A Warning to all readers! Have you been Reconciled to God? The time to do so is now; time is running short!

 

Answers to Bible Questions

Scriptures are from the KJV of the Bible

(Q)   A  Warning to all readers! Have you been Reconciled to God? The time to do so is now; time is running short!

 

(A)   Why the above Warning? Well, I believe if you are honest with yourself, be you a believer or nonbeliever in God, you can see that our World is in big trouble. I am giving this Warning because I am a true believer in Christ Jesus who is my Lord and Saviour and as such I have a responsibility to teach the truth of God’s word, the Bible. Learning spiritual truth has been the most important issue in my 68 years of life. During my life I have come to see that the vast majority of the population has been ( and still are) being deceived by “ Religion.” Religion and Christianity are not the same. From my research and study of the Bible I can honestly tell you that God hates “Religion.” Traditions and Rituals are a big part of Religion today and they do not please God. In the book of Mark we can see what God thinks about some of these things: Mark 7: 7,8,9,13   ⁷Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ⁸For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. ⁹And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  ¹³Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Back to my original question, have you been Reconciled to God? God talks about this in II Corinthians 5: 18-20:   ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Why am I Warning you about being Reconciled to God? Because if you are not Reconciled to God you are truly going to be very, very sorry, very soon. What is coming is a time unparalleled in human history. But you may say (right), heard that one before, people have been saying that for a long time. So why should anyone believe all this gloom and doom? I am going to give you some very good reasons why everyone should be very concerned right now as of this writing 10-6-2012.

At the end of this article we will talk about how you can be Reconciled to God and escape the times of great trouble coming upon the whole earth.

First I am going to make a statement about our “Religious Churches” that may shock some, but remember I am dealing with the Word of God in truth and I am going to tell it as God sees it. So here we go: Our Churches are not here to improve the World. She is here to testify that the World cannot be made acceptable to God, indeed, that as the age progresses the World will grow “worse and worse,” morally and spiritually, until Christ returns from heaven to put down all rebellion and set up His reign on the Earth. The Church is not here to promote World betterment, but to testify that God will judge it as it grows more and more materialistic, more given over to self-gratification and self-exaltation. The church is to testify to the World in a way that none would be deceived or lulled to sleep as to God’s judgment upon sin. It is here to warn men in no uncertain terms that this World-system (society) is condemned by God and doomed to destruction; that its best system of civilization will be swept away at the coming of the Lord, and that the individual’s only hope of salvation is in Christ. The Church is here to save men out of this World system and from “this present evil age” Galatians 1: 3-4:   ³Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: The Church is not here to save the wreck which man has made of society, but to save perishing souls from the wreck, which is already doomed to destruction. The Church is not here to bring in social justice or moral and political reform! Let’s look at some verses to back up what I just told you starting with James 4: 4:   ⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. II Peter 1: 4:   ⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. I John 5: 19:  ¹⁹And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. Ephesians 2: 2:   ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: II Corinthians 6: 14-17: ¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, II Corinthians 11: 14-15:   ¹³For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Corinthians 4: 4:   ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 1 Corinthians 2: 12:    ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The above is God’s appraisal of society, and particularly our society in “this present evil age.” We could show a whole volume of other Scripture passage on this subject, but for now I want you to understand that I am not saying that it’s wrong to be helping other people, yes, we should be helping others as much as we can. As Christians God wants  us to do good works: Ephesians 2: 10:   ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The point of this article is to help you to understand that God is not pleased with the conditions in our World, and man’s best efforts to make our societies better places to live will fail. They will fail because all men are sinners and as such are enemies of God: Romans 8: 6-9:   ⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹But 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. Again I quote James  4: 4:   ⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. We all need to understand that the Church is not here to provide answers to the complex social and ethical problems facing the World. God’s wrath is coming upon the whole World very soon: Ephesians 5: 5-7:   ⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

In Romans 3: 10-23  God describes the true heart of man and his way’s here upon the earth:  ¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ¹³Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: ¹⁴Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: ¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood: ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways: ¹⁷And the way of peace have they not known: ¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes. ¹⁹Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

So what are some of the signs that we are living in the last day’s? Don’t be caught off guard!   1 Thessalonians 5: 3: ³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

(Below is an outline overview of the signs of the times:)

I. Signs of Nature
(Matthew 24:7; Mark 13: 8; and Luke 21:11)

1) Famine
2) Earthquakes
3) Plagues
4) Signs in the Heavens
(Unusual weather, new discoveries in space, UFO’s, etc.)

