They gave way to their selfish desires in the wilderness; They tested God in the desert. 15 He gave them what they requested, But then struck them with disease that made them waste away. 16 In the camp they grew jealous of Moses And of Aaron, the holy one of Jehovah. 17 The earth then opened up and swallowed Daʹthan And covered those assembled with A·biʹram. 18 A fire blazed among their group; A flame consumed the wicked.

These things happened as an example to teach us not to listen to murmurers who are causing division or causing us to lose faith. Those who listened would continually put Jehovah to the test. We need to be like A’haz he refused to put Jehovah to the test.

(1 Corinthians 10:8-11) . . .. 9 Neither let us put Jehovah to the test, as some of them put him to the test, only to perish by the serpents. 10 Neither be murmurers, as some of them murmured, only to perish by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have come.

A’haz’s faith was very strong , he refused to put Jehovah to the test even though there were very fearful things happening. We are going to experience very fearful things very soon but we must stay strong and just as A’haz refused to put Jehovah to the test he held tight to his trust in Jehovah’s ability to save those remaining loyal and obedient to Jehovah.

(Isaiah 7:3-12) 3 Jehovah then said to Isaiah: “Go out, please, to meet Aʹhaz, you and your son Sheʹar-jaʹshub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool by the highway of the laundryman’s field. 4 You must say to him, ‘Take care to stay calm. Do not be afraid, and do not lose heart because of these two stumps of smoldering logs, because of the hot anger of Reʹzin and Syria and the son of Rem·a·liʹah. 5 For Syria with Eʹphra·im and the son of Rem·a·liʹah have plotted harm against you, saying: 6 “Let us go up against Judah and tear it apart and conquer it for ourselves, and let us appoint the son of Tabʹe·el as its king.”  7 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “It will not succeed, Nor will it take place.  8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Reʹzin. Within just 65 years Eʹphra·im will be completely shattered and cease to be a people.  9 The head of Eʹphra·im is Sa·marʹi·a, And the head of Sa·marʹi·a is the son of Rem·a·liʹah. Unless you have firm faith, You will not be firmly established.”’” 10 Jehovah continued speaking to Aʹhaz: 11 “Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God; it may be as deep as the Grave or as high as the sky.” 12 But Aʹhaz said: “I will not ask, nor will I put Jehovah to the test.”

Through our tribulation God is teaching us , building our endurance and helping us to endure things most could not dream of enduring and surviving. Those who tested Jehovah in the past left their imperfections guide their actions. We have Jehovah’s word to guide us and now more then ever it is very important to write it on our hearts because very soon it will be taken from us and all we will have left of his word is what we have written on our hearts. We know it is his word that is going to carry us through all this.

(1 Peter 5:6-11) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, 7 while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. 9 But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. 10 But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. 11 To him be the might forever. Amen.

(James 1:12-15) 12 Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving Him. 13 When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. 14 But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death.

We are not promised it will be easy but because we know God can and will save his loyal ones we have a peace that will help us endure many types of trials and tribulation.

(Philippians 4:4-7) 4 Always rejoice in the Lord. Again I will say, Rejoice! 5 Let your reasonableness become known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.

Jesus stated the student is no better then the teacher. The world and the wicked one hated him and it will hate those who faithfully follow Jehovah and submit to the authority given his only begotten son Jesus. So one who worships faithfully in truth will be treated no better then our teacher and king Jesus Christ. It does not mean you fell out of favor if you are suffering or if you are being attacked though many who false reason believe that to be so.

(1 Peter 4:12-14) 12 Beloved ones, do not be surprised about the fiery trials that you are experiencing, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 On the contrary, go on rejoicing over the extent to which you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, so that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. 14 If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, yes, the spirit of God, is resting upon you.

(2 Timothy 3:11-13) . . .I endured these persecutions, and the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. 13 But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. . .

When we suffer trials it exposes our weaknesses so we can work on them and become spiritually stronger and wiser.

(Deuteronomy 8:1-5) . . .. 2 Remember the long road that Jehovah your God made you walk these 40 years in the wilderness, to humble you and to put you to the test so as to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 So he humbled you and let you go hungry and fed you with the manna, which neither you had known nor your fathers had known, in order to make you know that man does not live by bread alone but man lives by every expression from Jehovah’s mouth. 4 The clothing you wore did not wear out, nor did your feet become swollen these 40 years. 5 You well know in your heart that just as a man corrects his son, Jehovah your God was correcting you.

(James 1:2-8) 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, 3 knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. 4 But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything. 5 So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him. 6 But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. 7 In fact, that man should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah; 8 he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways.

For those who like videos here is a wonderful video on examples of when others have put Jehovah to the test.

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/videos/respect-jehovahs-authority/#?insight%5Bsearch_id%5D=bcef40fa-582c-4593-a3c6-d9eb88af008a&insight%5Bsearch_result_index%5D=10

Jesus showed us how to conquer the world and not let the world conquer us.

How to use.

 

To learn to conquer the world in the context Jesus was talking about we need to understand what he was referring to when he referred to the world. When you read in the bible often times you see it is referring to the people in the world and the rebellious system of the world which is run by the people and influenced by Satan.

(John 1:29) ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said: “See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

(1 John 2:1, 2) 2 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. ² And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s. . .

Since Adam and Eve who were perfect brought this sinful rebellion into the world it took a perfect human to show us the way out and for a ransom of a perfect human to be provided to cover those sins.

(2 Corinthians 5:18, 19) ¹⁸ But all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of the reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was by means of Christ reconciling a world to himself, not counting their offenses against them, and he entrusted to us the message of the reconciliation.

(Romans 5:18, 19) ¹⁸ So, then, as through one trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation, so too through one act of justification the result to men of all sorts is their being declared righteous for life. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one person many will be made righteous.

So when the bible says the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one it is referring to the people and this system of rebellion of man choosing to rule themselves and decide right from wrong for themselves. So it is referring to man and man’s system of things.

(John 12:31) ³¹ Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world. . .

(2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) ³ If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, ⁴ among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

Jesus Conquered the world.

In order to conquer the world we need to follow the one who conquered the world, God’s only begotten son Jesus. The ruler of this world has already been defeated and judged. Jesus stayed focused on the things above and not on the worldly things.

(John 16:33) ³³ I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.. . .

(John 16:8-11) ⁸ And when that one comes, he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: ⁹ first concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; ¹⁰ then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. . .

(Colossians 3:1, 2) 3 If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Keep your minds fixed on the things above, not on the things on the earth.

Things that can cause us to be conquered by the world.

Pride has been the downfall of many and it was the downfall of the king in Babylon in Daniels time. God does not take pride lightly. It has caused the downfall of many kings.

(Proverbs 16:18, 19) ¹⁸ Pride is before a crash, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. ¹⁹ Better to be humble among the meek Than to share the spoil of the haughty. . .

(Daniel 4:30-32) The king was saying: “Is this not Babylon the Great that I myself have built for the royal house by my own strength and might and for the glory of my majesty?” ³¹ While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from the heavens: “To you it is being said, O King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar, ‘The kingdom has gone away from you, ³² and from mankind you are being driven away. With the beasts of the field your dwelling will be, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants.

(Acts 12:21-23) ²¹ On a set day, Herod clothed himself with royal raiment and sat down on the judgment seat and began giving them a public address. ²² Then the people who were assembled began shouting: “A god’s voice, and not a man’s!” ²³ Instantly the angel of Jehovah struck him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten up with worms and died.

So we can see those who become haughty from pride Jehovah opposes but he favors those who are humble.

(James 4:6) ⁶ However, the undeserved kindness that He gives is greater. So it says: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones. . .

(Proverbs 3:34) ³⁴ For he mocks those who ridicule, But he shows favor to the meek. . .

(Psalm 37:11) But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.

(Psalm 138:6) Though Jehovah is high, he takes note of the humble, But the haughty he knows only from a distance

Jesus set a pattern of humility for us to follow and he demonstrated this by washing the apostles feet something that a servant usually would do. Even though he knew he would be seated on the thrown in the heavenly kingdom and was the only begotten son of God he did not let that go to his head and remained humble and was happy to serve others in a way that pleased his heavenly father.

