Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 
Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 
 
We see in the Book of Genesis that sin caused a great rift between man and God.
 
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
 
The separation between God and man was 100% mankind’s fault. Suddenly, instead of sweet communion between mankind and God in the garden, Adam and Eve experienced FEAR when they were in the presence of God. Why?
 
God plainly told Adam that the penalty for eating forbidden fruit was DEATH!
 
Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 
Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely DIE. 
 
DIE: H4191, mûth, mooth
A primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively to kill: -  X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy (-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro [-mancer], X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in [no] wise.
 
The fear of death has haunted every person who has ever lived since Adam foolishly ate of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. People throughout history have suffered unimaginable pain, humiliation, and degradation, but still they have gasped and fought for their very last breath.
 
However, God slowly but surely unveiled His plan to overcome death itself, and to finally heal the great rift that Adam and his descendant’s had created by their rebellion and sin. What a glorious plan, and what an equally glorious result!
 
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
 
When we read about the Sunday morning almost two thousand years ago, our fear evaporates and our imagination is seized by the hope of our own resurrection. Not only was Jesus alive, He was clothed in a powerful and glorious celestial body!
 
Jesus walked for several miles walking and talking with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. Jesus sat and ate with them after they arrived at their destination, and as soon as they recognized Him, Jesus disappeared. The two disciples hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the rest of the disciples and Jesus appeared in the midst of them. Jesus’ resurrected celestial body, and our resurrected celestial body, will not be bound by space or time.
 
You may be saying to yourself, “Interesting, but what does all this have to do with me now?”
 
When we read the Book of Acts, we see something very marvelous happening! It appears that the saints in the Book of Acts gathered together…and they never separate! They were having Church 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. I have participated in a few “revivals” in my life, but nothing even close to the Book of Acts.
 
Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 
Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 
Act 4:34  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 
 
I think it is difficult for us to even imagine what it was like when the Apostles were first preaching the gospel in Jerusalem. It appears that people were being converted to Christianity by the hundreds, and even by the thousands, every day.
 
Act 4:4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 
 
Not only were people being converted to Christianity, they began to share all of their worldly possessions with each other.
 
Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 
Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 
 
I do not believe the early Christians were attempting to start a new economic experiment. I believe they were experiencing something so radical, none of them wanted to miss it…They were experiencing a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
 
Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
 
The new Christians in Jerusalem were seeing astounding miracles, and they were experiencing the presence of the Holy Ghost, they were getting a small taste of the reign of Jesus Christ: the communal love, the communal joy, the communal peace, the communal faith, and they did not want to leave their new Christian community for even a moment. They began to eat together and pray together, they were each personally beginning to experience the Kingdom of God on earth, and is it any wonder that they did not want to leave?
 
However, it was not destined to last, there was persecution from without, disention from within, and eventually the members of the first Christian community began to scatter to the four winds. Although the Apostles strived mightily against the legalist and the false teachers, eventually as the Apostles and the early disciples were martyred, legalism began to make inroads into the doctrine of grace, the unity of the early Church was lost to sectarianism, and the power of the Holy Ghost was slowly quenched.
 
I believe there is an allegory concerning the Church in the ministry of Jesus Christ. When Jesus began His ministry, he commanded Peter to cast his nets into the waters. Peter caught so many fish that his nets began to break.
 
Luk 5:4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 
Luk 5:5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 
Luk 5:6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 
 
Jesus told Peter that he was going to become a fisher of men. Peter was indeed a fisher of men, the early Church spread rapidly over the known world while Peter was still alive. However, we can look around us today and see how far the Church has fallen away from the unity, power, and holiness of the early Church…the nets did indeed break.
 
After the resurrection, Jesus told Peter to cast in his nets into the sea again…this time the nets did not break.
 
Joh 21:4  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 
Joh 21:5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 
Joh 21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 
Joh 21:7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 
Joh 21:8  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 
Joh 21:9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 
Joh 21:10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 
Joh 21:11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 
 
In a parable, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven with a net cast into the sea full of fish.
 
Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 
Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 
Mat 13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 
 
We can compare the two catches of fish, the first at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the last after His resurrection. In both instances, the disciples had fished all night without any luck, but after Jesus appears on the scene, suddenly their nets are supernaturally filled. This should inform us that all our strivings to save people are basically fruitless without the presence and wisdom of the LORD to guide us.
 
The first time, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, the boats began to sink and the nets began to break. The last time, the resurrected LORD is beckoning his disciples from the shore, and they bring in their nets supernaturally full of fish with no danger to their boats or their nets. I believe the first time represents the beginning of the spread of the gospel, but the last time represents the end time final harvest at the end of the world where nothing and no one is lost.
 
I believe the last great harvest of souls is very imminent! It will not occur because of our work or our striving to save souls in the darkness, it will occur because the LORD will be present with us, and He will supernaturally guide us in the morning of His new day. The key to the last days harvest will be our proximity to the LORD and our ability to hear His instructions.
 
The harvest is going to begin whether we are ready or not. However, when we begin to see the LORD working supernaturally through His servants, we MUST join ourselves with them in unity, and expect that God’s anointing will come upon us and upon our own ministry. We see that the people who resisted the servants of God usually did not have a good ending.
 
Psa 105:13  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 
Psa 105:14  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 
Psa 105:15  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 
 
We also notice that time after time, the people who joined themselves with God’s anointed shared in their triumphs. We only need to read about Abraham and his trained servants, Gideon and his three-hundred, and King David and his mighty men.
 
As we all strive to reach the celestial shore, we need to listen intently for the LORD’s instruction, and pray for His blessing on our work here on earth or all our strivings will be in vain. We all need to get closer to Jesus!
 
Hos 6:1  Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 
Hos 6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 
 

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
This message is the most FUNDAMENTAL teaching of the gospel; however, it is also the most misunderstood, and it is also the subject of many erroneous and false teachings by false shepherds.
If there is one thing that Jesus Christ and the Apostles plainly taught, it was that salvation is a FREE GIFT from God! There is absolutely nothing we can do to deserve salvation, or to earn salvation, or to pay for salvation.

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the GIFT of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have GIVEN thee living water. 
 
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his GRACE in his KINDNESS toward us through Christ Jesus. 
Eph 2:8  For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: 
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 
 
As a matter of fact, if we attempt to deserve, or earn, or pay for our salvation, there is a very good chance that we are not saved! Why do I say that? Because it is by grace that we are saved through FAITH.
 
It is our BELIEF in the perfect 100% payment for our sins by the BLOOD OF JESUS that completely constitutes the salvation experience! If we are constantly questioning whether we are saved or not, it is because we do not truly understand the value of HIS BLOOD.
 
Let’s examine the perfect allegory of the blood of Jesus in the Old Testament. Just before the children of Israel left Egypt, God commanded that they apply the blood of a lamb to the lintel and the doorposts of their homes.
 
Exo 12:21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 
Exo 12:22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 
Exo 12:23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 
 
Now let’s ask ourselves some questions… Were all the Israelites good, or righteous, or law abiding? They did not even have the law! Were all the Egyptians wicked, or evil, or law breakers? I suspect that there were probably a few Egyptians that we would not mind having for our next door neighbor.
 
The Bible specifically says that righteousness is by faith of Jesus Christ upon them who BELIEVE and that ALL have sinned!
 
Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 
Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
 
If we believe the Bible, and I do, then we must admit that the Israelites were sinners just like the Egyptians.  The ONLY difference between the two peoples was the BLOOD!
 
God did not tell the Israelites that they had to pay tithes and offerings, or to love their neighbor, or to do good works, or to fast and pray. All God asked them to do was to eat the lamb and APPLY THE BLOOD!
 
The difference between life and death is the BLOOD, the essence of salvation is the BLOOD…NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
 
If we feel guilty for things we have done…or not done, we need to APPLY THE BLOOD! So how do we apply the blood of Jesus today?
 
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 
 
If we sin, we will know it, because our conscience will bother us. First, and foremost, we need to remind ourselves of the total and absolute payment for all of our sins, and our perfect justification by faith in the BLOOD of Jesus Christ.
 
Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
 
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 
 
Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 
Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the BLOOD of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 
Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
 
Satan’s main point of attack will always be to cast doubt on the perfect sacrifice, and the complete atonement of the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!
 
