Weekend of Prayer and Fasting and Guest Post from Kay Marshall Strom

Salvation Army Sponsors

4th Annual International Weekend of

Prayer and Fasting

for Victims of Sexual Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery

September 25-27th concerned individuals across the world will join in prayer and fasting for the victims of sex trafficking and modern day slavery. In an effort to raise funds and awareness for this project, the Salvation Army is raising hands and hearts together in a special weekend dedicated to praying and fasting for the social injustices forced upon many individuals in our world today. For more information about this important project and other organizations partnering with The Salvation Army, go to the Salvation Army homepage.

For years, author Kay Marshall Strom has visited countries where human trafficking and modern day slavery run rampant. Her recent fiction release, The Call of Zulina, draws attention to the historical issues of slavery, that unfortunately continue today across the world and even in the United States of America. Through her diligence and commitment to help resolve inhumane issues revolving around slavery and trafficking Strom has become an expert in the field.

Stolen Identity
by Kay Marshall Strom

Enormous eyes in a bony-thin face, and a baggy green dress that dragged the ground. Because of all the cast-off children at the village school in India, the raggedy girl stood closest to our translator, he gently asked her, "What is your name?"

The girl stared.

"Your name. What is it?" the translator asked again.

The girl whispered her answer: "I have no name."

A child with no name. A little girl abandoned so young she could not even remember what her parents had called her. She grew up begging at the train platform, snatching up the scraps harried passengers dropped, watching other children picked off by traffickers. Now that she was seven or eight--perhaps even a scrawny nine--the traffickers had come for her. But the girl screamed and kicked and clawed so ferociously that someone called the police. Someone with clout, evidently, because the police came and pulled her away from the traffickers. Somebody in the crowd suggested that instead of putting the child in jail, the police might take her to the village school, which they did. They dropped her at the door and left.

Human trafficking, especially sex trafficking, is rampant around the world. We think of it as an eastern European problem, or Indian or Nepalese or Thai. It is. But it's also a Western problem. The U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the Untied States each year, but concede that the real number is far higher. According to the U.S. Justice Department's head of the new human trafficking unit, there is now at least one case of trafficking in every state.

The little girl with no name was fortunate that someone responded to her screaming pleas. What would you do if you heard a child shriek for help? Of course, if she were a trafficking victim in this country, she wouldn't likely scream or kick. She would probably shrink away in terror, or act submissively. You might see wounds--cuts, bruises, burns. Perhaps what would catch your attention would be the constant work: babysitting, cooking, washing dishes, scrubbing floors--never just being a child. Or maybe you couldn't say exactly what was wrong--only that something about the child's situation made you profoundly uneasy.

Please, please, if you suspect a person is being trafficked, call 911 and report it. Yes, it is okay. Yes, even it you are mistaken. In fact, eighteen states require citizens to report possible child abuse or neglect of any kind.

In the 1700s, Quakers led the fight against the African slave trade. In 1885, the Salvation Army took up the abolition banner, and since then it has led the fight against a different kind of slavery. More and more, 21st century abolitionists are followers of Christ determined to see slavery of all kinds ended in our day.

Oh yes... Before I left the school in India, I asked if we might give the little girl a name. She is now Grace.

About the Author:

Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books including Daughters of Hope: Stories of Witness and Courage in the Face of Persecution and In the Presence of the Poor. She's also authored numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers' conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.

Schedule Kay for an interview or request her book for review by contacting Kathy Carlton Willis Communications at WillisWay@aol.com or call 956-642-6319.

Should Christians Drink? Wine in the Bible

There are many arguments among Christians about the use of alcohol. Some believe in total abstinence while others believe that alcohol can be used moderately. So what does the Bible say about the use of alcohol? One thing is certain, nothing has snapped more wedding rings, caused more violence in the home, crime, sickness and death.

As when we approach any study of a particular subject we must be careful not to build a doctrine on the basis of one or two scriptures. We have to look at all that God says on any one thing and take the sum of all the parts. We must also look at the context in which it is used.

In William Patton's book, Bible Wines, pg. 46 we quote: It should be constantly borne in mind that the Authorized Version was translated when the drinking usages were well-nigh universal. The translators, with the most honest purpose, faithfully according to their ability, rendered into English the original scriptures, but were nevertheless unintentionally and unconsciously influenced by the philosophy and usages of their day. We would not distrust, much less weaken, confidence in the Word of God. We should, however remind the reader that ONLY THE ORIGNAL TEXT IS INSPIRED; that no translation, much less no mere human interpretation, is ultimate authority.

The confusion is that on one hand God gives the wine as a blessing and also calls it a curse. How can something be both a blessing and a curse? Does this mean that one can drink in moderation? As long as we partake of a little then it's okay? So why doesn't the Bible say how much we can drink?

The wine that is a blessing
Isa 65:8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine (tirosh) is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

The Hebrew word for harvested grape juice is tirosh and should be translated in every one of its 38 Old Testament occurrences as either fresh grape juice or harvested grape juice. The Authorized Version translated as 'wine' or 'new wine' are both misleading translations. The new wine that is a blessing was the product of the land in its natural state, the grape and its juice. It is unfermented.

Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Here God is giving milk and wine, both are blessings and nutritious. Both the milk and the wine (grape juice) are good for you.

Would the Lord give us something meant to be a blessing in the form of an intoxicating beverage? The Lord's Prayer: Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Temperance Bible Commentary by F. R. Lees and D. Burns pg. 24 "Tirosh is not wine at all, but the fruit of the vineyard in its natural condition."