(John 13:14-17) ¹⁴ Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also should wash the feet of one another. ¹⁵ For I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should also do. ¹⁶ Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, happy you are if you do them. . .

(Luke 9:48) and said to them: “Whoever receives this young child on the basis of my name receives me also; and whoever receives me also receives the One who sent me. For the one who conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one who is great.

Avoid being conquered by hatred.

Our actions show whether we are filled with love or filled with hatred. We know we are in the last days and that men will do many hateful and selfish things. The bible has warned us what the last days would be like many times.

(2 Timothy 3:1-7) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. ⁶ From among these arise men who slyly work their way into households and captivate weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

Hatred is a very serious sin. If we have hatred in our hearts it forfeits our chances of eternal life.

(1 John 3:14, 15) . . .. The one who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him. . .

This contrast the fruits of the spirit in which love is one of them.

(Galatians 5:22-24) ²² On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires. . .

Love would be an identifying mark of those who worship in truth. This love would be so deep if necessary they would give their lives for each other.

(John 13:33-35) . . .I now say it also to you. ³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.. . .

(John 15:11-13) ¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full. ¹² This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.

We are not to show impartiality, Jesus demonstrated this in his treatment of the Samaritan women. Samaritans were very good at counterfeiting legal documents. They would counterfeit documents of their human linage. So no one was certain if they were really jews or gentiles. They were not trusted and for the most part avoided. The Samaritan was aware that the gentiles would also be welcomed to worship the true God and be considered part of the nation of Israel. Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman would be a spiritual nation he also revealed to her that he was the messiah who would fulfill the things she had mentioned.

(John 4:7-26) ⁷ A woman of Sa·marʹi·a came to draw water. Jesus said to her: “Give me a drink.” ⁸ (For his disciples had gone off into the city to buy food.) ⁹ So the Sa·marʹi·tan woman said to him: “How is it that you, despite being a Jew, ask me for a drink even though I am a Sa·marʹi·tan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Sa·marʹi·tans.) ¹⁰ In answer Jesus said to her: “If you had known of the free gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ She said to him: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket for drawing water, and the well is deep. From what source, then, do you have this living water? ¹² You are not greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well and who together with his sons and his cattle drank out of it, are you?” ¹³ In answer Jesus said to her: “Everyone drinking from this water will get thirsty again. ¹⁴ Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may neither thirst nor keep coming over to this place to draw water.” ¹⁶ He said to her: “Go, call your husband and come to this place.” ¹⁷ The woman replied: “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her: “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ ¹⁸ For you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. This you have said truthfully.” ¹⁹ The woman said to him: “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews. ²³ Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him: “I know that Mes·siʹah is coming, who is called Christ. Whenever that one comes, he will declare all things to us openly.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you.. . .

(Acts 10:34, 35) ³⁴ At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, ³⁵ but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. . .

Jesus also set the example of love by praying for those persecuting him. He commanded us to love our enemies, many love those who love them that is easy but to truly follow in Jesus foot steps we must love those who hate us.

(Luke 23:34) ³⁴ But Jesus was saying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Furthermore, they cast lots to distribute his garments.

(Matthew 5:43-48) ⁴³ “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? ⁴⁸ You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Galatians 6:10) ¹⁰ So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.

Are we to pray for all sinners? The answer is no. There are sins that incur death and they are sins against the holy spirit. We are not to pray for those who are sinning against the holy spirit.

(1 John 5:16) ¹⁶ If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. . .

(Mark 3:29) But whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever but is guilty of everlasting sin.

Love the only begotten son and our heavenly father Jehovah.

The way we react to the bibles teachings and apply them in our lives shows whether we love Jesus and our heavenly father. It will not be easy because being no part of the world means you will be hated and persecuted by the world. Jesus warned us many times of this. By following Jesus teachings and applying them in our lives we will be in union with Jesus and our heavenly father.

(John 14:21) ²¹ Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.”

(John 15:17-20) ¹⁷ “These things I command you, that you love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours.

(John 17:15-19) ¹⁵ “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. ¹⁶ They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth. . .

(John 16:27, 28) ²⁷ For the Father himself has affection for you, because you have had affection for me and have believed that I came as God’s representative. ²⁸ I came as the Father’s representative and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.. . .

So observing God’s commands and having faith we can conquer the world.

(1 John 5:2-4) . . .. ³ For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, ⁴ because everyone who has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith. . .

Jesus did not say it would be easy.

Jesus warns those living in harmony with him and our heavenly father will be persecuted. He tells us the student is no better then the teacher. If the world hated him they would also hate those who loyally follow him.

(2 Timothy 3:12, 13) ¹² In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. ¹³ But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. . .

Many will not heed our warning and will ridicule us.

(2 Peter 3:2-4) . . .. ³ First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires ⁴ and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning. . .

(Jude 17-23) ¹⁷ As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to you: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.” ¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, animalistic men, not having spirituality. ²⁰ But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, and pray with holy spirit, ²¹ in order to keep yourselves in God’s love, while you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. ²² Also, continue showing mercy to some who have doubts; ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while you hate even the garment that has been stained by the flesh.

We must be careful this ridicule can cause us to let down our guard and we could be lured into the world. This is also why we are warned not to become unevenly yoked with the world.

(Luke 21:34-36) ³⁴ “But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you ³⁵ as a snare. For it will come upon all those dwelling on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that must occur and in standing before the Son of man. . .

(2 Corinthians 6:14-17) ¹⁴ Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ “‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.. . .

The world views people by their status in society if we pursue things of the world and we risk becoming like them which can cause us to become bias towards those who are in need and develop an incorrect view of them. They even show favoritism towards those who are well off, something we are warned not to do.

(James 2:1-4) 2 My brothers, you are not holding to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ while showing favoritism, are you? ² For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing comes into your meeting, but a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, ³ do you look with favor on the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You take this seat here in a fine place,” and do you say to the poor one, “You keep standing” or, “Take that seat there under my footstool”? ⁴ If so, do you not have class distinctions among yourselves, and have you not become judges rendering wicked decisions?

Ephesians lays out the complete way to protect ourselves by putting on the complete armor of God. The belt of truth with is the truth in God’s word will protect and guide us. Be remaining blameless it protects us. Our faith is our shield, and putting our faith in our redeemer and the hope of salvation is our helmet. Also taking in God’s word and applying it is the Sword of the Spirit. And praying and asking God in times of trouble help us.

(Ephesians 6:10-13) . . .. ¹¹ Put on the complete suit of armor from God so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; ¹² because we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places. ¹³ For this reason take up the complete suit of armor from God, so that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and, after you have accomplished everything, to stand firm.

The bible does not promise wealth or that we would live in comfort. We must remember if we follow in Jesus foot steps will will be falsely accused, many will hate and turn on us. Many of us will go without food. All these things would not stop us from enriching people spiritually.

(2 Corinthians 6:3-10) ³ In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, so that no fault may be found with our ministry; ⁴ but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties, ⁵ by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy, ⁷ by truthful speech, by God’s power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, ⁸ through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report. We are regarded as deceivers and yet we are truthful, ⁹ as unknown and yet we are recognized, as dying and yet look! we live, as punished and yet not handed over to death, ¹⁰ as sorrowing but ever rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

When we endure patiently it may draw others to the bible truths. We must do our best not to let the world shape who we are but to let Jehovah and his word shape us, it will protect us from being conquered by the world. In doing so we conquer the evil with the good.

(2 Timothy 2:23-26) ²³ Further, reject foolish and ignorant debates, knowing that they produce fights. ²⁴ For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, ²⁵ instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will. . .

(Romans 12:9-21) ⁹ Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another, take the lead. ¹¹ Be industrious, not lazy. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah. ¹² Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. ¹³ Share with the holy ones according to their needs. Follow the course of hospitality. ¹⁴ Keep on blessing those who persecute; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Have the same attitude toward others as toward yourselves; do not set your mind on lofty things, but be led along with the lowly things. Do not become wise in your own eyes. ¹⁷ Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” ²⁰ But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good. . .

Our endurance and faith shows our love for Jesus and his father. In remaining faithful and strong we set on example for others. Jesus did not say it would be easy he warned that to follow him we would have to endure the same things as he did. Just as they falsely accused him , persecuted him in many ways so those who follow him in truth will be treated. God did not promise us wealth as a matter of fact Jesus did not have a home to sleep in.