It does not matter what we have done in the past, or what we may do in the future…as long as we remember that our eternal salvation depends on NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
 
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
 
  C             Am
What can wash away my sin?
 F              C         G C
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 C               Am
What can make me whole again?
 F              C        G  C
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
     C     
     Oh, precious is the flow,
      G                       C
     That makes me white as snow;
     C         Am
     No other fount I know,
      F              C        G  C
     Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
For my pardon this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the BLOOD of Jesus, 
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God; 
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 
 
Do not let anyone steal your hope and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. There is absolutely NOTHING we can add or subtract from what He has already accomplished, once and for all!
 
One last note…although we are completely and totally JUSTIFIED by the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, we also must be SANCTIFIED by the washing of the Word.
 
Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 
 
It is exceedingly easy to forget what Jesus Christ has done for us, and to eventually lose our perfect liberty in Him, if we are not continually spending time meditating on the Word of God, and if we are not being constantly reminded by the Holy Spirit of our perfect standing before God the Father.
 
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

The biggest lie ever propagated by Satan and by other demonic spirits is the bodies we temporarily occupy belong to us…THEY DO NOT! Let me say that again. The body that you currently occupy DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU! One last time:
 
GOD IS THE OWNER OF EVERYONE’S BODY!!!
 
GOD IS THE OWNER OF EVERYTHING!!!
 
YOU CANNOT SELL YOUR SOUL TO THE DEVIL OR ANYONE ELSE!!!
 
1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
 
At our very best, we are priests allowed to dwell with God in His Holy Tabernacle. At the very least we are doorkeepers, stationed at the entrance to prevent demonic spirits from entering.
 
DOORKEEPER: H5605, sâphaph
BDB Definition:
1) (Hithpoel) to stand at or guard the threshold
 
Psa 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
 
We are simply stewards for a very short time, and eventually we are going to be judged according to how well we conducted ourselves as stewards of God’s property.
 
UNCLEAN SPIRITS
 
The term “unclean spirit” apparently is a catch all term that refers to all demonic spirits.
 
UNCLEAN: G169, akathartos
ak-ath'-ar-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2508 (meaning cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specifically (demonic)): - foul, unclean.
 
Luk 8:27  And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
Luk 8:28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Luk 8:29  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was DRIVEN [emphasis added] of the devil into the wilderness.)

DRIVEN: G1643, ἐλαύνω, elaunō, el-ow'-no
A prolonged form of a primary verb (obsolete except in certain tenses as an alternate of this) of uncertain affinity; to push (as wind, oars or daemoniacal power): - carry, drive, row.

Jas 3:4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are DRIVEN (G1643) of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
 
We see from this story of the demon possessed man, who lived in the tombs, that demons DROVE him to self-destructive behavior.

I believe ALL humans have experienced some form of compulsive self-destructive behavior, perhaps not as dramatic as the demon possessed man in the Book of Luke’s narrative, but to one extent or another. The influence of demonic spirits covers a wide spectrum of activity, anywhere from offering evil suggestions, to an overpowering compulsion to perform a destructive act.

In order to understand the spirit dimension, we must think of ourselves as spiritual ships being blown to and fro by winds (SPIRITS). Some of us our DRIVEN by a gentle breeze (The Holy Spirit), others of us are being DRIVEN by raging hurricanes (demonic spirits).

I can tell you from personal experience that I have felt compelled to do things that I did not want to do but which I felt DRIVEN to do. The Apostle Paul gives us a list of the “works of the flesh”.

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you are honest with yourself, I think you will admit that you have also felt DRIVEN to do things during your lifetime that you KNEW were destructive to yourself and to others.
Being DRIVEN is not necessarily a bad thing, it depends on the identity of the spirit driving you. We see in the scriptures that Jesus was also DRIVEN but He was DRIVEN by the Spirit of God.

Mar 1:11  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mar 1:12  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The SECRET OF VICTORY over the flesh is CHOOSING to be DRIVEN by the Spirit of God and NOT by “unclean spirits”.

One powerful secret is PRAYING IN TONGUES. I have found that if a destructive desire presents itself to me, whether it is a desire to eat something I know is bad for me (cookies, pie, cake and ice cream) or drink something I know is bad for me (alcohol, caffeine, sugary drinks) or do something I will regret (get angry at somebody) all I have to do is take a break and pray in tongues and the desire eventually leaves. The calm gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit SHALL overcome the raging hurricane of carnal desires.

Speaking in tongues appears like foolishness to the world, many times I have thought to myself, “Is this real?” However, many millions of people speak in tongues and as a result they have experienced a radical transformation in their lives. 
 
In the Old Testament, the High Priest took the incense from the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies and placed it in front of the Ark of the Covenant. We enter into the Holy of Holies by SPEAKING IN TONGUES!
 
My lifetime of experience brought me to only one conclusion…SPEAKING IN TONGUES WORKS! Over many years, my walk with the LORD was hot and cold with many backsliding experiences, like a rising and falling tide that continually changed depending on my circumstances; however, when I resolved to speak in tongues everyday a transformation began to take place. Speaking in tongues “transfigures” us because, like Moses, we are entering into the presence of the Most High God!
 
Speaking in tongues is not just something that should happen one time after you are baptized in the Holy Ghost. Speaking in tongues is not something you do once a year like the High Priest in the Old Testament. You MUST speak in tongues every day! You should enter into the Holy of Holies every day!
 
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.   
 
Speaking in tongues is how you enter into God’s REST AND REFRESHING! How very sad that the Prophet Isaiah spoke the last sentence: YET THEY WOULD NOT HEAR! All the billions of people in the world, including many nominal Christians, are fighting, backbiting and murdering because they refuse to seek God’s answer. Certainly the saints of God desperately need to enter into His rest!
 
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
 
The only thing stopping us from entering into God’s REST is unbelief. Maybe we tell ourselves that speaking in tongues is foolish, and perhaps it is foolish according to men’s wisdom:
 
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
 
If we are wise in our own eyes, God will not accept us as sanctified vessels. We must be willing to be foolish in the sight of men if we want to know God intimately. King David loved God and he did not care what anybody else might think about him.
 
2Sa 6:20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2Sa 6:21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
 
Stop worrying about what other people think about you and start worrying about what God thinks if you want to please Him and enter His rest. You might say, “Doesn’t the Bible ask, do all pray in tongues?” Obviously everybody does not pray in tongues but it is not because everybody should not pray in tongues. See what the Apostle Paul said:
 
1Co 14:5  I would that ye ALL (emphasis added) spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
 
Paul wrote that, “I would that ye ALL spake with tongues! I know Paul’s main subject was the gift of prophecy but prophecy is actually the next stage AFTER we begin speaking in tongues. Prophecy is part of the final stage of growth for a Christian.
If you want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the manifestation of speaking in tongues, you simply need to ask God. God desires greatly that everyone receive His Holy Spirit so that He can have fellowship with you in spirit and in truth.
 
Luk 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
 
I sought the baptism in the Holy Spirit for a long time. One day I went to a revival meeting at a charismatic church, and the man of God asked if anyone would like to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I went up and He laid hands on me and prayed for me…nothing happened. I went back to my seat and I was praising God and thanking Him, but I was wondering, “How come I wasn’t baptized in the Holy Spirit?”
 
As I praised God …OUT LOUD…everyone else in the building was also praying and praising God, suddenly I started speaking in tongues…I was so happy! Everyone has a different story but if you do not receive the baptism right away keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking, eventually God will baptize you in His Holy Spirit. You might also ask people who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit to pray with you.
 
No matter what problem you may be dealing with, whether your problem is over eating, or over drinking, or taking drugs, or practicing violence, or something worse, PRAYING IN TONGUES is the answer! You may not change overnight, but eventually you will change! Exchange the raging storms of this world for the calm, gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit.
 
Rom 12:1  Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
 
SPIRIT: G4151, pneuma
pnyoo'-mah
From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.
 