II. Signs of Society
(Matthew 24:12,37-39 & 2 Timothy 3:1-4)

1) Lawlessness
2) Violence
3) Immorality
4) Greed
5) Selfishness
6) Hedonism
7) Rebellion
8) Despair

III. Spiritual Signs

1) Negative

a) False Christ’s & Prophets and their cultic groups (Matthew 24:5,11,2-4; Mark 13:6,21-22; and Luke 21:8).
b) Apostasy in the professing church (2 Thessalonians 2:3; and 2 Timothy 3:5, 4:3-4).
c) Widespread heresy in the church (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
d) Movement toward a one world religion (Revelation 17).
e) Persecution of true believers (Matthew 24:9-10; Mark 13:9,11-13; and Luke 21:12-19).
f) Outbreak of demonic and occultic activity (1 Timothy 4:1).

2) Positive

a) Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29).
b) Revival of Davidic worship (1 Chronicles 16:1-39; Psalm 150; and Amos 9:11).
c) Worldwide evangelism (Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10).
d) Understanding of Bible prophecy (Daniel 12:4,8-9).

IV. World Political Signs

1) Re-establishment of Israel. (Ezekiel 36:22 – 37:1-2; Zechariah 12:1-6; Matthew 24:32-34; Mark 13:28- 30; and Luke 21:29-31).
2) Arab hostility toward Israel (Ezekiel 35:1 – 36:7).
3) Russia as a menacing power to Israel (Ezekiel 38:1 – 39:16).
4) Asian nations capable of fielding an army of 200 million (Revelation 9:15-16 and 16:12).
5) Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6-7; Mark 13:7-8; and Luke 21:10).
6) Kingdom against kingdom — that is, civil wars and ethnic wars (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; and Luke 21:10).
7) Reunification of Europe (Daniel 2:41-44, 7:8, 24-25, and 9:26).
8) Movement toward a one world economy (Revelation 18).

V. Technological Signs

1) Nuclear weapons.
(Matthew 24:22; Luke 21: 25-26; and Revelation 6:8, 8:7 and 16: 2-).
2) Television and satellite transmission (Revelation 11:3-12).
3) Robotics (Revelation 13:14-15).
4) Computer and laser technology (Revelation 13:16-18).
5) High speed transportation (Daniel 12:4).

VI. The Accelerator Sign

1) Population explosion (Revelation 9: 15-16 and 16:12).
2) Increase in knowledge (Dan-iel 12:4).
3) Increase in violence (Matthew 24:12).
4) Increase in transportation (Daniel 12:4).
5) Rapid disintegration of society (1 Timothy 3:1-4).
6) Signs in general to be like birth pangs’ that is, increasing in frequency and intensity (Matthew 24:8).

VII. Signs of Israel

1) Regathering of the people (Isaiah 11:10-12 and Ezekiel 37:1-12).
2) Re-establishment of the state (Isaiah 66:7-8; Zechariah 12:1-6; and Matthew 24:32-35).
3) Reclamation of the land (Isaiah 35:1-2,7 and Ezekiel 36:34-35).
4) Revival of the language (Zephaniah 3:9).
5) Resurgence of the military (Zechariah 12:6)
6) Refocusing of world politics (Zechariah 12:2-3).
7) Reoccupation of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-6).