(James 1:2-4) ² Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, ³ knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything. . .

(Matthew 10:24-31) ²⁴ “A student is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the student to become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If people have called the master of the house Be·elʹze·bub, how much more those of his household? ²⁶ So do not fear them, for there is nothing covered over that will not become uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, preach from the housetops. ²⁸ And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna. ²⁹ Two sparrows sell for a coin of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows. . .

(Matthew 8:20) But Jesus said to him: “Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.

Those who put their faith in the world and things of the world cannot put faith in God and will not learn to love him. It can hinder their relationship with God. These things will all be gone soon and all we will have is our relationship with God. If we do not have a relationship with God we will not fair well when this system collapses.

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. . .

Exercising Faith.

The bible tells us to exercise faith showing we have to work to build our faith. In doing so we will receive the power from God to endure the things that will occur. Many had faith in Jesus but did not want to lose their status in society so they would not acknowledge him. Jesus warned them that the things he said were given as commanded to him by God. To disobey his commands we would be disobeying God which shows a lack of faith.

(John 14:1) 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me.

(John 12:42, 43) ⁴² All the same, many even of the rulers actually put faith in him, but they would not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the glory of men even more than the glory of God. . .

(John 12:47-50) ⁴⁷ But if anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I came, not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ Whoever disregards me and does not receive my sayings has one to judge him. The word that I have spoken is what will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I have not spoken of my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment means everlasting life. So whatever I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me. . .

(Romans 3:28-31) ²⁸ For we consider that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law. ²⁹ Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of people of the nations? Yes, also of people of the nations. ³⁰ Since God is one, he will declare circumcised people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by means of their faith. ³¹ Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith? Not at all! On the contrary, we uphold law. . .

We can see that exercising faith means that we adhere to the teachings of Jesus and follow his example.

(John 3:16-21) ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever exercises faith in him is not to be judged. Whoever does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. ²⁰ For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that his works may be made manifest as having been done in harmony with God.”

We need to work towards strengthening our faith because it will help us to endure. The things we endure teaches and strengthens us and those who lack faith give up but we endure things through our faith that is beyond normal.

(1 Peter 5:6-11) ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, ⁷ while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. ⁹ But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. ¹⁰ But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. ¹¹ To him be the might forever. Amen.

Exercising faith means we would have such a deep love for God and his son Jesus that we will give testimony about them even if it may cost our lives.

(Acts 20:24) Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God

(Luke 9:24) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake is the one who will save it.

(Revelation 12:11) And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death.

We have a helper.

Jesus told the apostles he would send a helper. This helper is the spirit of truth from God.

(John 14:25, 26) . . .. ²⁶ But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. . .

(Matthew 10:19, 20) However, when they hand you over, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak, for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; ²⁰ for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you

(John 14:16, 17) ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, ¹⁷ the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees it nor knows it. You know it, because it remains with you and is in you.

If we do not have the spirit of truth we cannot worship God in spirit and truth because our minds will be set on material things.

(Romans 8:5) ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit.

Getting too caught up in the world can lure us in and we may start drinking of the cup of the devil which would inhibit our receiving the spirit.

(1 Corinthians 10:20, 21) ²⁰ No; but I say that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. ²¹ You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons.

We do not just receive the spirit we must ask for it. How would a parent know your needs if you do not ask. We have to let God know we desire and need his helper.

(Luke 11:12, 13) . . .? ¹³ Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!. . .

How do we know when we have received the spirit? Because we will produce the fruits of the spirit. Love will guide all we do, we will find joy even though we will be heavily persecuted and have to endure much tribulation, we will have an inner peace , we will be more patient , we will strive to be good, our faith will increase, we will be known for our mildness and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22, 23) ²² On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. . .

Of the fruitage of the spirit love is the most important one. It can cover a multitude of sins. Love should guide all we do. It is the love God has for us that drove him to provide a ransom sacrifice for us. If we do not love we cannot know God.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7) ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, ⁵ does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. ⁶ It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. . .

(1 John 4:8-10) ⁸ Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. ¹⁰ The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. . .

(1 Peter 4:7-9) ⁷ But the end of all things has drawn close. Therefore, be sound in mind, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. ⁸ Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Our salvation depends on the fruits we produce. It is an expression of our love for Jehovah and his only begotten son Jesus Christ.

(1 Peter 1:8, 9) ⁸ Though you never saw him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹ as you attain the goal of your faith, your salvation. . .

(Romans 6:21-23) ²¹ What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. ²² However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life. ²³ For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can see it is not the status of someone that determines their status with God but the fruits they produce and it is an identifying mark of those worshiping in truth. False prophets will produce bad fruits. We learned this in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 which speaks of the last days and the results of false teachings.

(Matthew 7:15-20) ¹⁵ “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men.

Jesus promised us peace.

Jesus promised us peace but it would not be peace as man knows peace but it would be an inner peace because of our faith and the hope in the future promises. We would have an inner peace because we would not live in fear as many others do now days. Fear can be used to deceive people and manipulate them. Because we do no live in fear it cannot be used as a weapon against us. We also have the peace of knowing all can now worship God in truth through the ransom sacrifice of God’s only begotten son Jesus Christ. This ransom sacrifice removed all barriers.

(John 14:27) ²⁷ I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I do not give it to you the way that the world gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor let them shrink out of fear.

(Ephesians 2:13-18) ¹³ But now in union with Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, the one who made the two groups one and destroyed the wall in between that fenced them off. ¹⁵ By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, in order to make the two groups in union with himself into one new man and to make peace, ¹⁶ and to reconcile fully both peoples in one body to God through the torture stake, because he had killed off the enmity by means of himself. ¹⁷ And he came and declared the good news of peace to you who were far off, and peace to those near, ¹⁸ because through him we, both peoples, have free access to the Father by one spirit.

This peace that we receive guards our hearts. If you read Psalm 27:1-14 you will see why Jesus had peace even though he was heavily persecuted. His faith was in Jehovah so it gave him the courage and strength to endure. This drove Jesus to teach the good news of the heavenly kingdom which give a future hope of better things to come.

(Philippians 4:6, 7) ⁶ Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. . .

(2 Timothy 1:7-10) ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of soundness of mind. ⁸ So do not become ashamed either of the witness about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but take your part in suffering adversity for the good news by relying on the power of God. ⁹ He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago, ¹⁰ but now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has shed light on life and incorruption through the good news,

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Destruction of the wicked.

We must be patient and endure because God desires none to be destroyed but wants all to have the opportunity to know him and to repent. So we must do our best to warn others and to teach them about the one true God while we patiently wait knowing that many of our spiritual brothers and sisters are still out there waiting for someone to show them the way out. Sharing God’s word, being persistant in prayer will help keep us awake so that we will be ready when the destruction of the wicked comes. We know it will happen suddenly and at a time people least expect.

(2 Peter 3:8-10) . . .. ⁹ Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. ¹⁰ But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed.

(Revelation 16:15) ¹⁵ “Look! I am coming as a thief. Happy is the one who stays awake and keeps his outer garments, so that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.. . .

(Matthew 24:43, 44) ⁴³ “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

Those who conquer the world their name will not be blotted out and they will be remembered. This will be those who have figuratively washed their robes. In other words they have repented from the ways of the world and have drawn closer to God.

(Revelation 3:4, 5) . . .. ⁵ The one who conquers will thus be dressed in white garments, and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. . .

(Revelation 22:13-15) . . .. ¹⁴ Happy are those who wash their robes, so that they may have authority to go to the trees of life and that they may gain entrance into the city through its gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.. . .

This gives us courage beyond what is normal because we do not fear those who can kill the body. We know the heavenly father and his son love us and would not forget the work we have done and the love we have shown for Jehovah’s great name.

(Matthew 10:28-31) ²⁸ And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna. ²⁹ Two sparrows sell for a coin of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

(Hebrews 6:10-12) ¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones. ¹¹ But we desire each one of you to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, ¹² so that you may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

This is why now more then ever we need to put God’s word into our hearts to better equip us for the work ahead. Just a while longer and the bad memories will be gone they will be replaced by the good memories of the fulfillment of the future promises.

