Only One Way to Heaven. Just One!

Some of you might be pretty good in math, but in heaven one day there will be a multitude of people that no one can number, from all nations, tribes, peoples and languages. These will be those that come out of the great Tribulation Period, that even John can't count them. They are all giving glory to the Lamb, standing before His throne, dressed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. What this means is that people from all different kinds of religions will hear the gospel during the Tribulation and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That means Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, Jews, New Agers, and every other group under the sun will respond to the gospel and be saved. They will make it into heaven because they have been born again.

You can only get to heaven by being born again in John 3 and these people have put their faith in Jesus to save them. They will wake up to the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord. Only one religion is the right one and that is faith in Jesus Christ. There will be a mass of people enter into heaven, declared righteous by the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9-10a ~ "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:" 

Remember these are the converts that are in heaven that have come from the Tribulation Period thanks to the efforts of the 144,000 evangelists. We will never get the whites and blacks together in peace, the Asians and the Hispanics together in peace, it will never happen no matter what kind of program we implement. There is only one way to crush racial division and ethnic divides. Jesus Christ is the only way. If you understand the gospel you know that Jesus died for all. There is no race that is greater than another one. Racial division is a form of satanic thinking, a form of evil and hatred, because those are not present in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. Racism is satanic to its core.

The apostle Paul spoke to churches that were converted Jews and Gentiles, there were no churches that were exclusively Gentile, unlike some churches in the world today. That is wrong. It is an affront to Christ and an insult to the gospel when you have that kind of division on a church. If you are a born again Jew or a born again Gentile, why are you divided? Isn't that what the Book of Galatians was, to stop it because it's immature? That's carnal, that's division and it's wrong. There is no one better than anyone else in this world. Aren't we one in Jesus?

We will see that the Apostle John does not recognize who any of these people are. They are not from the church age. He doesn't know who they are. They are believers who have come out of great Tribulation. They are not part of the church, they are the Tribulation Saints. We know that there are the Old Testament Saints, there are the Church Age Saints and there are the Tribulation Saints. There are three groups throughout all of history. The Old Testament saints ended with John the Baptist, whom we often attribute with the Church Age saints. He was the last Old Testament prophet. John was of the old economy of God ushering in the Church Age. Is John in heaven or Daniel? Yes!

The Church Age saints are those from the moment the church was born until the rapture. That is called the Bride of Christ. Saints. The church. Once the rapture happens until the Second Coming of Christ, during the 7-year Tribulation Period, there are the Tribulation saints. These three are distinguished in Scripture that we will see as we continue in our study.

What a perfect ending to it all when we know our destination is heaven and it is God who saves. How do we know?

Revelation 7:10 ~ "And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Who are they? John asks the question.

Revelation 7:14 ~ "I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb. Why does it say, "And?" Even though God the Father sits on the throne, there is no salvation outside of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

So how does a man get to heaven?

By bowing his knee or heart so to speak, and accepting Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb. God sent forth His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. Remember Jesus loves us. He willingly died for us.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father, but through Me." ~ John 14:6. Nobody gets to the Father but through Jesus, the Son. It doesn't matter what you believe, there is no other way, but through Jesus. If you don't like it, take it up with God, He wrote the Bible and created you.

1 John 5:11-13 ~ "And that is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Acts 4:10-12 ~ "Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone." Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Philippians 2:9-11 ~ "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth an under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

John 3:35-36 ~ "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

What a perfect ending when It's God who is.

Revelation 7:11-12 ~ "All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

We already know who the elder and four living creatures are through our previous studies. They worshiped. Everyone who is saved worships! Angels are worshiping, four living creatures are worshiping, Christians are worshiping. It is the one thing we get to do here that we get to do there! Worship.

How do we worship? Singing is one form of worship. When we mean what we sing!

All the inhabitants of heaven are servants of God. Service is the heart of the matter. There is enthusiasm when they worship God. We should all be drunk with the Holy Spirit in our lives. We should be worshiping God because of all He has done for us. When life ends here, it doesn't end for us. He forgives us from all our sins, that should be a reason to worship. We are saved. We should worship God because of His goodness and His ability to promise. There are no promises He denies from us. All God asks from us, is just to walk with Him today. He is the God of ever lasting life. Until we come to see God face to face, we need to ask for God to guide and lead us in the will He has for us.

We will be surprised by those who will be in heaven and then again those who are not. There will be one giant victory celebration in heaven that we will all be a part of because we are believers in Jesus Christ and are born again! It only takes a nano second to accept Jesus into your life. It's just a change of heart.

Do you want that assurance that when you die, you will go to heaven today? It doesn't matter what you have done up to this point, you can have that eternal assurance today. Simply change what you believe in your heart and say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I see You as my Lord and Savior. That You are the Lamb of God who takes away my sins, and I'm asking You right now to forgive me. Make me Your own child. Thank You for dying for me and rising from the dead. I know place my life and my future in Your hands. 

Worried? Try Worship for the Cure!

When we worship, we connect with our God personally. Sometimes, when you're at church on Sundays or Wednesdays or whatever day you attend, it is often easy to sneak out just as the worship team comes out for the final song, so you won't have to face any delay trying to get your car out of the parking lot. But what you fail to understand is that you are walking out on worship! It has to begin to start being a priority in our lives.  Nothing in this life is certain and sure, but worship is. Most fail to understand what a true privilege worship is.

There is something about this human life of ours, that the blackness and loneliness of the struggles and difficulties, the nagging pain and the sorrows, will someday be pressed into the Diamond of Glory. Deliverance from this world's troubles will cause us to sing. The moon can't sing God a song. Jupiter in all its splendor can't write Him a word of praise. Pluto can't pray to God. When we worship, we connect with our God personally!

It's not just about the singing. It's about having an object that is worthy to sing to. You have to, you must, you will. There will come a day, you will see the glories of God and you will want to break out in song and worship. One day every single knee will bow willingly and say that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. But there will be no second chances after you die to make that choice to choose Jesus today. 

Psalm 100:4 ~ "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

That's a command. When's the last time we told God thank You. There is always something to thank God for. No matter how much pain and suffering we might find ourselves in, there is always something to be thankful for.

Psalm 9:1 ~ "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders."

That's a Christian. I am deficient in this area and I need to start thanking God more. Because He is on the throne and He loves me no matter what, good days or bad days.

Psalm 35:18 ~ "I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you."

Psalm 52:9 ~ "I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."

Psalm 57:9 ~ "I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples."

Psalm 118:21 ~ "I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation."