Was fermented wine used at the Lord's Supper?
On the night of His betrayal, when celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
The wine represents the blood atonement at the Lord's Supper. It was the symbol of His shed blood for our sins. The bread representing His body was unleavened bread. All leaven and fermentation is excluded from the Passover for seven days, it is forbidden.

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Would the Lord allow a fermented wine to be used as the symbol of His atoning blood, He who saw no corruption? "Fermentation is to them always a symbol of "corruption."

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heb. seor (Ex. 12:15, 19; 13:7; Lev. 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid. (2.) Heb. hamets, properly "ferment." In Num. 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Ex. 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Heb. matstsoth] shall be consumed during the seven days; and there shall not be seen with thee fermented things [hamets], and there shall not be seen with thee leavened mass [seor] in all thy borders." The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is "a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion."
Fruit of the vine:
(2.) The fruit of the vine, "vintage-fruit" (Heb. tirosh); grapes, whether moist or dried.

Josephus calls the freshly squeezed grape juice the "fruit of the vine."

Pro 20:1 Wine (yayin) is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Notice that the quantity consumed is not mentioned only that wine in itself is a mocker.

The problem lies in the word wine, which can mean either fermented or unfermented grape juice.

In Wine The Biblical Imperative: Total Abstinence by Robert P. Teachout he writes: Not only have contemporary Bible scholars failed to consult the older reference works which would refute their superficial conclusion; they have also neglected to do adequate research in the primary sources themselves. Instead of making a person search through the classical Greek and Latin writings to see (for example) how oinos and vinum were used by the ancient authors they have simply assumed that the modern lexicons are correct. It is initially important to recognize that lexicons are, ideally based on such primary research. However, lexicons are inerrant. If the research on which they are based is not thorough, or if it is biased, then important information is omitted. Thus, an adequate investigation f the meaning of any word especially if the meaning is disputed) must include actually studying it in the context in which it occurred in the original literature rather than simply assuming that the modern lexicons have done a thorough job of presenting the evidence. The difficulty of doing such primary research should make those who take an opposing position more careful about being dogmatic concerning matters, which they themselves are unwilling or unable to thoroughly investigate. (Pg. 40-41)

Mertereologica by Aristotlerefers to a sweet grape beverage (glukus), which Though called wine [oinos], it has not the effect of wine, for it does taste like wine and does not intoxicate like ordinary wine. (388.b.9-13)

Definitions of "Wine"
oinos- grape juice or wine
gleukos- fresh grape juice
oxos - vinegar
tirosh- harvest grape juice
shekar- wine or strong drink, (Hebrew) to drink copiously
yayin- grape juice, wine

Kitto's Cyclopaedia, article Wine: "Yakin in Bible use is a very general term, including every species of wine made from grapes (oinos ampelinos), though in latter ages it became extended in its application to wine made from other substances."

Did Jesus use alcohol? Some say that the new wine that Jesus made was alcohol in His first miracle at the wedding at Cana. John 2:1 - 11

Now we know that Jesus is our High Priest who makes intercession for our sins and the priest is forbidden to drink fermented drink.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. We also know that the Lord forbids the priests to drink alcohol.

Lev 10:8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: Can Jesus break His own rule? Jesus is our High Priest. Jesus made new wine. New wine is pure grape juice. It has not been allowed to ferment. The Lord would not further the act of making an intoxicating wine to people who were presumed to be already drunk!

1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Do you not also know that when you accept Jesus as your personal Savior you become part of the royal priesthood?

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Jesus was accused.
Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

The scripture says Jesus came eating and drinking, not that He came drinking alcohol, just eating and drinking. He befriended those who needed Him. There were those who would have liked to destroy the reputation of our Savior.

Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

John too was accused of being of the devil. Luk 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

We are to bring glory to God!
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…

But the Bible says a little wine is good for us.
Did Paul tell Timothy to drink a fermented wine for his stomach?

1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine (oinos) for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Earlier in the same Epistle Paul states: Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Grape juice was used for medicinal purposes during Bible times. Athenaeus (AD 280) makes the suggestion to use unfermented grape juice for stomach disorders.

Is this contradiction? No. Pure grape juice is known to be beneficial for our health. Onios- The juice of the grape in all conditions.

Problem verse
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 contains an ordinance stating that those who live a long distance from the sanctuary can use part of their tithe money on their annual journey to the sanctuary as follows:
And spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen, or sheep, or wine (Yayin) or strong drink, (shekar) whatever your appetite craves; and you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. Deut. 14:26 (RSV)
The phrase "strong drink" is from the word shekar. Shekar was condemned by Solomon as "raging" (Prov. 20:1), and Isaiah pronounces a woe upon those who "follow after strong drink [shekar]" (Isa. 5:11). Strong drink was also forbidden for the priests (Lev. 10:9-11) and Nazarites (Num. 6:2-4; Jud. 13:3-5). Would God condemn the use of "strong drink" in one place in the Bible, and yet approve of it in another place?
Like yayin ("wine"), shekar is a generic term that could refer to either an alcoholic beverage, as noted above, or to a sweet, unfermented drink as is indicated in Isa. 24:9. Shekar is defined by The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia as: Sweet Wine or Syrup.
Shatter, luscious, saccharine drink or sweet syrup especially sugar or honey of dates or of the palm-tree
Date or Palm Wine in its fresh and unfermented state.
Our English words "sugar" and "cider" derive from the word shekar. Therefore, since shekar could mean either a sweet unfermented drink, or an intoxicating drink, we must interpret the word according to the context of the verse. Would God encourage the use of tithe money to purchase a beverage that causes intoxication, health problems, and diminishing of moral capacities? The only reasonable conclusion is that this verse is referring to the sweet palm-wine beverage in its fresh and unfermented state.