For all who have not been Reconciled to God, and not part of the Rapture, we will show a summary of the plagues that will soon come upon the whole World.

“There is coming the culmination of all the ravages of sin upon rebellious mankind. It will be the Great Tribulation. It will be the most horrific time ever endured by inhabitants of Planet Earth.

Jesus said of that time:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24: 21-22)

(A) Names by which this prophesied era of God’s Judgment is called in Scripture:

No less than 12 titles for this blood-chilling period can be found in the Bible.

1. The Day of the Lord

This title used more than any other.

Example: Isa 2: 12; 13: 6, 9; Ezek. 13:5; Joel 1: 15; 2:1, 11, 31; Amos 5: 18-20;Obadiah 1: 15; Zeph. 1: 7, 14; Zech. 14: 1; Mal. 4:5; Acts 2: 20; 1 Thes. 5: 2; 2 Thes. 2: 2; 2 Pet. 3: 10

Distinction should be made between “the Day of the Lord,” and “the Day of Christ”.

“Day of Christ” is a reference to the Millennium:

    1 Cor. 1: 8; 5:5 15
    2 Cor. 1: 14
    Phil. 1: 6, 10; 2: 16

2. The Indignation
Isa. 26: 20; 34: 2

3. Day of God’s Vengeance
Isa. 34: 8; 63: 1-6

4. The Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Jer. 30: 7

5. The Overspreading of Abominations
Dan. 9: 27

6. The Time of Trouble such as never was
Dan. 12: 1 Matt. 24: 21

7. The Seventieth Week
Dan. 9: 24-27

8. The Time of The End
Dan. 12: 9

9. The great day of His Wrath
Rev. 6: 17

10. The hour of His Judgment
Rev. 14: 7

11. The end of this world
Matt. 13: 40, 49

12. The Tribulation
Matt. 24: 21, 29

(B) The severity of the Tribulation ( 1 to 46 )