Psalm 138:1-2 ~ "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things you name and your word."

Do you notice the repetition in these Psalms? 

1. You are worthy.
2. to take the scroll.
3. to open its seals.
4. for you were slain.
5. you have redeemed us to God.
6. by your blood.
7. out of every tribe.
8. tongue.
9. people and.
10. nation.

Peeking ahead to verse 12...

Revelation 5:12 ~ "In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and  honor and glory and praise!"

"Mark" - the things of heaven in your sights, Jesus Christ is returning to this earth. The song keeps going.

Revelation 5:10 ~ "You have made them to be a kingdom and priest to serve our God and they will reign on the earth."

They sang this song and it keeps on going. Some ancient scholars have said that a better understanding of this reads, "You have made us (a kingdom) , (priests we are) to our God. And we shall reign on earth. Regardless it's all about the divine government to come. "Kings and Priests" the reign of Christ and His government for a thousand years from Jerusalem, Israel. I really like that when you think that Christians really have no place in this world. We as Christians, as just pilgrims, just passing through. Our goal is to bring as many people to heaven with us.

Don't let the world determine what you need to become worthy in the eyes of those here, Jesus is what we should be focusing on. We shall reign on the earth with Jesus. The people in authority in our government will never work right, even though God has placed those people where they are at this time. Government only works when God rules. Until that time, human government is in power. There are men and women dying to establish government in their country, just to have the right to have a say so. To exercise their freedom. We as Americans, we have grown tired of freedom. We don't fight for it or defend it as much anymore. We fought for the right at one time to worship freely.

This year when you have the opportunity to vote will you do it? Will you understand the blood that was shed for that right to do so. In the end, in glory, the real Christians will stand before the throne of God. The Lord is saying the hour is late, it's time to worship Me and put Me first.It's time to rededicate our lives to Jesus once again and to be His will before our own.

Help us to search our hearts Lord and restore those broken places where we can learn to feel again. To understand what it is to feel You again in our lives. To come before His throne and read His Word like never before. We ask You Lord, that all we have we dedicate it all to You. Lead us and drive us like a ship across the sea and guide us with Your Spirit.  You've lost the sight of heaven and Jesus has been cursed more than praised and you're getting weaker by the day. It may be the very thing that brought you here today. He brought you here to bring this to your attention. It's time to come home to Him again. It's time to ask for His forgiveness and ask for His restoration. It's time to let Him take control of Your life again. God stores our tears in a bottle for us.

If you've never asked Jesus into your heart and want to do so now, simply pray this prayer and mean it from your heart. He will hear you right where you are at. He won't force His way in, you need to invite Him in today to your life and let Him change you.

Dear Lord Jesus, 

Forgive me of my sins. Write my name in Your Lamb's Book of Life. Receive me today. I believe You died and rose again, and I receive You now, as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus Name, I thank You, AMEN!!!

We need to live our lives on the mark because Jesus is come back. Time is running out and night is coming. Jesus is the most influential person who ever lived and has lived and continues to live. In just 3 1/2 years, He impacted the world like never before. Time is running out for us to minister for Jesus before eternity comes and we hear the final trumpet blast.

We Were Created to Worship!

If you don't like loud, you aren't going to like Heaven! Heavenly worship will be spectacular and it will be loud! Most people don't care for loudness, unless it is something that they enjoy! Trust me, this will be something you will enjoy so much, you will want it loud! Here's another theory, if our ears are perfected in heaven, it won't matter any way. Everything will be perfected in our glorified bodies. To imagine hearing Mozart and Handel all in perfect clarity! When worship is so good, you want to shout. We want to embarrass the angels! Worship here on earth is not only affecting God, but at the same time, it is practice for what we will be doing forever!

Thinking back to heaven again and what we will be doing there is entering into heavenly worship.

Revelation 4:9-11 ~ " Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Right now, we enter into earthly worship. There it will be heavenly worship. "Whenever" is means spontaneously, unpredictably. Worship explodes in heaven. In heaven, we read, it's loud, there is music, God's people are shouting in praise and worship and glory. There are at least 24 elders and four sepharim or four living creatures, falling down on their faces, before the throne of God, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." How often is that? Whenever! You can't set a watch to it! Whenever the four living creatures give glory,  honor and thanks, to Him to who sits on the throne and lives forever, look what happens. The 24 elders fall down. One day we will see this. One day we will be a part of this!

Something happens. At the moment, the four living creatures with their six wings begin to sing, it reaches a crescendo, and the 24 elders fall on their faces. That is what is happening right now as you sit here and read this! When I was growing up, we didn't have Starbucks in those day, as hard as it may seem. We had Pyrex. We actually had to make our own coffee. In ancient times, you would put coffee grounds into the hopper thing, it is all glass, completely transparent, and you would put it on the stove, and it would heat up! I loved watching coffee being made, the little bubbles beginning to form on the bottom, and smelling that aroma of freshly made coffee on the stove.  Just listening to the gurgling and bubbling the faster it would heat up! Remember that sound? That was in ancient times.

It's like using the same analogy of making coffee as we see this experience begin to unfold in heaven. It starts off slowly but gradually begins to gain momentum, until it explodes in worship like you can't imagine. It affects the inhabitants of heaven. When we worship the Lord it will affect people. When we are out and about and say, "Praise God, He is so good to me." People are listening. They will even try to act like they are not listening. Some people come to God out of sheer jealousy because they want what you have. How does that happen? When you worship the LORD. You can worship God in church, while you are working, while you are eating, you can worship Him at all times. It's how you live your life!

Did you see the sunrise this morning? The sunrise this morning caused you to stop in your tracks. It was unusual because of the arrangement of the clouds. It truly only lasted about 60 seconds. Thanks Lord, I am so glad I got to see it. Just 60 seconds out of the whole day. When you say, "Thanks Lord!" that is worship.

We will not only enter worship, but we will honor the Lord with our earthly victories!

Revelation 4:10b ~" the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne"

So will you. So will I. It is for this reason, we want God to work in our lives, that He loads up the crowns. Because when I get there and fall down and worship You, I want to be able to give back all that you have given to me. Don't say you are simply too spiritual or too humble to want a crown. Believe me, you will want a crown.  It's not your crown, it's not yours! You don't get to keep it! So don't act like you are going to walk around with it. You are going to give it back to Him. That is why we want to do things spiritually for Him while we are here. We want to be able to give it back to Him when we get there! He is going to award us when we arrive in heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ~ "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be show for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 

What this means, gold, silver and costly stones, these are the good things; wood, hay or straw, those are the not so good things. Revealed by fire = God is going to test our motives. God is going to reward us for what we have done in this lifetime, in our bodies for Jesus. Question is, what are you and I doing for Him? Not because we have to, but because we get to! What God is going to do is give us rewards back. We are going to appear before God and when those seraphim begin to take off in their worship, you and I are going to hit the ground on our faces. We will cast our crowns before the throne of God in absolute worship and praise. No one is going to want to get their crowns back. You won't be able to wait to cast your crowns before God. When's the next time they are going to do it? Whenever. Be ready. We are going to give Him all the honor because of our earthly victories. Christian, stay at it for Him!

