End Time Prophesy and the Iran War?

Is the Iran War a sign of the End Times for us? Let's see what gotsquestions.org has to say about it.

What are signs of the end times?

Every time there is an explosion of conflict in the Middle East, many people begin to wonder if the end times are approaching. Some Bible prophecy aficionados claim to find specific passages of Scripture to match virtually every news headline that comes out of the Middle East. The civil war in Syria, rocket attacks from Gaza, ISIS, threats from Iran, McDonalds offering a bacon cheeseburger in Israel (okay, I made the last one up), all resulted in claims that the rapture, tribulation, second coming, etc., are fast approaching. If I could summarize this blog post with one word, it would be: relax!

Don't get me wrong, I do not deny that a conflict in the Middle East could possibly be a precursor to biblical end times events. At the same time, there has been near ceaseless conflict in the Middle East for the past 3,000 years. Ever since the United Nations reestablished the nation of Israel in 1948, there likely hasn't been even a single year without some sort of conflict or terrorist activity in or near Israel. That is why I tend not to place too much weight on any specific event in the Middle East as a definite sign of the end times.

Jesus declared, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:6-8).

Rather than worry about whether this or that is a sign of the end times; instead of interpreting the Bible based on world news; instead of writing books, articles (and blog posts) about how current events fit with biblical end times prophecy—we should be living every day of our lives as if Jesus could return at any moment. We should have urgency in our evangelism. We should be passionate in our walk with Christ. The reality of the coming of Christ is something we are to use to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).

The one thing it is not to be is something we obsess over, worry about, or use to stir up an apocalyptic freak out.

S. Michael Houdmann

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Have you been seeing reports of end times in connection with the war raging over there? Perhaps you have even heard that some believe President Trump could be the anti-christ.

False teachers with their false claims tend to come out of the woodwork during these times. Well, ok they come out of the woodwork every day about something. 

And yet, we should not dismiss the possibility of the war having something to do with Jesus' return. He did tell us to not let our hearts be troubled. (John 14:1)

And He also did say there will be wars and rumors of wars.

But do you remember what else He said?

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)

It is in our best interest that while we do not let our hearts be troubled by what is going on, we should also watch and wait. Because His return will come when we least expect it. And not when some false teacher or prophet gives us a date. Or tells us for sure that these things are the real deal.

We just won't know until the time actually comes. But as we know, people have predicted His return many times. And they have failed every time.

So while you are waiting, friends, be watchful. In fact, be hopeful if you are a believer. And know that Jesus will come when His Father calls it. 

Thanks for coming by today. Have a blessed day! 

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Secret Rapture: Fact or Fiction?

What is the Concept of a Secret Rapture

The secret rapture—usually just called the rapture of the church—is the idea that Christ will come to take believers out of the world before His return with them at the second coming. The secret rapture is “secret” in that no one will see Jesus coming except believers; this is in contrast to the second coming of Christ after the tribulation, when “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). There is considerable disagreement among Christians regarding the timing of the secret rapture. Some believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, which occurs before the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. Others hold to a mid-tribulation rapture, and still others to a post-tribulation timing.

Secret rapture is a term frequently used as a pejorative by those who deny the idea that the rapture of the church is separate from the second coming of Christ. Those who believe the rapture and the second coming are one and the same event often use the term secret rapture in derision and refer to those who believe in the rapture as “rapturists.”

“One-coming believers” who deny the rapture put themselves in conflict with the Bible and biblical scholarship, as well as the majority of the evangelical world. Among the arguments they pose are that the word rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible. While it is true that the English word rapture doesn’t appear, the concept of the rapture of the church is certainly present.

First Thessalonians 4:16–17 (the definitive passage on the rapture of the church) says that the Lord will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive and remain will be “caught up.” The word rapture is derived from rapio (“to catch up or snatch away”), a form of which is found in the Latin Vulgate Bible. To say the rapture won’t happen because the word isn’t found in Scripture is a specious argument. The phrase second coming isn’t found in the Bible, either, but the reality of it certainly is.

Whatever we believe about the existence and/or timing of the rapture, there are two realities all Christians must keep in mind. First, no difference of opinion among Christians justifies unkindness or hostility toward those who hold different views. Jesus commands us to love one another, just as He loved us. He also said that by our love for one another all people would know that we are His disciples (John 13:34–35). Wrangling and name-calling over issues such as the timing of the rapture does not exhibit Christ’s love.

