Why Does God Use the Twenty-one Judgments During the Tribulation Period?

This is a question I get often. Since God is love, then why would He judge the world so harshly?

It is true that God is love (1 John 4:8b). Everything He has done for mankind is out of His love for His family. However, some refuse to accept the offer of His amazing love, i.e. his death on the cross.

The love shown on the cross can never be equaled by man or any other god. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate exhibition of love. Because of that gift, every man on earth has been drawn to God.

However, not all men and women have accepted God’s gracious offer of salvation through the blood of Jesus. That is why the Word of God spells out the consequences of refusing His offer. He says that He will pour out His wrath on the earth because of their refusal (Romans 1:18; 2:5; Colossians 3:6; Revelation 6:16, 17).

So the judgments during the tribulation period will be the result of mankind refusing to accept God’s plea to turn to Him for salvation. Therefore, God has promised to reclaim His created world and His creation. The judgments of God are promised, and they will take place.

God is love, but He is also righteous. It is because of God’s just and righteous self that He can not lie. God promised in His word that He will bring judgment on the world. Then because He said it, you need to believe He will carry it out.

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Another Question About End Times and Revelation

There are many questions you may have about end times and Revelation. One question might be, “Can one find salvation during the tribulation period?”

The answer to the above question is “Yes,” but salvation during the tribulation period can come with a great price. Jesus teaches about this in His parable of the “Ten Virgins” in Matthew 25.

Five of the virgins brought extra oil, i.e. they found salvation and became the “bride of Christ” before the rapture, in case the bridegroom was delayed. The other five didn’t bring extra oil; therefore, before the bridegroom came, their lamps went out.

The “oil” here represents the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is pictured as water and/or oil. When the offer of salvation came to the five wise virgins, they accepted the offer by faith and received the Holy Spirit.

This “going out of the lamps” of the five foolish virgins can be likened to salvation by the Holy Spirit being offered to every person by faith (Romans 12:3, “To each is given a measure of faith”). These five virgins didn’t accept the offer before Jesus came for His bride. When the bridegroom came, they weren’t ready.

They asked, “Give us some of your oil?” But it was too late, so the virgins left behind were told to go buy some. These virgins could find the Holy Spirit, but it was too late to get them inside for the wedding feast for the “bride.”

Therefore, during the tribulation, you can find the Holy Spirit and become saved; however, you most likely will suffer persecution, hunger, thirst and death if you do not find the Holy Spirit before the tribulation period begins.

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2 Signs of the Coming Tribulation Period, End Times and Revelation

There are 2 signs that we live near the end times, the coming tribulation period and Revelation. We believe this to be in the very near future. Of course no one is able to predict when any of this can or will happen. There is no way to know when Jesus will come to “catch up” His bride.

The first sign you can find about the end times comes from Matthew 24:6, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. . .” Before the end comes, there will be a world war. It took two world wars to get the Jews into their homeland, Israel. The end times can’t come if the Jews are not living in Israel.

What does the Jews being in Israel have anything to do with end times, the tribulation period or Revelation? Daniel writes that the anti-christ will make a peace pact with the Jews at the outset of the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). However, in the middle of the seven year covenant of peace, the anti-christ moves his headquarters to Jerusalem.

The second sign Jesus mentions in Israel concerns the anti-christ’s cabinet members erecting a statute of him in the temple, and he will declare an all-out war against the Jews. By now anti-christ is in complete control of the countries of the whole world. The reason this sign is so important is because a one world government looms closer and closer every day.

Revelation is full of signs that the end-times are near. I know you have questions and comments. Leave them here!

Do You Think a Blueprint for a Perfect Church Exists

You can find a blueprint for the perfect church in Revelation. Yes, from the chaos of the tribulation period and end times comes a church that will have members from every country of the world. The members will be unified for a single purpose.

Paul teaches that if your church could become like minded, that is, have singleness of purpose, it could indeed explode upon the world scene. Your church could become a great standard for the world.

However, in the book of Revelation you find an evangelist along with his associate who can persuade men and women of the world to follow him. He will have his headquarters in Jerusalem; however, he will not have local churches scattered through the world. He will use the Temple in Jerusalem as his central meeting place.