Don't become weary at well doing. Don't give up. God is going to bless you. For those Christians, who are not involved, get involved! Don't be afraid. You should be afraid not to get involved. If you make a mistake, you know what? You will, we all do! We need to wake up to God's reality! We need to stop letting the world creep in and steal what is God's reality. You look around at the world and it's messed up. It begins to creep into the church and you hear people talk about voting. "Oh, I'm not sure I'm going to vote for the President." How come? They give their reason why. I've come to conclude something, it's as though we are trying to find someone to vote for who is the Messiah, Himself. Have we become so silly that we believe that politics is the answer? It is what God has put in place for this hour, for this time of our lives and for the history of our nation. When you vote, you're not voting for the Savior of the world, we wait for the Savior of the world. There's a big difference.

"Well I don't know, George Bush got drunk in 83, I don't think I can vote for him." So who are you going to vote for? Do you understand what I am saying? Jesus is perfect! The governments on this earth, He has installed. Whoever we vote for, they are going to make mistakes. Some, more than others. That has crept into the church. Paul says that those that compare themselves to others are not very wise people. You begin to look at others in the church. "Well if she can wear that, I guess I can wear that too." "What does he say? Oh I guess I can say that too." As though we are the standard, one from another. That's not true. Who is the standard? Who are we supposed to look to? Who are we supposed to follow? It's all about the Lord, Jesus Christ. That is a serious thing. We need to have our eyes on Jesus. In a big way. And if you're looking to any earthly religious leader to be your hope, I feel bad for that leader because God will do to that leader no matter how precious they might be. He will humble that guy right in front of your face, because your eyes on on them, and God will pull the rug right out from underneath feet and they will fall flat on their face and you'll have to deal with the reality worship God and Him only!

The more you and I worship the Lord, the less influence it has on us and in our lives. It's a great way to live. We will give Him complete acknowledgment! Look at the end of verse 10, just one little word, "You!"

Revelation 4:10b-11 ~ " "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

All those in heaven are very conscience of the fact that creation is both biblical and of God. I think there is a reason why you need to be reminded of that. We are living in an hour where many scientists are bailing out on the evolutionary theory. There are those who don't even believe in God, say in a symposium, "We can not adhere to the theory of evolution, it's scientifically bankrupt and intellectually dishonest. God has engineered all that there is. Granted we live in a fallen world where animals eat one another and all that stuff. That is not what God designed! All that stuff came from man's rebellion.


Let me ask you a question. What would you rather have for example, would you rather be strapped to a spaceship that has been engineered by a bunch of guys that believe in God and they are praying for you and because they believe in God and God is the Creator of mathematics and all that there is; and so their efforts to their engineering was as excellent as possible because they believe that God wants the very best out of us? They obeyed the laws of the universe that God has created. I would much rather get into a spaceship made by guys like that than to get into a spaceship where somebody says, "Well I'm an evolutionist and I happen to work at NASA here and this is what I think. I think we should just get our calculators throw them up in the air and however they land you know, wires and parts hanging out of it, you know, take this collective accident and see what comes of it. They strap you to it and send you out into space. What do you think about that?

Do you know the people that are hired that work at Mercedes Benz are the best of the best, you want to know why? Because they don't want any accidents at Mercedes Benz. The evolutionary theory is an accident. They'll tell you that it is an accident. Then why would I want to believe in some guy's thinking that is an accident? It's crazy! Everything that you point to and and can consider has evidence that there was a creative designer behind it. I don't care what or who it is. It could be your eyeball, or Jupiter or look at Mars. We landed on Mars and we are getting pictures of a giant crater or lake bed, that at one time might have held water, that is the size of Connecticut, We landed exactly where they wanted to land. Spirit received it's cousin Opportunity 4 weeks later. The French were suppose to land on Christmas day on Mars, they lost their satellite. They can't even find it. They've been trying to communicate with it but it's lost. NASA even called them to ask if they wanted them to try and find it.

They are looking for signs of life. We got giant telescopes and radio towers broadcasting and we have for years into outer space. "Anyone out there?" Looking for signs of life. There's a guy somewhere listening with his headphones on, looking for intelligent life out there. They do it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Could you imagine what would happen if a zipper opened up the universe and God's face came out, and said, "Hey! I'm right here!" Wouldn't that be great? The guy throws his headphones off!

Isn't it interesting that in heaven, we will be conscience that God created. The Bible says in the book of Colossians and in the book of Hebrews as well, that Jesus Christ holds all the physical material in the universe together. Did you know that to this hour, no man knows what holds the universe together, they call it cosmic glue? Did you know that? Instead of using the name Jesus Christ, they use "cosmic glue." His name is Jesus, not cosmic glue.

Psalm 14:1 ~ "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."

Heaven says there is! No matter what your opinion is.

Romans 1:18-24 ~ "The wrath of God is being revealed in heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither gloried him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another."

You won't be able to stand before God and say this can't be happening. I'm an evolutionist. God has clearly revealed Himself to them in what He has created everywhere. The great engineer of your soul is the God Almighty who we will worship in heaven.

There are three things we can experience here on earth, locked in our time zone, that we can escape into eternity. 

Whenever we pray whatever time zone we are in, we leave it, and you go into eternity before the throne room of God.

When we share the Lord with somebody, and they accept the Lord, immediately in this time zone, angels rejoice in heaven in eternal time.

Whenever we worship in whatever time zone, you are affecting heaven at that moment. Worship is that important! We need to worship more! The truth about worship is are we worshipers in private? Please don't store up your worship for Sunday morning! Let Sunday morning be salt and pepper to your week long daily worship because to worship is part of the air spiritually and lungs of the believer. Joshua is a great example. The Bible tells us that when they crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land, Joshua told the priests to set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River, stack them up, representing the 12 names of each tribe right? Then the river flowed over the stones and Bible says those stones are still there, of course no one knows where, but then later on in the book of Joshua we read, that Joshua goes back, this is often very missed, and Joshua goes back and sets up 12 stones of his own, in the water, in the river, by himself. Why does he do this? Wasn't the worship of the priest enough? I believe he went back to set up his own monument of worship to God. Just like we need to set time up to worship God privately. We are created to worship, not just on Sunday but everyday!