God is a Spirit, His manifestation is similar to a current of air, He is invisible; However, We can experience Him through our transformational change in His presence. He is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. So the question is, How can God “manifest” or reveal Himself to His creation? Can a current of air hug somebody they love? Can a current of air shout with joy? Can a current of air smile and reach out to touch somebody who is hurting? God the Son has a celestial body, but it appears that His celestial body is limited to one physical place at a time. Therefore, God the Son needs more than one body. God the Son needs, and is going to have, millions and millions of “physical” bodies!
 
Heb 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Heb 10:7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
 
God has a magnificent plan. He has created a beautiful complex world and universe and He has filled His creation with living sentient beings. One of these sentient beings, named Adam, would be His dwelling place…His “tabernacle”! Out of Adam, God created Eve, another “tabernacle”! Together, they would both “be fruitful and multiply” creating billions of other tabernacles, a living temple where His Holy Spirit could dwell and thereby allow Him to “physically” inhabit and REVEAL Himself to His beautiful creation in a multitude of places, in a multitude of beautiful bodies, all at once.
 
However, there was another spirit, a “ministering” spirit created by God to serve God and mankind, who decided to oppose God’s plan. This other spirit, later named Satan or “adversary”, also wanted to dwell in these tabernacles created by God, and Satan decided to “steal” God’s intended home(s). Satan understood that if he could take control of Adam, the first created body, he could thereby take control of God’s creation and inhabit it himself and become the “god of this world.”
 
Adam and his descendants were created to be the dwelling place of God and a “channel” for God’s Holy Spirit to experience, and express His love, for all of His creation. However, Adam was created by God to have a free will. God not only wanted to experience and inhabit His creation, God wanted to enjoy His creation WITH Adam and his descendants. God wanted above all to “fellowship” with Adam, and Eve, and all their progeny. God wanted to express His LOVE to and through His intended tabernacles.
 
When Adam sinned, he opened the door for OTHER spirits besides the Holy Spirit to take up residence in him and in his descendants.
 
We need to think of ourselves as water faucets, except instead of channeling hot and cold water, we have the capability to channel the “Holy Spirit” OR we can channel “unclean (demonic) spirits”.
 
Jas 3:10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Jas 3:11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Jas 3:12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
 
A human being can either be a blessing or a curse depending upon which kind of spirit they allow to influence and control them.
 
People always ask, “How can God allow all the evil in the world?”
 
God does not allow all the evil into the world, each and every human being decides whether or not to allow evil into the world. We decide whether to channel the Holy Spirit or unclean spirits. All the evil in the world is not God’s fault, it is our fault for “deciding” to channel unclean spirits! Unclean spirits have forsaken their original purpose, to minister to God and mankind, and have determined among themselves that they are not going to serve mankind, but to rule over mankind.
 
Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
 
Unfortunately for us, because of the original sin by our forefather Adam, we are born “un-naturally” channeling unclean spirits. Therefore, in order for God to use us, we need to go through a cleansing process called SANCTIFICATION. A fountain cannot yield BOTH salt water and fresh water. If the fountain channeling salt water is not cleaned, it cannot channel fresh water. However, once we go through this “cleansing process”, we can channel fresh water, in other words, we can channel the HOLY SPIRIT. We need to be cleaned by fresh water (The Holy Spirit), WE CANNOT DO IT BY OURSELVES!
 
Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Joh 7:39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
 
Now I want to talk about the “cleansing process” because unless you seriously commit yourself to the process, you will never be a proper channel for the HOLY SPIRIT. This is the “true” definition of repentance!
 
Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
 
Let us take a closer look at the word REPENT in the Greek language because it is crucial to understand in order for you to begin the cleansing process.
REPENT: G3340, metanoeō
met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.
 
The Greek word for repent, metanoeo, is actually created using two Greek words:
 

1. META: G3326, meta

met-ah'
A primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly denoting accompaniment;
 

1. NOIEO: G3539, noieō

noy-eh'-o
From G3563; to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to comprehend, heed: - consider, perceive, think, understand.

Therefore, the proper English translation of REPENT is: ACCOMPANIMENT TO EXERCISE THE MIND.
First, we need to have a “revelation” that we are not what we were originally meant to be. You need to read the four (4) Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, carefully study Jesus Christ…He is what we are ALL meant to be!

Second, we need to take a hard look in the metaphorical mirror and ask, “Am I even remotely close to the man I read about in the four (4) Gospels?” If we are honest with our self and with each other, we will have to answer with a definite: NOT EVEN CLOSE!

What next?

1. We MUST acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and be baptized in HIS NAME. He is the ONLY WAY for each of us to be repaired (transformed), in order for us to fulfill our original purpose.
2. We absolutely MUST be baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT, with evidence of speaking in tongues! The HOLY SPIRIT cleanse us with the WORD OF GOD.
   

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


Without the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT, you CANNOT even begin to be transformed into the JESUS CHRIST.

The HOLY SPIRIT is the person we MUST ACCOMPANY because it is He who is going to EXERCISE OUR MIND AND CLEANSE OUR TEMPLE (body)!

I do not care if you have studied at the most prestigious seminary in the world, and you had the greatest bible scholars as your professors because a human being is not capable or equipped to do what the HOLY SPIRIT can do, which is transform us into the image of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the express image of God. I will even dare say that bible scholars, who have not been baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT, will probably actively try to prevent your transformation (metamorphosis).

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

You will have people tell you all Christians possess this anointing from God when they are born again. I am here to tell you ONLY CHRISTIANS BAPTISED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE ACCESS TO THE ANOINTED TEACHER…THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the moment God’s Holy Spirit leaves our spirit and enters into our soul (intellect and emotions). The Holy Spirit MUST first enter into our soul before he can begin the teaching and transformation process required to make us clean vessels, anoint us and prepare us for use by God.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by SPEAKING IN TONGUES! Read the book of Acts, the first thing the Apostles would ask believers was “Have you received the Holy Ghost?

Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

Speaking in tongues is praying to God in a language that is not known to the person praying. In reality it is the Holy Spirit praying on behalf of the person and He is edifying that person. The Holy Spirit is building you into a proper temple for God’s habitation. That is why you can never pray in tongues too much!

1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

EDIFICATION: G3619, oikodomē, oy-kod-om-ay'
Feminine (abstraction) of a compound of G3624 and the base of G1430; architecture, that is, (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation: - building, edify (-ication, -ing).
 
As we can see from studying the original Greek word (oikodome), God is building a structure. Each and every believer is being prepared by God to be a part of this structure. We are the living stones that God is using to build the City of the Great King…THE NEW JERUSALEM! We are talking about God’s master plan!
 
Prophecy is when a person speaks the Word of God and the Word is understandable to everyone. The Apostle Paul wrote that prophecy edifies (builds) the church. Therefore, it is even more important than speaking in tongues, but praying in tongues is still very, very important. If an individual Christian has not been edified properly by speaking in tongues in private, they will not be prepared to “fit” with God’s other living stones (saints) in a public assembly.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

I heard a preacher on the radio say that if a Christian is not healed, it was not because they lacked faith. He said that God sometimes has a purpose for Christians to be sick. I am not sure which Bible he gets his doctrine from, but it is not the Bible I own and read.  If you are a Christian and you are sick, or crippled, or blind, or paralyzed, or have the plague, it is NOT God’s will for your life! 
 
Does God love us? If God wants to teach us a lesson by allowing us to have AIDS or cancer, He has a funny way of showing us His love.  I am sure that my earthly Dad would not give me cancer to teach me a lesson. 
 
Why would my heavenly Father give me cancer to teach me a lesson? We have an enemy who is constantly seeking to destroy us, he wants us sick, poor, and defeated, but he is called Satan NOT God!
 
If you are a Christian sitting in a wheel chair or confined to a bed and you are hoping that someday you will finally learn your lesson and God will send some man or woman of great faith to cure your paralyzed legs, I am afraid you are in for a long wait. Lack of faith in God’s Word is the only reason a Christian will remain sick!
 
According to “your” faith be it unto you.
Matthew 9:29
 
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
And he marvelled because of “their” unbelief.
Mark 6:5-6
 
If Jesus Christ Himself was prevented from doing a mighty work because of the people’s unbelief, how can Billy Graham, or Oral Roberts, or Benny Hinn do a mighty work in spite of a person’s unbelief? I am confident nobody will heal you, including God Himself, if you do not believe God’s Word.
 