Robert P Teachout Wine The Biblical Imperative pg. 66 reads: The Hebrew verb, which is, related etymologically, shakar, means to 'drink deeply' rather than 'to become drunk,' as many lexicons imply. (Note especially Song of So 5:1). The idea of drunkenness so often associated with both the noun and the verb is dependent upon the context (and the beverage that is imbibed), then, and not an innate meaning of the word, despite the simplistic rendering of Hebrew lexicons. The two words yayin and shekar together give the one idea in Deu 14:26 of 'satisfying grape juice' (a anendiadys). The context demands this understanding, since it specifically indicates that the beverage was to be imbibed' before the Lord over what He has provided, one would have to be sober. Since God had explicitly denied intoxicants (on pain of death-Lev 10:9 to the priests serving in His presence, it would be totally out of character for God to command the use of these intoxicants by the worshippers in one of their infrequent appearances before him, especially when they were in the company of those priests.

But I need a few drinks to help me relax. It makes me happy.
Our happiness is in Christ. He is our joy!

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Alcohol can have a great cost.
We see the first recorded incident of drunkenness and immoral behavior and the result of a curse being placed on Canaan:
Gen 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. Gen 9:26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
The result of Lot's drinking was incest. Gen 19: 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

Drinking causes a lack of concern for others:
Amos 6:6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Drinking causes shame and humiliation:
Hab 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Seventy-five percent of the children of alcoholics either become drinkers themselves or become codependents.

Hos 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

When is it all right to drink?
Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Give to those who are dying or in great pain.

Parents, when you drink you are teaching your children to drink.
They are learning from you. They are not learning coping skills. It does not teach them to control themselves. Did you know that 90% of those on death row came from homes where alcohol and drug abuse was a prominent part of their lives? Your attitude toward alcohol and drugs directly affects how your children will view them. If you need to have a few drinks to cope with stress then you are teaching your child this is how to deal with stress. Think about it parents. Remember your children are a gift from God and they are on loan to you. Your job is to lead them to Christ and how to walk in His ways. You are responsible for their welfare.

There are many warnings about the use of alcohol in the Bible.
Pro 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright (fermented wine). 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isa 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Many Christians justify their drinking because they believe they have God's approval because the word wine is used in the Bible. Being drunk is clearly condemned as sin.

Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. God clearly tells the Christian not to even associate with one who claims to be a Christian and they drink.

The word "wine" is also used to denote God's wrath or judgment
Easton's Bible Dictionary
1) wine 2) metaph. fiery wine of God's wrath
The "treading of the wine-press" is emblematic of
divine judgment (Isa. 63:2; Lam. 1:15; Rev. 14:19, 20).
Also see Revelation 14:8& 10; 16:19; 18:3.

We have by no means covered all that is available on the wines of the Bible. I can only encourage you to study for yourself and pray for understanding. We must each stand before the Lord and ask Him what He would have us to do.

For those who use to justify drinking in the Bible because they believe that there was no way to keep the grape juice from fermenting during Bible times I suggest you read The Laws of Fermentation by William Patton.

Suggested study materials:
Kitto's Cyclopaedia
Bible Wines by William Patton
Wine The Biblical Imperative by Robert P. Teachout
The Jewish Encyclopedia
Dr. William Smith Dictionary of the Bible Wine in the Ancient World by Charles Seltman
The Temperance Bible Commentary by F. R. Lees and D. Burns
Antiquities of the Jews William Whiton's translation
The Laws of Fermentation by William Patton
Language Helps
A Concordance of the Ugaritic Literature by Richard E. Whitaker
The Englishman's Greek Concordance of the New Testament.
The Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament
The Septuagint intertestament translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek

Heavenly Father, Help us to be more like You. Give us understanding of Your Word. Help us to be overcomers so we might spend eternity with You. Amen

Read Revelation 2, 3 to see what overcomers inherit!

Little Sins Don't Count

"Little sins don't count." We sometimes flirt with sin just to see how close we can come before it overtakes us.

Sin is like a small hole in the side of a hill. Each time the rains come it washes out a little more soil making it slide down the hill to the bottom. Each time It grows deeper and wider until it runs like a river.

The little sins in our lives grow until it will finally destroy us. Each time we sin and think we have gotten away with it, it becomes easier the next time. We even sometimes think that God doesn't see nor even cares about it. We justify that, "Everyone else does that anyway." " Besides these are modern times and God understands that things are different now." "That was just the Old Testament ways. He doesn't care about that now, besides I go to church."

Malachi 3:6 "For I, the Lord, do not change…….

James 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Galation 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

We all sin, but the key is repentance. This does not mean just to say, "Oh, I'm sorry", and then go out and do again. To repent is to turn away. We take that sin and go to God with a broken heart and ask Him to cleanse us and to help us to turn away and overcome that sin. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Today we have couples living together with no real commitment. If it doesn't work out, just move out and go on to the next one. And we have those who have sex with multiple partners without a second thought. One said to me, "God understands I need sex." That's right He does understand that some cannot control themselves. In 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn. "I'm only looking what's the matter with that.?" ..but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28

We tell little lies, so we won't get caught in something. We tell little lies to get what we want. We tell little lies to make ourselves look good to others. Yet God says liars won't be allowed in heaven. In the book of Revelation in 21:8. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

And in verse 27, and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. God will not allow sin in His kingdom. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices. Colossians 3:9

Even within the church there is sin. We overlook sin many times because one goes to church.

