We see so many things taking place nowadays. And who is it that is supposed to be concerned? Why, it should be those of us who are “born again” to Jesus Christ. So then the obvious next question is: Why should we be concerned? Why shouldn’t it be everyone, born again or not? Well the actual answer is that everyone should be concerned. Problem is, as I have said before, the Bible is written for the believer. Its depth and width (which are endless) are opened to the believer through our desire to know our Lord better and better.

The average man on the street, which is not born again to the Lord, sees everything in the Bible as foolishness. There is no way for him to have that level of understanding without the help of our Lord and Savior. Without the wisdom and discernment of the Lord, the average non- believer will not know about Bible prophecies.

Neither would he be able to reason them out according to the activities in this world, as we, the believers are able to. In the end, it’s clearly understood. No prophecy and no need to fear anything happening. So they continue on with their everyday activities as though nothing in the future would harm them.

1 Corinthians 2:14:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

All the average people go about their working days and build their futures, have their children and later, grandchildren. They hear or read of all the fighting and go about their business not understanding that the “end of days” is fast approaching.

As the Bible states in Luke 17.28-29:

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.”

As we understand it, these days are the same as in the days of Lot, filled with evil. Just like in those days, today we pay no attention. The vast majority of people are too busy with their own problems. This is the problem in a nutshell!

The majority, are not in a spiritual position to be looking at whether the prophecies of the Bible are real or not. Try and get them to come to church with you sometime and see what happens. Better yet, sit them down and try and get them to listen to the prophecies and show them how time is so short!

Think on this for a moment! The Rapture is very close. And after that, there will be only seven years left in this world at a time called the Tribulation. If you think things are bad now, just wait and see how bad everything gets once the Lord begins bringing His wrath against humanity! You ain’t seen nothing yet, baby!

One of the problems of today has to do with a lie. This is Satan’s best to be sure. But then we know he is the father of lies. Trust me when I say that this is not the only lie working today, but it’s the best example, and it will hit everyone someday. When I was born, a loaf of bread was 5 cents. And milk was 8 cents a quart. Water didn’t cost you a thing. You were just required to raise a handle and then push it down and there it was.

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, and we would go on a trip, coffee was a complimentary drink that you didn’t need to pay for if you purchased a meal. Even the sugar and cream were free. And the cream was real cream that came in a very small bottle. Gentlemen held the door for a ladies and children. And there was always a “thank you” to follow.

By that time, I was out of high school and gasoline was 25 cents a gallon. For 30 cents they would pump the gas, check your tire pressure, clean your windshield and check the oil level in your engine. See if you can find that service today!

Now coffee is a luxury at $6.00 for a “Venta” (extra large Starbucks) and water is bottled and costs $.50 to a dollar. Bread in most places will cost you $2.50 a loaf and more. And try and find real cream some time. Gas is at least $4.00 a gallon and the freebies of yesteryear are gone forever.

Now you pump your own gas, check your own tires and oil. And if you want your windshield cleaned, take it to the car wash for ten bucks a pop or do it yourself. But the windshield cleaner is $3.00 a bottle with tax. If you drive in and pump $20.00 worth of gas, you won’t get $20.00 worth of gas. We have this tax, you see.

I used to fill up my 1965 Ford Mustang for $12.00. Today that same amount of gas will cost you a cool $40.00 or more to fill up! And the list goes on and on and on! Here’s a good one for ya! Back in 1960, I could go to the matinee for 25 cents. A cup of Coca-Cola was 10 cents and the popcorn was 10 cents! Let me see here… Today, for one person, the matinee is $7.50, a Coke would be $2.50 and a big popcorn $6.00!

I realize its 52 years later, but ask yourself this: How much of every dollar are we spending on tax? Money we have all worked hard for. And yet every time you purchase something, there’s a price listed, but once you get to the cash register, it’s now gone up! And I don’t mean a little increase either. It’s more than we expect!

Revelation 6.6:

“And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Are you able to understand this now? Little bit by little bit, everything costs more and more, so the question is where does this end? I am willing to bet that few know that the measurement of wheat and barley as cited above was the food allotted for a soldier back in the day.

If this verse comes true, will you be able to feed yourself, your wife and children on that amount? I am willing to bet that there are going to be millions of cars in good working order, but sitting idle and wasting away for the lack of gasoline.

Revelation 8.8-11, emphasis added:

“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.”

Water will not be the same, as we know it today. But try and get the unsaved to understand this. I believe that Satan’s other name is “Procrastination!” Besides anything else we can attribute to his manner of dealing with humans. And now you think we have it so very bad. But once the Tribulation begins, it will only get worse!

I am always asking myself, “Is anyone paying any attention?” I talk to people and try and get them to understand that the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ is very close! After that, this world will see 7 more years. And that’s it! We are talking about the destruction of this world, as we know it! This world will cease to exist!

If you think your lifespan is short now, thinking in terms of the seven-years of the Tribulation won’t be anything! Then again, if you are stuck here, the moments of sheer pain can seem like hours upon hours of agony!

My message is about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. My point is focused on the unsaved individual. All of us that are saved to Jesus Christ will be called home in an instant. Millions of people will disappear. The economy of this nation will not be able to sustain a hit that big. The entire economic system will collapse entirely.

