Archive for the ‘Shared Thoughts’ Category

It’s Easter again, what exactly happened at the tomb?

Posted: March 22, 2016 in Shared Thoughts
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Trips to the Tomb

I know it;s an old post, but since it is Easter this coming Sunday I figured it would be a good repost it once more for those who may have missed it. I hope it blesses you.

For centuries there has been much confusion when people try to reason the different accounts of Jesus’ resurrection as recorded by the apostles. The fact that they all seem to have a different story to tell does not help. Perhaps, a good way to consider their seemingly different reports is to view them like transparent overlays, similar to the one’s we have seen in books showing the skeleton, then the nerves and blood vessels, organs, muscular and finally the skin and hair.

The Gospels, similarly, are each reporting different events which had taken place around a major singular occurrence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact is that these different events are recorded in God’s word and are therefore true. Perhaps the answer to the confusion is to consider that there were multiple trips made to the tomb.

The best way to determine the possible order of these trips to the tomb is to consider the different details that have been given about the time of day and light of the sun. Was the sun going down or coming up? These questions are actually quite easy to answer. However, we must remember that the Sabbath, like all the other biblical days, began and ended with sundown, see Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 and Lev. 23:32.

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Why the Nations are Mad

Posted: March 10, 2016 in America, End Times, Shared Thoughts
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Three times in Revelation it is stressed how the nations of the world have become guilty before God for having become drunken by indulging in the wine of the harlot’s fornication.

Revelation 14:6 – And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that Great City, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Revelation 17:1 – And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Revelation 18:1 – And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

In the first verse, Revelation 14:8, it states Babylon “made [potizo] all nations drink [potizo] of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” A quick reading of that would almost make it sound as if Babylon was forcing the other nations to drink this wine. However, when examining the Greek word, it doesn’t support the idea of a forced consumption, but simply that of offering or making available. The word “potizo” by the Strong’s Greek Interlinear, simply means to furnish drink or to irrigate. It is further illustrated with “give (make) to drink, feed, water.” The implication of “give make to drink” is in the sense of irrigation, so as to “make” it possible for the land to drink the water. “Potizo” is from a derivative of “pino” which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses and means to imbibe, swallow, guzzle, gulp, and absorb (literally or figuratively): or simply “drink.”

Having done a study on the Greek word “potizo,” I found that it is used twenty-three times in only fifteen verses in the New Testament and has been translated the following ways:

2 times: give/gave…drink
6 times: give/gave
7 times: drink
1 time:   watering (an animal)
3 times: watereth (a crop)
1 time: fed (milk)
1 time: have been
1 time: made to drink
1 time: made

In none of those verses has the idea been implied “to force” intoxicating drink upon anyone. As a matter of fact, potizo’s very first usage in scripture recorded in Matthew’s Gospel was by Jesus.

Matthew 10:42 – And whosoever shall give to drink [potizo] unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

The verse where it was translated “fed”-

I Corinthians 3:2 – I have fed [potizo] you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

The verse where it was translated “watereth” –

I Corinthians 3:6 – I have planted, Apollos watered [potizo] but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth [potizo] but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth [potizo] are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

The verse where it was translated “have been” and “made to drink” is also in I Corinthians.

I Corinthians 12:13 – For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been [potizo] all made to drink [potizo] into one Spirit.

Again, in none of the verses above or any of the verses can the notion of forcing drink upon anyone or thing be justified. The idea is simply that of offering, making available, or supplying by means of irrigation.

Therefore, when it says in Revelation 14:8 that “Babylon is fallen… because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” it is because she was “providing or irrigating” the nations, “watering” them as it were with the “wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Babylon wasn’t forcing the nations to drink, rather the fruit [outcome] of her fornication [sins] was causing the wine [temptations] thereof to spillover to all the other nations, who freely received and drank of them. For that reason, they too are deserving of the wrath that God will pour out in His indignation upon Babylon.

This accusation in Revelation, that all the nations became drunk because of the wine of Babylon, actually goes back to a prophecy in Isaiah.

Jeremiah 51:7 – Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Once “a golden cup in the LORD’s hand,” Babylon was used by God to chastise Israel for her sins in order to bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness in her. God even gave unto Babylon one of His greatest prophets to help guide it by allowing Daniel to go into captivity. For Daniel’s righteous presence served as an effectual light in Babylon, as God used Daniel repeatedly to warn Nebuchadnezzar of things to come, and even to address the king’s pride; something that would have cost any other man his life.

However, after many years Nebuchadnezzar grew older and his son Belshazzar ascended to the throne. It did not take long before Daniel’s proven importance became overlooked and neglected. That is till one night in drunken arrogance, Belshazzar “brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.” The boldness of his sin made it evident that Belshazzar had not only abandoned the wisdom of his father mentioned just a few verses earlier; he trampled it underfoot by celebrating his own egotism to the thorough frustration of God’s longsuffering and patience.

Even though Babylon had once been “a golden cup in the LORD’S hand,” when Belshazzar its king so grievously sinned by treating what was holy as profane, he foolishly poured out any residue of God’s mercy and filled up his own cup with the wine of the wrath of his fornication to worthless idols of other gods.

Daniel 5:1 – Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

Thus when the fullness of time that God foretold through Jeremiah had concluded and His grace towards Babylon now frustrated, God was going to force Babylon to drink the cup of His fury for their sins of arrogance and their forgetting His words given them through the Prophet Daniel.

