Tag Archives: Prophecy

Why don’t people consider cleaning their insides? We clean the outside don’t we?

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

We know how to clean our bodies by showering or bathing, but do we understand that we also need to have our insides cleaned? Our hearts, our minds, our souls? How do I know this? Because I have been confronted with this myself. What in the world do I mean? Bear with me and read these words.

Luke 11:37-44, ‘And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him; and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him,’ “Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.” Psalm 5:9 states, ‘For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.’ …They gave no thought to the condition inside themselves and how spiritually distant they really were from God. They were passing over God’s love for them and passing over what God really thinks of them in their condition. The most important thing to Jesus, to God, about each one of us is our spiritual side, and what we are truly like on the inside.

We need to ask Jesus to help us, and we need to take action about how our insides are to be kept by reading his words. He wants all our corners cleaned out. He would like us to desire holiness and his righteousness and to be like him. We as people can spend an exorbitant amount of time on our outside appearance and status and the like can’t we? But what about the inside and what about our conscience? Jesus desires for us to see our insides as the most important, not the outside. Our thoughts are most important to him. It’s opposite of how the world thinks isn’t it? If we don’t start looking at Jesus, the one who made us, reading his word to help us understand what he thinks, we will never learn all there is he wants us to know about him, ourselves, our insides, and this world. Jesus was saying to the Pharisees, look inside yourselves and at your sins and what you are doing… you are living not from me but from yourselves. The Pharisees desired only to lift themselves up in their own eyes and other people’s eyes, to be seen, to be recognized, be pointed to, and revered. They cared so much for the outside and their power, but never took the time to look deep inside within and see the lack thereof. The Old Testament had laws that said if a person touched a grave he was unclean. Jesus said because of the Pharisees corruptness they were guilty of making everyone else who came into contact with them unclean also. Innocent people became contaminated themselves with sin and got caught up in uncleanness too, because of not staying close enough to God, and staying away from these truly ungodly leaders. Sin keeps a person separated from God. But Jesus has provided a way for us.

Please read more. In Luke 11:45-54: ‘Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master; thus saying thou reproachest us also. And he said,’ “Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchers of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchers. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” ‘And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.’

How blind can a person be right?! The Pharisees wanted to be known for building tombs for the prophets but didn’t look at how their forefathers could possibly be wrong in killing the prophets? This is because they refused to even consider Jesus. Jesus talked about the load people had to carry on the inside because of all the Pharisees’ rules, and how the ‘experts in the law’ didn’t do anything about it… uncaring, selfish and truly blind that they were because of no empathy here in their lives. And even after Jesus leaves, the Pharisees continue to conspire against Jesus instead of having a look inside themselves and trying to understand even a little of what Jesus was talking to them about. Attack and do not look inside to see if there might be even a grain of truth inside! And in reality if they had they would have seen that Jesus was telling them the whole truth. He was their long awaited Messiah! We must take time for our inside, our conscience, to be thought about. God wants us to compare ourselves to what we see and hear about in his word. Why? Because our thoughts and feelings can be wrong unless we compare them against the truth of God’s word. He gives us the straight story about ourselves. Just ask him to help you. You can change and be better for it!

Jesus tells us we cannot change from the inside out without his help and grace. We are dependent upon him, and he wants us to depend on him for this and ask for his help. No one can truly understand about God and that they need him, without him, and him drawing you to him. So if you are reading this, this is a sign, that he is drawing you as you read this. It is very exciting! His grace is truly a free gift given for each of us and that only, Jesus Christ himself, can give to someone. It is personal and it is from Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ We may try to change ourselves on our own but we will always fall short because it is beyond our ability. Coming to Christ for salvation is not a work. You can do nothing without him. For you must become born again to be changed and cleaned on the inside, as God’s word says in John 3:1-8. Read it for yourself. We need Jesus Christ. And he created us for relationship with himself. Only Jesus can cleanse us from our sin from the inside out. Jesus gives us this hope in the true story of his gospel; coming into the world born of the virgin Mary, death on the cross, shedding his blood for each of us, and rising from the dead on the third day thereby destroying sin’s power over death and us being able to live with Jesus while on this earth and for eternity in heaven. Jesus Christ is the free gift in what he did for you and is given to any who sincerely desire to have a new and changed life in him, for those who desire with whole hearts to repent fully of their sins and believe in him and what he’s done for them. Come just as you are if you desire to have this new life and believe he did this for you. No need to ‘clean up’ before you come, because Jesus loves you right where you are at right now. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Glory be to God for providing a way for us!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Jewish people, sent but not forgotten.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

God’s chosen people were the Jews. God’s original intention was for the Jews to go out into the world and tell others about him. In Matthew 10:5-7 it states, ‘These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying,’ “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Paul, on his missionary journeys in the new testament, preached first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles.