Are You a Sheep or a Goat?

If you're a Christian, you'll follow Jesus. You won't get lost in the things of this world, that may attempt to lead you away. We know the sound of His voice above all others. We are safe in His care!

John 10:27-30 ~ "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Can you say today, that the Lord speaks to you?

Do you bring glory and honor to Jesus in everything you do?

Do you stand for righteousness?

Are you willing to yield to the will of God?

Matthew 16:24-26 ~ "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"

Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Him? Your cross may be the same as someone else's but it differs. Is it something in your past, Jesus is asking you to leave behind, perhaps someone you need to forgive but don't want to. Do you feel that Jesus is telling you to do something for Him, are you willing to live the rest of your life as a Christian, always allowing Jesus to live and work through you? That is the sign of a true disciple!!! That is what He asks all of us to do.

Are you obedient to what Jesus asks you to do?  Daily, the LORD grants opportunities for me to grow under His loving eye. Remember Jesus Christ is coming again, and it will be ominous!

Revelation 19:20-21 ~ "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh."

If you are into the New Age Movement, Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormon, please pay attention!!!

Ominous is God's judgment upon unbelief. The Scriptures tell us that there are no unbelievers in heaven. That should be a pretty good hint to whom we should hang out with.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ~ "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

How can your best friend be heading to hell? How can your future husband or wife be heading to hell, and you not wind up in a messed up relationship? If you're married to an unbeliever, that person is your ministry, day in and day out, 24/7/365.

2 Peter 3:11 ~ "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people out you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,"

It's ominous because we were created to worship!

Acts 17:23 ~ "For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you."

This broke Paul's heart to see what was happening and the idols the people were worshiping. About worship, Jesus said this...

John 4:22-23 ~ "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hours is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." 

Psalm 96:9 ~ "Worship the LORD in splendor of holiness, tremble before him, all the earth!"

I'm not worshiping God, if I want to be entertained...It's not for me.
I'm not worshiping God, if I want to be touched...It's not about me.
I'm not worshiping God, if my life is not dedicated to God...that's a strange offering.

It's all about Jesus Christ, that is who our worship should be about. 

John 20:26-29 ~ "Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Don not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

We often make light of Thomas for being a doubter, but we need to be more like Thomas in our worship. It's ominous because we were created to exercise faith. This world is on a quest, the quest to find out what my life is all about. Thomas really wanted to believe, he cried out to Jesus to reveal Himself, based on his claims of unbelief! That describes believers perfectly. This is the reason why were are not going to be here with the Tribulation and judgment of God comes.

Why am I here?

The "Purpose Driven Life" has already been given by God, step into it! Stop being so careful and exercise your belief and faith in Jesus Christ. If God's calling you to do it, step out in faith!

Philippians 1:6 ~ "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

You've been create to exercise faith.

Hebrews 11:6 ~ "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Personally, practically, I have no need for bungee jumping or skydiving or plunging. My Christianity is exciting. Sometimes too exciting! Just by being an active Christian, people will want to hug you and hit hit. They'll want to love you and hate you.

It's ominous, because we were created to love and be loved. Man in his rebellion is rejecting God, and rejecting Christ.

Luke 17:24-37 ~ " For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot - they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all - so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other one left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." 

This event of Jesus' earthly judgment at His Second Coming is also found in Matthew 25:31-33, 46 ~ "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Joel 3:11-14 ~ "Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."

The real life application is this... the reality is certain. I want to be a light to the world around me. That will happen when Jesus is living His life through me. But listen...

Jesus living His life through me means...LOVE! Real Christians are commanded and real Christians desire to love one another.

John 13:34-35 ~ "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

How can I love you practically?

Galatians 6:2 ~ "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

What is the law of Christ?  Love!

Romans 8:2 ~ "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

In light of the obvious in what we have been studying and what the Bible says, what are you doing with your life? 

Will you be left behind on the earth, rejecting Jesus Christ, or will you be part of the heavenly celebration as a Bride of Christ. Jesus said you are either for me or against me. With Jesus there is no gray, lukewarm, Jesus tells us you are to be vomited. You are either hot or cold.

Will You Say I Do?

We have been studying about the marriage supper of the Lamb and what the significance is as being the Bride, the church is! What a wonderful idea when you really consider it. A wedding to the most amazing man that will never let you down, will always be there for you and will never ever leave you. He sees the absolute best in you and wants you to have an eternal future with Him in heaven! Who wouldn't want all this?

The Lord has given us boasting rights! The Book of Romans is justification before God, faith that saves.

Romans 15:17 ~ "In Christ Jesus then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God."

The Book of James is justification before man, faith that works.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ~ "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

We need to let others judge our lives as Christians based on what they see us doing and saying, to see if that is true in our lives. Jesus says we will be known by our fruits. Are you ready to have your fruit inspected? We shouldn't have to tell others that we're a Christian, they should be able to tell things are different, just by how we act and what we say.

We should be able to share that confidence in our life by what God has called believers to do; build that hospital, school or university; help feed the poor and needy; help on the mission trips. We shouldn't be boasting about ourselves, but about what God is doing. Those are the righteous acts, the ones that point the way to Jesus and glorify Him.

2 Corinthians 5:8-10 ~ "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Isaiah 61:10 ~ "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

If God is for us, who can be against us? Who cares?

Don't you want to know the true meaning of life? It is the one question we all ask ourselves at some point in our life. Jesus has invited us to know happiness.

Revelation 19:9a ~ "And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"

To be blessed is true happiness found in Jesus Christ. The invitation to know Christ is global! The Lord is calling out.

Matthew 11:28-30 ~ "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What will your response be?

Jesus has invited us to celebrate!

Revelation 19:9a ~ " Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"

Those who are called at not the Bride, the church, no those called are friends of the bridegroom. No one will be unhappy in heaven. When you die as a believer there will be no resting in peace, the celebration the moment you breathe your final breath on earth and take your first breath in heaven, is when the celebration will break forth and you will be alive as you have never been before! Our funerals are almost morbid and somber, while funerals in the deep south for a black brother or sister, is done right! They are breaking into song, worshiping and praising God that their brother or sister is with the Lord!!!

John 3:29 ~ "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete."