Their central focus and singleness of purpose will be, “Kill the Jews and Christians.” You can check this out in our book, Why Revelation, Why Now? Get your copy today.

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If It Were Not Part of the Bible, Revelation Is Still a Great Piece of Literature

Have you ever considered reading revelation because it is a great piece of literature? Even if Revelation were not a part of the Bible, it would be an excellent read.

In the book you can find much action, i.e. horsemen riding out into history to make war, stars falling from the sky, rivers turning to blood, hailstones weighing 100 pounds falling to the earth, islands moving from their stationary positions and one man exercising enough power to control the world.

You want to find a battle between good and evil, the theme of the book is based on good verses evil. Our modern science fiction novels dim in comparison to the imagery in Revelation.

The book is full of figurative language, or could it be literal? “The sun burns seven times hotter,” is one statement from Isaiah about the end times. Could this be true, or is it fictional? If it is true, how can it be possible?

Scientists tell us that when a star burns out, it burns seven times hotter than normal. The indications from Revelation 16 are that the sun is burning out, and people are scorched by the intense heat. How did Isaiah or John know about stars burning out without the help of modern science?

Nowhere else can you find an actual manual for running a church. Chapters 2 and 3 gives you a complete manuscript of what churches should and should not be doing. As Jesus addresses these seven church types, He gives instructions on how to have church!

Yes, even if it isn’t true, Revelation is a most interesting piece of literature. You might consider reading it to experience its literary value. You’ll be glad you did.

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What Is the Role of the Church During the Tribulation Period?

Actually, the church will not play a role in the tribulation period. Jesus says in Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.”

Jesus is writing to one of the seven church types in this passage. He tells this church type, which is still alive today that He will keep it “from the hour of trial.” The Greek word for “from” is ek, and it means out of not through or from.

Then too, the church will come back with Jesus when the tribulation period of over, Revelation 17:14b, “. . .and those with Him are called, chosen and faithful.” This is the church saints coming back with Jesus. They can’t be on earth during the tribulation period if they come back with Jesus.

Therefore, you can see the church will not take part in the tribulation period. The believers will be raptured just prior to the beginning of the tribulation. There is so much more about the absence of the church during the end. You can find all the answers in our new book, “Why Revelation? Why Now?”

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Questions About End Times and Revelation

What questions do you have about end times and Revelations? I will list a few questions to jog your memory. Please ask your questions, and I will answer them as a blog entry. Or you can send me an email, and I will answer your questions personally!

       1) Will I go through the tribulation period?
       2) What must I do to be ready for the tribulation period?
       3) How will Israel fit into the tribulation period?
       4) When does the tribulation period begin?
       5) Where does the anti-christ come from?
       6) How does the anti-christ rise to power over the whole world?
       7) What role will the church play in the tribulation period?
       8) Who are the 144,000 evangelists?
       9) Can anyone become saved during the tribulation period?
     10) What will become of the Jews during the tribulation period?

Please add any question you might have.

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The War On Drugs An Impossible Task

America wants to win the war on drugs, but it has become an impossible task. Since the late 1960’s, we haven’t made a dent in the sale and use of drugs. Yes, we have won a few battles, but the war rages on.

Which begs the question, is the war on drugs really an impossible task? The war has become so costly that many large cities have curtailed much of their actions against drugs, and most large cities are beginning to have a different approach to how the war on drugs should be fought.

The “Just Say No” program has failed, say some prevention experts.

Since 1 in every 31 Americans are either incarcerated, on parole or on probation for drugs, our new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, in The Wall Street Journal May 7, 2010, said he wants to end the "War On Drugs” and said he favors policies that emphasize making treatment available to drug users rather than putting them behind bars. In other words the war has become too costly to continue the fight because now taxpayers have to foot the bill.

Our prisons are so crowded that new facilities to incarcerate the additional men and women coming from the drug raids are causing the penal system to burst at the seams. Many state prisoners are being housed in county jails that have been built for the purpose of housing the additional state prisoners—a great business for those counties!