I Corinthians 5: 6 …Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 11-13 …not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. When sin within the church is allowed to continue it can contaminate the whole bunch. "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3

You take a "little something" that is not yours. "They'll never miss it." "They have plenty and besides they'll never use it anyway." "They'll just throw it away." If it's not yours and it wasn't offered to you and you didn't ask permission to take it, then you are stealing. The Bible is very explicit. "You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15 One of God's commandments.


Many are taking chances with their very souls everyday, failing to realize that they only have one. They continue to do the things that are done in the world. Watching TV programs with sex, violence and other inappropriate behavior. Listening to dirty jokes that others are telling. All these things will have an affect on your life.

I John 2: 15-17 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

We are to be a witness to the world. Everything we do or do not do, what we say and how we act are all the things that make up our testimony for Jesus. Many make their decision for Christ by what they see those that claim to be Christians do. Many are turned off to Christ by what these Christians do. Being a Christian carries a responsibility. You are a representative of Christ. your are His body and His mouthpiece. A Christian is Christ-like. For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. I Corinthians 6:20

There are no "little sins" in God's eyes. Sin is sin. unconfessed sin blocks our communication with God. Your prayers go no higher than the ceiling when ther5e is sin in your life. "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God fearing, and does His will, he hears him."

Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will. Proverbs 14:9

Ask God's forgiveness today. Ask Him to help you overcome any sin in your life. I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

Every Christian's goal should be to over come the sin in their life for there is a glorious promise made to all overcomers.

"He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will by My son." Revelation 21:7

The overcomer will inherit the kingdom of God and he will be His child forever and ever. What a promise to the child of God ! ! Claim it now.

Sex for Christians: Adultery & Fornication

Everywhere we look there are images that play on our sexual desires. Our society says that if our sexual desires are fulfilled we are happy. It doesn't matter how many we have sex with either, or if we are married, as long as it feels good. Even small children are dressed to look sexy. We have sexy toothpaste, shampoo and clothes. Let's face it, sex grabs our attention, it sells.

God told man and woman to have sex and plenty of it. He made it and made it to be enjoyed.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them.

1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Sexual relations are restricted to those that are married.

Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife..

10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Sex outside of marriage is sin.

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17

One of God's commandments.

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints…

Adultery

Voluntary sexual intercourse on the part of a married person with any person of the opposite sex other than the lawful spouse.

Idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jer. 3:6, 8, 9; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2:3; Rev. 2:22). An apostate church is an adulteress (Isa. 1:21; Ezek.23:4, 7, 37), and the Jews are styled "an adulterous generation" (Matt. 12:39). (Comp. Rev. 12.)

Fornication

Voluntary sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried person with a person of the opposite sex.

But this word is more frequently used in a symbolical than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2;

2:1-5; Jer. 3:8,9).

Greek word for fornication

4203 porneuo {porn-yoo'-o}

from 4204; TDNT - 6:579,918; v

AV - commit fornication 7, commit 1; 8



to prostitute one's body to the lust of another 2) to give one's self to unlawful sexual intercourse 2a) to commit fornication 3) metaph. to be given to idolatry, to worship idols 3a) to permit one's self to be drawn away by another into idolatry

Our word pornography is related to this word.

We would be astonished at how much money is spent on this expression of sex alone.

Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

One does not have to have sexual intercourse to commit adultery or fornication.

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Also see Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18 & 19; Acts 15:20; Romans 1, 13:13; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:4-5

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

It is better to have self-control.

1Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

1Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind….

1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Our thoughts need to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

2Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…

It all began with a look.

2Samuell 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

11:3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

David tried to cover his sin hoping that Uriah would sleep with his wife Bathsheba, but Uriah would not.

2Sa 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

David caused Uriah's death by sending him up front in battle.

11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

There are always consequences for sin. David's child born from adultery died.

2 Samuel12: 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, he is dead.

Psalm 51 is a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

David is broken.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

51:9 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

51:11 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

51:12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

51:13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

God said that David was a man after His own heart because he was repentive.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.

Couples many times live together with no real commitment.

This is a sexual relationship, not a committed relationship.

1Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication

If one is committed to Jesus Christ and the other is not.

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

What about homosexual relations?

The Bible is quite clear on homosexuality.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was met.

Some have sex to fill loneliness.

The bars are full of lonely people looking for love. Surround yourself with Christian friends who are devoted to Christ who will fill your loneliness and encourage you.

Proverbs18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Those who continue in immorality after receiving the knowledge of sin will have no place in the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God

6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Sexual immorality is a sign of the last days.

2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

If you have found yourself in sins of immorality. Or if you have been sexually abused.

Our sexuality involves not just our bodies, but our hearts, minds and spirits. When we go outside the boundaries of God's perfect plan for our sexuality it hurts us as a person. We need to come to God daily with our sin, guilt and temptations with brokedness. God will restore us to fellowship with Him for He loves us no matter what. He takes away the dirtiness and the hurt. He heals us.

He will help us deal with our past or when we have been abused in childhood and take away that hurt. He can take all that pain and turn it into something good.

God can even restore our broken relationships that have resulted from misused sexuality.

1John1: 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 25:11 For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Proverb 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

The 7 Seals of Revelation

The study of the seals has brought many interpretations, but I have found as with the trumpets they do not meet the specifications of a fulfillment of the prophecy. Many believe that the seals occurred sometime in the past. For there to be a fulfillment there must be a beginning and ending point of the apocalyptic prophecy. All the specifications must be met and they must occur in chronological order. And as with any apocalyptic prophecy it can only be fulfilled once.