1. Unbelievably bloody wars
Matt. 24: 6-7; Rev. 6: 2-4; 14: 20

2. Drunkenness
Matt. 24: 38; Lk 17: 27

3. Illicit Sex
Matt. 24: 38; Lk 17: 27; Rev. 9: 21

4. Gross Materialism
Lk 17: 28; Rev. 18: 12-14

5. Rise of false messiahs and prophets
Matt. 24: 5, 11,24

6. Horrible persecution of believers
Matt. 24: 9-10; Rev 16: 6; 17: 6

7. Men to hide in caves
Isa 2: 19-21; Rev. 6: 15-17

8. The pangs and sorrows of death to seize men similar to the pains of women in labor
Isa 13: 8; Jer 30: 6

9. Terrible world-wide famines
Rev. 6: 5-6, 8

10. Humans to be slaughtered by predatory wild beasts
Rev. 6: 8

11. Disastrous earthquakes
Rev. 6: 12; 11: 13; 16: 18

12. Fearful heavenly signs and disturbances
Lk 21: 25; Rev. 6: 12-14; 8: 12

13. Universal tidal waves and ocean disasters
Lk 21: 25; Rev. 8: 8-9; 16: 3

14. Sun, stars, and Moon to be darkened
Isa 13: 10; Joel 2:33; 3: 15

15. The Moon to be turned into blood
Joel 2: 31; Rev. 6: 12

16. The heavens to be rolled together like a scroll
Isa 34: 4; Joel 2: 10; Rev. 6: 14

17. Massive hailstones comprised of fire and blood to fall upon the earth
Rev. 8: 7; 16: 21

18. Huge meteorites to fall upon the earth
Rev. 8: 8-11

19. Stars of the heavens to fall upon the earth
Rev. 6: 13

20. Both salt waters and fresh waters to become polluted
Rev. 8: 8-11; 11: 6; 16: 3-4

21. Universal disaster of land ecology
Rev. 8: 7

22. Events to steadily go from bad to worse
Amos 5: 19

23. A time of thick darkness and utter depression
Joel 2: 2

24. No period in history to compare to it
Jer. 30: 7; Dan. 12: 1; Matt. 24: 21-22

25. A time of famine of the Word of God Itself
Amos 8: 11-12

26. A time of absolutely no escape from God’s fierce Judgment
Amos 9: 2-3

27. World-wide drug usage
Rev. 9: 21

28. Universal idolatry and devil worship
Rev. 9: 20; 13: 11-17

29. Murderous demonic invasions
Rev. 9: 3-20

30. Subterranean eruptions
Rev. 9: 1-2

31. Scorching solar heat
Rev. 16: 8-9

32. Terrifying periods of total darkness
Rev. 16: 10

33. Unchecked city-wide fires
Rev. 18: 8, 18

34. A plague of cancerous sores
Rev. 16: 2

35. The total destruction of the earth’s religious, political, and economic systems
Rev. chapters 17 and 18

36. A universal dictatorial rule by the Antichrist
Rev. chapter 13

37. An all-out, no holds barred attempt to destroy Israel
Rev. 12: 1-17

38. Survivors of this period to be more rare than gold
Isa 13: 12

39. Men’s blood to be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung
Zeph. 1: 17

40. The slain to remain unburied, and the mountains to be covered with blood
Isa 34: 3; 66: 24

41. The earth to be moved out of its orbit
Isa 13: 13

42. The earth to be turned upside down
Isa 24: 1, 19

43. The earth to reel to and fro like a drunkard
Isa 24: 20

44. The most frightful plague in all history
Zech. 14: 12

45. Human river of blood to flow
Rev. 14: 20

46. Scavenger birds to eat the rotted flesh of entire armies of men
Matt. 24: 28; Rev. 19: 17-19.”

There are 21 specific Tribulation Judgments scheduled to fall upon rebellious earthdwellers:

Seals Judgments ( 7 )

1) Seal One: Rider on white horse ” Rev. 6:2

2) Seal Two: Rider on red horse ” Rev. 6: 4

3) Seal Three: Rider on black horse – Rev. 6: 5

4)Seal Four: Riders on pale horse ” Rev. 6: 8

5) Seal Five: Slain Tribulation Saints ” Rev. 6: 9-11

6)Seal Six: Great earthquake/Sun darkens/Moon becomes red as blood ” Rev. 6: 12-14

7) Seal Seven: Heaven silent ” Rev. 8: 1-2

Trumpet Judgments ( 7 )

8) Trumpet One: Hail, fire, blood, one-third of trees, and all green grass burned – Rev. 8: 7

9) Second Trumpet: Great Mountain-like mass hits ocean ” Rev. 8: 8-9

10) Trumpet Three: star called Wormwood crashes into fresh waters ” Rev. 8: 10-11

11) Trumpet Four: Great darkness on Earth ” Rev. 8: 12

12) Trumpet Five: Supernatural Locust Plague ” Rev. 9: 1-5

13) Trumpet Six: Demons unbound from Euphrates ” Rev. 9: 15-21

Heaven again pauses as two witnesses ” 144,000 Jewish men sealed for service, plus other things winding up human history. Rev. Chapters 10-15.

14) Trumpet Seven: Christ shall reign forever and ever “ Rev. 11: 15-19

 Bowl Judgments ( 7)

15) Bowl One: Great sores befall rebels ” Rev. 16: 2

16) Bowl Two: Seas turn bloody ” Rev. 16: 3

17) Bowl Three: Fresh waters become blood ” Rev. 16: 4

18) Bowl Four: Sun grows darker, yet hotter ” Rev. 16: 8-9

19) Bowl Five: Pain because of darkness befalls rebels ” Rev. Rev. 16: 10-11

20) Bowl Six: Demons released upon world ” Rev. 16: 12-14

21) Bowl Seven:Greatest earthquake flattens every city / 100 pound hailstones ” Rev. 16: 18-20.