(2 Timothy 3:16, 17) ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

(Isaiah 65:17) ¹⁷ For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart. . .

(2 Peter 3:11-13) ¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, ¹² as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat! ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell. . .

(Psalm 37:28, 29) ²⁸ For Jehovah loves justice, And he will not abandon his loyal ones. ע [Ayin] They will always be guarded; But the descendants of the wicked will be done away with. ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

We can find comfort in knowing nothing not even death can separate us from the love that Jehovah has for us and the love his only begotten son our heavenly king has for us.

(Romans 8:35-39) ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must remember to continue to pray for those persecuting us remembering that the apostle Paul also once persecuted those who worshiped in truth.

(Acts 7:54-8:1) ⁵⁴ Well, at hearing these things, they were infuriated in their hearts and began to grind their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, ⁵⁶ and he said: “Look! I see the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.” ⁵⁷ At this they cried out at the top of their voices and put their hands over their ears and rushed at him all together. ⁵⁸ After throwing him outside the city, they began stoning him. The witnesses laid down their outer garments at the feet of a young man called Saul. ⁵⁹ As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death. 8 Saul, for his part, approved of his murder. . .

(1 Timothy 1:12-16) ¹² I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who imparted power to me, because he considered me faithful by assigning me to a ministry, ¹³ although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and with a lack of faith. ¹⁴ But the undeserved kindness of our Lord abounded exceedingly along with faith and the love that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I am foremost. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, I was shown mercy so that by means of me as the foremost case, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his patience, making me an example to those who are going to rest their faith on him for everlasting life.

This link is a good article explaining how to recognize true worship so we do not make the same error Paul made.

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/recognize-true-worshippers/#?insight%5Bsearch_id%5D=80147093-0f96-400a-9756-6f29ef57a5d9&insight%5Bsearch_result_index%5D=2

Conquering the Evil With The Good.

We are in the last days. We know evil abounds. We are told in Romans to conquer the evil with the good but how can we do that?

(Romans 12:21) ²¹ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.

The previous scriptures in Romans 12 gives us a guide on how to overcome the evil with the good it stresses the importance of treating other good even if they are our enemy.

(Romans 12:17-20) ¹⁷Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.” ²⁰ But, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.

It can be difficult at times. It seems that those doing bad go unpunished.

(Ecclesiastes 8:11-13) ¹¹ Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. ¹² Although a sinner may be doing bad a hundred times and continuing a long time as he pleases, yet I am also aware that it will turn out well with those fearing the [true] God, because they were in fear of him. ¹³ But it will not turn out well at all with the wicked one, neither will he prolong his days that are like a shadow, because he is not in fear of God.

We need to keep in mind God is the judge and he desires no one to be destroy so he is very patient. We need to learn to be patient also.

(2 Peter 3:9) Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance

If we return evil to them we become just like them and Satan has won because he has made us no different then the world.

(Romans 2:3-11) ³ But do you have this idea, O man, while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, because you do not know that the kindly [quality] of God is trying to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment. ⁶ And he will render to each one according to his works: ⁷ everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; ⁸ however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, ⁹ tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.

Many who know their bibles and do bad have no excuse. There are those who do not know God’s laws and still obey them. So we cannot use the fact that they do not know God’s laws as a reason for treating someone bad. Neither can they use the excuse they did not know. The bible clearly shows we have been born with a conscience.

(Romans 2:12-16) ¹² For instance, all those who sinned without law will also perish without law; but all those who sinned under law will be judged by law. ¹³ For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. ¹⁵ They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused. ¹⁶ This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare..

Our actions show who’s wisdom we are relying on. We are told to imitate our heavenly father, in doing so we show we are guided by the him.

(James 3:13-18) ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among YOU? Let him show out of his fine conduct his works with a mildness that belongs to wisdom. ¹⁴ But if YOU have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in YOUR hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is [the] earthly, animal, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical. ¹⁸ Moreover, the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace.

Jesus perfectly reflected his heavenly father. So if we imitate him we can bring God glory instead of smearing his good name as many have done. Doing this requires us to be no part of the world. So we must not imitate the worlds behavior.

(John 17:4, 5) ⁴ I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. ⁵ So now you, Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.

We must do to others what we would want them to do unto us. We all fall short if others sought revenge for all our errors how would we feel? Doesn’t it feel much better when you are forgiven? Those who do not repent or who take your forgiveness for granted will be dealt with soon. We cannot let their actions effect ours.

(Matthew 7:12-14) ¹² “All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean. ¹³ “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; ¹⁴ whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.

(Ephesians 4:31-5:2) ³¹Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from YOU along with all badness. ³² But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave YOU. 5 Therefore, become imitators of God, as beloved children, ² and go on walking in love, just as the Christ also loved YOU and delivered himself up for YOU as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling odor.

We need to make sure that since God has not acted it means he is not seeing and fall into the trap of taking action ourselves and start developing a worldly attitude.

(Ecclesiastes 8:11-13) ¹¹ Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. ¹² Although a sinner may be doing bad a hundred times and continuing a long time as he pleases, yet I am also aware that it will turn out well with those fearing the [true] God, because they were in fear of him. ¹³ But it will not turn out well at all with the wicked one, neither will he prolong his days that are like a shadow, because he is not in fear of God.

When we are suffering evil we must keep in mind the example Jesus set. He did not strike out or seek revenge. His fine conduct drew many to our heavenly father. In showing humility and kindness we are showing our heavenly father what is in our hearts.

(1 Peter 3:16-18) ¹⁶ Hold a good conscience, so that in the particular in which YOU are spoken against they may get ashamed who are speaking slightingly of YOUR good conduct in connection with Christ. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer because YOU are doing good, if the will of God wishes it, than because YOU are doing evil. ¹⁸ Why, even Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous [person] for unrighteous ones, that he might lead YOU to God.

How could we avoid becoming like the world?

We know we are in the last days. Salvation is very near so now is not the time to give in. We were warned that there would not be much love in the world. Even the love for the truth in God’s word would be uncommon.

(Matthew 24:9-13) . ¹⁰ Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; ¹² and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. ¹³ But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.

(2 Timothy 3:1-7) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. ⁶ For from these arise those men who slyly work their way into households and lead as their captives weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

One thing that can help protect us is to make sure good things are what we speak and that the things that come out of our mouths produce good fruits. We do this by making certain that the things we say are things our heavenly father would approve of. We must do our best not to imitate the behavior of the pharisees who produced bad fruits.

(Matthew 12:34-37) ³⁴Offspring of vipers, how can YOU speak good things, when YOU are wicked? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things. ^{36 n}I tell YOU that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it on Judgment Day; ³⁷ for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.

(John 14:15) ¹⁵ “If YOU love me, YOU will observe my commandments.

We have to keep in mind vengeance is Jehovah’s we cannot read their hearts and do not know their intentions or reasons they do the things they do. . We are all imperfect.

(Romans 12:17-21) ¹⁷ Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.” ²⁰ But, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.” ²¹ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.

We can help by teaching others about the heavenly kingdom and helping those in need.

(Luke 9:10, 11) ¹⁰ And when the apostles returned they recounted to him what things they had done. With that he took them along and withdrew to privacy into a city called Beth·sa′i·da. ¹¹ But the crowds, getting to know it, followed him. And he received them kindly and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those needing a cure.

(Matthew 5:14-16) .¹⁵ People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house. ¹⁶ Likewise let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR Father who is in the heavens.

Need to be as open minded to the truths in the bible as a child is.

(Luke 18:15-17) ¹⁵ Now people began to bring him also their infants for him to touch these; but on seeing it the disciples began to reprimand them. ¹⁶ However, Jesus called the [infants] to him, saying: “Let the young children come to me, and do not try to stop them. For the kingdom of God belongs to suchlike ones. ¹⁷ Truly I say to YOU, Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a young child will by no means get into it.

We need to appreciate what God has down for us and the ransom sacrifice that provided a way for us. We need to keep in mind many have come from the world an many more will come. Our behavior could draw them to God or push them away.