Blessed are those who are called (invited) to the marriage supper of the Lamb! These are the believing Tribulation saints who died for their faith in Christ, and the Old Testament saints that died believing in the coming Messiah, and the believing Israel will be there too. A bride is never invited to her own wedding. She is the wedding. Jesus isn't invited to this wedding, because it takes a bridegroom, (Jesus) and a bride (The church) to make a wedding. Everyone else is simply guests of the wedding for all eternity.

Matthew 22:1-14 ~ "And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, "Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast. But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ' Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."

Jesus has invited us to relax.

Revelation 19:9b ~ "And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." 

1 John 1:1-4 ~ "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

John 1:1-3, 14 ~ "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." 

Psalm 107:20 ~ "He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."

Aren't these the very promises you would want from your husband or wife fulfilled with absolute certainty?

Don't you want unconditional acceptance?

Revelation 19:10 ~ "Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

John saw his new home!! He was so excited, he fell down in worship. The brethren have this testimony, that Jesus Christ is our future! What can you say about heaven?

John had something to say. The witness of Jesus, specifically the Tribulation believers but limited to them, what is your testimony today?

Heaven is where we will talk about Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit, about what He id and what is happening around us forever. John knew what his future held. To see this entire marriage paraphrased, read Genesis 24. It parallels the story of Abraham, which is the epitome of God, the Father, who is searching for a bride (the Church) for his son, Isaac (Jesus). He find Rebekah for his son and along the way His servant, Eliezer, (Holy Spirit)  gives Rebekah gifts telling her all about Isaac and her future. She is so excited about Isaac that she falls in love with His nature and character without ever having to see him. She can't wait to marry him.

This is what Jesus is doing right now, sitting on a throne at the right hand of the Father, relaxing until the day of His wedding.

Do you take this Lamb, to be your personal sacrifice, to have and to hold, in honor and peace, to accept Him and His love for you? Do you promise to trust Him, to believe in Him, and to be forgiven of all your sins on account of Him?

Will you say I do?

Don't You want to Know What A Real Relationship Is?

The highlight of the Book of Revelation can easily be found in Chapter 19. It is the reason for all the hard work Jesus had to endure to bring you and I to salvation through Christ. Almost every single person alive, knows what a wedding looks like. Perhaps they have been part of one, had one of their own or been an invited guest to one. God puts such an emphasis on our relationship with Him, He refers to it as a wedding. This is the very reason Jesus died on the cross. This is the future if you're a believer. We don't refer to this kind of marriage as a trapping.

In fact the very gown of the bride is the righteous acts of the saints. She (the church) is getting ready to marry her bridegroom (Christ) forever. Jesus is delighted in our salvation, and this is divine heavenly anticipation. This is His reward of His passion.

The anticipation in any wedding is when the couple will say their "I dos!" Most of the time it is the husband who jumps the gun before the pastor can even finish the vows before He says "I do!" The bride on the other hand manages to stay composed during it all. He can hardly wait!

This part of our study is all about the future as a believer and if you are not a believer in Christ, what are you looking forward to in your future?

In verses 6-10, is found the reason why Jesus Christ came to earth and went to the cross. He went to the cross, knowing what was coming, our redemption through His suffering.

Hebrews 12:2 ~ "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Makes you wonder what did Jesus get out of the passion of the Christ...the answer is as awesome as His suffering, and resurrection - it is that He has been given you as a reward! As must as we want to be in heaven with God, He wants us more! Jesus bought the ticket for us to get there.

Revelation 19:6-10 ~ "Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage fo the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

The setting is heaven and the event is a wedding. Ask yourself if you can say I do to any of these things:

Don't you want to know what a real relationship is? "Will you take this man?"

Everyone of us does! Knowing what a real relationship looks and feels like! God is telling you that He wants you to personally to be there! God desires for us to be glad.

Revelation 19:7a ~ "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory..." 

To understand the meaning of glad, we go to the Greek meaning of chairo - which means a deep cheerfulness; an overriding sense of contentment of heart; immovable.

John wants us to run to this wedding! Marriage man's way is a wreck, but marriage God's way is a blessing! God always wins in the end, no matter how far you try and run and hide from Him! Weddings are a time to be glad and full of joy! But did you realize that a crowd in both a wedding and a funeral look the same. You can copy and paste them. Why? Because they are all done wrong!

God desires us to be rejoicing!

Revelation 19:7a ~ "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory..." 

Again let's look at the word in the Greek and we find agalliao, which means to jump for joy, to be exultant, with exceeding great and overwhelming joy; to be fully engulfed. Sound like you at any wedding? How about church?  Why? We are too refined in this culture and generation. We will be Pentecostal in heaven, trust me! We won't be ashamed or held back by anything or what anyone thinks because it will all be for God's glory and honor.


More on that tomorrow!

How Can a God of Love Cause Judgment to Last Forever?

It is the question as a believer we get asked all the time. How can a God of love cause judgment that will last forever? If you are honest, it's even a question you have asked of God at one time. Yet when God returns in His righteousness and truth, no one will question God's judgment. Does this seem unfair that people will go to hell? Do it seem wrong that their suffering will last forever and ever? On this side of heaven, the answer is yes! But there's not. Jesus never said that Hell is a metaphor.

Revelation 19:1-6 ~ " After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just; for he had judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke for her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like a sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

In Revelation 19:3 ~ "Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke for her goes up forever and ever."

Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else because He died so people wouldn't have to go there. You will encounter people who will call you out on how can you serve a God of love who sends people to hell. He doesn't. Those in hell, they don't want anything to do with God. In this verse in the Greek it is implied that those who are in torment forever and ever, that if they had a chance not to go, the wouldn't have accepted it. How can that be? How can people be so blind to not see the truth and instead willingly condemn themselves to hell by refusing Jesus.

It makes you want to share this great news, the gospel message with everyone you meet. It makes me want to care for your soul. Why would Jesus die on the cross for your sins if Hell isn't real? The Bible says that ALL of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. There is no one who can earn their way into heaven by their deeds or being a good person. If you're a believer in Christ, you know that with 100% absolute certainty where you will go when you die. There is no wondering if there is something more. We know there is.

Revelation 19:4 ~ "And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"

The host of heaven is saying, "Yes! Lord! Your judgment is true and righteous!" Notice the order of what they say, Amen. Hallelujah! This is true what we have heard, praise the Lord! They all agree! The church agrees! The Tribulation Saints agree. The angelic host agree! The church got there by the rapture!

The 24 elders are one of two things. They are either the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles or they are as God has said, the 24 orders of the priest that will serve before His throne forever. Your commentaries and footnotes will all disagree on which one it is, but it doesn't matter. They all represent God's people and His church.