The Father wrote a book before He created humans or angels. This book contained all the names of anyone who would ever live and all the things that would ever happen. He then sealed it with seven seals. As each of these seals are broken it reveals more about Jesus and this revealing is what the book of Revelation is all about. As each of the seals are broken certain events correspond on the earth. These events help us to pinpoint where we are in time.
The first 3 of the seven seals are causes. Webster's dictionary gives the definition: one that produces an effect, result or consequence. The next 3 seals are the effects or the results of these causes.
The 1st Seal

And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2

Who are these 4 living creatures. We see a description of them in Revelation 4:6-11 These creatures have omnivision, they can see everything in God's universe. One is described like a lion, one like an ox, and one had a face like a man and the last was like a flying eagle. These faces represent characteristics that were appreciated in John's day. The lion is unchallenged with authority. He is the king of beasts. The ox had great value and was full of strength. The man is a free will moral being, and the eagle has wisdom, he is silent and swift but he can be deadly when it is necessary. These creatures day and night say, " Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, The Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." These creatures are God's senior angels and they see to it that all God's orders are carried out.
Zechariah saw these same colored horses. …….. "These are the four spirits that are of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of the earth. Zechariah 6:5 And in Zechariah 1:10 …… "these are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." In Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 you can find detailed studies of these four creatures.
The rider of the white horse goes out to conquer, but he does not conquer anything at the time of the opening of this seal. The 1st seal represents the knowledge that Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not the church. The timing of this seal was shortly after 1798. For 1,260 years the Roman Catholic church (little horn power) had claimed that salvation, the power of life and death came through the church. The little horn power was brought down. History proves that this world power was the Church of Rome. When Jesus opened this seal a revival message went throughout the world that Salvation came by faith through Him and this event on earth was called the "great awakening" during the 19th century in America and Europe. Never has there been such a spiritual revival. The effect of the mission of this angel is not completed until the 6th seal, the effects of the seals are cumulative.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except himself. And is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16 Jesus returns with all of heaven with Him !
How do we know when these seals began to open? The Bible answers our question.

"I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, And the books were opened. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn (little horn power) was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beast, their dominion was taken away, but and extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time (In other words their descendents would remain.). I kept looking in the night visions And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man (Jesus) was coming, And he came up to the Ancient of Days (the Father) And was presented before Him, And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations , and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away. And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9-14 We see the Father take His seat in the heavenly court room and Jesus is given dominion, glory and a kingdom and subjects.

"As I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the Kingdom. Daniel 7:21-22 The horn power is the church of Rome, the first Christian church, who persecuted the saints for 1,260 years Daniel 7:25 And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alteration in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. A time is one year, times is 2 years and a half time is ½ year equals 1,260. A day for a year principle applies here so we are dealing with 1,260 years. We see that God declared a restraining order against the little horn (Church of Rome) in favor of the saints. The timing is shortly after 1798 when the little horn power was brought to its end. The deadly wound was inflicted upon the Papacy when Napoleon captured the pope in February 1798.
The 2nd Seal

And when He broke the 2nd seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword (the Word) was given to him. Revelation 6:3-4

The Bible must interpret itself. The sword that this rider carries is the "Word of God". In Jesus' messages to the churches:

'Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:16 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

When God removed Rome's authority the gospel commission was given to the Protestants (protestors.) Bible Societies were formed and Bibles were printed and distributed all over Europe and America. The work of this angel was to release the Word of God. The people of the world began to hear about the Salvation of Jesus. Bible's, the Word, had been kept from them during the dark ages, (1,260 years). It is said that over 50 million people were killed by the early church. From the work of this angel the Bible Societies grew all over America and Europe. Never has the gospel spread so far and fast as in the middle of the 19th century. The Word was finally available to all those from whom it had been withheld. This cause will be the source of a great war under the 5th seal.

The 3rd Seal

And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come". And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it has a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, " A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." Revelation 6:5-6

We see this rider go out with a pair of scales in his hand. Even in our own judicial system, scales represent judgment. This rider went out to carry a message so that the people of earth might understand what Jesus was doing in heaven, for He had began to judge the dead and the year is 1844. Many still do not understand the pre-advent judgment, in fact most have not even heard of it or if they have, they rejected it because of an incomplete understanding. It is kind of like throwing the baby out with the bath water. In my own background in the church, if it is different then we don't believe it, and then it is a cult and we reject anything new as if God can't reveal anything new. Yet the books of Daniel and Revelation are only now being understood. We now have history behind us so that we can see exactly where we are in God's plan as new truth's unfold.
It is helpful if you will study the sanctuary service in order to better understand what Jesus is doing in heaven, for He is now our High Priest. The sanctuary service on earth was a model of what was going on in heaven. God has not left us to our own imaginations
The idea of a preadvent judgment is hard for some to accept. But think about it. When Jesus returns the Bible tells us the dead in Christ rise first and those who are alive will meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 So the records of the dead have to have been examined before the 2nd coming. The differences in the wicked and the righteous have been determined, otherwise we would see the wicked headed straight for heaven.


We know that Jesus received the Book of Life in 1798 and began opening the first seals. We also saw in Daniel 7:9-10 a heavenly court scene and that the books were opened. These books were the books of deeds or records. These books contain every thing that we do or say and every opportunity that we have had to come to Christ. God is fair in His judgment and every thing that we know or do not know is taken in consideration. All this is recorded by the recording angels. We are judged from these records as to whether we will receive everlasting life or death. We are judged by Jesus Christ Himself. It is important to realize that we are not judged from the Book of Life. The seventh seal will not be removed until after the 1,000 years of Revelation 20. What Daniel was witnessing was the judgment. This process began in 1844. Jesus began to investigate the records of the dead but, the living will judge themselves as to whether they take the mark in order to survive or live by faith in Jesus.
An interesting point is when Jesus was on earth He cleansed the earthly temple. It took 46 years to build this temple. It also took 46 years to prepare the way for understanding the pre advent message, 1798-1844. Just a little food for thought.
So how do we arrive at 1844.