(Ephesians 2:1-3) 2 Furthermore, [it is] YOU [God made alive] though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and sins, ² in which YOU at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience. ³ Yes, among them we all at one time conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and the thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath even as the rest.

The bible teaches us God is love. We need to let love guide all we do if we want to remain in his love.

(1 John 4:16-19) . God is love, and he that remains in love remains in union with God and God remains in union with him. ¹⁷ This is how love has been made perfect with us, that we may have freeness of speech in the day of judgment, because, just as that one is, so are we ourselves in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ As for us, we love, because he first loved us.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7) ⁴ Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, ⁵ does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. ⁶ It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

By letting love guide all we do it protects us.

(Romans 13:8-10) ⁸ Do not YOU people be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another; for he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled [the] law. ⁹ For the [law code], “You must not commit adultery, You must not murder, You must not steal, You must not covet,” and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore love is the law’s fulfillment.

(1 Peter 4:7, 8) ⁷ But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. ⁸ Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

We all are imperfect, if we were perfect we would not need the bible to guide us and Jesus would not of had to die for us. We need to learn we are sinners also and we all fall short at times.

(Romans 3:21-26) ²¹ But now apart from law God’s righteousness has been made manifest, as it is borne witness to by the Law and the Prophets; ²² yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith. For there is no distinction. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom [paid] by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God set him forth as an offering for propitiation through faith in his blood. This was in order to exhibit his own righteousness, because he was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past while God was exercising forbearance; ²⁶ so as to exhibit his own righteousness in this present season, that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous the man that has faith in Jesus.

(Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22) ²¹ Also, do not give your heart to all the words that people may speak, that you may not hear your servant calling down evil upon you. ²² For your own heart well knows even many times that you, even you, have called down evil upon others.

Do not want to lose hope and start believing in ourselves, in doing this we may lose sight that there is a God who sees all we do.

(Psalm 14:1) The senseless one has said in his heart: “There is no Jehovah.” They have acted ruinously, they have acted detestably in [their] dealing. There is no one doing good.

(Proverbs 6:16-19) ¹⁶ There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: ¹⁷ lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, ¹⁹ a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers. . .

(Jude 17-23) ¹⁷ As for YOU, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to YOU: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, proceeding according to their own desires for ungodly things.” ¹⁹ These are the ones that make separations, animalistic [men], not having spirituality. ²⁰ But YOU, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on YOUR most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in God’s love, while YOU are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. ²² Also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; ²³ save [them] by snatching [them] out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while YOU hate even the inner garment that has been stained by the flesh. . .

We know very soon those who remain on the earth will be those who loves God and seeks his will.

(Matthew 5:5) ⁵ “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.

(Psalm 37:10, 11) ¹⁰ And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. ¹¹ But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. . .

Who is the antichrist?

 

Written by Lee Stevenson. Sorry I am not very good at editing.

Antichrist means “against or other then Christ” . It is mentioned 5 times. Some things that oppose what Jesus taught are subtle so we could be participating false worship without even knowing it. Ba’al worship was very similar to how Israel worshiped. So much so that many Israelite’s fell into false worship.  So it will not be obvious at times who the Antichrist is. Something I cover at the end of the post is how removing God’s name and replacing it with the word Lord is opposing what Jesus taught.

(1 John 2:18, 19) ¹⁸ Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as YOU have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But [they went out] that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort.

(2 John 6, 7) . This is the commandment, just as YOU people have heard from [the] beginning, that YOU should go on walking in it. ⁷ For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

We know the Antichrist was already in the world and would continue in the world for a time.

The Antichrist do not confess Jesus came in the flesh. You see this now days. Even though Jesus is king in heaven they want to demote him back down to an earthly king saying he will appear in the flesh when this has already occurred. 

(1 John 4:2, 3) ² YOU gain the knowledge of the inspired expression from God by this: Every inspired expression that confesses Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God, ³ but every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s [inspired expression] which YOU have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world.

We are warned there will be false Christ who will mislead many.

(Matthew 24:23-27) ²³ “Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. ²⁵ Look! I have forewarned YOU. ²⁶Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be.

So we have established that the antichrist is anyone who opposes Christ . We also know that the antichrist has existed from the time Jesus was on earth because it is anyone who opposes Christ. So those who oppose his teachings or those who do not worship in truth are opposing Christ. Anything done to those who worship in truth is done against Christ so would be part of the antichrist.

(Matthew 25:38-40) .When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to you?’ ⁴⁰ And in reply the king will say to them, ‘Truly I say to YOU, To the extent that YOU did it to one of the least of these my brothers, YOU did it to me.

The apostle Paul persecuted those who worshiped in truth. Jesus confronted him and told him that and ask why he was persecuting him. So for a while Paul was in opposition to Christ until Jesus set him straight. Jesus took persecution of his people personal which show you how close he is to those worshiping in truth.

Acts 9:3-5.Now as he was traveling he approached Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, ⁴ and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ He said: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Many know that Babylon the Great represents false religion. So any worship that is against what Jesus taught would be a part of the antichrist, that would be include Babylon the Great.

(Revelation 17:5, 6) .And upon her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.” ⁶ And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.

We know an apostasy would arise for a time and exert a lot of influence over man. When the false worship is exposed it is a sign that God’s great day is near.

2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called “god” or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God.

1 Timothy 4:1 However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons,

Political entities that oppose Christ are part of the antichrist.

(Revelation 17:8-14) ⁸ The wild beast that you saw was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction. And when they see how the wild beast was, but is not, and yet will be present, those who dwell on the earth will wonder admiringly, but their names have not been written upon the scroll of life from the founding of the world. ⁹ “Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. ¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while. ¹¹ And the wild beast that was but is not, it is also itself an eighth [king], but springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction. ¹² “And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings one hour with the wild beast. ¹³ These have one thought, and so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. ¹⁴ These will battle with the Lamb, but, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those called and chosen and faithful with him [will do so].

One of the biggest teachings I see that is a denial of Christ is when they claim he is God. The bible clearly shows they are not one and the same it clearly shows Jesus is God’s son. It even tells us he is the first born of all creation and calls him the only begotten son, so he is the only one created directly by God. This lie has led to many being deceived.

(John 3:16) ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

(1 John 2:22, 23) ..Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Everyone that denies the Son does not have the Father either. He that confesses the Son has the Father also.

Jesus even talks about his creation in Proverbs.

(Proverbs 8:22-31) ²² “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago. ²³ From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth. ²⁴ When there were no watery deeps I was brought forth as with labor pains, when there were no springs heavily charged with water. ²⁵ Before the mountains themselves had been settled down, ahead of the hills, I was brought forth as with labor pains, ²⁶ when as yet he had not made the earth and the open spaces and the first part of the dust masses of the productive land. ²⁷ When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he decreed a circle upon the face of the watery deep, ²⁸ when he made firm the cloud masses above, when he caused the fountains of the watery deep to be strong, ²⁹ when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order, when he decreed the foundations of the earth, ³⁰ then I came to be beside him as a master worker, and I came to be the one he was specially fond of day by day, I being glad before him all the time, ³¹ being glad at the productive land of his earth, and the things I was fond of were with the sons of men.

The apostle Paul confirmed this in Colossians

(Colossians 1:15-17) .He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁶ because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,

The bible even speaks of God and Jesus being side by side during the creation of things.

(Genesis 1:26) And God went on to say: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every moving animal that is moving upon the earth

(John 17:5) So now you, Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.

Jesus never equated himself to God. He even said he was doing his fathers will and not his own. If he was God he would say he was doing his own will would he not?

(John 14:27, 28) . ²⁸ YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

(John 6:37-40) ³⁷ Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and the one that comes to me I will by no means drive away; ³⁸because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹ This is the will of him that sent me, that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given me but that I should resurrect it at the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him at the last day.

He even stated what he beholds his father doing he does, showing he learned from his father. He frequently made a clear distinction between him and his father.

(John 5:19) ¹⁹ Therefore, in answer, Jesus went on to say to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

(Mark 10:18 Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.

Jesus has been with God a very long time and had a long time to learn from him so could perfectly reflect his father. We know Jesus has existed a very long time the scriptures tell us that.

(Micah 5:2 “And you, O Beth′le·hem Eph′ra·thah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.