We know that they are all in heaven and they are all agreeing with God's judgments on the earth as He concludes the Tribulation Period.

The 4 living creatures represent the angelic hosts and since Revelation 2-4, they have been looking down from above.

Revelation 19:5 ~ "And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great."

There verse implies a reverence, to be awe of God, not fear of God or to be afraid of Him. We have to face the facts that we are not in awe of God anymore. Technology allows us to stimulate our senses so much we are no longer in wonder of anything new. We aren't content with things. "Is that it? Is that all there is? That is our attitude lately. What wows us today? What causes that sense of wonder for you today?

In verse 5, we don't know who is speaking, or who is saying it but lets look at what is said. That is important.

Isaiah 57:1-2 ~ "The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness." 

God removes them from evil, those who are in heaven. Do you know someone in heaven today? Are you a servant of His? Are you in awe of Him? God knows us, there is nothing hidden from God. We see that the small and great fear him. That is those of great influence and those who don't have any.

We will all stand before God one day. If you are concerned whether you are not sure if when God separates the sheep from the goats, if you are a goat or a sheep and want to be sure. Rest assured. You're a sheep. Only sheep would think that way. Sheep are picky about what they eat. Goats will eat anything. As a believers, you need to start worshiping now, and not wait til you get to heaven. Once the rapture happens, churches will be packed out.

Are you a worshiper? Do you say Alleluia and really mean it in your heart?

Revelation 19:6 ~ " Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like a sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

Don't you want to be part of this multitude? Don't you want to be there in heaven? This declaration "the Almighty reigns," doesn't mean God hasn't reigned before this time. He has always reigned. Now the time is come to take back that title deed of the earth from Satan. Remember that seven sealed scroll that Jesus was the only one worthy to open. The Last Will and Testament? That scroll has now been fulfilled and has met all the requirements to make it valid and it's time for Jesus to return to the earth. He must rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem or He is not the Jesus we think He is.

Right now, He sits on the throne of His Father in heaven, but He must return in what is called the Second Coming to start the Millennium and sit upon the throne which He has never sat upon, the throne of his earthy father by lineage. He must sit upon King David's throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years. That is what it is called the Millennium.

There is an eternity awaiting every single one of us. Hell is pretty hard to get into. You have to reject the offer of having Jesus Christ as your Savior and having your sins forgiven every single day of your life. Over and over you say No to Jesus. You have the freedom to say "No" to Jesus, but the result of your decision making is going to be catastrophic. The reality is this, there will be a whole lot of people in heaven and you're going to miss it as long as you keep resisting Jesus. You need to trust in Him and read His love letter to you. By the way, that love letter is called the Bible.

At the expense of Jesus and His blood, you need a life change today, not an add on to your existing life. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone, that gets you into heaven. Invite Him into your life today. Don't wait. It is the one guarantee you want in this life.

How do you do that? Simply speak these words or something similar, its not a script and mean it from your heart.

Father, I come to You, confessing my sin and asking for Your forgiveness. I thank you, Lord, for You have promised that if I will confess my sins, You will be faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to turn from my sins and live in Your will. I ask that You give me the power through Your Holy Spirit to live the right way.

I thank You that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the price for my sins, and then rose from the dead. I accept Him now as my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. Thank You for giving me new life in Christ. I surrender myself to You; make me what You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!

It is a simple as this prayer. So why would anyone want to pass up the chance at heaven and settle for eternal suffering and torment in hell?  Choose eternal life today in Jesus! 

Two Words Known Internationally Despite Any Language Barriers!

There are so many languages throughout the world and so many different dialects, but did you know that two words supersede the language barrier? There are no translations for the words Alleluia or Hallelujah and the word Amen! They are said the same and they mean the same in any language and in any dialect in the world.

People these days want to know what the future holds. What will happen in the future? They buy all kinds of magazines and books on the subject but neglect the very one book that promises 100% accuracy in all the prophecies it speaks of. If you really want to know what the future holds, read the Book of Revelation from the Bible. The reason so many don't is that Satan has blinded their interest in doing so. This is a prelude of what will happen in the future. It is like using a time machine and looking ahead at yourself in the future. The question is, will you be in heaven or on the earth as Chapter 19 opens?

If you are a believer of Jesus Christ, you will be a participant in heaven singing the Alleluia chorus. In the Hebrew language, the word Alleluia doesn't have the hard "H" sound like you see in Hallelujah. Still means the same thing, but if you want to say it correctly use Alleluia!

Psalm 68:4 ~ "Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is LORD; exult before him!"

The word Alleluia in Hebrew means Praise Yah! Allelu-Yah. Means Praise the LORD.

In Islam, they don't know the name of God. They call him Allah but it is simply a title. Meaning God. They don't know his specific name. There are many gods in the world, but only one LORD, the God and His names are found throughout the Bible.

The word Amen is the second internationally known word which means that is true, it is true, let it be true, so be it! It transcends all language barriers just like Alleluia does.

Revelation 19:1-6 ~ "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just; for he had judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke for her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like a sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

This is the prelude to setting the stage for our next study into Revelation 19 further with the coming wedding announcement. God makes it known that He is the great I AM. He is everything we need and there are NO other gods but Him. Before time ever began, God has existed. He transcends time.

If you remember our study in Revelation 17 and 18, it is important to understand those chapters because they introduces us to a false worship system from ancient Babylon, that was the origin of many false gods that are worshiped today and will become more prevalent in the end times. Such gods like Molech, Ashtoreth, and Baal just to name a few. What is all comes down to is which God or gods you will serve. The God of heaven or the gods of the earth? That is who you will worship.

If you remember Elijah and the priests of Baal and Ashtoreth who had a battle of the gods on Mount Carmel. To see how it all turns out, read 1 Kings 17 and 18. It is quite the story of how mighty our God is and why we worship and praise Him! People today still continue to worship Baal, the moon god and every year they cut themselves in their worship to him just like they did on Mount Carmel so many years ago. Not much has changed.

So why should Christians worship and pray to God?  Because we serve a God who is real and alive! If you're not worshiping God, you're worshiping those ancient gods of Babylon in some form or another.

Revelation 19:1-2 ~ "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just; for he had judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 

If you remember the words "After this or After these things" is the Greek word "meta tauta." It means a time shift. Here we go from being on earth during the Tribulation period to now being transported to heaven. 