Second, the most important aspect of eschatology is not a secret rapture but the absolute certainty of the return of Jesus Christ to the world in the last days (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11–16). The timing of that event doesn’t alter the fact that those who belong to Him will enjoy eternal life and those who do not will experience everlasting condemnation (John 3:18). Faith in Christ as the only Savior from sin will distinguish the saved from the unsaved, regardless of our views on the rapture.

(source: gotquestions.org)

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To this article I would like to add a warning that Jesus Himself gives us about the rapture;

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (ESV)

There is no secret rapture. Jesus made it clear for us to be ready and to watch for it so as not to miss it.

Because many will not be ready.

And many will miss it.

We don't want to be a part of that last group.

Thanks for coming by, Friends.

Have a blessed day!

Which is it?

 

Hell

Hell is not a subject I like to talk about. 

I am sure I am not alone about that admission. 

But the fact is, the word hell is mentioned in the Bible 57 times.

Jesus Himself talked about hell 23 times in the New Testament.

It is a subject that needs discussion.

The problem is that in some supposedly Christian churches

and many that are not, do not preach about it. 

However, there are too many that are going there to ignore it. 

And so, here are some Biblical facts that we know about Hell.

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Is hell real?

Is hell eternal?

It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of heaven than believe in the existence of hell. According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since all our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is infinitely glorious, the punishment for sin must also be infinite. Eternal hell—the second death—is the punishment we have earned because of our sin.

The reality of hell was taught by Jesus. His warnings about hell are unambiguous in passages such as Matthew 5:22, Mark 9:47–48, and Luke 12:5. Pastor Alistair Begg draws this conclusion: “Is Jesus Christ true in what He says? And if we start from that premise, then we simply can’t excise the hard parts out of it. We’ve got to take him at his word. So that the most loving person who has ever lived spoke so straightforwardly about the awfulness of hell” (https://youtu.be/ycrg9Q8x8dc, accessed 6/14/25).

The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described in Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16:23–24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place of “burning sulfur” where “the smoke of . . . torment will rise forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10–11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never-ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ, the Savior they rejected (Psalm 76:10; Philippians 2:10–11).

Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).

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I thank God everyday for His salvation in my life.

I have said this before,

that I am amazed that for the grace of God, I will not be there,

and will spend eternity with Jesus.

Why?

It's not because I am special.

Or good.

Or I have done enough good works.

No, it is only because of the Blood of Jesus that He shed for me on the cross.

I could have missed it.

And that is what amazes me.

I found the right gate.

As it is written:

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

I hope that you have found the narrow gate. Because it means you are on your way to Jesus and will avoid the destruction of so many. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed afternoon!

Going to Heaven...part 4

 but, how do I get there?

Going to heaven-how can I guarantee my eternal destination?

(Source: gotquestions.com)

Face it. The day we step into eternity may come sooner than we think. In preparation for that moment, we need to know this truth—not everyone is going to heaven. How can we know for sure that we are going to heaven? Some 2,000 years ago, the apostles Peter and John were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a large crowd in Jerusalem. Peter made a profound statement that resonates even in our postmodern world: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Now as then, Acts 4:12 is not politically correct. Today it’s popular to say, “Everyone’s going to heaven” or “All paths lead to heaven.” There are many who think they can have heaven without having Jesus. They want the glory, but they don’t want to be bothered by the cross, much less the One who died there. Many don’t want to accept Jesus as the only way of going to heaven and are determined to find another path. But Jesus warns us that no other path exists and that the consequence for rejecting this truth is an eternity in hell. The message is clear: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). Faith in Christ is the key to going to heaven.

Some will argue that it’s extremely narrow-minded of God to provide only one way to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s rebellion against God, it’s extremely broad-minded for Him to provide any way to heaven. We deserve judgment, but God gives us the way of escape by sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as narrow or broad, it’s the truth. The good news is that Jesus died and rose again; those who are going to heaven have received this gospel by faith.