(John 8:58) Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been

Even though God gave Jesus a lot of power and authority he remained humble and did not leave it go to his head, He remained humble and showed his obedience to God and did not get over confident and put himself at an equal level with God.

(Philippians 2:5-8) .Keep this mental attitude in YOU that was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. ⁷ No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. ⁸ More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.

The bible clearly tells us that God is over Christ.

(1 Corinthians 11:3) But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God

Amen means so be it. It is an agreement or a contract. Jesus can rightfully be called the Amen because he fulfilled the promises God had made.

(2 Corinthians 1:19, 20) ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among YOU through us, that is, through me and Sil·va′nus and Timothy, did not become Yes and yet No, but Yes has become Yes in his case. ²⁰ For no matter how many the promises of God are, they have become Yes by means of him. Therefore also through him is the “Amen” [said] to God for glory through us.

We know Jesus is our king and the bible says he sits on the throne at God’s right hand. Once Jesus has fulfilled all the things given to him by the father to do he will hand the throne back over to God. He also tells us he will be in subjection to the one who subjected all things to him. One of the signs of the fulfillment of this is when death has come to an end.

(1 Corinthians 15:24-28) . Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

Many try using this scripture out of context claiming Jesus equates himself to God. This is were knowing your bible will keep you from being deceived because with a little research you will come to see that it is a oneness of spirit and worship and a oneness of mind.

John 17:20-23 “I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word; ²¹ in order that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me forth. ²² Also, I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one. ²³ I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, that the world may have the knowledge that you sent me forth and that you loved them just as you loved me.

Oneness of spirit so just as Jesus worshiped in spirit so would those following him. This would result in a oneness of mind.

(Ephesians 4:1-6) 4 I, therefore, the prisoner in [the] Lord, entreat YOU to walk worthily of the calling with which YOU were called, ² with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with long-suffering, putting up with one another in love, ³ earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace. ⁴ One body there is, and one spirit, even as YOU were called in the one hope to which YOU were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all [persons], who is over all and through all and in all.

(1 Corinthians 1:10) Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that YOU should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among YOU, but that YOU may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with YOU.

Philippians 2:2 make my joy full in that YOU are of the same mind and have the same love, being joined together in soul, holding the one thought in mind,

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of YOU be like-minded, showing fellow feeling, having brotherly affection, tenderly compassionate, humble in mind,

John 10:29, 30) . ³⁰ I and the Father are one.

John 10:38 But if I am doing them, even though YOU do not believe me, believe the works, in order that YOU may come to know and may continue knowing that the Father is in union with me and I am in union with the Father.

1 John 3:24 Moreover, he who observes his commandments remains in union with him, and he in union with such one; and by this we gain the knowledge that he is remaining in union with us, owing to the spirit which he gave us.

John 14:20, 21 In that day YOU will know that I am in union with my Father and YOU are in union with me and I am in union with YOU. ²¹ He that has my commandments and observes them, that one is he who loves me. In turn he that loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will plainly show myself to him.”

Idolatry

Many confuse symbols with idols. They believe it is okay to use symbols in their worship but when that item becomes a part of their worship it becomes an idol. This happened to Israel when they had made a symbol and then they started to worship the symbol instead of God. Even though God clearly told them not to use images in their worship.

(2 Kings 18:4-7) 4 He it was that removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars to pieces and cut down the sacred pole and crushed to pieces the copper serpent that Moses had made; for down to those days the sons of Israel had continually been making sacrificial smoke to it, and it used to be called the copper serpent-idol. 5 In Jehovah the God of Israel he trusted; and after him there proved to be no one like him among all the kings of Judah, even those who had happened to be prior to him. 6 And he kept sticking to Jehovah. He did not turn aside from following him, but he continued keeping his commandments that Jehovah had commanded Moses. 7 And Jehovah proved to be with him

(Exodus 20:4, 5) 4“You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me.

Acts 17:29 “Seeing, therefore, that we are the progeny of God, we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man.

John 4:23, 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.

(1 Corinthians 2:14-16) 14 But a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know [them], because they are examined spiritually. 15 However, the spiritual man examines indeed all things, but he himself is not examined by any man. 16 For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.

 

Many will go to fortune tellers and other type of false prophets. God does not approve of this.

 

(2 Kings 23:24) 24And also the spirit mediums and the professional foretellers of events and the teraphim and the dungy idols and all the disgusting things that had appeared in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem Jo·si′ah cleared out, in order that he might actually carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that Hil·ki′ah the priest had found at the house of Jehovah.

We are not only supposed to guard ourselves against idols we are to flee from them.

 

1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.

 

Those who profit from the making and sales of idols will not take it lightly. They will become inflamed with anger. Imagine how their sales in idols increase during their traditional holidays , God warned us about adding traditions to our worship. 

(Acts 19:23-28) 23 At that particular time there arose no little disturbance concerning The Way. 24 For a certain man named De·me′tri·us, a silversmith, by making silver shrines of Ar′te·mis furnished the craftsmen no little gain; 25 and he gathered them and those who worked at such things and said: “Men, YOU well know that from this business we have our prosperity. 26 Also, YOU behold and hear how not only in Eph′e·sus but in nearly all the [district of] Asia this Paul has persuaded a considerable crowd and turned them to another opinion, saying that the ones that are made by hands are not gods. 27 Moreover, the danger exists not only that this occupation of ours will come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Ar′te·mis will be esteemed as nothing and even her magnificence which the whole [district of] Asia and the inhabited earth worships is about to be brought down to nothing.” 28 Hearing this and becoming full of anger, the men began crying out, saying: “Great is Ar′te·mis of the E·phe′sians!.

 

(Acts 16:16-24) 16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction. 17 This [girl] kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to YOU the way of salvation.” 18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 Well, when her masters saw that their hope of gain had left, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers, 20 and, leading them up to the civil magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city very much, they being Jews, 21 and they are publishing customs that it is not lawful for us to take up or practice, seeing we are Romans.”22 And the crowd rose up together against them; and the civil magistrates, after tearing the outer garments off them, gave the command to beat them with rods.23 After they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Because he got such an order, he threw them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.

 

We will also see the fruits of those not worshiping in truth. You can also read more about this in 2Timothy 3:1-8. It mentions those who would not put up with healthful teachings and what the results would be. Notice sects is mentioned so they would gather teachers to teach them what they want to hear and not what they need to which will result in many forms of worship and just as in the days of the Ba’al worshipers we must know our bibles very well so we cannot be deceived.

(Galatians 5:19-21) 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

 

There are forms of idolatry that are not as obvious as using images in worship. Practicing bad things can be a form of idolatry.

 

(Ephesians 5:3-5) 3 Let fornication and uncleanness of every sort or greediness not even be mentioned among YOU, just as it befits holy people; 4 neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting, things which are not becoming, but rather the giving of thanks. 5 For YOU know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no fornicator or unclean person or greedy person—which means being an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God.

(Colossians 3:5) 5 Deaden, therefore, YOUR body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 

Again those who do not get involved in the badness of the world will be viewed as crazy and looked down on.

1 Peter 4:1-5 Therefore since Christ suffered in the flesh, YOU too arm yourselves with the same mental disposition; because the person that has suffered in the flesh has desisted from sins, 2 to the end that he may live the remainder of [his] time in the flesh, no more for the desires of men, but for God’s will. 3 For the time that has passed by is sufficient for YOU to have worked out the will of the nations when YOU proceeded in deeds of loose conduct, lusts, excesses with wine, revelries, drinking matches, and illegal idolatries. 4 Because YOU do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of YOU. 5 But these people will render an account to the one ready to judge those living and those dead.

 

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have gained our approach by faith into this undeserved kindness in which we now stand; and let us exult, based on hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but let us exult while in tribulations, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; 4 endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the approved condition, in turn, hope, 5 and the hope does not lead to disappointment; because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit, which was given us.

 

We are only to bow down to God. We are not to worship anyone but God. I have seem some pray to angels and people who have died. Worshiping those who have died is spiritism. In the past God’s people had made these mistakes and were corrected. Since God created all things through Jesus and including Jesus this means worship should be exclusively to God and through Jesus as our mediator and king.

(Colossians 1:13-16) 13 He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him.

