In 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, Paul wrote, “I tell you this, brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed. For this perishable body must put on immortality.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

When Paul says that we shall not all sleep, he is telling us that there will be people on this earth who will not die. When the Trumpet of God sounds, and there’s a cry of command with the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16), the dead in Christ will rise up to meet the Savior to be reunited with their souls and to receive an immortal body. This event is commonly known as the Rapture.

One thing to remember is that our Heavenly Father knows where every single body on this earth is from everyone who has perished or will perish while here. It doesn’t matter if only a molecule or two remains; the souls will be joined to those remains to become a complete, forever immortal body.

Next, after the dead in Christ rise up and receive their new bodies, those who are true believers in the Savior will rise up to meet Him in the air, and our bodies will transform from the human mortal to Heavenly immortality. From that time and all through eternity, we will be with the Savior as part of His precious flock.

For those who are not in Christ, they will remain in their graves or wherever their remains ended up until the White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. Their new immortal bodies will not be for the glorification of the Lord but will be sentenced for all eternity to the lake of fire or hell. The ultimate antichrist and false prophet will be the first occupants of that place, followed a thousand years later by Satan (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10). It will be continuous punishment forever.

There will be different degrees of punishment, and it should be understood that Satan will receive the harshest punishment possible. From there, it will depend on what a person did in their lives, as they will be responsible for every sin they ever committed, great or small. For some, they may have led a “good life” but never accepted Jesus as their Savior.

For believers, we will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). This is not for us to be condemned forever but to gain or lose rewards for what was done while we were alive here. Because we received and accepted the free gift of Salvation by calling out to Jesus to be our Savior, our sins, as told in Psalm 103:11-12, will be as far as east is from west. That does not mean we receive a free pass to get away with sins, but we have been given a pure pathway to forgiveness in 1 John 1:8-10. It also does not relieve us of possible discipline from the Father for any sin we do commit. This is no different from any parent disciplining a child who has done wrong to help them learn (Hebrews 12:5-11).

Jesus, Paul, James, John, Peter, and others told about what would be taking place toward the end of this era. Reading newspapers and watching news broadcasts on TV, we are witnessing Bible Prophecy coming to life more each day. Our Savior said that when these things begin to happen, He would be close to returning for us (Luke 21:28).

Those of us who have Christ in us can see the rapid transition toward pure evil more than ever before. Just a decade or so ago, true satanic worship was mostly behind closed doors. Today, it’s out in the open everywhere, and there are even “churches of Satan” being established in numerous places.

While some are “fainting with fear” and others are scoffing that Jesus is not coming back, believers are actually encouraged that the Word of the Lord is true and accurate. About the only thing that hasn’t happened is Israel being attacked by a coalition, and the appearance of the evil one.

We’re getting the feeling of being “Almost Home,” which is a song by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, and performed by Keith and Kristin Getty in 2022.

1). Don’t drop a single anchor; we’re almost Home. Through every toil and danger, we’re almost Home. How many pilgrim saints have before us gone? Not stopping now, we’re almost Home.

2.) That promised land is calling; we’re almost Home. And not a tear shall fall then; we’re almost Home. Make ready now your souls for that kingdom come; no turning back; we’re almost Home.

Ref) Almost Home, we’re almost Home; so press on toward that blessed shore; Oh Praise the Lord, we’re almost Home.

3.) This journey ours together; we’re almost Home. Unto that great forever, we’re almost Home. What song anew we’ll sing around that happy throne. Come faint of heart; we’re almost Home. (Ref)

4.) This life is just a vapor; we’re almost Home. That sun is setting yonder; we’re almost Home. Take courage, for this darkness shall break to dawn. Oh, lift your eyes! We’re almost Home. (Ref x 20)

For the scoffers (2 Peter 3:9: 3-4) and all who think that the word of the cross is folly (1 Corinthians 1:18), their bubble is about to burst. Yes, there are those today who worship Satan and all the evil he represents, but the time will come when they will realize their folly. Sadly, it will be too late to do anything about it then.

