August 18th - Peace and Rest

“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:1-3)

There is great peace and “rest” in this present evil age for those who believe the good news (gospel) that God has told us about, especially the good news about life AFTER death.

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God...the wages or sin is death, but the free gift or God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

Hearing the good news does not give “rest” unless we have faith that God will actually do what he says - save us by resurrecting us and placing us in a new heaven and new earth.. 

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with humanity. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 22:1-4)

God raised Christ Jesus from death, and Jesus promised to raise us. In this life, only those who have heard the truth and "believed" have peace and rest.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of humanity, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and we believe that God, through Jesus, will bring to life those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up at the same time with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

August 17th - The Armor of God

"...take up the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod the feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace; besides all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." (Ephesians 6:1 3-17)

We are instructed to "take up" God's armor of "truth", and "stand" behind the "shield of faith" in the truth of God's word. Only then can we be safe from the lier who comes to steal our security, peace, and joy in the salvation promised us by God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

"Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons in the hypocrisy of false expressions...Now profane and old womanish myths refuse...Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:1-11)

August 16th - The Blessing of Abraham

"…that the blessing of Abraham might be coming to the nations in Christ Jesus, that we may be obtaining promise of the spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14)

What is the “blessing of Abraham”? 

It was the promise God made to him that in him “all families of the earth will be blessed." 

"And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

"It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’" (Acts 3:25)

From Abraham would come the "seed" through which all families of the earth are blessed. That seed was  Christ Jesus.

"Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ." (Galatians 3:16)

What is the "promise of the spirit."? 

The good news that all humanity, both Jew and Gentile, will be "one in Christ Jesus."

“…the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 3:28)

When people hear and believe the good news they are “sealed” with the "Holy Spirit". And the Bible teaches me that ALL peoples of the earth will eventually hear and believe…

“For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God….of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

Most people do not believe in this life, but must wait for their resurrection to appear before  "the great white throne"...

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away….and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne…" (Revelation 20:11-12)

I think it is before the great white throne that "every knee shall bow" and "every tongue give praise to God" and all "will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. There all will be "marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" because…

“…no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)

August 15th - Good News of Great Joy

Below is a summary of the gospel, the really good news of our salvation.  It needs no explanation or comment.

"Then God said, let Us make humanity in Our image, according to Our likeness...so God created humanity in His own image, male and female made He them..." (Genesis 1:26)

"...all sin and fall short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible...it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself..." (Colossians 1:15-20) 

"...you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

"I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."(Luke 2:10-11)

"John saw Jesus coming toward Him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

"...you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son...love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10)

"He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

"....that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was...Jesus said, It is finished. With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 17:3-5; 19:30)

"We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world..."  (1 John 4:14)

"...having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach." (Colossians 1:20-22)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all humanity..." (Titus 2:11)

"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.." (1 Timothy 1:15)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"...when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for humanity appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy...whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the expectation of eternal life..."  (Titus 3:4-8)

"...now we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

"This is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among humanity, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (Revelation 22:21)

August 14th - Abundant Mercy

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living expectation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3).

Above is a clear statement of good news from Peter. Peter says that as a result of God’s MERCY, humanity has the expectation of resurrection. This "living hope" is instilled in us when we hear about it, and believe it is true…

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

I find joy in my expectation of everlasting life. However, most humans die without this hope. Nevertheless, just as all humans die as the result of Adam’s sin, all humans will be be returned to life as the result of the one righteous act of Christ Jesus - the righteous act of taking upon Himself the sins of the human race.

"Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all humanity, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all humanity, resulting in justification of life" (Romans 5:18).

Every human is destined to bow before Jesus Christ, and confess that He is Lord,

“…at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

August 13th - A Revelation Worth Having

 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8 18-19)

There is more knowledge, government, and religion on this planet today than at any other time in the history of humanity; and yet they have failed to bring salvation, peace and unity to the creation. 

The Bible tells us why...

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it." (Romans 8:20)

It was God who "subjected" the creation to futility. The governments and religions of man will continue to try to repair the world but will fail. Creation can be "set free from its bondage to corruption" only by the God who "subjected" it in the first place . All we can do is "wait for it with patience".

"...the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God...in this expectation we were saved. Now expectation that is seen is not expectation. For who expects for what he already sees? But if we expect what we do not see, we wait for it with patience..."  (Romans 8:21-25)

“For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

God, and those who love Him, know that everything will work out for "good"...