Many people today hold to a watered-down gospel that does away with the need for repentance. They want to believe in a “loving” (nonjudgmental) God who shrugs at sin. They may say things like, “My God would never send a person to hell.” But Jesus spoke often about hell, and He presented Himself as the Savior who offers the only means of going to heaven: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I guarantee that I’m going to heaven? The Bible distinguishes those who have eternal life from those who do not: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). It all goes back to faith. Those who believe in Christ are made the children of God (John 1:12). Those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for their sins and who believe in His resurrection are going to heaven. Those who reject Christ are not. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).

As awesome as heaven will be for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, hell will be that much more awful for those who reject Him. One cannot read the Bible seriously without seeing it over and over again—the line is drawn. The Bible says there is one and only one way to heaven—Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus’ command: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).

Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there. Do you trust in Jesus?

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I hope that you do. 

For if you do, you have so much to gain.

And a lot of suffering to lose.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed day in Jesus!

What is Heaven Like and Where is it? (part 3)

 

Is heaven real?

1) Heaven has solid real estate

Popular myths picture heaven as a fanciful place where spirits sit on clouds playing harps or float around in nebulous space. However, in John 14:2-3 the Bible says that Jesus is building mansions in heaven for those who accept salvation. He is preparing real buildings with real tangible materials for real people who will inhabit them.

Additionally, when Jesus went to heaven he told his disciples: "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom" (Matthew 26:29). This means that in heaven real vineyards will produce real grapes.

The Bible even refers to heaven as a country (Hebrews 11:16). Before sin came into this world, the world was a physical paradise — a beautiful garden full of fruits, trees, and animals. Similarly, when sin is finally eradicated from this universe, we will get to live life as God originally intended for mankind when He first created the Garden of Eden — not as spirits on clouds, but in a tangible, material Heaven.

2) There are many intelligent beings in heaven

With the increasing understanding of solar systems, planets, stars, and galaxies it is inconceivable to believe that human beings are the only intelligent life in the universe. It makes sense to realize that there is a country out in the universe, perhaps even the universe itself, known by the Bible writers as heaven.

The Bible speaks about hosts or inhabitants of both heaven and earth. "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished" (Genesis 2:1). The Bible mentions that beings on other planets rejoiced at the creation of the earth. "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). The biblical prophet Micaiah said: "I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left" (2 Chronicles 18:18).

3) Perfect unselfish love governs all relationships in heaven

The Bible says: "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). Those who love God keep His commandments (John 14:15). The inhabitants of heaven obey God’s commandments of love (Psalm 103:19-21).

4) We will have physical bodies in heaven

Our bodies will be free from disease, pain and death in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:40-49). We will still have physical bodies. The Bible says: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3:20, 21). The body of Jesus after His resurrection was physical. Jesus said: "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). We will be able to recognize our loved ones. The Bible says: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).

5) The New Earth as heaven

Real earth, real houses, gardens, hobbies, loved ones, are all part of the perfect future life in store for those who are faithful to God’s Word. This becomes more believable when we realize that the Bible says that the greater part of the future existence of human beings will take place right here on our planet Earth, which will be recreated and restored to its original perfection. This life will be free from sickness, war, crime and anything harmful. The future life will have the best of this life plus additional joys beyond our imagination. (see Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 65:17-25; John 14:2, 3.)

Bible prophecy points to the fact that Jesus will return the second time. He will not come in secret, but every eye shall see him (Revelation 1:7). At that time, those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior will be taken to heaven for a period of time. They will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years in the mansions Jesus is building and in the New Jerusalem in the heavenly country. Then He will bring the New Jerusalem down to earth. God will recreate a new earth with a new atmosphere, and our heavenly life will take place right here. (See Second Coming, Millennium)

 (source: bibleinfo.org)

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This place called heaven is a wonderful place, set up by Jesus for those that follow and love Him. I cannot imagine wanting to go anywhere else after I die and especially not to where non-believers will end up. 

Why do people reject God? Many don't believe Him. Preferring to live their lives the way they want, they don't want anyone telling them how to live. Not even God. Others believe but don't really understand that God has His requirements for getting there. They think that if they are good, they will get there. Many think that if they do good works, they will. Many look at Him as a cartoon character. He's just a myth. Some believe He really did come, but that he was just a good teacher or prohet.

There are many ways people explain away God and His Son Jesus. But Jesus said this:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Are we willing to reject Jesus for any other god? Or for no god? For any other reason we might come up with?

I am not. How about you? 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

More on this subject in tomorrow's post.

Have a blessed day in Jesus!