Can we actually win the war on drugs? The answer, becoming clear to our justice system leaders, is an unequivocal NO. Why do I say this?

In Revelation 18:23b, John writes, “. . .for your merchants were the great men of the earth; because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

Some explaination is needed about the Greek word “sorcery.” In this verse the Greek word is pharmakos. Our English word “pharmacy” comes from the Greek word, pharmakos. Therefore, you see that the anti-christ used the power and enchantment of drugs to deceive the whole world.

Since the whole world is deceived by the use of drugs, our war on drugs isn’t going to be won. Actually, we are in essence beating a dead horse by continuing to fight it. So what’s the solution? Not too many answers to the drug problem exist. If we continue to fight the war, we are going to have more criminals. Many of these criminals could be useful citizens in our communities.

However, once a drug user/seller is arrested and becomes a felon, taxpayers foot the bill for him/her for 3 to 5 years. When this person is released from prison, he/she with the label of felon can’t buy a job. So taxpayers will still foot the bill for him/her. Usually, the felon gets in trouble, violates his/her parole and returns to prison. It’s a vicious cycle. So why make them a felon in the first place?

Another possible solution is for the individual user to get help coping with his/her use. There is a recovery program called Celebrate Recovery that, when seriously pursued by an individual, will work! If an individual is ready to quit his/her habit, works the program as it is designed, he/she will be helped. Celebrate Recovery, unlike Alcoholics’ Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a Christ centered recovery program.

The war on drugs is an impossible task! Let’s quit making criminals of the users, arrest the large dealers and manufactures who exploit the sales of illegal drugs and use the recovery programs available to us today. Most alcoholics and drug users want one thing—help to quit, not imprisonment. Prison isn’t working as a winning solution for the war on drugs. Therefore, maybe our justice department needs to rectify the problem with another viable solution.

Please leave your comments or questions. We will respond!

The Book of Revelation and the Four Horsemen Riders

In the book of Revelation four horsemen riders have been identified. These riders are horrific. They ride to the destruction of mankind. They bring havoc on the world for a short period of time. Seven years is a comparatively short period of time.

These riders, the four horsemen, in the book of Revelation, chapter 6, represent many things. The first rider rides a white horse and represents the anti-christ. The white horse rider takes control of the whole world.

The white horse rider will conquer in an unconventional way. He will take over many countries through economics. Many of the global communities today are in serious financial trouble. The white horse rider will exploit the countries by his superiority in economics.

Then the second rider rides a red horse, and he takes peace from the world. At the middle of the tribulation, the anti-christ breaks a peace treaty with Israel, and he removes peace from them.

Although only two verses separate the first two riders of Revelation, there is time differentiation of three and one-half years.  

The third rider of the Book of Revelation rides a black horse, and he is bad, bad, bad. He represents inflation and famine, two things that follow the war brought about by the second rider. This rider has in his hands a pair of scales to weigh out grain. Comparatively, a loaf of bread will cost the equivalent of a day’s wages for someone on minimum wages, i.e. around $54.00.

Finally, the fourth horseman of Revelation rides out on a pale horse. Actually, the word translated “pale” in Greek is chloros, a green color. Except in children’s books, we usually don’t have green horses, so this rider rides a pale horse. He kills one-third of the population of the world. Probably using chlorine gases which is an English word that comes from the above Greek word.

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Can The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Be Predicted

If Jesus Christ says that His second coming can not be predicted, then you know that it can not be known. However, we have learned more about which second coming Jesus was talking. Did He mean the second coming where He will come back to claim His Church, His betrothed bride, or was He talking about the second coming where he would come to reclaim the earth?

As men have studied the scriptures, the Holy Spirit has revealed truth about the above scripture from Matthew 24. The second coming Jesus is talking about in this scripture is His coming back to get His bride, the Church. Who is His audience in Matthew 24? That’s right! His audience is the members of the First Church, His close followers. On the Day of Pentecost, these very followers, who were on the Mount with Him when He makes the above prediction, are the ones who received the Holy Ghost and began His church.

Therefore, Jesus’ prediction about His second coming was a meeting in the air—a meeting in the stellar and atmospheric heavens—at the rapture of His Bride, the Church. This is the coming that we do not know when it will take place!