Romans 9:29 with Paul speaking to the Jewish people states, ‘And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.’ Romans 9:27 says, ‘Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.’ Romans 10:3-4 explains this, ‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (what God tells us in his word). For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’ Verse 3 is clear, the Jews thought that by their works they would be able to obtain righteousness. But just as the Gentiles must know if they are ever to understand Christ, it is that their righteousness is not from anything we can do, for that is considered ‘a work.’ Salvation is not from anyone’s work but Jesus Christ’s. We as mere human beings cannot do a single thing to satisfy the requirement God needed to bring us into a right relationship with him. For none of us ever are good enough to bridge that gap on our own. God required a holy and righteous sacrifice. One perfect in his eyes that would be able to take on all the sins of the world. One that could not be fully human only for none are righteous in his eyes. So Jesus Christ came fully as a human but also as God fully divine, without a spot of sin or wrinkle.

A shedding of blood is required to cover and atone for sins. Hebrews 9:22 states, ‘And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.’ It goes on in Hebrews 9:26, ‘For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by sacrifice of himself.’ Jesus Christ was and is the great sacrifice, coming once and for all in these last days, Jew and Gentile alike. His birth, death on the cross, and his resurrection three days later made a way for us to be able to enter by God’s grace into his presence, …to be able to have a relationship with him. That is why in John 19:30 Jesus says, “It is finished.” It is over and paid for in full for the forgiveness of the people’s sins. Jesus’s love for us was sacrificial and perfect, done for you, done for me. Jesus is the bridge that fills the gap between us and God, the Father. Jesus rising three days later proving to us that there is life after death and that we will one day, rise to meet him and live eternally with him if we are born again (saved). It is only by grace we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Romans 9:16 says, ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’ It is a gift offered freely for any who desire to accept by faith the good news of what Jesus has done. Do you desire with all your heart to repent of all your sins, desiring to change your ways, and come to Jesus asking for his forgiveness? Do you desire a ‘new life’ in him? Come as you are and accept the free gift Jesus has for you. Tell him so.

Romans 11:25-27 states, ‘For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.’ Israel will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Ezekiel 11:17 says, ‘Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’

John 14:6-7 states, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

What is your role as a Jewish person in this ‘Age of the Gentiles?’ Are you meant to be reading this? Is there a purpose specifically designed for you by God? I believe you are meant to read this and yes, there is a purpose God has made you for! Even in Romans 1:16 it states, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Israel’s Unbelief.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

The Jews expected Jesus Christ to be a different sort of king than he was. They figured Jesus would be a regular type of king that would be of this world, so that he would rescue them from Roman rule, and then they would be independent as a nation with Jesus as their true king and messiah. And because of this most Jewish people don’t believe who Jesus Christ truly is. But Jesus came as a servant to the whole world, to physically show his love to you and me by actually dying for each and every one of us on that cross. Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh to us, so he would not be thinking as the Jewish people expected. Jesus Christ was to come into this world to save all people from their sins, which he has done by physically coming into this world, dying on the cross, and rising three days later. He’s defeated sin and death for each of us. He’s provided a way for this whole world, every person/sinner to come in repentance to him to have the relationship with God himself restored to us now. In Hebrews 3:19 states, ‘So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.’ Israel lost their total dependence on God that it had had before sadly. We all need Jesus and he wants us to be dependent on him. We all need to keep our eyes and thoughts on Jesus Christ and his word to decipher what he is thinking and telling us to know. Over 300 prophecies told the Jewish people about their Messiah and some of those stated that he also would be persecuted and killed. It was foretold. Paul writes in Romans 9:4-5, ‘Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.’ Their heritage was the most blessed of any in the world.

To have been chosen to just be in the Jewish lineage… what a privilege it was and still is!