In Daniel 8:14: And he said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings (years) ; then the holy place will be properly restored (cleansed)." Now Daniel wanted to understand this vision and he was answered by Gabriel, ………"Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end. Daniel 8:17 We see in these verses that it pertains to the end times. We also see the process begins after the 2,300 years. The 2,300 years began with the decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem in 457 BC and ended in 1844. Actually we can see that 2300 - 457 would be 1843, but there is no year 0 to span BC to AD so 1843 + 1 = 1844. Every sin is recorded in heaven's sanctuary just as the sins of Israel were recorded on the horns of the altar in the earthly sanctuary. On the Day of Atonement these sins were removed and the sanctuary was cleansed. In 1844 Jesus began this process in heaven and He began to examine the books of record.
Is there an event on the earth in 1844. Yes. This year certainly did not go by unnoticed. God raised up groups of people in America and Europe who had prophetic understanding about the 2,300 days in Daniel 8:14. One of these was William Miller a Baptist preacher, but Miller thought the cleansing was that of the earth and that the 2nd coming would occur when the 2,300 days expired. .Many people in many denominations believed that Jesus was about to return. There was a great revival. The followers of Miller became known as the Millerites. When Jesus did not return the Millerite revival died. But the understanding of the 2,300 days continues to unfold.

Those who built the sanctuary in Solomon's day were paid with wheat and barley (2 Chronicles 2:10, 15). Those who first tried to build the understanding of heavens sanctuary are promised wages. Those who first carried this message believed that most of Revelation was fulfilled. They did not carry a complete message as they did not have full understanding but, God will give them a full reward for their services. There is also a warning in this seal. Don't harm the oil or wine. The oil represents the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4), the wine symbolizes doctrine or teaching. (Revelation 17:2) Receive the Holy Spirit, don't reject this teaching of the ministry of Jesus. New truths continue to unfold in prophecy as we come closer to it's fulfillment. We need to be open to the Spirit so He can reveal these deep things of God.


The 4th seal

And when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying,, "Come." And I looked , and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8

We see this rider go out and he brings death and Hades meaning the grave with him. The opening of this seal brings devastation upon the earth with these four judgments of God, sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. Twenty-five percent of the people of earth will die during these judgments.
The fourth seal is chronologically the next to be opened. To those claiming that these seals were all opened in the past, where in history can we find that ¼ of earth's population has died from these judgments. We are not speaking of ¼ of an area but of the earth.

God has used these four judgments before when man has filled his cup of iniquity.
Ezekiel 14:13 "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it, and cut off from it both man and beast….

15 "If I were to cause wild beast to pass through the land, they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts…

17 "Or I should bring a sward on that country and say, 'Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,……

19 "Or if I should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it, to cut off man and beast from it…..

21 For thus says the Lord God, " How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beast, and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

22 " Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come froth to you and you will see their conduct and actions; them you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it.

23 "Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done in vain whatever I did to it," declares the Lord God.

We also see where God used these judgments in Deuteronomy 32 and Leviticus 26.

For those who claim the seals have already been broken, this one seal proves that they have not. When in the history of this world has ¼ of the world been killed. This does not say one area but ¼ of the whole earth by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts.
This seal is the next to open. Man is so busy all the time that He has forgotten his Creator. God is going to get his attention and His wrath is going to be poured out on this earth. Many will be ready to hear the gospel when all the props are knocked out. Everything we put our faith in, all the material things that we worship are gone. God has people everywhere and He will reveal His truths through His servants during this times. Many will come to Christ upon hearing truth with all man's traditions removed.



The 5th seal

And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also. Revelation 6:9-10

There will be many martyrs during the 5th seal because of the Word of God. Satan himself will be on the earth claiming to be God and many will believe him because of the miracles he performs. God's people will be faithfully witnessing, true to their faith. They would rather die than accept the mark. With the pressure on God's people they will shine and those who claim to be His and are not will be exposed. They will be no more straddling the fence, no more pretense.


The 6th Seal

And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb; for the great day of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has comp and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17

The opening of the 6th seal brings Christ's return for His people, but notice too that others come with Him. Just as the work of the 1st seal began on a white horse it's conclusion brings our Lord and Savior to our rescue on a white horse. Many do not realize that Christ does not return for us alone. God Himself comes with Him along with all the angels in heaven. What a sight!

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and he has a name written upo0n Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God.. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and he will rule them with f rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Revelation 19:11-15




The 7th Seal

And when he broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1

There is only one place in the Bible that tells us when the 7th seal is opened and the contents of the Book of Life are revealed. Jesus opens the 7th seal at the end of the 1,000 years. Everyone who has ever lived will be alive at the same time. Can you imagine this scene.

The rest of the dead ( the wicked) did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6

Verse 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Verse 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I pray that I will see each of you in heaven for that 1,000 years. It will be great getting to know you!

What of the Watchman?

Once upon a city

With watchman on her walls,

The stealthy blight of treason

Just short of midnight falls.

Upon the gate called Doctrine

A watchman hears a sound;

The rattle of the latch

Comes through the arch and round.

"Who goes?" he cries, in startled fear,

"What business do you bring?"

"Don’t worry," says a voice below,

"‘Tis but a simple thing.

"We are nobles of the court,

On us you can depend,

We simply want to visit

With one the king calls friend."

Peering o’er the outer edge

The watchman strains his eye,

Expecting just one shadow

He instead sees four or five.