"...we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." (Romans 8:28)

God is working "all things together for good". The "good" is that creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption" and "obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God". Humanity is predestined to be "conformed to the image of His Son".

"...For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

God will save "humanity" because Jesus Christ the Lord has ransomed us "ALL".

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for ALL." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"One trespass led to condemnation for ALL humanity, and one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for ALL humanity. For as by Adam's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of Christ Jesus the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-21)

It has been revealed to humanity what God will do for them, and that revelation is that they will be saved, justified, and reconciled to God by Jesus Christ the Lord, and that brings glory to God the Father.

"At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)

That is indeed a revelation worth having!

August 12th - What God Does To and For Sinners

God gave the death penalty to sinners.

"For all have sinned... the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

God alone has the power to do what He wants for sinful humans after death. So, what will that be?

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11)

God intends to actually save the ungodly after their death, not torment them. He is merciful and loving and says He will resurrect the dead, and change us into the image of Jesus.  

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead, the body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual…and just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man." (1 Corinthians15:42-49)

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:29-31)

The Bible says that God is not only going to save ungodly sinners out of death, but will transform them into the image of His Son with a glorified new body like Jesus now has!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

August 11th - Sealed and Protected from the Mark of the Beast

In my post about the Rapture on August 10th I said that the Rapture could happen just before the final year of the Tribulation. Of course if I am correct, then living believers will have to deal with the Antichrist and his mark. God has provided believers power to endure the  tribulations of life when He sealed us with the Holy Spirit.

"In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will...And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were SEALED with the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:11, 13)

This power with which we have been "sealed" will prevent us from taking the mark of the beast. To worry about such a time brings sorrow to God and is simply a matter of not trusting Him.

"And do not be causing sorrow to the holy spirit of God by which you are sealed for the day of deliverance." (Ephesians 4:30)

Again, believers in Christ Jesus are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit" and this power will enable us to refuse the mark of the beast and endure the consequences, if any. 

"Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain. He who has an ear, let him hear: “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed. Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints." (Revelation 13:7-10)

I feel certain believers will stand firm to the end and see the salvation of the Lord just as he delivered Judah from the Moabites.

"You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

August 10th - The Rapture of the Church

There have been all kinds of theories proposed over the centuries regarding the Rapture, a word used for the time when the resurrection of believers will occur. 

Here are my thoughts.

First, Jesus did not promise believers they would not suffer tribulation, in fact he said that they would. He did promise we could have "peace" while we go through "tribulation".

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)

The governments of humanity cause much "tribulation" in the world and believers  are not exempt from the tribulations caused by these governments. However, the Bible says there is coming a time called the "Day of the Lord" when God will pour out His wrath from heaven on human government, and Paul says believers are NOT destined for that wrath.

"Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the DAY OF THE LORD is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and THEY will not escape. BUT YOU, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day...For God HAS NOT destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us...Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

Isaiah called the Day of the Lord “the DAY of vengeance” and "a YEAR of retribution".

"Come, my people, enter your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until His wrath runs its course. For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their wrongdoing." (Isaiah 26:21)

“For the LORD has a DAY of vengeance, a YEAR of retribution for the cause of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:8)

"Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The retribution of God will come, but He will save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

It seems to me that the "Day of the Lord" is a “YEAR of retribution” where the wrath of God is poured out on unbelieving humanity just before Jesus returns. When Jesus came the first time, He read the following prophecy from Isaiah in the Synagogue.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable YEAR of the LORD.” (Isaiah 61:1-2a; Luke 4:18-19)

He stopped at that point because it was not time for the "favorable YEAR of the Lord" to begin. The Bible calls this year a favorable year ONLY for BELIEVERS because they are to be delivered from it. Isaiah's prophecy then continues where Jesus stopped and says this...

“And the DAY OF VENGEANCE of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So, they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:2b-4)

During the favorable year of the Lord also called “day of vengeance", God will pour His wrath out from heaven on the unbelieving governments of humanity. Just before that year begins there will be silence in heaven for half an hour. 

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:1-5)

Believers have been promised deliverance from that "wrath". So, I think all believers may be raptured during the half hour of silence just before the wrath of God is poured out on the faithless governments of humanity.

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

Paul says the event called the Rapture will occur as follows...