Our Savior died on that horrible cross to pay a sin debt that He never earned. That debt was yours and mine. Even though He was sinless, He willingly shed His pure blood to cover the sins of all who would receive and accept His wonderful gift (John 10:18).

Please know that sins of our past can be forgiven if we will reach out to Jesus to be our Eternal Savior (Romans 10:9-13). God does not make promises that He will not honor, and if He said something in His perfect word, it’s an absolute covenant.

Those who have truly asked Jesus to be their Savior need not fear leaving this earth. Those who are putting off reaching out to Jesus need to consider that no one is promised another day here. To believe one can call out and be saved when the Rapture starts is foolish. When Paul states, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” he’s telling us the event will be over in less than a minute. No one could ask forgiveness in that short period of time.

The best case scenario is to take a minute right now and consider which forever you want to be in – Heaven with Jesus, or hell with Satan. It’s just that uncomplicated, as there are no other options. For those looking for the “hidden punchline,” there isn’t any.

Life on this earth is measured in limited days, months and years. Heaven is forever – never ending. So is the lake of fire, from which there are no pardons or mercy. It doesn’t seem like a tough choice, but some are so consumed with this world that they aren’t looking ahead. Don’t be one of them! Choose Life! Choose Jesus Today!

Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!

huebshman46@gmail.com

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Israel’s Hamas War, Gas-and-Oil, and the Awakening of the Russian Bear

While fighting Hamas in Gaza, on Oct. 29, Israel announced that it was awarding 12 licenses for exploring offshore natural gas fields to six major companies.

This news was overlooked by the major media, but this new development may give us an indication of how close we are to the Rapture and the return of Jesus Christ to claim his own. In a word, very.

These resources have lain more or less dormant. It has been nearly a full quarter-century since British Gas (BG) discovered them, sitting some 20 miles west of Israel under the Mediterranean. BG estimated the find at 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

But who owned them? It was then, and is now, a question. The Oslo Accords (1995, first major agreement between Israelis and Palestinians) gave rights to both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel. The PA attempted development.

Israel consistently blocked that development, however. And then, in December 2008, Israel went one better: it declared sovereignty over the Gaza Marine area.

Soon after, more major nearby oil-gas deposits were discovered:

• The Tamar gas field (2009)
• The even larger Leviathan gas field (2010).

These finds were potential game changers, able to make Israel an oil-and-gas player just like rich Arab neighbors, who had enjoyed that status for many decades.

But progress was slow.

A 2022 global energy crisis brought about by the USA’s destruction of the Nord Stream Pipeline and the sanctions placed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine re-ignited Israel’s interest.

Following his November 2022 reelection, Netanyahu gave the green light to tap the fields. In 2023, Israeli, U.S., Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian Authority officials met to discuss the project. On June 18, 2023, Israel approved the development of the Gaza field, Netanyahu saying progress would hinge on “preserving the State of Israel’s security and diplomatic needs” and coordination with the Palestinian Authority and neighboring Egypt. At the same time, just this past summer, Hamas official Ismail Rudwan told Reuters: “We reaffirm that our people in Gaza have the rights to their natural resources.” (June 18)

But Israel apparently, in the end, still thought otherwise.

Two months later, Israel’s number one ally jumped in with muscle. In August 2023, two months before Oct. 7, interestingly, the Pentagon began building a $35.8 million troop facility in Israel’s Negev desert, 20 miles from Gaza. This was described as a radar site to monitor for missile attacks on Israel. According to one media report, the base is part of a “secret” U.S. military presence in Israel. (The Intercept, Oct. 27)

But not so secret, really, at least not to rivals. In Moscow, this construction did not go unnoticed. Nor do Uncle Sam’s warships sitting off the coast. Formerly a friend of Israel, Russia now sees Israel as moving even closer to its Ukraine-arming enemy, Washington.