"Hold up," he says to those inside,

"‘Tis more than one who wait!

Are you sure of those outside

Who would enter at this gate?"

"What difference?" came the curt reply,

"Whether it be one or five?

Even a friend of a friend of the king

Is still a friend of mine!"

The watchman reached for his trumpet,

For in his heart was alarm. . .

When a warning hissed from the gateway

That worked its deadly charm.

"I will see to this thing in the morning

If you keep not your silence tonight.

We will give your post to another

If you cause all for nothing a fright."

So the watchman put down his trumpet,

His wife and children must eat.

He sounded not the warning that night,

And the city suffered defeat.

I ask you, "What of the watchman?

How would you reason his plight?

Would you want to sleep on in silence

For the reasons he was silent that night?"

I ask too, "What of the people

Who had put their trust in man;

Who’d remove a watchman for a false alarm

When he is doing the best that he can?"

The Word would condemn the people;

They too shared in his shame,

For, ". . .except the Lord keep the city,

The watchman waketh in vain."₁

"Put not your trust in nobles,"₂

Ask, "Watchman, what of the night?"₃

Put your mind in the care of the Lord

And study with all of your might.

Then when comes the deceiver

Or comes the terror by night,

There will be no reason to worry

As for you it will be all right.

Footnotes: 

(1) Psalms 127:1 

(2) Psalms 146:3

(3) Isaiah 21:11; Ezekiel 33:4-6

Money: The Tithe

The buck grabs us all by the rear. When we don't have any, we pray for some. When we have it, we forget we prayed for it. Lately I've been watching the money thing and what it does to people, and I pray the dollar doesn't get to me. Sure, I could do with more cash (couldn't we all?) but my prayer is that I keep in mind what it is, and what God expects me to do with it.

First, it's like cocaine. It never satisfies although it promises to.

Second, it alienates us.

Third, it puts us on a pedestal and moves us away from God.

Having money is akin to a dog with a bone. He's afraid to walk away from it although he doesn't want it, so he guards it with his life. When he has to go relieve himself it worries him, so he holds it as long as he can. When he finally succumbs to the urge, another dog tries to steal the bone and the fight is on. He knew it would happen and it did. We always thought we were better than the animals, but all you have to do is turn your back on your bone (or cash) for a moment and somebody'll be there to take it from you. The worry never ceases, it's true. The more is at stake, the longer we'll stay up at night being worried or suspecting our best friends of coveting our bone. It just isn't worth it.

Our Master, our King by the way, didn't have so much as a coin on Him. Matthew 22:19 "(Jesus said) 'Show me the coin used for the poll tax.' And they brought Him a denarius." If He had the cash in His pocket, surely He would have dug out a coin and made His point, instead of waiting for 2 or 3 minutes for somebody to ante up one. It is no coincidence that Jesus never carried money. If you have noticed, Jesus always had money EXACTLY when He needed it. We're promised the same thing, too! Jesus was a human with a need for money just like the rest of the world. It just wasn't His point of interest, except when it was needed. Our Master, our Example, took His need to the Father and it was done.

Jesus guarantees us that God loves the little sparrows so much He feeds them, and He actually means to put it to us in our minds like we think of sparrows... worthless little birds. He goes on with if God the Father loves them enough to make sure they don't die of hunger, neither will He let us die. We are not ensured caviar and imported wine. The children of Israel in the desert got tired of manna. I guess it didn't taste like a steak dinner, but nobody died of malnutrition, either.

Personally, I was reared to believe that God is a fat man wearing a red suit going ho-ho-ho. Years later I find out that God isn't real interested in what kind of car I drive or what kind of after dinner wine I serve. It boils down to the book. He only wants 10 percent of what He gives me. Don't think for a minute He needs it. The Creator owns all of this anyway. He wants me to want to give it up willingly and without worry. The rest, He leaves me in charge of to do what I think is right. I find that if I live by the greatest Commandment, I will do what is right. "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart."

From a Go'er - Be'er - and Do'er

(But usually a Walk'er - Try'er - and Pray'er)

Jesus: the Nature of Christ debate!

Jesus the synthesis of the nature of Christ debate!
Jesus Is > v	In Life v	In Death v
Physically >	Our Example	Our Substitute
Spiritually >	Our Substitute	Our Example

A truth about our human nature is that we have two natures: a physical nature and a spiritual nature. The argument over whether Jesus is our substitute or our example is really quite unnecessary because He was both! The important thing to understand is what He is in which nature.
Please test the following statements drawn from the table above.

In life, physically speaking, Jesus is our example. We are to live our lives just as He did, by explicit obedience to our Heavenly Father.
In death, physically speaking, Jesus is our substitute. He died the second death for us if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
In life, physically speaking, Jesus is our substitute. Jesus wants to occupy the throne room of our life, in our place.
In death, spiritually speaking, Jesus is our example. We must die spiritually (so we can be spiritually born again) before He can reign in our life.
This is Gospel truth! To say that Jesus is one and not the other is to split the Gospel. One of the greatest problems in God's church at large is most people are going around promoting half of the Gospel and saying they have the full Gospel.

Those who recognize that the law has not been done away can usually point out the end result of saying that Christ is only our substitute. If Jesus lived by His own God-power as our substitute then there is no reason for us to live holy. We need then to only live as we please, accepting Him, and we're in. I believe the term for this kind of thinking is "cheap grace." On the other hand, to say that Jesus is only our example leads to an extreme in the other ditch. If we say that Jesus came just as we arrive, in a total sinful nature, then we must somehow live a righteous life by only "doing" as He did. Test: Did Jesus need spiritual rebirth as we realize we do? If not, then He didn't seek spiritual rebirth. If we follow that example (not needing and seeking spiritual rebirth) we are stuck in a hopeless, miserable state. This is called legalism.
When we put the two halves of the Gospel back together in Christ, a most beautiful picture emerges. Jesus did come in the fallen, sinful, physical nature of man after four thousand years of the ravages of sin. But He also had the unfallen, righteous, spiritual nature of man, that Adam had prior to his fall. It was in these natures that He passed over the same ground upon which Adam fell yet without falling to sin. It is only by grasping the full Gospel that we can become righteous! What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord!