Jeremiah 25:12 – And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13 And I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands. 15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto Me; Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. 16 And THEY SHALL DRINK, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

 As it was with the fall of Babylon, that “great city” and capital of the Chaldeans, so shall it be with the fall of The Eight Beast and Mystery, Babylon the Great. For their leaders have given way to drunken arrogance and have completely abandon both the wisdom and the fear of God of their founding fathers; trampling it underfoot while celebrating their egoistic narcissism to the absolute frustration of God’s longsuffering and patience. For today in America, whatever was once considered holy is now treated with disdain as profane.

For America was once a nation of which it could be said stood as a light for the whole world, boasting on its currency that was once valued above all others that “In God We Trust.” The Ten Commandments once being boldly displayed in public buildings; engraved on walls and monuments of stone to constantly remind us of both their eternal immutability and the stability they gave to all who acknowledged them. Likewise, pledges of loyalty to uphold the integrity of the nation’s many offices of government were once publicly affirmed with true reverence on the foundation upon which she was built; as a nation recognizing the responsibilities of men to their Creator. A concept that was later summarized as “One nation, under God” and added to the Pledge of Allegiance  in a response to the threat of godless communism in 1954.

But now, just as it says concerning Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, who holds a “golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication,” so too America been providing this same maddening wine and irrigating all the nations with/by the excess of her iniquities. That’s because too many Americans, be they government leaders or just common citizens, have carelessly forgotten what was committed to their charge. Therefore, they are either spiritually dead or dying, being lukewarm in their faith and love for God and therefore derelict in their obligations… all the while quoting how they’re still “saved by grace.” Therefore, America’s churches will be held accountable for having received God’s grace in vain, and for yielding to those who have now successfully changed the godly’s “Freedom of Religion” into the wicked’s freedom from religion. Having risen to power, these apostates will now tirelessly wage war to purge all traces of God and His word from the public eye.

Sadly, the most popular “churches” in America are now acually the perpetuating source of her curses instead of the procurers of her blessings. Huge mega-churches, mere religious-corporations, are growing like malignant tumors all across America; literally racking in the money while they instruct their congregants how to be happy by living their new “Purpose Driven” lives in dedicated service to the church and community.

What happened to real men of God living holy lives and teaching others the fear of the Lord, and how to love God and effectually apply His word to the glory of God? Or instructing people how to pray and wait on the Lord; so as to hear His voice and be led and empowered by His Holy Spirit?

But no, instead it is the blind are leading the blind as these so-called “Christian leaders” are making their fortunes promoting their own concocted self-help methods to “Become a Better You,” and promising those eagerly waiting in line to buy their next book that they too can have “Your Best Life Now.”

If the likes of Joel Osteen is openly being called “America’s Pastor,” how can they or their followers avoid the ditch that is set before them? Have they not read what Jesus said to such leaders whose eyes are no longer on His Kingdom, but their own? Probably not, for they are forsaking His righteousness for the riches and popularity of this world…

Matthew 15:14 – Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 23:13 – But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

We’re here at the edge of the ditch folks. The judgment of America will doubtless begin (if it hasn’t already) with a judgment getting ready to be poured out upon the churches; for judgment must begin in the house of the Lord. As accountable stewards, they have not been faithful; as watchmen, they have not warned the people there was an enemy creeping in among them unaware. Christians really do need to wake up and face the facts: it is because the churches have fallen that America has fallen. They have compromised and settled for institutionalism over intimacy with God; programs instead of walking by the Spirit. They have become worthless salt, good for nothing; not even fit to throw upon a heap of manure.

Matthew 5:13 – Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Luke 14:34 – Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

God will reward ALL these vain so-called “believers” with a “greater damnation” who “knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will.” Therefore, they are no longer “fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill.” Such is why judgment will be rewarded unto her in double portion.

Revelation 18:6 – Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow [or wars on my land].

The godly standard has been removed, therefore Americans today can’t see how far removed they are from the original pilgrim settlers’ Puritan work ethic, morality and desire to sincerely promote and live by the gospel before a lost and dying world. Just how deep America has fallen into iniquity is probably best attested to by what is now asserted to be her largest two exports, both being trash. One of these exports is America’s literal refuse and recyclable debris, and the other is our moral garbage, i.e. pornography whereby America’s sins have overflowed her borders and have caused the “kings of the earth [to] have committed fornication with her.” Now they too will drink of the wrath of God; though America will have “the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.”

Here’s a few other translations of Revelation 18:3 that I found to be “revealing.”

…because all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have been enriched through the might of her luxury. (Darby’s Translation)

For all nations, having drunk the wine of the frenzy of her fornication, are fallen; And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, And the merchants of the earth have grown rich by the power of her wantonness.” (Montgomery’s New Testament)

…for she has caused all the nations to drink of the wine of her raging whoredom; and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her, and the merchants of the earth have been enriched by the abundance of her luxuries. (Living Oracles New Testament)

For, after drinking the maddening wine of her licentiousness, all the nations have fallen; while all the kings of the earth have had licentious intercourse with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the excess of her luxury. (Twentieth Century New Testament)

Sadly, America has so deteriorated it has become the habitation of embezzlers and purloiners with people on both sides, employees and employers, greedily trying to take advantage of each other.  Most people now feel they deserved to be paid simply because they have to wake up and go to work and cannot go off wherever and just do whatever they want whenever they want… and now here we sit buried under trillions and trillions of dollars in debt. And what do the leaders do? They’re still borrowing and spending with no end in sight. In America they have forgotten God’s law of the harvest, that if a man will not labor, plow and plant his seeds, he simply will not have a field from which to reap a harvest.

Jeremiah 5:25 – Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 26 For among My people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

 Forgive me if I sound like I’m just ranting… but oh how I truly do agonize over these things and wish they were not so…

Netanyahu, Israel, and the LGBT

Posted: March 6, 2016 in End Times, Shared Thoughts
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Back on February 23rd Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before the Knesset and purportedly, in some eyes, was supportive of homosexuality on “LGBT Day.” I must humbly admit that such was my original thought too upon hearing about his address.