Now people are going to say, “Mike, you are so cruel, you know people can’t help being blind or crippled or sickly.” But I say, “Oh yes they can!” Guess what, I have some good news for all the sick people in the world. There are two easy steps you can take to be healthy, to be wealthy, to be free, to be happy, and to be wise.
 
First step: Be converted!
 
Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be “converted”, and I should “heal” them.
Matthew 13:13-15
 
CONVERTED. 1994. Ep-ee-stref’-o; to revert (literally, figuratively or morally): - come (go) again, convert, (re-) turn (about, again).  (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984.)
 
You have to do the opposite of what you have been doing. You have to stop your rebellion against God and confess the LORD Jesus Christ and believe that God raised Him from the dead. 
 
Second step: Speak God’s Word to the problem.
 
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I “spoken”; we also believe, and therefore “speak”.
2 Corinthians 4:13
 
Instead of not believing and listening to God’s Word, you have to believe and begin speaking and hearing what God has to say about a situation. Do not listen to anybody who contradicts the Word of God. If you go to a church where the Preacher contradicts God’s Word, leave and find a church where the Word of God is preached. Instead of doubting God’s Word, you have to start believing and speaking God’s Word. 
 
When God was giving me revelation about memorizing and speaking his Word, one night I had a vivid dream. In my dream, I was in an office with about a dozen people and they were all sitting at desks reading a book and writing in notepads. I also had a book and notepad but I didn’t know what to do. I just sat looking around at everyone as one by one, each person finished writing in their notepads, closed their book and left the room.
 
Eventually, there was only one man left in the room with me and after he finally finished writing, he stood up and closed his book. Before he left, he said:  “Once you learn how to cipher, you only have to work two or three hours a day and you can take the rest of the day off.” I was thinking to myself, “I want to work two or three hours a day, I have to go to the library and find a book about ciphering,” then I woke up! I thought it was a strange dream and I didn’t understand it, but it was one of those vivid dreams that I believe are given by God and have special meaning, so I prayed for revelation and looked up cipher.
 
Cipher, 1. To express in secret writing.  2. To find out by ciphering; to solve by arithmetic; as, to cipher the cost.  3.  To make out; to interpret; to decipher. (Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Simon and Schuster, 1979.)
 
Eventually, when I was talking about my dream to my brother and sister, the revelation came to me.
 
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in “parables” ?
Matthew 13:10
 
PARABLES - 3850. Par-ab-ol-ay’: a similitude (“parable”), i.e. (symbol) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), adage; - comparison, figure, parable, proverb. (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984.)
 
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more “abundance”: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even what he hath.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Matthew 13:11-13
 
ABUNDANCE - 4052. Per-is-sooy’-o: to superabound (in quantity or quality) be in excess, be superfluous; also (translated) to cause to superabound or excel. – (make, more) abound, (have, have more), abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above). (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984.)
 
Why did Jesus speak in parables to the crowds and only explain the parables to his disciples when they were alone? 
 
I believe it was because his disciples put the Kingdom of God before everything else.  They left their work, their homes, their families, and everything else important to them in order to follow Jesus. The disciples made following Jesus Christ their primary occupation. That is the kind of person God is looking for, God is looking for the cream of the crop, God demands the very best. God demands His tithe of first fruits. The Apostle Paul explained it like this:
 
But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that “diligently” seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
 
DILIGENTLY - 1567. Ek-sat-teh’o:  to search out, i.e. (figuratively) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebrew) worship: - enquire, seek after (carefully, diligently). (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984.)
 
God’s chosen are not people who call themselves Jews or people who call themselves Christians. God’s chosen people love God with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and with all their strength. God wants people who love him as much as he loves them. God wants people who diligently seek Him in His Word, like Paul the Apostle:
 
 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 3:8-11
 
The books in the Old and New Testament are similar to books of ciphers. Although the text has a plain and obvious meaning; the text also contains deep and hidden meaning. You cannot read it once and expect to know all the mysteries of God and the books of the Bible were never intended to be simple texts. God has made His Word to be like a hidden treasure. 
 
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
 
The kingdom of God, the Word of God, is truly a great treasure. God will only give spiritual revelation to people who earnestly desire to know Him and His Word. God will show favor to those who Diligently seek Him! We must set our heart and our desire on spiritual things because we understand that Jesus Christ (the WORD OF GOD) is the author(ity) and finisher of our faith. Without God’s Word in our hearts and minds we are the same as most everyone else, blind men, lost and without hope.
 
We are like ships without an anchor, being cast about every time the winds change direction. However, with God’s living Word abiding in us, we are children of the light and children of the Most High.  Every obstacle and every opportunity will be made obvious to us. We are God’s children and He is our Father. We are under the authority of Jesus Christ and everything dealing with us and God is under our authority.
 
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Proverbs 23:2
 
Are you a king? Are you God’s chosen? Are you a child of the Most High? Are you a god? 
 
If you are, then you will diligently search and meditate upon and memorize God’s Word.  If you are not, your Bible will probably sit gathering dust and you will continue being lost and blind and wandering in the wilderness. You will remain sick, poor, and foolish. If you do not spend time in God’s Word, I doubt that you were ever a Christian to begin with.  In which case, I hope somebody is interceding and praying for you! 
 
Why do I say that?
 
As newborn babes, desire the sincere mild of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
I Peter 2:2
 
Just as newborn babies desire their mother’s milk, a newborn Christian desires the Word of God. We naturally are hungry for the nourishment that will make us grow stronger and help us reach maturity. We do not need anybody to tell us to drink milk when we were babies. A newborn baby naturally desires milk. A person who is truly born again will naturally desire God’s Word. If a person says, “I don’t need to read the Bible, me and Jesus got it all worked out.” I tend to think they were never saved in the first place.
 
If a person says, I use to read the Bible, but now I don’t need to ‘cause I’ve got it all figured out.” I tend to think they are either dead or dying in the spirit. You cannot eat for a year and go without eating for a year and survive. You must eat on a regular basis and if you want your spirit to live and grow, you must imbibe in the Word of God on a regular (daily) basis.
 
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, AD-O-NOY’ appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am Almighty God  (EL SHAD-DAH’-EE); walk before (to face) me, and be thou perfect (Blameless).
Genesis 17:1
 
Abraham is our prime example of faith. Abraham had an intimate relationship with God, but he did not have nearly the revelation available to him, that we have available to us. However, Abraham did know a few very important things about God:
 
God appeared to Abraham:  God wasn’t some unknowable entity. God wanted and cultivated an intimate relationship with Abraham.
God was ALMIGHTY (EL SHAD-DAH-EE):  Abraham knew that if God said he was going to do something, God could and would do it. Nothing is impossible to God!
God wanted Abraham to walk before (to face) Him:  God expected something from Abraham. God was not a Genie in a bottle, Abraham did not expect God to serve his every whim and desire. God was not Abraham’s servant, Abraham knew and understood that he was God’s servant.
God told Abraham to be perfect! Uh Oh!
 
What was Abraham to do? 
 
Abraham was born in sin just like all of the descendants of Adam. Abraham probably felt just as helpless as any one of us when we start comparing our pitiful condition with the perfection of Almighty God. God wants us all to be perfect.
 
However, we do not claim to be perfect. We do not claim that mature Christians travel from mountain top to mountain top. We all go through the valley of darkness occasionally. We all face sickness, trials, and have difficulties just like everybody else in the world. However, there is a difference between a mature Christian and an immature Christian. A mature Christian always goes to God with their problems and troubles. The mature Christian always seeks to know the will of God in every situation they face. The mature Christian knows that God is always with them no matter what their circumstances may look like. He will never leave nor forsake us. The mature Christian knows that God will manage to use every situation to build them up, to give them revelation, and to increase their faith in Him. The mature Christian is confident that God will eventually save and deliver them out of ALL their troubles.
 
Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 
Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 
Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.


It is so important that the sons of God determine within themselves that they are going to confess Jesus Christ come what may.


Mar 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.


It is obvious from the Book of Revelation that a great multitude of saints will suffer death at the hands of the Beast. However, once we understand that we have already died AND we have also been resurrected in Christ, we understand that there is nothing to fear about death for a Christian. Dying should be as simple as lying down to sleep.