So we should not bow down to his creation but to Jehovah God the one true God.

Revelation 22:8, 9Well, I John was the one hearing and seeing these things. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that had been showing me these things. 9 But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who are prophets and of those who are observing the words of this scroll. Worship God.

 

(Acts 10:25, 26) .As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet and did obeisance to him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Rise; I myself am also a man.

Worship of anyone other then the one true God could lead us into a very sinful state.

(Romans 1:24, 25) 24 Therefore God, in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness, that their bodies might be dishonored among them, 25 even those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Putting earthly things before God’s can be a form of coveting which is a form of idolatry. Eve was the first to commit this form of idolatry. Excessive lust , desire and greed which we know are considered idolatry by God are forms of covetousness.

(Genesis 3:6 Consequently the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes, yes, the tree was desirable to look upon. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward she gave some also to her husband when with her and he began eating it.

Bowing down and giving honor to an image of a government can be a form of idolism. Daniel refused to bow down to the image to give honor that belonged to God to a human king.

Daniel 3:6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will at the same moment be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.” 7 Because of this, at the same time as all the peoples were hearing the sound of the horn, the pipe, the zither, the triangular harp, the stringed instrument and all sorts of musical instruments, all the peoples, national groups and languages were falling down [and] worshiping the image of gold that Neb·u·chad·nez′zar the king had set up.

The apostles had become deeply distressed when people had tried to bow down and worship them.

(Acts 14:8-17) 8 Now in Lys′tra there was sitting a certain man disabled in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, and he had never walked at all. 9 This man was listening to Paul speak, who, on looking at him intently and seeing he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice: “Stand up erect on your feet.” And he leaped up and began walking. 11 And the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, raised their voices, saying in the Lyc·a·o′ni·an tongue: “The gods have become like humans and have come down to us!” 12 And they went calling Bar′na·bas Zeus, but Paul Her′mes, since he was the one taking the lead in speaking. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was before the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates and was desiring to offer sacrifices with the crowds. 14 However, when the apostles Bar′na·bas and Paul heard of it, they ripped their outer garments and leaped out into the crowd, crying out 1 and saying: “Men, why are YOU doing these things? We also are humans having the same infirmities as YOU do, and are declaring the good news to YOU, for YOU to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them. 16 In the past generations he permitted all the nations to go on in their ways, 17 although, indeed, he did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving YOU rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling YOUR hearts to the full with food and good cheer.

So there is one true God Jehovah and one mediator for mankind Christ Jesus.

(1 Timothy 2:5, 6) ..For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.

(1 Corinthians 8:5, 6) .For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6 there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.

 

Idolaters will be among those destroyed.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death.

 

We know the time for the end of those not worshiping in truth and causing all the bad is coming very soon. Jesus does not know when our heavenly father Jehovah will give the command but he does know the signs and he has give those to us and many of them have been fulfilled so we know his father will give him the command very soon.

(Matthew 24:36-39) 36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; 39 and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.

As you can see the antichrist is anyone who is not teaching things that are in agreement with our heavenly father Jehovah and his only begotten son Jesus Christ. Many use books they claim are lost books. Jesus did not quote from any other books if these books were part of God’s word Jesus would have quoted from them. Some even claim new books were inspired but the book of Revelation made it clear that all we needed had been written down and we were not to add to it or take away from it. Removing God’s name from the bible and replacing it with Lord or the word God is taking away from God’s word. 

God’s name has been removed from the bible. Some bibles his name can still be found in Psalm 83:18. God’s name originally appeared in the bible around 6,800 times showing he wanted people to know his name and to use it. Many know God’s name now because of Jehovah’s Witnesses going door to door following Jesus example in making God’s name known and sanctifying it.

(Matthew 6:9) 9 “You must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.

Jesus even said it would help us to be in union with he and his father.

(John 17:26) 26 I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them. . .

Jehovah will always be his name and is the name we are to remember him by forever, it will not change. He is the one true God there are no others besides him.

(Exodus 3:15) . . .“This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

The removal of God’s name from the bible was based on superstition. Many felt that saying God’s name could bring a curse on you which is not what Jesus and the apostles taught. Removing God’s name made it difficult to distinguish between Jehovah and Jesus. It blurred the line between them making them appear to be one and the same even though Jesus never equaled himself to God and often times made that clear that the father was greater then he and that he was also created by God. It is why he is the first born of all creation. I have posted on that clarifying why Jesus is called the only begotten son. Some will try to debate on the spelling for example some debate that it should be spelled Yahwey others Yahovah. The most important part is the meaning of the name. It means one who brings about or causes to happen. Even the worlds top scholars on the bible have debated this fact. They claim that Jehovah is not the proper way to say God’s name and use that for an excuse for removing it from the bible. If that is the case they are uncertain how many names are supposed to be pronounced in the bible including Jesus name so why did they not remove those from the bible? Even the names of locations they are uncertain how they are pronounced. So should those also be removed? What convinces me it is Jehovah is because it is the most contested interpretation. Why would Satan and his people fight harder to contest that interpretation the most?

Who do you think inspired such a thing? Satan and Devil are terms they are not names but terms to describe the qualities of the Devils when he disobeyed God and became the rebeller. He desires to be worshiped like God. If he has God’s name removed from the bible he could more easily trick people into doing acts of worship to him. Demons fear God so they definitely do not want to hear his name mentioned.

(James 2:18, 19) . . .” 19 You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder. . .

(1 Timothy 2:5, 6) 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all. . .

A similar situation is the Baal worshipers in the bible. Their main deity was a fish god and a sun good, but they had hundreds of gods so they used the word Baal witch meant lord to cover all their false deities. There is only one true God and his name appeared thousands of times in the original biblical text. Though not as often in the Greek text which many call the new testament.

The bible makes a clear distinction between Jesus and the Jehovah. In many bibles because they have removed God’s name it appears he is talking to himself for example in Psalms 110:1 Jehovah is talking to Jesus but it seems he is talking to himself.

King James Version with Jehovah’s name removed.

Psalm 110:1The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Jesus quoted this very text but when God’s name is where it belongs it becomes clear that Jehovah is talking about and to Jesus.

(Matthew 22:41-45) 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them: 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him: “David’s.” 43 He asked them: “How is it, then, that David under inspiration calls him Lord, saying, 44 ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet”’? 45 If, then, David calls him Lord, how is he his son?. . .

It clearly states that Jesus will be handed the Kingdom but is in a submissive position to God. He also died and God cannot die. If Jesus was God and he died then who would there be to resurrect him? Jesus clearly taught he and his father were in union of thought but never claimed to be God and always acknowledge he was not God. If Jesus was God why would he have to hand the Kingdom back to God. He would have no reason to if he was God.

(1 Corinthians 15:20-28) 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. 21 For since death came through a man, resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each one in his own proper order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence. 24 Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. 26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. 27 For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. 28 But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

Even though there are many gods, there is only one true God Jehovah.

(1 Corinthians 8:4-6) 4 Now concerning the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6 there is actually to us one God, the Father, from whom all things are and we for him. . .

If you want to learn more there is much better information at  www.jw.org  and it is is put together much better then I can do.

Many call Jesus God and claim he is God but the bible clearly tells us we are to confess he is God’s son it does not tell us he is God.  Jesus himself did not equate himself with God.

(1 John 4:14-16) 14 In addition, we ourselves have seen and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son as savior of the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in union with such one and he in union with God. 16 And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. . .

By not acknowledging Jesus is the son and equating him with God we are teaching something different then what the bible tells us to do. It clearly makes a distinction between the father and the son. Teaching something other then what Christ taught is going against Christ.

(1 John 2:22-24) 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. But whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with the Son and in union with the Father.

(Matthew 10:32) 32 “Everyone, then, who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father who is in the heavens. . .

I have posted on Jesus being the only begotten son and why he is the only begotten.

 

Blog Navigation Page.