Even Jonathan Kahn tweeted about this, though without making any comment. His tweet was nothing more than just an open acknowledgement of the Jerusalem Post’s article about it. Understandably so too, for this has been troubling me since it happened and I must admit that I’ve been looking and waiting for someone somewhere like Jonathan Kahn to speak about this and share their prayerful insight. Yet for almost two weeks it has been eerily silent out there. I find that peculiar since we all know that Netanyahu has been quite an impressive statesman who boldly confronted the nations of the world at the UN regarding their hypocrisy towards Israel and for their constant blaming them for the lack of peace in the Middle East.

So how does this happen? Was Benjamin Netanyahu suddenly bowing to political pressure regarding the LGBT? (more…)

Flee fornication . . .

Posted: January 30, 2016 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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That’s what God’s word tells us.  But many today aren’t “fleeing” from it, rather they for all intents and purposes are running madly to it and embracing all sorts of sexual perversion. Nowadays, for some insane reason people are literally racing to expose and open themselves up to anything and everything sexual, as if somehow it is going to be the answer to their loneliness or boredom or their oppressive sense of rejection and insignificance. It has become so maddening that even so-called “friends” now frequently engage in sexual immorality and openly make and accept challenges to do the most profane things with as many partners to see who can outperform the other. This is not only madness; this is as close as a society can get to mass suicide. Yes, you read it right, mass suicide.

Perhaps it is because people are just so willfully ignorant of God’s word, or maybe so insecure after having grown up in such a self-centered generation. It seems almost everyone is infatuated with seeking their own gratification regardless the expense of whoever and/or whatever. The thought of it almost no longer shocks some people that there are those who are literally drugging their supposed “dates” and raping them and then allowing others to rape them as well. These human beasts are literally doing this openly among their select group of perverted friends in a celebratory fashion. Packs of humanity who outwardly look like everyone else yet actively prey sexually upon others, and we’re not even off the subject of “straight sex!” All the while there are others in more acceptable positions that have established themselves as “respectable” in the community that are literally so slavishly engrossed in their own sexual decadence that they cannot stop themselves from running into every opportunity of fornication, regardless the risk to their families and careers. All for a brief moment of unbridled indulgence that promises nothing more than to send their world crashing to the ground all around them while the whole world sees and continues to be none the wiser. Do you really think these people started off this enslaved and wicked?

If this is touching you then please listen, God’s word tells us as plainly as it can, “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.” Man cannot indulge in sexual sins and not do serious harm to his own self, physically (STD’s), emotionally and spiritually.

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He Shall Confirm the Covenant with Many…

Posted: December 27, 2015 in End Times, Prophecy, Shared Thoughts
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NOTE: This is an old post which still generates traffic. However, in 2015 I wrote a Book on America in Prophesy called “THE EIGHTH BEST” which was updated in 2022 and includes more info and better quality audio files, all of which you can link to the Table of Contents >HERE<
The book is free to read on line, but also available on Amazon >HERE<

Many people interpret the above as referring to a coming world leader many modern eschatology teachers are calling the Antichrist. To be straight forward and upfront in this post I want to let everyone know that I do not subscribe to that interpretation. After years of examining and re-examining these texts I have come to the persuasion that the adversary has attempted to high-jacked these verse to his own glory when they are in truth a testimony to the Lamb of God who alone worthy to receive glory and honor and power.

Revelation 4:11 – Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5:12 – Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

If this “He” above in Daniel 9:27 is indeed referencing Jesus Christ, then this part of the verse is certainly the most advantageous to understand. Therefore, I will begin with the following three questions.

  1. What “covenant” was the Lord Jesus confirming?
  2. How did He confirm it; by word, deed, or both?
  3. If this seventieth week designated for “confirming the covenant” was divided by Jesus’ death which caused the previously Mosaic obligation of sacrifices and oblations to cease, then what about the remaining three and a half years? For from His baptism to His death, Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted only three and a half years?

Even if it is only a possibility that Jesus is this “He” in Daniel 9:27, then these are legitimate questions that need to be asked if we are honest in our search of the Truth. Plus, if Jesus is indeed this “He” then there will be biblical answers to all these questions that would require your prayerful consideration.

So let’s look at first question again, what is the “covenant” that Jesus was confirming? Answer, it is that promise of certainty of which righteous Job wrote the following. (more…)

Moved to Costa Rica

Posted: November 17, 2015 in Shared Thoughts
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Being persuaded through multiple avenues that it was the leading of the Lord, I recently moved to Costa Rica. He is faithful to order our steps, as it says in scripture, “The steps of a good man are order of the Lord.” Therefore, I will be sharing the 11th chapter of my book The Eighth Beast in a day or two, “Come out from among her My people.”

NOTE: This is an old post which still generates traffic. However, my Book on America in Prophesy called “THE EIGHTH BEST”  was updated in 2022 and includes more info and better quality audio files, all of which you can link to the Table of Contents >HERE<
The book is free to read on line, but also available on Amazon >HERE<

My youngest son and I made the trip here 11/6 on a Friday afternoon. It was a hard trip for both of us, as well as for my wife who stayed stateside for now and had to see us off. My other two sons have stayed in the States with my wife, who made a promise to her mother long ago that she would take care of her and never leave her. Even though my mother-in-law herself fled Cuba 54 years ago, and had previously said she would leave with us, at this point she says she doesn’t want to leave, or even consider moving, stating that she is too old now; and so goes the trying of the believer’s faith.
Nevertheless, regardless of anything and everyone, I must be obedient to the Lord’s leading, for otherwise how could I have credibility or personal standing from which to speak concerning this hard matter of coming out of America to others? It is my earnest prayer that, like Christ, I too have simply gone ahead of my wife to prepare a place for her, that where I am she too can be with me.