Joh 11:11  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.


One day in the future everyone who is in Jesus Christ, whether dead or alive, will hear a great shout from heaven and they will all be waking up to meet our LORD in the air!
The three Hebrew children had to make a choice that everyone on earth will someday have to make and they made the right choice:


Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.


Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were confident that God could save them but they had determined in their hearts that they were not going to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image regardless of the consequences.


Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.


There are going to be many mature saints during the great tribulation who will lay down their lives for the immature saints. The mature saints are going to be revealed to the world just like Jesus was revealed to Israel, with signs, wonders, and miraculous power.


Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.


MANIFESTATION - G602, apokalupsis, ap-ok-al'-oop-sis
From G601; disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.


The manifestation (apocalypse) of the sons of God is the revelation of Jesus Christ in and through His brethren. By the way, “Sons of God” is a term of art, it will include women as well as men.


Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


Just like Jesus Christ was revealed to Israel as the true Messiah, King and High Priest of Israel, the sons of God will be revealed as the true Kings and Priests of the world and they will be rejected by the world just like Jesus was rejected by Israel. They will be persecuted and killed by the world just like Jesus was persecuted and killed by Israel.


I believe there will be three great harvests in the earth. The first harvest will be the harvest of first fruits which shall consist of the first 144,000, they will be the first wave of saints that will be revealed to the world. If you divide the world’s population of a little over 7,000,000,000 people by the first 144,000 saints, you arrive at approximately one miracle working Apostle for every 50,000 people on earth.


Apostle - G652, apostolos, ap-os'-tol-os
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.


There are more than twelve (12) apostles in the Bible. Here is a list of apostles other than the twelve named in the New Testament: Barnabas Acts 14:14, Apollos Cor. 4:6-9, Timothy I Thessalonians 1:1, Epaphroditus Phil. 2:25. The word simply means “messenger” although the Apostle Paul specifically mentions that there are “signs” that accompany an apostle.


2Co 12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.


The 144,000 will be accompanied by signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. Anybody who claims to be an apostle and is not followed by signs and miracles is a liar. The False Prophet will also perform deceiving signs and miracles, so you must be grounded in the knowledge of Jesus Christ to escape deception.


Therefore, there could be an Apostle in practically every medium sized town in the world. If you study the barley harvest in Israel, you will get a deeper insight into these first 144,000 saints of God.


Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.


The second harvest will consist of the millions of saints who are converted by these first 144,000 saints and they will include a vast multitude of saints who will also reach maturity as the sons of God. If you study the wheat harvest in Israel and the feast of Pentecost, you will understand more about this second harvest of saints. This arrival of millions of miracle working saints will terrify Satan and the current rulers of the world. They will know that their time is short and they will begin to persecute and make war on the saints of God.


Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;


The third and final harvest of saints will consist of immature saints who have not had time to reach maturity and they will be protected by God in the wilderness until the rapture, if they are wise enough to flee from Babylon.


Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.


I lean toward believing that the rapture/resurrection will occur on the Feast of Tabernacles in 2029 because this is the last and greatest Feast of ancient Israel. This is the day that Israel celebrated God dwelling WITH them. Also, the 1260 days that the woman flees into the wilderness corresponds with the number of days that the two witnesses are active in the earth.


Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.


I believe the two witnesses will come against the Beast and his kingdom while the Beast is making war on the saints, similar to Moses and Aaron against Pharaoh. The two witnesses are active for 1260 days and then are killed by the antichrist and their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half (3 and ½) days.


Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.


If the two witnesses begin their ministries right after the Feast of Passover, which was when I believe that John the Baptist and Moses began their ministries, the end of April 8, 2026 A.D., we can count 1260 days until they are killed by the Beast, Sept. 20, 2029 A.D. When they rise from the dead three and one half (3 and ½) days later, and they are resurrected early on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Sept. 24, 2029 A.D.


Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
 
 
*** Remember that God’s days actually start on the evening of the previous day in the Gregorian calendar.
 
I believe that the Feast of Tabernacles, September 24, 2029, is the date of the resurrection/rapture of the Church. The two witnesses will be raised from the dead, and every saint who ever lived will also be raised from the dead on that same day, every living saint will be resurrected/raptured on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles…the PRIMARY HARVEST OF GOD’S SAINTS.


By the way, 1335 days from April 8, 2026, is the first day of Hanukkah on Dec. 3, 2029, signifying the cleansing of the temple. See Daniel 12:12


If you want to check out my calculations, you can go to the following web address and check out all my numbers:


http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html


After the resurrection of the Church on September 24, 2029, God will begin to pour out His wrath with a vengeance upon all those on the earth who persecuted and killed His saints, who are the true Kings of the earth.


I believe there will be people who will make it through the great tribulation NOT because they are close to Jesus but because they are close to people who are close to Jesus. Remember that Ham was surely not righteous but he escaped destruction because of his father Noah. Also, remember that Lot’s two daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom because of their father.


If these people who have NOT been raptured can make it to Hanukkah on Dec. 3, 2029, they will not need to fear persecution from the antichrist anymore because his power and authority will be broken. The world’s attention will be focused on the final battle…the battle of Armageddon.


Taken from: Christian Exodus, Out of Babylon
 

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS: for they shall be called the children of God. 
 
PEACEMAKERS: G1518, eirēnopoios, i-ray-nop-oy-os'
From G1518 and G4160; pacificatory, that is, (subjectively) peaceable: - peacemaker.
 
PEACEMAKING is the defining characteristic of the sons of God. Jesus tells us that the PEACEMAKERS shall be called the “children of God” or the “sons of God”. Having a “pacificatory” nature or being described as “peaceable” will especially identify the sons of God.
 
CHILDREN OF GOD: CHILDREN (G5207) + OF GOD (G2316)
 
The Greek phrase “UIHOS THEOS” is also interpreted as “sons of God” in the New Testament.
 
CHILDREN: G5207, uihos, hwee-os'
Apparently a primary word; a “son” (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship: - child, foal, son.
 
GOD: G2316, theos, theh'-os
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].
 
 
PEACEMAKERS are more than just amiable people who avoid fighting. PEACEMAKERS make other people’s welfare a priority over their own welfare. One thing I want to make clear… PEACE is a fruit of the Spirit. PEACEMAKING should especially mean that other peoples PEACE is the number one priority for the child of God!
 
Peacemakers are called sons of God. This is not how they BECOME sons of God—that can only happen by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior (Joh_1:12). By making peace, believers MANIFEST themselves as sons of God, and God will one day acknowledge them as people who bear the family likeness. Believer’s Bible Commentary
 
The fruits of the spirit: love, joy, PEACE, etc., only come from spending time fellowshipping with the Prince of PEACE and doing His will.
 
PEACE (shalom) is a very big word in the Hebrew language.
 
PEACE: H7965, shâlôm    shâlôm, shaw-lome', shaw-lome'
From H7999; safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace: -    X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X greet, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ly), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
 
We see that PEACE in Hebrew does not merely mean the absence of unrest, PEACE includes: safety, happiness, health, prosperity, and a sense of overall well-being. It seems to me that modern Christianity too often emphasizes personal peace, and sadly does not focus enough on the peace of our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, strangers, and those we come in contact with every day. This is probably due to our own immaturity, and our lack of time fellowshipping with Jesus.
 
Although it is true that we must have peace before we can hope to make peace for others, I believe if we focus our attention on other people’s peace and well-being, then God’s supernatural peace will naturally flow too and through us. I believe the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans clearly describes the process of becoming a peacemaker or “son of God”.
 
Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 
Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 
Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 
 
First, we must ask God to give us His Holy Spirit. I believe the main evidence that the Spirit of God is actually dwelling within somebody is that person’s inclination to spend a large amount of time reading and meditating on the Word of God. The Word of God is repugnant to our flesh, but a newly born-again believer will have an almost unquenchable desire to know and study the Word of God.
 
1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 
 
Next, as we become more and more immersed in the Word of God, the cares of this world become less and less important to us. We begin to examine our own personal situation from a whole new perspective. We begin to understand that although some people seem to have it all together from a worldly perspective, without Jesus Christ they actually have nothing. While other people who seem to be desperately in need, or they seem to be poverty stricken, because they have Jesus Christ, they actually have everything!
 
Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 
Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
 
The Holy Spirit helps us to understand that no matter how dire our circumstances may appear, or how hopeless our situation may seem, God’s plans for us are far more significant than we ever imagined. We begin to glimpse a “spiritual” reality that is completely hidden from the world. Fear begins to flow off of us, like water off of a duck’s back, we begin to realize that our heavenly Father has everything in control!
 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
 
Instead of panicking every time a new problem arises, the child of God turns to the Bible and to the Father in prayer when they suffer a financial set back, or when illness appears, or when they face any obstacle to “God’s” plan for their life.
 
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
 
We begin to realize that all the suffering that we face serves a purpose, and we also realize that suffering is only temporary. Suffering does not necessarily always make us better people; however, if we come to the realization that we can trust only on the finished work of Jesus Christ, and that we must not lean on our own understanding, then we will become more and more Christ like!
 
Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 
 
Once Jesus Christ and the cross becomes the central theme in our life, then we begin to realize that trials and tribulations serve to focus our attention, energy, and time only on JESUS! The desires, cares, and conventions of this world begin to lose their luster, and we begin to understand that God has something much, much greater in store for us…God wants to conform us into the very image of His first begotten Son! We begin to catch a glimpse of what was motivating the Apostle Paul in all his many trials and tribulations.
 
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 
Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 
 
Christ in YOU, the hope of glory!!!
 
Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 
Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 
Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 
Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 
Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 
Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 
Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 
Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 
 
The Ancient of Days, the Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the King of kings, Jesus Christ is in YOU!
 
Why do we continually attempt to deal with our problems and our circumstances by ourselves? Why do we put so much confidence in vessels of clay? When we have direct access to God Almighty, who is closer than a brother!
 
Not only can God easily deal with our problems, Jesus can easily deal with any problem we happen to encounter, whether the problem is ours or somebody else’s problem. God desires for us to be peace MAKERS!
 
MAKER: G4160, poieō
Thayer Definition:
1) to make
1a) with the names of things made, to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.
1b) to be the authors of, the cause
1c) to make ready, to prepare
1d) to produce, bear, shoot forth
1e) to acquire, to provide a thing for one’s self
1f) to make a thing out of something
1g) to (make, i.e.) render one anything
1g1) to (make, i.e.) constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that
1g2) to (make, i.e.) declare one anything
1h) to put one forth, to lead him out
1i) to make one do something
1i1) cause one to
1j) to be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about)
2) to do
2a) to act rightly, do well
2a1) to carry out, to execute
2b) to do a thing unto one
2b1) to do to one
2c) with designation of time: to pass, spend
2d) to celebrate, keep
2d1) to make ready, and so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover
2e) to perform: to a promise
 
Do we ever see somebody ask Jesus to help them in the New Testament, and He refuses? The only thing that seems to constrain Jesus from helping people is when they do not believe that He can help. Therefore, they do not bother to ask. When we, or somebody close to us, needs God’s help, we must not be one of those people who does not bother to ask God for help. God may not answer us how we expect, or when we expect, or where we expect, but He will always answer us… IF we ask!
 
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Mat 24:21  For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 

 
Mat 24:21  This will be the worst time of suffering since the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again.
Mat 24:22  If God doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God's chosen ones, he will make the time shorter. Contemporary English Version

 
GREAT TRIBULATION: G3173 + G2347, megas + thlipsis,
GREAT: G3173, megas, meg'-as
Including the prolonged forms, femine μεγάλη megalē, plural μέγάλοι megaloi, etc.; compare also G3176, G3187], big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application): - (+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.
TRIBULATION: G2347, thlipsis, thlip'-sis
From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

 
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

 
There is going to be a three and one-half year period of time that the Bible calls the GREAT TRIBULATION. Jesus tells us that there will be no time like it in history, before or after, which compares in magnitude of catastrophic events, in suffering, or in death…not the black plague, not the 1st and 2nd world wars, and not the mass die off and genocide committed during the colonization of the Americas. Jesus said that if events were allowed to continue to their natural conclusion, NO ONE WOULD SURVIVE!

 
Matt. 24:22 If those days had not been limited, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be limited. International Standard Version.


It is very difficult for me to wrap my mind around the terrible events that will soon occur on this earth. At this very moment in time, I sit comfortably typing this article with a full refrigerator, a warm bed with clean sheets, and there is every indication that my fairly comfortable western lifestyle will continue until I die of old age… perhaps with only a few snags to occasionally break up the monotony of my average American existence. Will everything continue the same as usual until I eventually die peacefully of old age? I don’t think so.


2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

 
The Apostle Peter tells us that one of the main signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the confident apathy of unbelievers. Unfortunately, it appears that a lot of Christians are also pretty apathetic. People who live comfortable lives tend to be intolerant of any suggestion that their peaceful existence, and their hopes and dreams are only temporary. However, if there is anything that the Bible teaches us, it is that God’s plans for the future rarely align with our own carefully laid out plans for the future.

 
If a railroad engineer tells me that a train is going to arrive at midnight, it would not be very prudent for me to pitch a tent on the railroad tracks and go to sleep at nine o’clock. The intelligent person will arrange their schedule and their plans around the train’s schedule and not the other way around! Jesus is very emphatic when He warns us and His disciples to WATCH FOR THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING!

 
Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 
Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 
Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 
Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 
Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 
Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH. 

 
It seems to me that there is one obvious sign that Jesus is at the door…NUCLEAR WEAPONS! The Apostle Peter plainly tells us that this world is going up in flames when Jesus comes again.

 
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be BURNED UP. 

 
The major world powers seem to be hell bent on possessing enough nuclear weapons to ensure the total extinction of human life on earth. It is very likely that MOST of the people living within the United States will be dead within a few minutes after an initial nuclear missile exchange with Russia.

 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_holocaust

 
It is also likely that any survivors will wish they were dead within a very short period of time after the attack! If you live east of the Mississippi river, you will also have to deal with hundreds of nuclear power plants continually spewing nuclear radiation into the atmosphere, similar to the nuclear reactor meltdown in Fukishima, Japan.  I admit this would be a worst case scenario, but it is believed by the EMP Commission that even a simple electromagnetic pulse (EMP) nuclear attack would kill just as many people, just over a longer time period. It is estimated that up to 90% of the population of the United States could be dead within a year of an EMP attack due to starvation, disease, and economic collapse.
 
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/gao-report-us-remains-vulnerable-emp-attack
 
I suspect that after an EMP attack, the story line by Cormac McCarthy in his book: The Road, about people hiding from roving gangs of cannibals, will be an all too common occurrence. The grocery stores will probably be emptied within a few hours after an EMP attack. If you think I am fear mongering, you would be wrong…I do not make any money from this blog or from my e-books. However, fear is not always a bad thing.

 
Psa 34:9  O FEAR the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 
Psa 34:10  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 
Psa 34:11  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

 
If you have been studying the Bible for the past forty years, like I have, and if you have been keeping track of current and historical events, I expect that you have reached the same conclusion as me, it is not very hard to put the puzzle pieces together…Jesus is coming back very soon!

 
However, God has not left us without a clue. God has given us several allegories in the Bible telling His saints how to prepare for a coming fiery holocaust.

 
First, we have the example of Lot and his two daughters. The angels tell Lot to escape into the mountains and not to look back.

 
Gen 19:15  And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 
Gen 19:16  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 
Gen 19:17  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 
Soon after Lot escaped, FIRE rained down from heaven and destroyed Sodom.

 
Gen 19:23  The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 
Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 
Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 

 
The writer of the Book of Jude seems to have Lot in mind when he warns us to avoid the temptations of the flesh.

 
Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 
Jud 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference: 
Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 

 
We do not want to be like Lot, hanging on to the pleasures of this world until the very last minute, needing God’s angels to drag us away from imminent destruction. A better example for us is Father Abraham. Abraham was in the world, but he kept himself unspotted from the desires of the world. Therefore, Abraham was able to watch the destruction of Sodom from a distance, delivering his family and all of his accumulated wealth safe and secure.

 
Gen 19:27  And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 
Gen 19:28  And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a FURNACE.