We see that "true and righteous are His judgments." Can you define perfect truth or see what absolute righteous or right doing done perfect looks like? The word here means that the motive is pure. We don't get it because we haven't experienced it or even know what this looks like. We have to take this on faith alone.

We live in a culture today that "true and righteous judgment," means that if you have enough money or influence, you can change your own judgment. You can sway what is true or righteous to work now in your favor. Why?

Because we have removed anything from prayer in schools to the Ten Commandments and anything else that reminds us of God so that we no longer fear Him or His judgments. There is no fear of what God may do in this culture any longer and it is growing in hostility towards anything to do with absolute truth and righteousness according to God. People want to do what they want without anyone judging them or their motives for doing so.

We will continue to study more on this tomorrow!

How Does Someone Get To Heaven?

The question was once asked by a CNN reporter who was interviewing people after the death of the Pope John Paul on how does someone get to heaven? The answer was be just like the Pope. It is sad to think that is the correct and truthful answer. It takes me back to the Bible for clarification to a man who was much greater than the Pope. and his name was Nicodemus, a great religious leader of his time, who asked Jesus the same question and Jesus answered, "You must be born again to see the kingdom of heaven." Does that mean that the Pope won't be in heaven? I don't know, but if he is not born again according to Jesus the answer is No.

You must be born again, spiritually. Not by riding your bike and logging in miles to work yourself into the kingdom of God, but by placing all your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and what He did. This is not a membership club or an option. This is required to get to heaven and is the only assurance we have. It is those that are in heaven as we study Revelation 19, that are praising and worshiping God that we find here.

We left off in our study yesterday about how those people got to heaven. We know that these in heaven are the church age believers. These were those who put their trust in Jesus from the day of Pentecost until the rapture of the church that happened in Revelation 4 that we studied yesterday. This is the pre-Tribulation Rapture view and the only one that makes sense without having to bend scriptures to fit the other Rapture viewpoints of Mid-Tribulation or Post Tribulation. These are not Tribulation believers that we see here, those will be waiting under the altar for their time. Each age has had their own set of believers. We have the Old Testament Saints from Creation to the Pentecost, The Church Age Saints, from Pentecost to the Rapture, and then you have the Tribulation Saints, those that die during the Tribulation Period for their faith in Christ.

How do we know? It's what Jesus Himself spoke of.

John 14:1-3 ~ "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

It's what the prophet Isaiah spoke of.

Isaiah 26:19-21 ~ "Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain."

Its what the apostle Paul spoke of.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ~ "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

There is a grand connection between Revelation 4:1 and Revelation 19:1. The 24 elders which we know are representatives of the saints are in their office. What are they doing? They are worshiping. Where are they at? In heaven!

These church age believers have not been heard from during the entire Tribulation since the letters to the seven churches. The churches of Jesus Christ, they left at Revelation 4:1 and we never hear about the church again until Revelation 19. We have been in heaven during this entire time and the only believers on earth are the Tribulation Saints. We have been in heaven waiting to come back with Jesus Christ, during the Second Coming. We can't confuse the Second Coming with Rapture of the Church. They are two very distinct events.

The number one reason they worshiped the Lord was His salvation. Heaven has been given to us as a gift by the price Christ paid at the cross. Salvation warrants absolute devotion. Are you devoted to the Lord? We believe in the grace of God, not in works to get to heaven and some religious groups do not agree with that approach, but it is the approach Jesus gave. You can't save yourself and get to heaven by anything you do, its only in what Jesus did.

The number two reason they worshiped the Lord was His faithfulness to His glory. We have to understand the word "doxa" in the Greek means to praise, the worship, the adoration, the respect, the focus. This faithfulness of His requires our human response. They follow Him with devotion. "Worship Him" says the Bible because He only is our glory!

The number three reason they worshiped the Lord for His faithfulness by His honor. Time = the value of, the price paid, the ransomed. We need to thank Jesus for paying our bills, our sins, Jesus paid for it all. As believers you can try and backslide with a willful intent to do so, but it will lead to misery and unhappiness. You can't even sin right anymore. That is the sign of a true believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit convicts you while you try and sin. You've been exposed to Jesus.

The number four reason they worshiped the Lord for His faithfulness to His power. This is God's power to perform. God is the Creator. It ties together Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. He is the One in control. He is the Alpha and Omega; The First and the Last. We belong to the Lord our God!

Romans 8:14-17 ~ "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

We are suffering in this world. Nature is groaning. The question is, are you a child of God? Will you be with us in heaven?

If you have ever seen a police light in a helicopter illuminate an area of darkness and even stood beneath it, you feel completely exposed. Even if you did nothing wrong, you feel guilty as if you did something wrong. God's glory is like that. It exposes the sin that you have hiding in your life. Nothing is hidden from God. He knows it all.

One day, as believers in Christ, a grand entrance will be provided for us. We have that assurance when we get to heaven, our sins will be paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus now, will have that assurance than when this life is through our eternal life in heaven begins.

I would ask you that if you are not a believer in Jesus, make that decision today. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow and nothing you can do will get you there. It is only through what Jesus did that will but you have to believe it and ask Him into your life today. 

Eternity is Just A Breath Away!

Who hasn't dreamed of an eternity in heaven? I can't believe anyone would ever give up the notion that heaven exists! It is a very real place, not just something you can hope for, but something you can know with absolute certainty awaits the believer of Jesus Christ, when they either breathe their final breath here on earth or they find themselves caught up in the rapture with Jesus Christ in the air!

We have been studying all about what is coming for the earth in what will be known as the Tribulation Period and I believe we are seeing the players being readied and the stage being set as we look at the events that happening in the Middle East. This is one prophecy we know is coming but as a believer we won't be a part of.

God has been so gracious to lay out the timeline within the Book of Revelation and it can be found in a simple outline found in Revelation 1:17-19.

Revelation 1:17-19 ~ "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this."

The verse "things which you have seen, " relates to the entire Chapter 1 of the Book of Revelation. "The things which are," relates to Chapters 2 and 3, and "those that are to take place after this," is Chapters 4-22.

The concept of Heaven for anyone is beyond what we can think or speak of and eternity for us all is but a breath away! As a Christian, you will not be involved in any of the judgments of God that are coming during the 7-year Tribulation Period. We are citizens of heaven with passports we are just waiting to get to use one day in our future!

As we open Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, this was the inspiration for Handel's Hallelujah chorus! We need to know the words of the songs in the Bible, because as believers, we will one day experience what we are reading here. As a believer in Christ, this is our future! We need to know the words to the songs we will be singing. Did you know that the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic are from the book of Joel?