Can the second coming of Jesus be predicted where He comes to reclaim the earth. Yes, it can. That second coming will happen immediately after the tribulation period, a seven-year period that Daniel writes about in Daniel chapters 9, 11 and 12. Jesus talks about this return in Matthew 24:15-30 briefly, as well.

To read the entire article about this second coming, check out our article at http://www.ezinearticles.com/

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How Relevant Is Revelation To Your Life Today

“Let’s see now! If I am saved and you tell me that I am not going through the tribulation, then why do I need the book of Revelation?”

That’s a real good question. My first answer would be because it is in the Bible, but that is a much too flippant response. So basically what you are asking me is, “How relevant is Revelation to my life?”

Chapters 2 and 3 give an exact blueprint for how you are to have church. You can look at the church types in these two chapters and see how well your church measures up to the “standard” set by God.

So using God’s blueprint to evaluate your church and your commitment to the Lord are a couple of ways the book is relevant to your life. Also, from the book you learn that the use and sale of illegal and prescription drugs will increase during the last days. We at B. C. Ministries believe you can witness this phenomenon taking place in your world today.

The spending for prescription drugs rose by 5.1% in 2010. This rise is higher than the previous two years. According to The Associated Press/Forbes, “. . .increased filling of prescriptions grew at a 2.1% pace compared to 1% in 2008. The increase comes despite the recession.”

Notice that the above only includes drugs that are legal! The increase of illegal drugs is so vast that any data you get concerning the sell and use of it most likely is way too conservative. Our police forces and judicial systems spend most of their money trying to combat and prosecute illegal drugs and the problems the sale and use of them contribute to our society.

Here’s just one other way that the Book of Revelation is relevant to your life. Do drugs affect you? Most of us are touched by someone, a family, friend or church member who has a problem with drugs or alcohol.

Therefore, in order for Revelation to be relevant to your life today, all you have to do is study it in depth to see that the book, now over two-thousand years old, is still very relevant to you today.

Please leave questions and comments! We will get back with you.

All Lights Out, All Times End and Revelation

When all times end, all lights will be turned off according to the Book of Revelation chapter 6. A few years ago, February, 2009, a savage ice storm gripped parts of western Kentucky. People were without electricity for three to six weeks.

In order to get fuel either for heating or for the auto, people had to travel several miles outside the affected area. At night as you might guess, it was dark. Actually, it was creepy feeling because we had never been without the conveniences of electricity for so long a period.

Food was scarce, and grown men fought over the last loaf of bread on the counter at a local food market. Strange times cause strange behaviors, don't they?

With all this in mind when all the lights go out at the end times before Jesus returns, It will be even darker. According to Revelation 18 and Jesus in Matthew 24, there will be no electricity, no lamps, no stars nor sun and moon. At least during the ice storm, we had stars at night.

Why will this take place? Jesus says it well in Matthew 24:29. 30a, But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. . .

The lights will be turned off so everyone on earth will see the glory of the Son of Man coming back to earth. That’s why all lights will be turned out when all times end. I believe it is very close!

Please leave questions or comments. We will respond to them.

Why a One World Government, End Times and Revelation

Do you believe we are close to a one world government? We at B. C. Ministries, Inc. believe that our global world is on the brink of having a one world government.

For one thing, simply look at the global economy. Not only is the United States in trouble economically, but so too are most of the other nations of the world. Of course there are a few exceptions. China isn’t in trouble financially. However, she is in trouble over her water sources. We could see a huge confrontation for water rights, soon.

The third world countries that are selling oil to the world are having no problem with their economy. However, both China and these third world countries will be part of the armies that come against the Jews and Christ during and at the end of the tribulation period.

However, in order for the anti-christ to rule the entire world, he must first have a solution to help all the countries of the world. He will be able to do this.

In Revelation 6 the anti-christ is pictured as the rider on the white horse (v 2). The person on the white horse has a crown and a bow. He goes out conquering and to conquer. The anti-christ pictured here begins his conquest of the entire world, i.e. one world government.