 
However, no matter how much we would like to, some of us cannot pack up all of our belongings and flee into the wilderness. There is a story in the Book of Daniel that tells us about three young me who had to face a real fiery furnace. They had to make a life or death decision…and they made the correct choice, even though it meant almost certain death.

 
Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 
Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 
Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 
Dan 3:20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:22  Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 
Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 
Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

 
This story of the three Hebrew children in the Book of Daniel is certainly an allegory about the last days. The whole world will someday be faced with almost the same exact choice, and the decision will not only be life and death…it will be an ETERNAL life or an ETERNAL death decision!

 
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 

 
Although it may seem to be a difficult decision as we read the Book of Revelation, if we read the entire Bible, we begin to see that the decision is actually quite easy. I can look at my refrigerator full of food, and I can look at my bed with its clean sheets, and I realize that one day very soon… EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BURN UP!

 
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto FIRE against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

 
Therefore, as we see the Day of the Lord approaching, we must stop spending our precious time and energy accumulating more stuff, and start spending our time cultivating a relationship with the one who can deliver us in the midst of the fire. There is something far, far worse waiting for those who make the wrong decision.

 
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a FURNACE of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 
Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

 
There is something far, far better waiting for those who make the right decision.

 
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 
Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 
Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 
 
Therefore, let us all pray that everybody makes the right decision!

Gen 6:4  There were GIANTS (nephiyl) in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons (ben) of God (elohiym) came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became MIGHTY MEN (gibbor) which were of old, men of renown.
Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.


GIANTS: H5303, nephı̂yl    nephil, nef-eel', nef-eel'
From H5307; properly, a feller, that is, a bully or tyrant: - giant.

BEN ELOHIYM: H1121 + H430, sons of God.

MIGHTY MEN: H1368, gibbôr    gibbôr, ghib-bore', ghib-bore'
Intensive from the same as H1397; powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: - champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.


Something very strange and unusual was occurring during the days of Noah. The LORD warned us that the last days would be the same as the days of Noah.


Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 

 
I have often heard these verses from Matthew, Ch. 24 being used to support the doctrine of pre-tribulation rapture. People say, “Look, people are eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, so everything is normal when Jesus comes back; therefore, Jesus must come back before the tribulation because it surely won’t be normal after the tribulation!”


These pre-tribulation rapture believers are missing the whole context of what Jesus was saying. If you understand the context, everything will be very, very ABNORMAL when Jesus comes back!


Gen 6:1  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 
Gen 6:2  That the sons of God (ben elohiym) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

 
We see that the context of marriage in “the days of Noah” was describing the marriage between the sons of God “BEN ELOHIYM” and the daughters of men. In the Old Testament, the term “sons of God” is always used to describe ANGELS.
 
 
Job 38:4  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 
Job 38:5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 
Job 38:6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 
Job 38:7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (ben elohiym) shouted for joy? 

 
In the New Testament, the term “sons of God” is always used to describe the saints of God. This makes perfect sense because Jesus said that the saints of God would be like the angels at the resurrection!

 
Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 
Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 

 
Jesus specifically said that the angels do not marry; therefore, when the “ben elohiym”, or sons of God, took wives in the days of Noah, it is obvious that they were in rebellion against the will of God. There are some Bible scholars that contend that the “ben elohiym” are descendants of Seth, while the descendants of Cain are called the daughters of men, but the Book of Enoch makes it abundantly clear that the “ben elohiym”, or sons of God, are fallen angels.

 
And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children. Book of Enoch, Ch. VI, verses 1 and 2.

 
It is clear, both from the Bible and from our own observation of nature, God does not approve any attempts at genetically mixing different species.

 
Lev 18:23  Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 
Lev 18:24  Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 
Lev 18:25  And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

 
In the Book of Leviticus, God makes it clear that attempts at cross-speciation by the Canaanites was one of the reasons God tells the children to destroy the men, women, children, AND the animals.

 
Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 
Deu 20:17  But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: 
Deu 20:18  That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

 
Apparently, the Canaanites were successful in their demonically inspired attempts at cross-speciation, because the reports by the twelve men who were sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan terrified the children of Israel.

 
Num 13:32  (13:33) And they spoke ill of the land, which they had viewed, before the children of Israel, saying: The land which we have viewed, devoureth its inhabitants: the people, that we beheld are of a tall stature.
Num 13:33  (13:34) There we saw certain monsters (nephiyl) of the sons of Enac, of the giant (nephiyl) kind: in comparison of whom, we seemed like locusts.  1899 Douay-Rheims Bible.

 
I believe the Douay-Rheim’s Bible interpretation of “nephiyl” as MONSTERS gives us a better description of how the NEPHIYL actually appeared to the children of Israel. Not only were the NEPHIYL tall of stature, but they were probably malformed in appearance. Imagine how successful an army would be if they were accompanied onto the battlefield by giants and monsters out of mankind’s worst nightmares.

 
We have hints of what the “nephiyl” looked like from the mythos of ancient culture’s descriptions of: centaurs, satyrs, minotaurs, and chimeras. These “mythical” creatures were usually part human and part animal. They were usually faster, stronger, and bigger than an ordinary human being. However, what if these “mythical creatures” were real?

 
Berosus (q) speaks of a city about Lebanon, called Enos, which was a city of giants, who were men of vast bodies, and of great strength, inventors of arms and music, were cannibals, and exceedingly debauched.


I believe a sure sign that the world has entered into the LAST DAYS is the advent of “genetic engineering” or “genetic modification” that began to rapidly develop in the early 1970’s.

 
In the 1970’s, scientists began to cut genetic material from one species and splice it into another species, the resultant biological technology was referred to as “recombinant DNA” (DNA = deoxy-nucleic-acid). The new technology was hailed as the dawn of a new era for humanity. Human insulin and human growth hormone DNA was inserted into genetically modified bacteria, and biotech companies began producing cheap and abundant supplies of human hormones in giant vats to treat diabetics and people with various growth disorders. These days most of our staple foods are “genetically modified organisms” or GMOs. Only God knows what they are doing to us!

 
Now, nearly fifty years later, new genetic tools have made genetic modification and the creation of completely new and unknown organisms surprisingly easy and cheap. Scientist now use a genetic engineering tool called “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats” or “CRISPR-Cas9” for short.

 
A simple version of the CRISPR/Cas system, CRISPR/Cas9, has been modified to edit genomes. By delivering the Cas9 nuclease complexed with a synthetic guide RNA (gRNA) into a cell, the cell's genome can be cut at a desired location, allowing existing genes to be removed and/or new ones added.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR

 
With the help of CRISPR and another genetic tool called “germ drives”, it is possible to permanently change, or completely wipe out, an entire species population within a few generations!

 
Gene drives have the power to override the traditional rules of inheritance. Ordinarily the progeny of any sexually reproductive animal receives one copy of a gene from each parent. Some genes, however, are “selfish”: Evolution has bestowed on them a better than 50 percent chance of being inherited. Theoretically, scientists could combine CRISPR with a gene drive to alter the genetic code of a species by attaching a desired DNA sequence onto such a favored gene before releasing the animals to mate naturally. Together the tools could force almost any genetic trait through a population. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/08/dna-crispr-gene-editing-science-ethics/

 
Now for the really scary part!

 
The more rapidly science propels humanity forward, the more frightening it seems. This has always been true. Do-it-yourself biology is already a reality; soon it will almost certainly be possible to experiment with a CRISPR kit in the same way that previous generations of garage-based tinkerers played with ham radios or rudimentary computers. It makes sense to be apprehensive about the prospect of amateurs using tools that can alter the fundamental genetics of plants and animals. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/08/dna-crispr-gene-editing-science-ethics/

 
You can now buy a “DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR kit” for $150 on-line. http://www.the-odin.com/diy-crispr-kit/

 
Pardon my language but “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING!” If a crazed teenager or terrorist can cause a ton of misery and death with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, it is not too hard to imagine the damage some demon inspired nut can do playing around with a CRISPR kit in their basement! Not to mention the really crazy psychotics and psychopaths working in secret government labs around the world!

 
Translators have rendered seven different Hebrew words by the one term giants, viz., nephilim, gibborim, enachim, rephaim, emim, and zamzummim;


It is fairly obvious that the original translators of these multiple strange Hebrew words into the English word “giant” simply could not comprehend the strange creatures the children of Israel were encountering when they set about to conquer the land of Canaan.