What about your utilities like electricity for light and security? What about your water supply? Will it be there for you? And will it be clean? What will food cost at that time, and how will you feed your families?

My hope and prayer is that you will be thinking of these things and take the Word of God at its utmost and accept the “free will” gift provided through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and preferably, before the Rapture! May the Lord Bless and keep you and your family, always.

Maranatha, Lord!!

Boy, I sure loved my Grandma and Grandpa on my Dad’s side of the family! Grandma knew how to cook like no other and every time she talked with me, it was with love and compassion for me. It was personal and a little on the intimate side, like with your mom because it was a relationship between me, and my Grandma. So it is with most, albeit with those know what love is, still we understand the relationship with them and relish the interaction with them.

My Dad was a military man for thirty years, retiring from the Air Force and my Mom was a true military wife and together we have been all around half of the earth. The same with my wife of thirty-eight years now, she had wonderful parents that knew what love is and has also been to the other half of this earth. Her Dad was a thirty-year man in the Army. Her mom was unique to say the least, loving even to others she never knew. What was so unique for me is that they accepted me as one of their own, like another son.

My wife and I spend a fair amount of our time together remembering them all and talking about them. We talk about where we as military brats lived and what things were like back then, enjoying and relishing the past and actually reliving those times with them in our hearts. Suffice it to say, we become somewhat melancholy, maybe a little sad that those we loved so very much are no longer with us. We are certain that one day the Lord will bring us all together again, to enjoy our lives in eternity with the Lord.

It says in Ecclesiastes 9.5, emphasis added:

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”

It is obvious that this verse is for real to each one of us. We know that each of us one day─must die. What is so unusual to me is that we think somehow we can circumvent that particular event, especially when we are young.

It says in John 11.11-14:

“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. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”

You must remember that Lazarus was like a member of the family to Jesus Christ and therefore you would expect Jesus to sustain each of them continually, be it known, Lazarus did finally die as a human. There have been a few exceptions to that rule in history though, for example: Enoch and Elijah, they were taken to heaven. They never saw death as humans.

So then the question is: Why am I bringing this up…again? Death for a human is the final line each of us must cross and when that takes place, it is final for us. Several things take place aside from the usual funeral and burial. It is the end of the line for each and every person that has lived, to have made their decision concerning whether they wanted heaven or hell for eternity.

Once that last breathe is taken and exhaled, the decision is finalized, you are either headed for heaven, because you accepted the gift of Jesus Christ’s blood or you haven’t and now you are headed for hell. There are no other ways to go! It is a fact. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and “live for eternity” or refuse Jesus Christ and you “die in eternity.”

Hebrews 9.27:

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Do you see anywhere, some change, something different, for you because you are somehow special? When the Word of God uses “men” that is including everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, color or creed, HE means YOU! You will die one day.

Then what about those who believe in or who have seen ghosts or the spirits of the dead haunting houses or graveyards?

Ecclesiastes 9.5-6, emphasis added:

“The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”

Thus the dead have no memory of when they were alive. So they cannot remember anyone or anything that they loved or hated, cherished or envied during their life. Even if they could come back as a ghost or a spirit, they could not even remember who they were to haunt or help! Yet many people have actually seen ghosts or spirits and various apparitions. Others have heard unexplained noises and seen supernatural phenomena.

Since the Word of God teaches that ghosts cannot be the actual dead person’s spirit raised to life, then what are these apparitions? They are only the evil angels or spirits of devils whom were cast out of heaven. These evil beings are only pretending to be the dead come back to life.

Why do these evil angels impersonate the dead and sometimes even communicate information to those whom they contact? Their whole purpose for doing so is to deceive people and try to get them to believe that the information given them is really the truth. Satan is at the very heart of all of this.

It says in John 8:44, emphasis added:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

We are not to believe any of the information relayed by these apparitions or so-called spirits of the dead because it is nothing but lies! The biggest lie which Satan and his ilk have tried to pawn off to us as being true is the idea, that when we die our soul continues to live on. That falsehood is also known as the “immortality of the soul” and many have been duped into believing it is true.

It says in Genesis 3.19:

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

So there is no question that each of us will die at some point in time. What we need to be doing is making sure all our information is of the Lord and no other, otherwise we will believe a lie! God’s Holy Word to us, has the last say as to what will happen and what won’t. It is up to us to read our Bibles and seek the Lord at every turn of our lives.

We must devote our lives to following Jesus Christ, according to HIS perfect will in our lives, but to know that perfect will of the Lord we must consult the Bible. It is with the Word of God, we must test everything and know what is real and what is not. Failure to do so will result in ideas like those of ghosts or apparitions being the spirits of the dead, which we now see is a lie.

Again, please read, Hebrews 9.27:

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Please also note here, this verse is a “statement” not a suggestion, therefore it is a truth of the Lord.

We go wrong when we fail to read the Word of God, when we fail to test everything against the Word of God. We must be diligent in every way, every day of our lives, especially in these days prior to the Rapture.

“For many will come in My name” (Jesus Christ) but they are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing. So again, where does this place those that are out searching for the ghosts of the dead? They are actually facing demons and Satan himself! That being the case, what will be the fate of those once the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ takes place and the Holy Spirit is removed and the Tribulation begins?

I do not wish to contemplate that level of horror, do you? The answer has always been and will forever be, Jesus Christ!