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as the rest of humanity does, who have no hope...For the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Then we, the living WHO ARE SURVIVING, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18)

August 9th - The Return of Jesus to Save Israel

Jesus told the Jewish leaders that they would not see Him again until they called Him "Blessed". 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Luke 13:34-35)

One reason that the Tribulation occurs on this earth is to force Israel to call upon the name of Jesus their Messiah for their salvation.

"For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:21-23)

Israel will suffer great affliction in those days because of how they treated Jesus their Lord the first time He came - Israel "rejected the Lord" and "despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him".

"Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but ISRAEL doesn’t know its master. MY PEOPLE don’t recognize my care for them.” Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have REJECTED THE LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him." (Isaiah 1:2-4)

Jesus is "the Holy One of Israel". Israel turned their back on Him and had Him crucified. Therefore, ISRAEL is said of God to be called "not my people".

"And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People,  for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9)

But there will come a day when God will be merciful to Israel and they will call on Jesus. Then, once again, Israel will become the people of God.

"...and I will sow her for myself in the land. And will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” (Hosea 2:1)

Hosea implied this would happen two thousand years after Israel rejected Jesus, a thousand years for each of the "two days" mentioned in his prophecy.

"Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. AFTER TWO DAYS He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence. So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, HE WILL APPER; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)

Most Jews still do not believe Jesus is their Messiah and therefore are not calling upon Him to save them.

"I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise of His coming? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created...But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A DAY IS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS TO THE LORD, and a thousand years is like a day...This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters." (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8, 15-16)

Israel will be saved when Jesus returns. They will be saved because Jesus will "turn Israel away from ungodliness".

"The people of Israel have hard hearts...As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.” The people of Israel are now enemies of the gospel, and this benefits the Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn." (Romans 11:25-29)

Jesus was crucified, as best as I can tell from my study of the Bible, on Wednesday April 11, 35 AD. He was entombed at sunset then spent three nights and three days in the tomb. He was raised from the dead at sunset on April 14, 35 AD. He then spent the next forty days teaching His followers about the Kingdom of God. Then from Bethany, a town on the Mount of Olives, He was lifted up into the clouds to return to heaven on May 25, 35 AD.

"When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, praising God continually in the temple." (Luke 24:50-53)

"In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:3-11)

Zechariah tells us that when Jesus returns His feet will set down on the Mount of Olives from which he left.

"Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem." (Zechariah 14:1-4)

We are nearing 2,000 years from the day He left - I am watching the events taking place in Israel and around the world, and it seems to me that His return and the redemption of Israel is drawing near!

"Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE, STAND UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.” (Luke 21:22-28)

Satan will gather all the armies to oppose His return. Yet, it will be an instant defeat, and the Antichrist and the False Prophet will then be thrown alive into the lake of fire, and every person who had received the "mark of the beast" will be killed.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS...And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21)

Jesus will then bind Satan and place him in the "bottomless pit". He will be kept there for a thousand years so he cannot deceive the nations during that time.

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while." (Revelation 20:1-3)

Christ Jesus, the Son of God, and Messiah of Israel will rule the world for a thousand years. Those who are killed for their faith in the Messiah during the Tribulation and all believers will be raised to life and rise to meet the Lord in the air before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth. They will return with Him as the "priests of God and of Christ" during this time.

"Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4-5)

August 8th - The Mark of the Beast/Antichrist

"He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666." (Revelation 13:16-18)

When this mark is placed on the person, it allows that person to legally transact business. IF Jesus returns in the near future, then the way the "mark" is placed on the hand or forehead is most likely already being developed and humanity is probably being conditioned to receive it without much objection.

The Antichrist (the beast) will be helped by Satan (the dragon) another person called the false prophet.

"And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty." (Revelation 16:13-14)

If we are in the era of the return of Jesus we should examine what is taught us by religious leaders. The only way to identify false teaching is to know read the Bible  ourselves. 

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

It is a sobering thought to realize that there are religious leaders who are actually servants of Satan. Jesus Himself warned His disciples that in the era He returns "many" would be acknowledging Jesus as the Christ but would be deceivers.

"While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name saying I am the Christ, and will deceive many."

Note again, Jesus said the sign of His coming would be that "many" who are saying Jesus is the Christ will be deceivers. Not a few, but MANY! 

Christianity today is divided into countless sects, each claiming they are teaching the truth about Christ. How can we distinguish the deceivers? The only way I know of is to prayerfully read the Bible for ourselves.