Num 13:31  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Num 13:32  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
Num 13:33  And there we saw the giants (nephiyl), the sons of Anak, which come of the giants (nephiyl): and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

 
However, it is also fairly obvious that the children of Israel used different words to describe the NEPHIYL because the various “nephiyl groups” possessed strange and unique characteristics that made them different from each other. Therefore, I believe the NEPHIYL were much stranger than simply freakishly big humans. The nephiyl were truly MONSTERS! Could it be that demons want mankind to create soulless creatures that are easier for them to possess?

 
The NEPHIYLIM arose in the days of Noah, just before God destroyed the whole earth with a flood. They also appeared in the land of Canaan, and they were waiting to resist the children of Israel when they set about to conquer the Promised Land. I suspect the NEPHIYLIM will appear again in order to resist the manifestation of the sons of God. Was this one of the things Jesus was warning us about just before His Second Coming?

 
Luk 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 
Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 
Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 

 
There is a strange ceremony associated with the Hebrew Holiday of Yom Kippur. This unusual ceremony is only mentioned in one chapter in the Book of Leviticus. During Yom Kippur, the High Priest chose two (2) goats, one goat was chosen by lot to be slain, and its blood was taken into the Holy of Holies, then its blood was sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant for a sin offering to cover all the sins of the people in Israel for one year.

 
…now these lots, as Ben Gersom observes, were alike, not one greater than another; and they were of the same matter, for if one had been of stone and the other of wood, they might, have been known by feeling, and so the lots would not have been legal: and the same is observed by Maimonides (b), that though they might be of any matter, of wood, or stone, or metal, yet one might not be great, and the other small, and the one of silver, and the other of gold, but both alike, for the reason before given: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible.

 
The second goat is also chosen by lot, it is called the “Azazel” or SCAPEGOAT, it was sent away into the wilderness after the High Priest laid both his hands on its head and confessed over him all the sins of the children of Israel.

 
SCAPEGOAT: H5799, ‛ăzâ'zêl, az-aw-zale'
From H5795 and H235; goat of departure; the scapegoat: - scapegoat.

 
For the scapegoat - Rather, for Azazel. The word occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament but in this chapter, and is probably derived from a root in use in Arabic, but not in Hebrew, signifying to “remove”, or “to separate”. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

 
The Jews have come up with some very strange ideas about the “scapegoat”. However, the word “scapegoat” has historically been used as a colloquial expression that refers to a patsy, or a sucker, somebody who is held guilty for an act for which they are actually innocent. I believe this is the correct definition of the word according to the Bible.

 
It appears that the death of one goat, and the release of another goat alive, is a reenactment of the Exodus from Egypt. We read that on the night of Passover all the first born of Egypt, both animals and people, were slain by the Angel of Death, while all the children of Israel were saved alive and then expelled into the wilderness by the Egyptians.

 
Exo 12:29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 
Exo 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 
Exo 12:31  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 
Exo 12:32  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 
Exo 12:33  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 

 
I believe that this ceremony with the two (2) goats is an allegory of something far, far more significant. You might think that I see allegories everywhere in the Bible…and you would be correct. However, when I see an allegory, I am not finding one story in the Bible and making up an elaborate doctrine out of whole cloth, I usually see the same allegory repeated over and over again throughout the entire Bible.

 
In the story of Isaac and Ishmael, Sarah tells Abraham to send Ishmael into the wilderness. Abraham is grieved because of the harshness of his wife’s order, but Abraham is told not to worry because Ishmael will be provided for by God.

 
Gen 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 
Gen 21:13  And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. 
Gen 21:14  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 

 
Later, God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah.

 
Gen 22:1  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 
Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

 
Through the actions of Abraham via his two sons, we can recognize the ceremony of the two goats. We read that God tells Abraham to send one son into the wilderness, and then God orders Abraham to sacrifice his other son. Looking at both these unusual orders from our human perspective, we could probably say that God was being overly harsh to Abraham and his sons. However, when we look at God’s orders from the big picture of the entire Bible, we begin to see that God is unveiling the story of salvation to Abraham and to us. Jesus said that Abraham had prophetic knowledge about the plan of salvation thousands of years before Jesus was born.

 
Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 

 
We also see the symbolism of the two “goats” in the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob steals Esau’s birthright by putting “goat” skin on his arms in order to deceive his Father Isaac. Then later, Isaac must flee into the wilderness to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.

 
Gen 27:15  And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 
Gen 27:16  And she put the skins of the kids of the GOATS upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 

 
How about the story of David and Jonathan?

 
1Sa 18:3  Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 
1Sa 18:4  And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 

 
Jonathan is a prince of Israel and would have been the future King of Israel if his father Saul had not lost the kingdom because of rebellion against the word of God. Jonathan makes a covenant with David, God’s anointed king, before David flees into the wilderness. Later, when Jonathan is slain by the Philistines, David describes Jonathan as his brother.

 
2Sa 1:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 
2Sa 1:26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 

 
Therefore, we see the story of the two goats repeated, one person flees into the wilderness, while another person is slain. Next, we see in all four Gospels, the people are given a choice of clemency between Jesus and a man named BARABBAS.

 
Mat 27:15  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 
Mat 27:16  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 
Mat 27:17  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 

 
The interpretation of BARABBAS is son (bar) of the (abbas) father.
 
BARABBAS: G912, Barabbas
Thayer Definition:
Barabbas = “son of a father or master”

1. the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ.

 
Barabbas's name appears as bar-Abbas in the Greek texts of the gospels. It is derived ultimately from the Aramaic בר-אבא, Bar-abbâ, "son of the father". Some ancient manuscripts of Matthew 27:16–17 have the full name of Barabbas as "Jesus Barabbas" and this was probably the name as originally written in the text. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barabbas

 
We recognize the story of the two goats yet again, the people are given a choice to release one prisoner and to slay another prisoner. The people choose to slay Jesus, the Son of God, and they choose to release Barabbas, the “son of the father”. Do you recognize the similarity between the story of Jesus and Barabbas, and the strange ceremony performed at Yom Kippur with two goats as outlined in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus?

 
I believe this ceremony of the two goats during Yom Kippur is even more significant to the saints living in these last days. The ceremony of the two goats will be enacted on a grand scale during the great tribulation according to the Book of Revelation.

 
We see the story of the two goats reflected by two groups of saints in the Book of Revelation. One group of saints will flee into the wilderness, and will be protected from the Satan by God.

 
Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 
 
Rev 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 
Rev 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 
Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 
Rev 12:16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 
Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

 
Another group of saints will pay the ultimate price for their testimony, and for their refusal to take the mark of the beast, by being martyrs for Jesus Christ.

 
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

 
Thus, God illustrates via the ceremony of the two goats the price that EVERYONE must pay for sin: SEPARATION and DEATH. The penalty for the unrepentant sinner is death and separation from God, while the penalty for the saint of God is death and separation from the world.

 
Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 
Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 
Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 

 
As the last days saints of God mature, and as we are conformed more and more into the image of Jesus Christ, the difference between the children of God versus the children of this fallen world should become more and more obvious. I suspect that violent persecution by the world will increase exponentially as Jesus Christ is manifested more and more in the sons of God. It may seem a difficult choice whether to be a martyr or to flee into the wilderness, but Jesus died to give us the gift of eternal life. Listen to the admonition of Moses before he died!

 
Deu 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live: 
Deu 30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

 
If God gives us a choice, sometimes it is much more difficult to live for Christ than to die for Christ…CHOOSE LIFE!

 
There is one choice which we must all make; and if that choice is once well made, it will very much secure all other choices, for the reason why we so often choose badly is because we have failed in that one great choice of all.
I. "Therefore choose life." Why "therefore"? (1) Because the option rests with yourself. You are free to take which you will. (2) Because the alternative is tremendous, and there is no middle space; it must be life or death. (3) Because life is everything. All that is worth having in this world or the next is in that word "life." "Therefore choose life."
II. What is life? (1) The source of life was originally the breath of God. That life was lost when man fell, but only lost to make way for a better restoration. Sermon Bible Commentary.