Let’s look quickly at just a few of those 300+ prophecies that have verses corresponding  both from the old and new testaments. The Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin: Isaiah 53:5-12 & Romans 5:6-8. The Messiah rejected by his own people: Psalm 69:8 & John 1:11. The Messiah silent before his accusers: Isaiah 53:7 & Mark 15:4-5. The Messiah buried with the rich: Isaiah 53:9 & Matthew 27:57-60. The Messiah resurrected from the dead: Psalm 16:10 & Matthew 28:2-7; also Psalm 49:15 & Acts 2:22-32.

In Isaiah 41:14 the LORD refers to himself as ‘thy redeemer.’ Redeemer means rescuer. Jeremiah 31:31-34 states, ‘Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was and husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ This can only happen by the power of the God and from his free gift of grace to you through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the new covenant. Jesus came to save you from your sins. Ephesians 2: 8-9 states: ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast.’ Humbly and truthfully confessing all of our sins before him, desiring to change with true repentance, and acknowledging Jesus’s death on the cross and his resurrection for you are included. This is a new covenant that is made with Israel and with all mankind. He desires you to be born again spiritually so you are able to see things as he sees them, from God’s worldview and not only from your human standpoint. Hebrews 11:6 states, ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’

Matthew 5:17-20 talks of how Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; but to fulfill them. In Verse 20 Jesus states, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And how can this be done? Only through Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Read God’s word. It cannot be from ourselves, good works of any kind, or anything we think we should do to get us into heaven because why would Jesus had to of died on the cross for us then? Here again we see God’s words pointing only to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. We must keep our eyes and our heart on him and be in his word if we are to understand. The Pharisees were studious in the Law, and pious on the outside. They believed strict obedience to the Law would get them into heaven. But their hearts were far from God and his kingdom. The Pharisees allegiances were on themselves. God wants our dependence on him, not ourselves. We are not the key, Jesus is himself. Read the word, you will find out for yourself. As Jews and Gentiles we can’t do anything to make ourselves right with God. And there is only one way. In John 14:6-7 says, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

Romans 9:30-32 talks of how the Jews pursued a law of righteousness and were not able to attain it, but how the Gentiles obtained righteousness because of their faith. It states how the Jews thought they’d be able to attain it for themselves by their works. Again, why would we need Jesus Christ if we could get to heaven by something we ourselves could do? Romans chapter 11 talks of the remnant of Israel. Verses 5-7 states, ‘Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for: but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.’

Galatians 3:23-26 says, ‘But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.’ Galatians 3:29 states, ‘And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’

Jesus Christ is the new covenant. Given to us as a free gift from God the Father above. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Only by God’s grace through faith can you receive him if you want to be born again from above. Repent and trust in him. Ask him to help you to understand.

You will know if you have truly received Jesus Christ as your savior as he gives you the Holy Spirit to guide and give you direction in this new life. Stay in the word of God to be continually fed, you will need this! And you will have a new purpose along with new eyes to see, new ears to hear, and a deep faith that pleases God! Praise Jesus! His word is true life. Praise God!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus Christ is coming back one day!

A relationship with a King?!

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

Psalm 47:7 states, ‘For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.’ The King of the universe is unfettered, principled, and unable to be pinned down. His ways are unchanging and they leave no room for error for he is a perfect, holy, majestic, and all-encompassing God.

Jesus Christ is ‘the one’ in authority over all, who knows best and only does things that are right for everyone. Read his word and you will see. He made this world and you and your loved ones. He is everlasting and you can never exhaust him of his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He knows how to and does steer the world! His faith, loyalty, and righteousness are perfect. And if he is perfect you know he has to be a God of love and devotion. 1 John 4:16 says, ‘And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.’ And he comes to save the whole world from the enemy of sin and death. Wow, what a King!

God’s love for you and your family is the best. It’s like looking at the best piece of art or masterpiece you could ever imagine, and then surpassing it! His love is true and real. With him we can have our best life here and now through Jesus. And because God has opened up this relationship with him through what Jesus Christ did on that cross, you have the opportunity to come be in a relationship with him. Read in the new testament in John and Romans of what Jesus wants us to know. He will help keep you learning and growing in him and his word, and becoming more like him as the years go by! And hopefully you will become more and more like this pure, heavenly, perfect Lord of ours full of beauty, truth, and love.