The Tribulation Period at this point in our study, is about to come to a close, but it isn't over just yet. Satan knows that his time is running out so soon he will turn all of his attention and venom to Jesus Christ. Chapter 19 of Revelation is the gateway to the Second Coming of Christ. This will be sung by the believers of Christ.

Revelation 19:1-6 ~ " After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just; for he had judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke for her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like a sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

Notice that four times, the word "Hallelujah" is cried out in just six verses in this chapter! It is an international word like the word "Amen" that every single person and culture understands no matter the language. The word "Amen" means let it be true or this is so. The word Hallelujah, is pronounced with an A not the H, but is means to Praise the Lord or Praise be to the Lord. "Alle or Halle is to praise, praise to be, a declaration of praise. Jah or Yah, it the name of God like Yah-weh!

The one thing we know is that we will be worshiping the Lord in heaven because He is faithful! Notice in verse 1, the words "After these things or after this, " that is the Greek word, 'meta tauta.' This is a most significant key to understanding the chronology of Revelation. The "meta tauta' or the "after this or after these things," now links us to the time table and sequence of events. That is very important to us, the church. This is where we are going to see and experience our future in heaven. Now everyone put on your memory caps and go back with me to Revelation 4.

Revelation 4:1 ~ " After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this."

Here we find "meta tauta" again or "after this or after these things." After what? What has happened since the letters to the seven churches? Something significant indeed. We know John was told to write the letters to each of these seven churches which were real churches during John's day, but they are also the characteristics of the churches we will find in our later days. Now John looks up and sees a door standing open in heaven. Why is the door open? He then heard a voice like a trumpet, isn't that the same thing believers in Christ were promised that when Jesus came for His church He would come a the blast of a trumpet? John represents the church in this verse if we take it literally. The voice tells John to come up here and I will show you what must take place after this." John is taken up into heaven like the believers will who believe in Christ and then the time clock for the 7- year Tribulation Period begins and so does the judgment of God. Why?

This is the pre-tribulation rapture view between Jesus Christ and the bride of Christ. God must do this to focus His attention on Israel, so He removes the church. Revelation 4:1 is the apostle John's "caught up" vision of the future. Since Revelation 4:1, the church is never again seen on earth. The church is no where to be found because since Revelation 4:1, the churches location has been in heaven with Jesus Christ, during the Tribulation Period.

Still, Revelation 19:1, the church is not only, not on earth, but is in heaven. How did that happen?

We will study that in further detail tomorrow! Stay tuned!

What Does It Mean to Be Holy?

Just what does it mean to be holy? By looking at someone's outward appearance, do you think you can tell if they are holy or not? You can't tell. We judge people by their outer appearances, but God doesn't care about what is on the outside. It has nothing to do with it.

Did you know that in Iraq, thousands of people are coming to Christ? That is something that the media doesn't share with us, but it's true. These people worship Jesus Christ under the penalty of death. We don't have to deal with persecution here in our churches, so why do we hold back in our worship of Him?

1 Chronicles 15:28-29 ~ "So all Israel  brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out the window and saw King David dancing and rejoicing, and she despised him in her heart."

If we're going to dictate what worship should or shouldn't be, let's focus on what the Bible says it should look like. If we were to see these same people like King David and the people of Israel in our churches today, singing and dancing in the streets, we would think they are Pentecostal. Get over what you think is acceptable in worship in the church.

Today we want to focus on the 4 things we need to guarantee for our worship.

1. We want to be specific about our worship. (Presenting ourselves holy.)

Because Jesus has saved us. Because He is awesome in power. Because He is our salvation and righteousness and hope. Being specific is being holy.

Hebrews 12:14-15 ~ "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

Becoming a dedicated vessel of worship.

1 Chronicles 16:26-32 ~ "For all the gods of people are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, The LORD reigns! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it."

Nehemiah 9:3 ~ "And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God." 

2. We want to be constant about our worship. (In all things and at all times.)

Under King Solomon, worship was offered up to the LORD, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Psalm 33:1-3 ~ "Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts."

Psalm 40:3 ~ "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD."

Psalm 96:1 ~ "Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!"

Revelation 5:9 ~ "And they sang a new song saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,"

If we walk with an attitude of worship it will affect everything we do. Try it for just one day and see what happens. It can't be contained.

3. We want to be passionate about our worship. (Be careful, God is alive.)

God is living and He is alive!!! If you research the word enthusiastic from the 1828 dictionary from Noah Webster, we can see that based on the Greek origins of the word, "En" means indwelling or eternal. "Thusi" means God, and "astic" means spasm. We should all be enthusiastic unto the LORD in our worship.

1 Chronicles 29:20-21 ~ "Then David said to all the assembly, "Bless the LORD your God." And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORD and to the king. And they offered sacrifices to the LORD, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the LORD, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel."

Nehemiah 8:6 ~ "And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground."

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 ~ "And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves without regard to their divisions, and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." the house, the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God."

First there was the cold, legalistic formality of worship that died. Second, under David a revival in worship was renewed, and third, with King Solomon, worship was something desired.

4. We want to be expressive about our worship. (Giving God our best dance!).

2 Samuel 24:24 ~ "I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing. "

Hebrews 13:15 ~ "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."

Psalm 29:1-2 ~ "Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness."

We have all heard the saying, "Tooting your own horn," but did you know that the meaning came from the Bible. It was in the story of the widow who gave two mites. In those days, they used to take a large horn and turn it upside down, so the large mouth was on the ground and the small opening was on top. As people came by to drop in their offerings, the amount of the offerings could be heard by the crowd and people would applaud. Then the widow came and placed her offerings of two mites, about a 1/3 of the size of a penny, into the offering place and no one applauded, but Jesus acknowledged her offering as being worth more than all the others. She gave all the money she needed to stay alive for the day and held nothing back from God. She knew she would go home and die because she had nothing left to live on for the day, but Jesus acknowledged her offering over those who gave more. What is your daily net worth? How much are you offering God each day?

We want to make very sure we are not like Jesus warned about the religious leaders of the day, those who would stand in the temple and say their lengthy prayers in public so that they could be heard, not caring if God heard it. They were doing it for public acknowledgment. We need to ensure our worship is for God alone. Nothing more. We want to make sure our worship is not what man dictates it should be.

2 Samuel 6:12-16, 20-22 ~ "And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 

"And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! And David said to Michal, 'It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD - and I will make merry before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be hold in honor."

Psalm 29:2 ~ "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness."

We all express ourselves differently in worship and we need to devote ourselves to Him when we do it!