August 7th - Who Is The Antichrist and What Does He Do?

"For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he cannot be revealed until his time comes." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-6)

"The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the Great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." (Revelation 17:5)

The "man of lawlessness" Paul is speaking about is the Antichrist who is called a "beast" in the Book of Revelation. There will be a final global government system called Babylon the Great and will arise from among the "seven heads" of the final new world order system of government. Around the middle of the final seven years of this age the Antichrist will become the sole leader of that the new world order which I think the Bible called "Babylon the Great". The "day of the Lord" that Paul is speaking of is most likely the final year of the seven year Tribulation.

"Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns...and the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:1-2)

Until the middle of the Tribulation, the beast with seven heads and ten horns seems to be a group of Nations with shared power. They most likely establish policies that bring the world together into a new world order with progressive policies that will be accepted by most of the world's population because they embrace peace, heath, environmental protection, and equal financial prosperity for all humanity. It will ignore national boundaries, sexual preferences, and racial differences. I think the "white horse rider" of Revelations's four horseman of the apocalypse represents the peaceful establishment of the new world order. Note the rider has a bow but no arrows which to me signifies that he comes to power through diplomacy rather than war.

 

"I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory." (Revelation 6:2)

There are currently two groups of nations called the G7 and G10 nations. They meet on a regular basis to discuss various progressive concerns. The G7 today is composed of the USA, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Canada. The D10 is composed of the G7 nations plus Australia, South Korea and India. The majority of those nations favor progressive policies and fit the prophecy of the "seven heads and ten horns" out of whom rises the Antichrist and his governmental system.

"Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.’” (Daniel 9:27)

Daniel tells us that this seven year alliance begins the seven year Tribulation era. Among these alliances is a peace treaty between Israel and its enemies which apparently allows Israel access to the Temple Mount to build its third Temple and resume its worship rituals demanded by the Torah. Sometime after the peace treaty is signed, the Antichrist is given sole power over the new world order and banishes the worship and prayers of Israel in its Temple.

"Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." (Revelation 12:9)

Revelation informs us that the Antichrist gets his power from Satan, so it is interesting that Satan will be "forced out of heaven" and "thrown to the earth" together with his angels during the Tribulation, most likely around the middle. The Antichrist will come to world power as a result of his assassination and resurrection, at least it will appear to the world that he had died and was resurrected . Satan probably takes possession of the Antichrist at that time. The various allied nations will give him sole power at that time and will soon thereafter break the peace alliance with Israel. 

"I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”" Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months." (Revelation 13:3-5)

After he breaks the alliances with Israel he will enter commit what Daniel and Jesus call the "abomination of desolation".

“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place."...For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones." (Matthew 24:15,21-22)

From that point forward, with the help of a religious leader referred to as "another beast" and as a "false prophet", the Antichrist will wage war against God's chosen people and try to force all people of Earth to worship him.

And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering His name and His dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were NOT written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb." (Revelation 13:6-8)

"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life." (Revelation 13:11-14)

The war on Israel brings in rapid succession the last three horsemen of the apocalypse - war, famine, and death. The pale green horse rider (death) kills one-forth of humanity by the the sword, famine and disease. These deaths are a direct result of the policies and actions of the end time government led by the Antichrist. 

"I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals." (Revelation 6:8)

Another one-third of humanity will be killed during the final year of the Tribulation when God intervenes and pours out His wrath on the new world order under the control of the Antichrist. In His wrath, God uses four angels that are now confined for that purpose at the Euphrates River.

"The sixth Angel trumpeted. I heard a voice speaking to the sixth Angel from the horns of the Golden Altar before God: “Let the Four Angels loose, the Angels confined at the great River Euphrates.” The Four Angels were untied and let loose, Four Angels all prepared for the exact year, month, day, and even hour when they were to kill a third of the human race." (Revelation 9:15)

That means one out of every two people on earth will die during the last half of the Tribulation. Jesus Himself said unless that time was cut short everyone would on earth would die. 

"When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day...People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes." “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.  “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming." (Mathew 24:37-42)

If the 6,000th biblically chronicled year from the creation of Adam is in the fall of AD 2035, the beginning of the seven year Tribulation would begin in the fall of AD 2028.

Again, not guaranteeing the dates but just thinking about the possibilities and watching for His return.