Who wouldn’t want to listen to the King of Kings who does these things for you that are written about in his word? This king who rules the world and is personally interested in you at the same time!

God, our Lord and King, wants to help keep people safe from harm, keep them nourished and fed, and teach them about his kingdom that includes you. He wants to teach all people about his kingdom and how to live until he comes back. He is coming back! Revelation 22:20 states, ‘He which testifieth these things saith, “Surely I come quickly.” ‘Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’ He is coming to get the record straight for all people everywhere. And the enemy is powerless before God.

Jesus, the King, wants us to know that he is warning us to remain watchful for his return and how you should be ready for it. Again he wants to keep people safe from harm, hence why he has gotten The Word (the Bible) into our hands. Listen to Jesus’s words in Matthew 24:38-42, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.’ To those people who denied Jesus Christ in their own hearts and would not believe that he had truly come and died for our sins to open up a relationship they could of had between them and God, it will be a tragic scene telling of their wasted time, defiance, and pride. All because they wouldn’t take the time and read the bible(KJV) for themselves to see it’s reality, or they were stubborn/hardhearted and/or selfish with ‘their’ time. They will not get to be one of his chosen children since they had had chances. We must come by childlike faith and belief in Jesus Christ alone. The bible tells us he is the way, the truth, and the life. Please read the bible for yourself and if you love your children and others!

Kings can be merciful  or unforgiving. Some are ruthless and can chop heads off. They can be selfish and think only of themselves and what they want from this world. Their hearts are as hard as stone. They think and believe their minds are the sharpest. I’m so thankful and glad that the real King and ruler of this world is not of that type. The real King of this world is one of great mercy, one who cares very much for you, and is a God of second chances ( for forgiveness). I shudder to think who wants to listen to a ruthless, uncaring King? Isaiah 30:18 states, ‘And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for him.’

What person gets to see the King let alone speak to the King? How likely would a King take the time personally for you? At the very least you’d need an appointment far ahead and even when granted how much time would you get? And most importantly did you get down to the truth or get helped?

There is a King that has time, the truth, and any answer you could ever want to know. Again it is in The Word if you desire to know. I hope and pray you will have access to one and read it. His word will be a light unto your feet.

Would the King treat you like you should be treated? Who pursues you because he’s that interested in you? Who loves you so much that you can approach him as a little child with all your concerns and hurts? In Matthew 11:30 Jesus states, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” You can approach him as a child open to an all-knowing father. The bible teaches us the Lord’s prayer, “Our father, who art in heaven…” God tells us that he is our father and wants us to be able to visit with him as such. Approach him in every sense that a father should be; with total respect, that he is hearing you, listening to you, being patient with great love for you as you bear all to him. You can with full honesty of heart tell him all of your sins. He wants us to be seriously repentant of all our sins, and ask him for his forgiveness. The cross of Jesus Christ is a gift of great love he gave you because that is how much he thought of you. Jesus took our sins upon the cross and died for us. He rose again three days later. And he did this so we might have eternal life with him one day. He is the bridge that fills the gap between God and man. Read God’s word and you will see.

1Tim. 6:15 states, ‘Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords…’ Some of the other names Jesus is addressed by in the Word are: the Truth, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Light of the World, the Word, Deliverer, Prince of Peace, Rock, Mediator, Head of the Church, and Everlasting Father. There are many more!

We are in this story that is currently being played out. Those who have lived in the past have already had their part played out. Our life plays a significant, definite, and all-encompassing part. Our story is told in one place only, the bible. The story is a continuing one that started with the creation of the world recorded in Genesis and is continuing with each one of us playing out our part until our time here on earth is done. Go there and see for yourself the significance you play and can play! And to read and find out what our true King has done and will do!

This King, who is not of this world will one day come back and make this world whole again as it should be. Revelation 1:8 states, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” ‘saith the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.’ In Revelation 19 it talks about the rider on the white horse who is Jesus coming and verse 16 states, ‘And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’

I pray he guide your heart and mind by his word today. Amen!

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have and I will be happy to help you.