Notice that the rider has a bow but no arrows. How is he going to make war if he has nothing of conventional warfare with which to use. He conquers through and by healing the economies of the world and through diplomacy. In the end anyone who buys or sells must have his approval—his mark—one their forehead or hand.

Our question isn’t, “Will there be a one world government, but when will it take place?” Something or someone has to fix the global economy! We believe this will happen real soon.

Please send us your quesitons or comments!

End Times, Lights Out and Revelation

Jesus tells you in Matthew 24:29, Immediately after the tribulation of those days the Sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall form the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

There will be a brief period of time on earth where there will be no light. Some who lives in western Kentucky witnessed a time of power outage in February, 2009. An ice storm left many without electricity for several weeks.

However, at night the lights of the stars and moon shown through. It wasn't totally dark!

Jesus tells you that it will be totally dark before He comes back. The created is being prepared for its Creator to return. When Jesus comes back, He will give the world light.

Ironic as it may seem, the above prediction came from Isaiah over 700 years before Jesus confirmed Isaiah's words (Isaiah 13:10). Further, Isaiah gives you a preview of this scientific event in 30:26.

The event above can be explained scientificly. When a star novaes, it burns 7 times brighter just prior to going out completely. This would explain Isaiah saying, "The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun. . .the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days. . ."

Even without scientific knowledge, Isaiah knew this event would happen before Jesus returns.

You can find so many other interesting tidbits of information in our study of Revelation. Order your copy today.

The 144,000 Sealed Evangelists of Revelation

In chapter 7 of Revelation, 144000 super evangelists are sealed (given God’s protection) to take the gospel of Jesus to the entire world. The anti-christ and his regime can not prevent these evangelists from doing their great works.

The 144000 super evangelists take God’s amazing grace to every person alive on the planet. Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

From where do the 144000 evangelists come? John tells you that they are from the 12 tribes of Israel. They are Jews with very Jewish names. Wonder if some of them are women (God forbid)?

Since they have to take their message to the whole world, they will have to speak in tongues (Oh no! Tongues died with the 12 apostles)! Do you see how silly some of our modern beliefs have become?

There are so many other interesting things about these 144000 sealed, super evangelists in our study of Revelation. Get your copy today.

The Mount Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and Revelation

When you compare the Mount Olivet Discourse of Jesus and Revelation in Matthew 24, you find that both of them contain much similar information. However, the Mount Olivet Discourse was spoken by Jesus, Himself.

The Mount Olivet Discourse of Jesus in Matthew 24 bridges the gap between Old Testament writers and Revelation. Jesus’ discussion with His disciples on the Mount of Olives about end times, makes the same topics of the Old Testament complete. Until Jesus gave His version of end times, for instance, you didn’t know exactly which times the prophets of old meant.

When Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24 what to expect as the end of the world time drew near, He filled in several bits of information about expectations concerning the rapture of the church and the tribulation period. In other words Jesus gave us two separate times from which to view end time prophesies.

His discourse on Mount Olivet gave some enlightening information about the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70 by Rome. Jesus had touched on this destruction in a couple other places, too. In Luke 21:20, 21, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it.”

Why was Jerusalem being destroyed? Jesus explains this. He cries over the city (Matthew 23, and then He tells them that the city will be destroyed because they did not recognize the time of their visitation (Luke 21). In other words Jesus tells them that he brought the kingdom of God to them, and they rejected it.

Jesus warned them, too, that  “your enemies will build an embankment against you…” (Luke 20). The Mount Olivet discourse gave them other information about this destruction. Together with the book of Hebrews, the believing Jews—those who had accepted Jesus as Lord—were able to escape the destruction of the city in AD 79.

One thing we know from historians of that day, the city was surrounded and an embankment build against it, but the Roman general heard a rumor that Egypt was coming to the aid of Jerusalem. He pulled back his troops to meet the fictitious army. Therefore, those who knew the words of Luke and Matthew, fled. When the city fell, not a single believing Jew was killed in the destruction.

The Mount Olivet discourse from Matthew 24 and Revelation have so much other interesting information. You can learn how to acquire the information about both from the below. All you need do is email me with your request.