WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES

Newsletter 294 May 6, 2012 __________________________________________________________________________________The prophecies Jesus related in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, written nearly 2000 years ago, could almost be composed from the news headlines of today; undisciplined youth running uncontrolled in the streets destroying other people’s private property, rape and plunder, ominous concerns about the political future of, even ”Christian” nations. There is no such thing of course as a Christian nation. People become Christians, not nations. However a religion can dominate if the nation so chooses. Even the Clerical leaders of today often deny the deity of the Messiah, the very heart of the Gospel, they claim to represent. The headlines of our newspapers tell of wars, strange plagues and illnesses, starvation and nature gone wild in severity and frequency. Records are being broken from as far back as history has recorded them. Our world is building up to an ultimate disaster far beyond our ability to understand. The world’s religions have no answers. Only the Creator of everything can save us, and that is why he sent our Lord in the first place. “For (He) God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Yes, Christ Jesus is both the Creator and the Savior of the earth. He will also be the one before whom it shall stand in judgment. He is, He was, and He will always be. “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God, All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3

 The above things being true, it is time that we studied Matthew 24, yes, the entire chapter! If two pages are too much for you, start with verse six. After this, turn to the final book of the Bible, Revelation, and read, (The whole book would be good, but in particular don’t miss Revelation 13:8, “and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” We know that that those were entered there by our Lord. Just being on a church roll is not enough. It being His church, they were written there by the Lord. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47. These are those who had responded to Peter’s sermon, because of their faith, repented of their sins, and were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Acts 2:38 and following

 The economical stability of the world is under attack. This is exactly what we should expect. “And he (Satan) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six. (666) Revelation 13:16-18.

 Christians must have nothing to do with that number for it is Satan’s mark of ownership. “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11. Patrick Henry is quoted as having said: “Give me liberty, or give me death.“ A voice from heaven said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13. This is an eternal “life or death decision.” Weigh the consequences. They will be eternal.

 _________

READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012 


 MAY

6th. Sunday – Judges 9, John 4:27-54, Psalm 57:1-6
7th. Monday – Judges 10, 11, John 5:1-23, Psalm 57:7-11
8th. Tuesday - Judges 12, 13, John 5:24-47, Proverbs 11:13-21
9th. Wednesday - Judges 14, 15, John 6:1-38, Psalm 58:1-6
10th. Thursday - Judges 16, 17, John 6:39-71, Psalm 58:7-11
11. Friday – Judges 18, 19, John 7:1-31, Psalm 59:1-8
12th. Saturday - Judges 20, 21, John 7:32-53, Proverbs 11:22-31

 __________

  OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
 (With links to 820 titles) Ctrl/click to follow these links

 http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ nine published books

 __________

 THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” - John 1:11-13

 __________