Though this has been a definite trying of our faiths, my wife has remained very supportive and understanding, though in truth this has been by far the hardest thing for us both to do. Our hearts ache for each other with frequent tears. Though we absolutely loved our house which we agreed to sell in the states, as well as our jobs, and shared the prospect of within a year or two of being able to cut back and perhaps even partly retire, we both know that all that now has become just part of an American illusion and not a dream ever to be realized. For it is clear that “Babylon has fallen and become a habitation of devils, a hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful birds,” and her judgment is imminent.

Originally, I had written the jest of The Eighth Beast primarily for my own family and some close friends. Much of it had existed already in various other outlines and formats due to decades of research and study. But being compelled by a sense of lateness in the hour of the Lord’s return,  I put it all together for an exhaustive study on America with several other points that were addressed in the book in order to go over it all with my family in a progressive teaching format.

When some local friends heard I was going to do it, they wanted to be included. So, we ended up doing 3-4 hour-long meetings 4 weeks in a row. Afterwards it was concluded that perhaps a book was in order that it all might be shared with others.

After writing the book  and holding the first copy in my hand, I felt strongly that the Lord wanted me to place a book into the hands of a particular person. Because he lived in Philadelphia, I figured would just have to drive there from Florida in order to do so. But after I received the first printing then I heard they were going to be attending a prophecy conference in Orlando within two weeks so I thought, great, I’ll just go to the conference and was sure the opportunity to place a copy into his hands would arise.

My son, a friend and I bought tickets and booked a room for three days and went early the first day in order to familiarize ourselves with the complex. To my pleasant surprise, at the last table in the row of many which had been set up for the 26 speakers, there he was standing there speaking to someone and I thought, “Great. I am going to be able to place a copy in his hands even before the conference even starts. He graciously received it and assured me that he would not only read it, but that he would read it twice and get back with me, which sadly he has not done so to date. However, I was only led to place it in his hands, and I was obedient to do just that. What he says and does is between him and the Lord.

Sadly, the conference was a testimony to many of the things written in my book as there was an incredible amount of diversity (or simply put, confusion) in the current prophetic speculation being given. If they were all grouped into schools of thought, there would have been at least half as many groups as there was teachers. It was saturated with endless “might be… could be… it is likely… possibly might mean…” Blah, blah, blah. All of them selling their books and wares to hundreds of eager consumers of such endless prophetic speculation. Of course, some might say the same of my book, however I have only given mine away. I haven’t sold any except a few to some men at a Saturday Prayer Breakfast I attended: for I told them they should gladly pay my cost so I could give books to others. It is however available on Kindle for the cheapest they require that others might obtain a copy.

While in The Eighth Beast I earnestly tried to stick to clear scriptural contexts of thought and provable history. Many of those “teachers” and authors that were at the conference, and many others out there nowadays, are referencing ancient myths, heathen artifacts, and other pagan believisms as confirmations to their theories concerning biblical endtime prophecies. Why anyone would want to interpret “the sure word of prophecy” in light of such nonsense clearly promoted by the father of lies (of which scripture affirms the truth is not in) absolutely confounds me. We must prove all things by the light of scripture and never attempt to interpret scripture by the light of darkness.

However, after giving the book to this individual at the conference, I looked for a place to sit because of a bad knee I have which stiffens up if I stand too long it. There were 2 tables with 4 chairs designated for a speaker who hadn’t arrived yet and with a woman sitting behind one. I went over and asked if it was OK if I sat down and she said sure, that’s all she was doing as well. She then introduced herself as Regina and mentioned that she was in from Costa Rica. I then asked her if she happen to know a Dr. John Price who had also moved to Costa Rica a few years ago. John was the author of The End of America, a book written 6-7 years ago about the judgment coming on America and the need to “Come out from among her My people.” Regina said that she did in fact know John and so I asked her if she would be willing to give him a copy for me. She said yes, and so I gave her 2, one for him and her for doing so. We chatted a few more minutes before we both got up and went our separate ways. BTW, John Price did read my book and got back with me expressing he “wished every American Christian would read it” and that Chapter 18 “was terrific and incredible.” Well, I guess he has as much right to express his opinion as others…

Three days later after enduring a shameful amount of confusion being promoted at the conference, my son Jesse, Brother Harry and myself had enough. However, this individual was scheduled to be one of the last speakers which we wanted to hear before we left. But we had 3 hours to kill before then, so we just meandered all over this huge complex looking around. After a while I saw a place to sit and we sat down. Reflecting on everything I then mentioned how “we haven’t seen that lady again we first met.” My son asked, “You mean Regina?” And I said yes, that’s her name.” He stood up and said “She’s right there…” and walked away behind me because I was sitting against a wall. The way he said it I actually thought he was kidding me, but he came back around the corner with her.

She sat down and joined us and we spoke again for about 30-40 minutes before we all got up to go to the last meeting together. At that time, she shared with us all how she felt God had given her dreams very vivid dreams about God’s judgment coming to America and how she had been led to Costa Rica a few years prior. Because my friend had been looking into moving to possibly Panama, Costa Rica or elsewhere, I spoke up and asked if she’d be willing to host him and his wife and show them around if they wanted to go check Costa Rica out. She paused briefly and then said sure and so they exchanged email addresses and we all went on our ways.