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Taking time to prepare your heart.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

God declares the end from the beginning. The Bible as God’s book of love and personal instruction is sent to us and for us. It gives us the most important and captivating history lessons and spiritual lessons to learn from. It starts with the beginning of time and creation in Genesis, and goes onto what will be happening in the end times. Isaiah 46:9-10 says, ‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’ God gives everyone his Word, the Bible, so we can be prepared ahead of time for what is coming and understand why his own inspired, inerrant words were written to and for us. Readying our heart, mind, and spirit to get to know him personally and hopefully that you might receive him. Jesus Christ urges us to be ready by reading and hearing his word. Understanding that he knows everything about us already since he’s made us. Knowing what he wants us to learn from it and that it is for our own best and that of our family’s. He wants us to be ready with our lamps burning and plenty of oil in waiting for his return. This is so exciting! Revelation 22:20 states, ‘He which testifieth these things saith,’ “Surely I come quickly.” ‘Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’ Prophecy is proof that the bible is from a truly loving and holy God. Prophecy comes from the prophets in the old testament and there is some in the new testament. Jesus loves us and wants us to read and take his Word, the Bible, very seriously. In fact there is no more important thing we can do for ourselves in heaven or on earth than to prepare ourselves to know Jesus Christ and read his words. Come just as you are to him and read. The new testament book of John is a wonderful place to start with inside the Bible because it gives us a lot of Jesus’s own words and explains to us who Jesus Christ really is, and about believing in him. There are some spectacular miracles written about here, and about his life. I love that it’s full of truth and light and love.

A good majority of God’s word is prophecy. By one account over 25% of both old and new testament scripture is prophecy. So prophecy is most important in the bible! 2 Peter 1:20-21 states, ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ God’s message is clear; he exists and is in control of history! This is truly comforting. There are over 300 prophecies that Jesus Christ has fulfilled on the topic of his life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus also tells everyone in Luke 21 about remaining watchful for his return. We are living in the last days everyone! Hebrews 1:1-2 states, ‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.’ His words say in Hebrew 2:1-4, ‘Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?’ Christ wants us spiritually fit and ready because he is coming back. Don’t be lazy or careless about life – seek God – who he is, why he came, what he did, and what he will be doing. You don’t know what you don’t know. Ask God for his help in this. Ask him for what you need whether it’s knowledge, wisdom, or/and understanding and he will give it to you. Knock at his door! Read his Word. In Matthew 7:7,8 Jesus states, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Get a good bible, I recommend the authorized KJV with the words of Jesus in red letters and the chapters indexed. Do not give up, stick with it, and see what happens! How is a person to know the signs of the times we are coming upon unless you start getting acquainted with what Jesus says in his word so you can understand and be ready?

If you knew something in the future was coming wouldn’t you act to prepare? No one likes to be left behind or left out of anything important, and in this case it is the most important thing of all. If we know our car needs fixing we don’t wait until it almost falls apart to get it looked at. Or if one of our children needs to go to the doctor suddenly, we just wouldn’t ignore them would we? That is what Jesus is trying to tell us, be ready! In Luke 12:40 Jesus states, “Be therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” A lot of prophecies left to be fulfilled have to do with him coming again one day. And he wants you prepared not only for yourself but for your family and friends as well.

In Revelation 22:7 Jesus tells us, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” In Revelation 22:13 Jesus says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” John 1:1-5 says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’ The Word is consistent, unchanging, and always points to Jesus Christ. Much prophecy was fulfilled in his first coming. And with Jesus’s second coming, he is coming to rule over all nations and this time as the one and only king of all. Revelation 19:15-16 states, ‘And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ Let us make time to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our souls for him!

2 Peter 1:19 states, ‘We also have a more sure word of the prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.’ The morning star is our Messiah.

Scripture/the Word/Jesus Christ is the only light for our feet. In John 14:6 it says, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” In the bible we meet Jesus Christ who died for us and is our answer for everything in all of life and for eternity. Light shines to help us and guide us. Follow the light of the world who is Jesus Christ and you will never regret it, and your life will become more and more like his. Light draws us, warms us, staves off darkness, makes things visible, and sustains all life. As plants do not grow without enough light, the Lord is truly our light to help us see and learn that we wither without his light and grace to sustain us and keep us strong. In John 8:12 it says, ‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,’ “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This is a promise from Jesus Christ to you!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!