I am putting this page on here to help people navigate. It is a little difficult to organize things on here so I figured this would make it much easier. I am going to put the links to all my articles from health to spiritual. If you need to translate anything to your language or another language this is information on how to do that. https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/about/translate-to-your-language/

Also if you want to display scriptures that are on web pages this article will discuss that.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/how-to-display-scriptures-that-are-on-web-pages/

        These Links Are For Health And Illness

I wrote this because this is the advise that others gave me when I first found out I had Lyme. It is very scary and they helped me deal with all the issues that are involved with Lyme.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/lyme-disease-is-scarey/

This article is how to help strengthen your immune system.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/diet-to-help-support-the-immune-system/

A lot of people who are suffering from infections have heart problems, this article is about foods that can help with that.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/diet-to-help-with-pots-av-block-and-detox-issues/

A lot of people when ill will have joint and never problems, this is information that may help with that.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/nutrients-needed-for-joint-nerve-bone-and-ligament-repair/

I wrote this from asking many Lyme sufferers what their symptoms were in the order they occurred. Some of these symptoms could be from coinfections that Lyme sufferers usually have.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/most-common-symptoms-from-lyme-or-tick-born-disease/

I posted this link to another blog because this is something that is missed in a lot of Lyme Sufferers and they did a wonderful job of writing it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/mycoplasma-the-hidden-co-infection-of-lyme/

These are herbs I used that has really been helping me in my fight with Lyme.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/herbals-i-used-in-the-fight-with-lyme/

I did this post because I noticed that there are people taking herbs that can be dangerous. I will update it once in a while.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/dangerous-or-useless-herbs/

Spiritual Articles.

This article discusses how to use your bible.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/how-to-use-your-bible/

I did this article because of the evolution teaching and how much scientific theories get taught as fact when they are only theories.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/was-man-created-or-did-we-evolve/

This articles discussed jealous and envy, and how they can affect us.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/jealousy-or-envy/

This article discusses why Jesus is the Amen.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/jesus-is-the-amen/

I always wondered why Jesus was called the only begotten son. This study answers that question.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/why-is-jesus-the-only-begotten-son/

Most people think that the earth was God’s first creation. This article discusses how that is not true.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/what-was-gods-first-creation-hint-it-wasnt-the-earth/

This article discusses sin and how to identify it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/what-is-sin-and-some-steps-to-repenting/

This article is the continuation of what sin is and how to identify it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/what-is-sin-this-is-the-continuation-of-a-previous-study/

This article discusses why we should study the bible.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/reasons-for-studying-the-bible/

If you are worshipping in truth then you will be persecuted , this article discusses how to identify when you are being persecuted for righteous reasons.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/persecution-why-and-who/

You may not view posting on Facebook as a spiritual issue but it can be. This article discusses that.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/how-viral-posting-on-facebook-and-blogs-can-be/

This article discusses how to identify false religion.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/apostasy-false-worship/

This article discusses how our speech can affect our standing with God.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/06/29/language-or-speech-that-offends-god/

This article discusses how you  could be worshipping Satan with out even knowing it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/you-could-be-worshipping-satan-and-not-know-it/

This article discusses what the number 666 means.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/god-marks-his-people-satans-marked-also-666/

This article discusses what the heavenly kingdom is and exactly what it will do.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/what-is-the-heavenly-kingdom/

This article discusses why we should not fight wars and why God approved of it in the past.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/why-does-god-say-not-to-fight-wars-when-he-used-to-have-israel-fight-wars/

This article discusses what God’s name is and why we should use it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/why-use-gods-name-jehovah/

This article discusses how we can be happy even though we are living in perilous times.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/06/08/happiness-how-can-i-be-happy/

Most religions make God seem cruel or mean. It even seems like God doesn’t care about us. Why would such a loving God permit so much suffering. This article discusses that issue.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/is-god-cruel-or-mean/

This article discusses Love so we can learn to properly identify it so we can more easily find it.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/what-is-love-how-well-is-your-knowledge-of-love/

This article discusses which bible is the most accurate.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/what-is-the-best-new-testament-colwells-rule-of-bible-translation/

This article shows that those who fear man , or fear what others think will be destroyed.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/do-you-know-those-who-fear-what-others-think-about-studying-and-sharing-the-truth-will-be-destroyed/

This article discusses how Satan is mortal just like us.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/satan-and-the-demons-are-mortal-they-will-die/

There are a lot of false teaching about death and this article discusses those false teachings.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/the-true-condition-of-the-dead/

This article discusses that there will eventually be world peace.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/no-more-warthere-will-be-peace/

The pharisees received a baptism by fire to see what it is read this article.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/baptism-by-fire/

This article ask the question how many times can someone die. Most people get the answer wrong.

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/how-many-times-can-someone-die/

This article discusses does God really work in mysterious ways?

https://iamajuicer.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/does-god-work-in-mysterious-ways/

 

Why use God’s name Jehovah?

It is respectful to use someone’s name when you are addressing them. If you were a plumber would you like if your name was never used but you were just called the plumber. Your name encompasses the  whole person that you represent. If someone just called you by your occupation then that would be the only characteristic that they would know. If someone said my friend is the  seamstress then people would only know that aspect of the person. Now if they say they are a seamstress name Sue the picture starts getting clearer. Now it is narrowed down to a seamstress named Sue.

Now God’s name Jehovah is unique. There are many false Gods but only one true God. How do you identify the true God? By his unique name.

I have done a lot of research on the meaning of his name and one word cannot describe the meaning. I do not profess to be a scholar on any of this, but I have read many articles and books and from my research I am convinced that Jehovah is his name. From what I have gathered  his name covers his oneness, his eternal existence and  his ability to become what is needed by the ones he loves.

There are many terms used to describe qualities of God and a lot of people confuse the terms with names. These terms don’t get the whole picture of who he is. That is why you should use his name and not a term like Shiloh…etc.

His name occurred thousands of times in the original writings. Most Bibles have removed his name and replaced it with titles. Below is a list of bibles that still contain his name in them.

Living Bible  it appears 408 times.

Wycliff     (Genesis 22:14, Exodus 6:4, Exodus 17:15, Judges 6:24)

King James   and Authorized King James    (Genesis 22:14, Exodus 6:3, Exodus 17:15, Judges 6:24, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, 26:4

American Standard has it in many places

Not only is Jehovah one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:6)) , we are to tell others his name. Exodus (9:16, John 17:6) . Hebrews 13:15 says we are to offer a sacrifice of praise, and to make public declaration of his name.

Malachi 3:17  tells us those in fear of his name will be written in the book of remembrance. Proverbs 18:10  shows that knowing his name can protect you.

Psalms20:7 says that putting faith in Gods name is better then weapons. Those who call on the name of Jehovah will be saved. (Acts 2:21,Romans 10:13

Gods people were known by his name. (2 Chronicles 7:14, Deuteronomy 28:9,10).

When God rebuilds the booth of David it refers to the nations upon who his name has been called. (Amos 9:11,12) . And in Acts 15:14  it states God turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

We Are To Make His Name Know.

   King Solomon made God’s name  known. He even put God’s name on the temple he built. He desired all to know God’s name. (2 Chronicles 32,33)  If you do not know someone’s name how can you trust them. The bible tells us those knowing God’s name will trust him. (Psalm 9:10)

   Most people know what the day of Jehovah is. They know it as judgement day. The bible tells us everyone calling on his name will be saved. If we do not know his name how can we call on it. (Joel 2:1)

    Israel was to declare God’s name and make his works known. (Psalms 105:1-3)  When they obeyed him the bible tells us that his name would be called upon them. So Israel was called by God’s name. (Deuteronomy 28:10) (Jeremiah 14:9)

   Nothing has changed in respect to that. When God gathers his people together in the last days they would proclaim his name and be known by it. (Acts 15:14-17)(Amos 9:11,12)

   Were would these people come from? The bible tells us the whole earth from every direction. (Isaiah 43:1-10)(Romans 9:24-26)  (Hosea 2:23)

   What convinces me the most that Jehovah is God’s name is that it is the most contested truth that people challenge. Why would Satan and his people work so hard to convince people that it is not God’s name if it wasn’t. If you were worshipping falsely do you think it would be contested?  Satan would be promoting it not trying to stop people from using it because if you worship a false God you are worshipping Satan. He does not want you to know the one and only true God Jehovah.

 

If you need to know more go to http://wol.jw.org  they have a wonderful online library that you can search. Try searching for (God’s name) you will pull very interesting information up.