About 6-7 weeks later my friend and his wife stops by my house and stated they wanted my wife and me to go with them to Costa Rica since my wife is fluent in Spanish. We eagerly accepted and in a few more weeks we were all in Costa Rica. Regina met us at the airport and then took us back to her place. It was only then, after we had gotten there that we all really found out how much we were on the same page with end time prophecy and America’s imminent judgment and the need to “Come out from among her.” After a week of fellowship and being able to share with several others who regularly meet at her house, it was evident God had orchestrated everything as only He could so as to order our steps aright that we might know His will and have a confirmation of His sovereignty in the matter.

Up to that point I had been praying earnestly for years on how it would be that I would be able to have my family “Come out” because there were multiple issues that needed to be addressed and I desperately required divine guidance in order to do so. The end of the matter is God has been faithful in multiple areas to meet many of those issues and enable us to do so, as I am currently in Costa Rica with 2 of my boys.

So since my arrival the Lord has given me days filled with prayer, rest and worship, and God has also been gracious to strengthen me in my heartache of temporarily being separated from my wife and my other 2 boys. Though we text often throughout the day and Skype in the evening, it is bitter-sweet as it is hard to see the pain of separation in each others face, so we covet all prayers.

I must admit that Costa Rica is indeed a very beautiful place, but it is void of much of the creature comforts and conveniences that have worked to make many American believers lazy in their prayers and left them guilty of taking for granted the Lord’s faithfulness to supply all their needs while they grow fatter chasing after their endless wants. Here however, the people are content with little and thankful for their daily needs are being met. For the most part they are a patient and very gracious people. May the Lord open doors of opportunity to labor for His name’s sake.

Stay Blessable and Live for the King!!

Message shared to Covenant Love Fellowship

Posted: October 6, 2015 in Shared Thoughts
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I was  invited to share with a local fellowship after the pastor had received and read about America’s imminent destruction in my book The Eighth Beast, (available online with downloadable audio files.) The following is the recorded message. Just sharing it here and making it available for others to hear and share. It was share back in 2015 just before my moving to Costa Rica.

Live for the King!

The Eighth Beast – Is America missing in Prophecy?

Posted: September 28, 2015 in Shared Thoughts
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NOTE: This is an old post which still generates traffic. However, in 2015 I wrote a Book on America in Prophesy called “THE EIGHTH BEST” which was updated in 2022 and includes more info and better quality audio files, all of which you can link to the Table of Contents >HERE<
The book is free to read on line, but also available on Amazon >HERE<

Sounding the alarm one more time…

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Chapter 18

Is America missing in Prophecy?

This chapter was actually written many years ago as a stand-alone article. However, in light of all we have reviewed thus far, it is being included here in hopes it will now serve as a lasso to help pull together much of what we’ve covered to provide a solid answer to the question above and the one below.

We hear it all the time, “Isn’t it amazing that the scriptures are silent about America?” I once thought the same thing myself, but after prayerful re-examination of the history of America and scripture, I don’t believe that is true anymore. Therefore I submit the following for those open enough to examine for themselves whether or not America is mentioned in scripture. Though, I admit nowadays with the rising flood of endtime theologies, it is getting harder to convince most people that it is. As Mark Twain once said, “It is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them they have been fooled.” Likewise, it has been proven over and over again, that the greatest hindrance to people accepting the truth is a prejudice or presupposition to it before they fully hear a matter.

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and a shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13)

Please do not hastily jump to the wrong conclusion that I am anti-America. I simply believe that a holy and righteous God must deal with the sins of America the same way He would with any nation. The supporting information provided in this article is only a fraction of the information available and even this tends to be overwhelming for most people when first considering this concept.

Revelation 17:9 – And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Revelation chapters 13-19:4 speak of an end-time’s judgment of the LAST in a succession of empires. Though the chapter begins concentrating on a seven-headed beast, the primary focus is that last empire which the angel referred to as “The Eighth.”  In order to gain understanding of whom or what the eighth spiritual Babylon is, one must give heed to the clues given to John by the angel in chapter 17.

A critical clue concerning this succession of empires was given to John when he was told by the angel “the beast that was, and is not, yet is.” This clue reveals there would be an interruption in a succession of what could be called “spiritual Babylons” being represented by this seven headed beast; a time when this beast “was not” going to be represented in history by a literal country. However after an unstated duration of time, the beast would again briefly exist as the seventh head, (or seventh empire). Lastly, it would “rise up out of the sea” as that final and last beast (or empire) which would fulfill all these prophecies. Thus the whole imagery of a “seven headed beast” is designed specifically to expose that last, eighth, and final empire that “goeth into perdition,” or complete annihilation. (more…)

Final Call

Posted: September 7, 2015 in Shared Thoughts
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I strongly encourage everyone’s thorough and prayerful consideration to the content of Sister Cindy’s words here and their timeliness,

William

cindybythesea's avatarHeaven Bound

Image result for train leaving station

A picture is worth a thousand words. And, this one says it all. No dialogue is needed to know that this guy missed the last train out of town. How do we know it was the last train? Who would run yelling and screaming carrying a heavy bag if the next train out of town was due in 15 minutes.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like that. There is an open invitation to all. For the past two thousand years the master (Jesus) has been calling, “All aboard that’s coming aboard”.  And many have heeded that call. They have their tickets bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus and they’ve been ready for departure whenever and however it might  come –  either through death or through the rapture. But, they were ready.