This causes it, in turn, to move closer to Iran and Turkey, sworn enemies of Israel. (Ezekiel predicted an alliance between Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other nations as well – more than five centuries before Jesus appeared in Israel.)

Israel’s enemies are menacing. There is a cold war of words and weapons. Turkey’s head recently compared Netanyahu to Hitler. Iran is racing to finish building its nuclear weapons.

How long before this cold war sentiment becomes hot war carnage?

But for Russia to take the next step and lead a group of nations to seize the oil-and-gas plunder that belongs to another country? As Ezekiel 38 describes?

That is unthinkable to many, possibly because Russia has taken so much provocation from the West without response to date: the encroachment of NATO, the USA and EU arming of Ukraine, and the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline. Russia made threats but took no action.

So it is that many believe forbearance will continue unabated forever.

But will it? Or will the Russian bear strike back? Against the West and the West’s Middle East ally, Israel, as well?

Prophecy watchers believe one day it will and that that event has the force of destiny about it. Only the timing is unclear.

The Crucial Question: When

Bible scholars who know prophecy agree Russia will invade Israel but differ on timing. Each of the following points in time has its adherents.

• Before Both the Rapture and the Tribulation

Perhaps a majority of modern-day Bible prophecy experts believe the Gog-Magog Battle will occur before both the Rapture of the Church and the seven-year Tribulation, possibly because this will ignite World War III and mass carnage, and the church is protected from this, they reason. Notables have included widely-read authors such as Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (Left Behind), and Joel Rosenberg (Epicenter).

• After the Rapture But Before the Tribulation

Adherents have included educators Tommy Ice and Ed Hindson. Both have been associated with the Pre-Trib Research Center. Also, Arnold Fruchtenbaum of Ariel Ministries reasons the Russian invasion as taking place “sometime before the Tribulation” because “God will punish Russia for her sins,” for “the key sin is her long history of anti-Semitism, a problem that persists in Russia to this day.”

• In the First Half or Middle of the Tribulation

Supporters of this view include major names like John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, Herman Hoyt, Charles Dyer, and Mark Hitchcock. As Pentecost explained, “To place the events in the middle of the week is the only position consistent with the chronology of these extended passages (Isaiah 30-35 and Joel 2-3).”

• At the End of the Tribulation (Armageddon)

Supporters of this stance include Louis Bauman and Charles Feinberg. They believe the Gog-Magog Battle and the final battle of Armageddon are the same event.

Prophecy watchers would very much like clarity on such a major element of prophecy, but indeed, we “see through a glass darkly.”

Meanwhile, evangelist and author Nathan Jones (The Mighty Angels of Revelation) packages the matter in an apt metaphor. It seems like Bible prophecy is a 100-piece puzzle, he says, and God has given us 75 pieces. We see the outline of the picture but are without every detail. This calls to mind the scripture: it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the honor of kings to search it out.

The believer can surely take comfort in knowing that this search is not forever, and arriving at both the understanding of prophecy and its physical terminus, i.e., the realization of the Kingdom of Christ on planet Earth, is a certainty. Point-by-point progress toward that goal is not linear, is not uniformly clear at the present moment, but always has on it the force of destiny. This is the Real and Final New World Order, and it cannot be stopped.

John Hamilton is the author of False Flags, State Secrets, Government Deceptions:

A Short History of the Modern Era and THE COVID VACCINE: And the silencing of our doctors and scientists.

Sources:

https://iacenter.org/2023/11/15/behind-israels-end-game-for-gaza-theft-of-offshore-gas-reserves/

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/timing-gog-magog/

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/08/russia-turns-against-israel-by-taking-sides-in-the-war-with-hamas.html

https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream

https://unctad.org/publication/economic-costs-israeli-occupation-palestinian-people-unrealized-oil-and-natural-gas

https://jashow.org/articles/who-are-the-nations-in-ezekiel-38-2/