Hell is Real!

 

Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Abiding in Jesus the Vine

 

Abiding in Jesus the Vine

To abide in Christ is to walk by faith and allow the Holy Spirit to make us into a new creation. We must surrender all to Christ and let his love shine forth to others. To know Christ, is to know and show love. Christ is the vine, and we are the branches. Apart from Christ no one can bear fruit. The fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-25) is the evidence of a transformed life. We come to Christ as we are, salvation is a free gift that can never be earned through holiness or works. We are saved by grace alone following true repentance. God gives us grace to grow in him. We take baby steps at first and require milk. However, we need to grow spiritually and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, as well as transform us from the inside out. What Christ is looking for in his bride is faith and love. There are nine fruits of the Spirit, the greatest is love, and the other eight revolve around love (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-8). 

It is truly as the days of Noah, and the attributes of Satan are visible in most people’s lives. As Christians, we must go against the grain of our cold society and let the love and light of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through us. If you have bitterness in your heart toward others, I urge you to let the love of Christ melt away the ice on your heart. Even the roots of bitterness are an open door for the devil to have a stronghold in your life. If you have animosity toward someone, let it go, and let the peace of God rule in your heart and mind.

We have all heard of the golden rule, but did you know that it was coined by Jesus? (Luke6:31) "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." How many of us truly obey it? Would you want someone to cheat you out of your money or lie to you? Would you want someone to deny you a warm place to stay, or a hot meal if you were in need? Do you desire to have someone give you the cold shoulder in your home or workplace? The answer of course is no. We all want to be loved and showed kindness from those around us. Regardless, of how others treat you, as Christians, we are to show unconditional love toward all, including the unlovely. You may think this is impossible, but with Christ all things are possible. If God's Holy Spirit dwells within you, you have the power to overcome the evil society, and show forth God's attributes. If the church will reflect Christ to the world, we will save many from Hell. Hypocrisy will destroy your testimony, and push people away from Christ. Be real and let the good fruit of God's Spirit shine forth in your life.

(James 2:14-17) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

(Luke 6:27-36) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

(John 15:1-13) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Do Not be Influenced by the Majority!

 

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And 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.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

 

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

In the parable of the ten virgins, Christ makes the comment, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Christ gives us an analogy of five wise and five foolish virgins, in order to stress the importance of being prepared for his return. The five wise virgins were prepared to meet the bridegroom, because they took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The five foolish virgins took their lamps, but no oil to keep their lamps burning. As the bridegroom tarried, they all slept until they heard the midnight cry, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!”

 The five wise virgins were prepared for the Lord’s return, because they were the overcomers who kept their light burning until the end. The oil they took for their lamps, is symbolic of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is essential for all Christians, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, in order to be prepared for the Lord’s return. You are not truly saved unless you are filled with the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God dwells within us according to Christ, and the Holy Spirit is the living water from above that gives eternal life. The foolish virgins were once born-again Christians; however, they let their lamps grow dark because they were empty vessels. Christians must remain faithful to Christ until the end, as well as filled with God’s Holy Spirit (God’s oil). To remain faithful to the Lord, is to be obedient to him by keeping his commandments and ridding our lives of sinful living. 

Matt 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. ¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 The Lord is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. I believe that the Great Tribulation will be a time of purification for the body of Christ. When people no longer have electricity to power their televisions or internet, then they may get serious about cleaning their lives up. Some of the greatest revivals in history have occurred during times of persecution or distress. Many communist nations have seen these great revivals spring up from the persecuted home churches. I believe that the time of the great testing and shaking, will once again bring about true revival. A true revival is marked by repentance of sins, and mass conversions.

The counterfeit revivals of today, where people act like drunks, and fall on the floor laughing, as well as make animal noises, are a mockery to a holy God. There is no true repentance, or genuine conversions occurring in these flesh fests. In fact, most of their revival leaders, have been caught in sexual immorality. The modern church of today is dyeing spiritually, because of the grace for everything theology, which produces big tithers. When you tell people what they want to hear, they will fill the offering plates up. A healthy church where God’s Spirit is still present will preach holiness (to be set apart from the sinful world by God’s Spirit).

 While the foolish virgins went to buy oil for their lamps, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also,  saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” but he said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Spiritual unfaithfulness will lead to divorce with God; that is why the Apostle Paul taught that we must cross the finish line in order to receive the crown of eternal life. 1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

We need to keep our lamps burning with the oil of God’s Spirit until the end, to inherit the Kingdom of God. Even Paul said that if he didn’t discipline his body to bring it into subjection, that after preaching to others, he could become disqualified. Paul was saying that like a runner in a race keeps his body in good physical condition, we must also keep our spiritual body in good condition, so that we might be able to cross the finish line and win our crown. 

 Matt 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

 Matt 24: 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

 Rev 2: 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Rev 3:1  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.  3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.            

   

Mark 13:3-8, 13-14, 21-27, & 32-37: "When shall these things be?" (Written by my wife)

 Mark 13:3-8, 13-14, 21-27, & 32-37: "When shall these things be?"

Mark 13 speaks of Christ's return.  This chapter, as well as Matthew 24 and Luke 21 all make it very clear that it will be "after the tribulation." 

**Fellow believers, please let's not divide on this issue. Prayerfully study God's Word and love one another whether you agree or disagree.**

The Bible gives instructions on what the Christians should do during the tribulation to stay safe.  Verse 14 says, "flee to the mountains." When you read Revelation 12:6, it also says we must flee to the wilderness to be safe.  If we follow God's instructions, we will be kept safe.  If we realize there is not a pre-tribulation rapture and prepare now, we can be safe during times even more perilous than we are seeing now (this will include storing food before the great famine comes mentioned in Revelation 6:5-6).

(Mark 13:3-8, 13-14, 21-27, & 32-37) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"

And Jesus answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

"But in those days, AFTER that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. AND THEN shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. AND THEN shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."