But, like all planes, trains and automobiles (to borrow from a movie title) departure day finally does arrive and sometimes sooner…

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Breaching the Wall

Posted: June 28, 2015 in Shared Thoughts
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“It can be no coincidence that the landmark decision to approve same-sex marriage in all 50 states was publicly announced on June 26, the 9th of Tammuz…”

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

cindybythesea's avatarHeaven Bound

 Image result for walls breached  

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of man. For in the days before the flood, people were eatinganddrinking,  marrying and giving in marriage until the flood came and took them all away.”  Matthew 24: 37-39

Mark this day on your calendars – and mourn – for it is a day from which there is no turning back.

It can be no coincidence that the landmark decision to approve same-sex marriage in all 50 states was publicly announced on June 26, the 9thofTammuz.  The millennia old Judeo-Christian concept of marriage between one man and one woman giving away to the collective “wisdom” of 5 individuals – who call themselves supreme. In one day, the bedrock of society, the family structure as set apart by God and nature has been sweptaway

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Do you love me more than these?

Posted: June 9, 2015 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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“Do you love me more than these,” Jesus asked of Peter who had not too long before boldly stated before all the disciples “Though all men forsake Thee, I will not.”

Here Jesus was graciously administering some much needed comfort and healing to Peter because of his earlier three denials with three precious opportunities to confirm his love for Christ. Yet Jesus takes Peter further as He continues with His instruction to Peter as to how He wants Peter to love Him; 1. Feed my Sheep and 2. Follow me. What a blessing it is that the Lord instructs us how to pray, love, serve and worship Him.

Certainly nobody could deny Peter loved Christ in view of the fact that he had been willing to lay down his life for Jesus who tells us there is no greater love than that . . . however, love needs to be . . . no, actually love must be given to the honoring of its proclaimed point of affection. Godly love doesn’t merely seek its own expression; rather it pursues the gratification of the other. (more…)

Is “love” God?

Posted: May 15, 2015 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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Everybody enjoys hearing about how “Jesus is a God of love” and undeniably many sermons entitled “God is love” have brought much needed comfort to the heart of the truly repentant. Nonetheless, while these statements are certainly true, as believers we must remember that they are not complete statements of truth. An unwavering truth is that God is no respecter of persons and sometimes the holiness and righteousness of God requires a change in His posture with individuals, a concept some believers have a hard time believing. But consider the following two verses.

“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it,” (Deuteronomy 28:63).

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land . . . ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise,” (Numbers 14:34).

Certainly, God is a God of love, yet in Rev. 2:6 Jesus said “. . . this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” Again in Proverbs it says, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.” Now, I am not trying to present God as a God of hate, just establish the fact that God is capable of hate.

(more…)

He that has ears to hear…

Posted: May 3, 2015 in Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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A couple of years ago I had written an article about the unfaithful steward who wasted his master’s goods, I discussed the attitudes of the Pharisees that were there listening. Amazingly, instead of agreeing with Jesus that the steward’s behavior was sinful, they instead began to deride Jesus to publicly mock Him. The more I ponder this reactive attitude towards Christ the more I am amazed at just how hard an arrogant and religious heart can be. Not only were they failing miserably at being faithful stewards of the oracles of God which they openly boasted to be the keepers and teachers of, they failed miserably in their living by them. Such is why all who will live godly for Jesus will not only be rejected, but likewise persecuted by today’s arrogant religious leaders.

Jesus said such men were “those who justified yourselves before men,” but warned all that God knows the hearts of all men. But what was it the Pharisees had been “justifying” themselves about? They were the prominent religious leaders of the day . . . that is up until the Light of the world appeared unto men exposing them for what they really were. They were covetous not only of worldly things, but also of the praise and admiration of men. No wonder Jesus spoke such sharp condemning words to them that what they “highly esteemed” was an abomination in the sight of God.

If you are an America Christian who is faring well and yet yearn for, or look for the praise and approval of men, then I strongly urge you to listen to Jesus words against these religious men –

Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

In the Gospel of John it was recorded how many of the chief rulers actually believed on Jesus, but only two of which are mentioned in scripture and eventually came forward and stood for Jesus, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea. However, many of them would not openly confess Jesus because they feared the Jews, i.e., the Pharisees –

John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Please take notice that Jesus did not state they were indifferent concerning “the praise of God” for their life and ministry, but rather how “they loved the praise of men more.” Nowadays, the churches are being “led” by ministers out there who are guilty of serving men more than they serve God. Many ministers are simply more concerned with their own position and career as a pastor and therefore their “godly service” is tainted by their trying to keep the deacons that hired them happy with their performance.

Other ministers are motivated in “their calling” by an eagerness to hear praise from the members of their congregation on just how wonderful their message was. They love hearing how the message was precisely the encouragement and comfort their congregants “needed to hear,” as once more they were told how much God loves them just as they are, unconditionally. Meanwhile, they continue living in sin and would be almost impossible to differentiate from non-believers if they were not going to a church on Sunday.

These are only a couple of reasons why most ministers are hesitant to give their whole counsel of God, because they know if preach on the “hard texts” the church would rapidly clear out for many are there with self-serving motives and have no intentions of ever picking up their crosses to follow Jesus Christ. So these ministers excused themselves as being “servants of men,” having blindly compromised the Gospel, and have chosen instead to likewise make themselves comfortable in the religious social centers they dare to call Church.

Doubtless these church leaders were convicted by the Holy Spirit with similar admonitions as those that were giving to the Seven Churches, yet they were too weak and carnal and therefore intimidated by the board of deacons in their churches to obediently stand up and boldly preach the whole counsel of God. Or perhaps even now many people in their church feel the Holy Spirit convicting them through their personal study of God’s holy Word and are too intimidated by their authoritarian pastors to even ask or share what the Lord has been impressing on their own hearts? The verses below show how this intimidation existed and affected the parents of the one born blind which Jesus had healed –

John 9:19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then does he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now sees, we know not, or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age ask him, he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day (like many nowadays) had made quite a living for themselves by taking wages of the people who had little to spare while they themselves fared sumptuously. Because of their riches they could not be convinced of their sin unto repentance since they believed they were obviously blessed while others were poor, supposing their prosperity was a sure sign of their godliness. Foolishly they perpetuated this lie deeper into their darkened hearts by exchanging honor among themselves as being the most venerable and praiseworthy leaders of the poor and ignorant. All too often we hear the same foolish clamor in lengthy introduction of certain preachers at public assemblies. Yet listen to Jesus explanation to them as to why such would not be saved –

John 5:44 How can you believe which receive honor one of another and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

What a powerfully strong and indicting question. Hear also the sharp judgment from Enoch recorded Jude against them, yet not only against those in Jesus’ days, but still loudly echoing in ours as well. Razor-sharp words to be applied against all the hypocritical leaders of religion everywhere who “appear to be somewhat” and trust in of their illusion of position, authority and knowledge; yet don’t walk according to the truth of the Gospel.

Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speak great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

These apostate covetous leaders unwittingly separated themselves from God because of their carnality and refusal to walk by the leading of Spirit of God. These are they who have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. Such leaders nowadays are now governing mega-church-empires all over the globe making merchandise of another gospel to carnal believers convinced they too are heaven bond. Dare to examine these men’s ministry and your own pastors in the light of Paul’s words to the Church –

I Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

I Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Beloved, Jesus once warned a man who came wanting Jesus to settle a dispute about an inheritance, beware of covetousness. It is a lie from hell that “He with the most toys when he dies, wins.” Riches cannot save a man’s soul, rather they tend to be the very weight that pulls them down into the depths of hell. Some may protest and say, “But wait, with Jesus it is possible for the rich to be saved.” True, but Jesus was the one who warned it is still easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle. Why then make it harder when even with the poor, the righteous are still scarcely saved. Are those things that perish with the using worthy of risking one’s eternal soul?

Luke 12:15 And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

Nevertheless, after Jesus’ reference to the unjust steward who wasted his lord’s good the Pharisees began to openly mock Jesus.

Lu 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. 15 And He said unto them, “You are they which justify your selves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Because the Pharisees openly ridiculed Christ and His sermon against worldliness, He proceeded to tell everyone about “certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously … and a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores.” Now nowhere is it implied by Luke that this rich man and Lazarus were mere fictitious characters created for a parabolic lesson and to assume these were not two actual people lacks any support of scriptural implication. It can be seen in 16 other places in his Gospel account how Luke clearly records “Jesus spoke a parable” unto the people, but not here.

It is therefore more than reasonable to believe that the Pharisees and all those around wholly understood who Jesus was speaking about . . . and were therefore immediately brought back to a sober temperament as the fate of this once highly esteemed and respected individual was declared unto them. Nothing takes the wind out of the prideful mockery out of hypocrites faster than exposing the fate of one of their own, and such seems to be the intention of Jesus so addressing the rich man and Lazarus after the Pharisees deriding Him.

The modern church would do well to listen to the Jesus’ words above, as well as these other words He said later to the disciples once again in front of those who came trying Him with clever questions.

Luke 20:45 Then in the audience of all the people He said unto His disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes and love the greetings in the markets and take the highest seats in the synagogues and chief rooms at feasts. 47 These are they who devour widows’ houses and for a show make their long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

These religious leaders had all the outward appearance of being teachers and authorities on matters of religion, but they were nothing more than “whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” They publicly paraded themselves as spiritual leaders from God to the world while they really lived only for themselves neglecting the weightier matters of the Law; judgment, mercy and faith.

So what exactly is the difference from those pharisaical hypocrites then and so many of the chief leaders in modern churches today? Once again too many have neglected the warning that the covetous would again confuse gain with godliness and begin to preach prosperity over holiness, that Christians should be healthy, popular, happy and prosperous as a witness to God blessing us. But how does message that convict a dying world of sin, righteousness and judgment?

Where in this day and age is that lowly servant mentality that our Lord and Savior showed us among all those now confidently claiming to be King’s kids? Is it because we don’t remember when Jesus returns He is going to separate the sheep from the goats? Dividing those who served God and those who didn’t? Just as surely as the rich man pleaded with Abraham to “have mercy on me,” so will many of these confident believers one day beg for mercy and not find any because they too are guilty of neglecting the weightier matters of the Law.

Lu 16:25 But Abraham said, “Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, which would come from thence.”

I cannot help but consider Abraham’s words, “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot.” It seems that the torment of those on the other side is so great and extreme, that some like Lazarus might be compassionately compelled to try to pass over even at their own peril to try to offer some relief to the tormented, even though they were neglected and suffered greatly in this life. But the wisdom and righteous judgment of God has made this impossible. They had their opportunity to choose life and live, to repent and draw nigh to God and He would have drawn nigh unto them, but the opportunity is now forever gone.

Jesus concludes His accounting of the rich man and Lazarus fates with Abraham’s clear response to the rich man’s desperate pleading for him to send Lazarus back to warn his five brothers lest they too come to the same end, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Like a sharp sword thrusted skillfully into the very heart of the matter, since that was the confidence of these Pharisees who believed their knowledge of the scriptures would save them.

Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will not come to Me, that you might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and you receive Me not, yet if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.

How can you believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses you would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me. But if you believe not his writings, how can you believe My words? (John 5:39-47)

There are five articles I wrote all dealing with the apostasy that is now in the churches today. I wrote about “Why judgment must begin in the Lord’s house, with those who are called by His name,” because so many seem believers truly think heaven is going to be so much better off and lucky to have them once they get there. They are proud and arrogant thinking they have been God’s gift to the church. Meanwhile their hypocrisy has been the cause for the Lord’s name to be blasphemed among the unbelievers. We are to walk worthy of the Name of Jesus Christ if we call ourselves a Christian.

Next, “Faith, faithfulness and forgiveness,” in which I reasoned how it seems many are so-called believers are not truly pressing into the Kingdom of God, nor does it appear that they even understand the concept thereof. Maybe because they have been taught they are “king’s kids” and it’s their entitlement. Perhaps because they think that just because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give them the Kingdom all they have to do is wait for it to come to them. Foolishly they are strolling down the broad way that leads to hell itself.

Thirdly, “The rights of man,” and how since the fall of Adam this illusion of “rights” has been repackaged and resold over and over again only to keep men in conflict with each other and their Creator. God has indeed given rights to men, but they are His to give and not a man’s to claim. They are the blessings He bestows upon those who have embraced their responsibilities and so labored and walked accordingly.

Then, “The unfaithful steward who wasted his master’s goods,” and how our good stewardship requires our keeping God’s word with what it defines as defines as unambiguous righteousness, and likewise not allowing sin to creep into our lives disguising itself as something acceptable.

Lastly, “Faith as a grain of mustard seed,” the last in the series on faith, such faith which if truly obtain, Jesus said we could “say unto this sycamine tree, “Be you plucked up by the root and planted in the sea and it will obey you.” Oh how I pray always for this gift of faith that I might effectually minister the gospel in power to the needs of the afflicted and those tormented in this life. Oh, that all God’s children possessed and lived by such faith.

Now, before we finish, I want to share a conversation I had with one believer many years ago. After one of our house meetings, this individual came up to me and told me he wanted to do something great for God. I told him that was great, to be patient and God may so use him. However, he repeated himself as almost correcting me as if I did not correctly hear him, “Listen, I mean I want to do something really great for God.” To which I again said to him “Good. Be patient.”

At my reply he seemed almost agitated as if I wasn’t quite getting it, so he said again to me, “No, I am saying I want to do something really great for God, something that other believers aren’t doing for Him.” At that I then told him, “Good, I know just the thing.”

“What? What is it?” he eagerly replied, “I’ll do anything!”

I told him “This is something God looking for and really wants done but hardly anyone will do it because it costs too much.”

“I don’t care what it costs, I’ll do it. I want to do something great for God,” he insisted again.

“This is the greatest thing you can do for Him,” I told him, “But you have to be willing to give up everything if you want to successfully do it.”

“I don’t care, it’s OK no matter what it costs! I am the one that will do it!” he insisted “I just want to do something great for God.”

“OK,” I said, “Love Him with all your heart, mind and strength. That’s what God wants, but many can’t or simply won’t do it because it cost them too much.”

“Aaaaaaw man!” he said, “I said I want to do something really great for God.”

Sigh . . . most believers just don’t get it. Why is it so many fail to see the greatest commandment is also the greatest thing we can do? Why is it so many want to do the “really great” thing . . . do they really think that will make them a great person or man of God? If so, then their service is all about them and not God.

Why can’t believers just humble themselves and let God be God, and love and serve Him as He is worthy? Have they forgotten that he who willingly becomes the least, the same shall be great?

Lord Jesus, increase our faith, we desperately need real living faith . . .

Remember that true faith works by love. If we are ever to do great things for God, we must first give Him all our heart and mind and serve Him with all our being. Anything less is not loving Him with pure hearts; anything less is a falling short.

Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question tempting him and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Luke 16:31 And He said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

I Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Lord, we entreat You again, give us open hearts and ears that hear, for Your name’s sake Lord Jesus.

An examination of Modern Tribulation Theology & America in Prophecy

Posted: November 25, 2014 in Shared Thoughts
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Capture

I have just finished writing a book titled “The Eighth Beast.”

 I have created a separate site for the book and intend to keep it available for a season.

While some of the chapters have titles similar to blog posts here on Gates of the City, please note that for the most part they have been rewritten.

Blessings

William Males

NOTE: This is an old post which still generates traffic. However, in 2015 I wrote a Book on America in Prophesy called “THE EIGHTH BEST” which was updated in 2022 and includes more info and better quality audio files, all of which you can link to the Table of Contents >HERE<
The book is free to read on line, but also available on Amazon >HERE<

Wretched Men

Posted: November 22, 2014 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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There was a time when I honestly thought I was a Christian, meaning, that I was a real “follower of Christ.” But like so many others professing Christ nowadays, I was believing what so many religious teachers out there teach as the Christian’s dilemma, that we will always be stuck in doing those things we hate and many times completely unable to do those right things we want. My question was and still is, just how is that being “free indeed?”

John 8:31 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed ;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Romans 7:19 – For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

So, how are we supposed to reconcile those words of the Apostle Paul with the words of Jesus? Are we “wretched men,” or are we “free indeed?” Like so many, I was taught that Bible teaches that sin “dwells in me,” and therefore, evil is always going to present with me. Thus, like Paul himself supposedly admitted, I too was always going to be sinning, and that like it or not, I am therefore incapable of ever becoming the person I pray to become in Christ. That if I want any real peace of mind and heart, I just needed to accept all that as fact and quit being so hard on myself. If I did not simply accept who I was “in Christ,” I would never have any peace.

To this day I am continuing meet believers who wholly accepted it as sound doctrinal fact and therefore teach it as so. Consequently, many of these have absolutely no real motivation to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” To me, that is both alarming and frightening, since without holiness no man shall see God on favorable terms.

(more…)

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