The Power of One to One Evangelism

Have you ever wondered what it takes to give the gospel to the whole world and how long that might take to be accomplished? Let's look at some figures and see if we can get an idea.


The human population of planet Earth is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 billion people. That is probably the highest number to ever be alive at one time, for sure, the highest since Jesus walked the Earth. Jesus said that the gospel would be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before the end of the reign of sin. I grew up with the idea that it was our job to co-operate with God to get the gospel out so Jesus could return. Now that concept may or may not be correct, but a nagging problem is still with us. Jesus has still not returned, neither has every person heard the real gospel.


One reason for the problem I've just mentioned, is perhaps that the majority of Christians don't know what the gospel is, and that shows in their willingness to let a few evangelists do their work for them. This writing is not about what the gospel is or even what our duty consists of, but rather the astounding mathematical potential of one to one evangelism.


I will start with myself, for I need to apply this simple math just as we all do. If I were to share Christ's gospel with one other person successfully every week on a continual basis and everyone with whom I shared were to do likewise, and in turn everyone with whom they shared and so on; each week that went by the number of one to one evangelists would double. It is hard to believe but somewhere in the 32nd week all the people on earth would have heard the gospel.


Now I know, that everyone on Earth is not going to accept the gospel, so that will never happen just that way, but look at the potential! You can figure any time frame you want, such as one person a week, month, year, or decade, and we still have failed miserably at the gospel commission. Whether it be 32 weeks, 32 months, 32 years, or 320 years it still doesn't add up to the approximately 2000 years since Jesus gave us our marching orders.


I don't want to go into a negative tailspin here but rather realize the short time God intended for the work to take. If we will remember that God must do His work through us and then ask Him to do it, making ourselves available for His use, He can make the math I've just mentioned look like sand box arithmetic.


The Gospel will be given, and that very soon! The question is, are we willing to be a part of it? If you are not sure what the gospel is, I challenge you to ask God to teach you, make yourself available for His use, and pick a goal, whether it be a soul a day, week, month or year. Then watch God's math explode!

The 7 Seals of Revelation

The study of the seals has brought many interpretations, but I have found as with the trumpets they do not meet the specifications of a fulfillment of the prophecy. Many believe that the seals occurred sometime in the past. For there to be a fulfillment there must be a beginning and ending point of the apocalyptic prophecy. All the specifications must be met and they must occur in chronological order. And as with any apocalyptic prophecy it can only be fulfilled once.

The Father wrote a book before He created humans or angels. This book contained all the names of anyone who would ever live and all the things that would ever happen. He then sealed it with seven seals. As each of these seals are broken it reveals more about Jesus and this revealing is what the book of Revelation is all about. As each of the seals are broken certain events correspond on the earth. These events help us to pinpoint where we are in time.
The first 3 of the seven seals are causes. Webster's dictionary gives the definition: one that produces an effect, result or consequence. The next 3 seals are the effects or the results of these causes.
The 1st Seal

And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2

Who are these 4 living creatures. We see a description of them in Revelation 4:6-11 These creatures have omnivision, they can see everything in God's universe. One is described like a lion, one like an ox, and one had a face like a man and the last was like a flying eagle. These faces represent characteristics that were appreciated in John's day. The lion is unchallenged with authority. He is the king of beasts. The ox had great value and was full of strength. The man is a free will moral being, and the eagle has wisdom, he is silent and swift but he can be deadly when it is necessary. These creatures day and night say, " Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, The Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." These creatures are God's senior angels and they see to it that all God's orders are carried out.
Zechariah saw these same colored horses. …….. "These are the four spirits that are of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of the earth. Zechariah 6:5 And in Zechariah 1:10 …… "these are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." In Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 you can find detailed studies of these four creatures.
The rider of the white horse goes out to conquer, but he does not conquer anything at the time of the opening of this seal. The 1st seal represents the knowledge that Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not the church. The timing of this seal was shortly after 1798. For 1,260 years the Roman Catholic church (little horn power) had claimed that salvation, the power of life and death came through the church. The little horn power was brought down. History proves that this world power was the Church of Rome. When Jesus opened this seal a revival message went throughout the world that Salvation came by faith through Him and this event on earth was called the "great awakening" during the 19th century in America and Europe. Never has there been such a spiritual revival. The effect of the mission of this angel is not completed until the 6th seal, the effects of the seals are cumulative.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except himself. And is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16 Jesus returns with all of heaven with Him !
How do we know when these seals began to open? The Bible answers our question.

"I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, And the books were opened. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn (little horn power) was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beast, their dominion was taken away, but and extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time (In other words their descendents would remain.). I kept looking in the night visions And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man (Jesus) was coming, And he came up to the Ancient of Days (the Father) And was presented before Him, And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations , and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away. And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9-14 We see the Father take His seat in the heavenly court room and Jesus is given dominion, glory and a kingdom and subjects.

"As I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the Kingdom. Daniel 7:21-22 The horn power is the church of Rome, the first Christian church, who persecuted the saints for 1,260 years Daniel 7:25 And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alteration in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. A time is one year, times is 2 years and a half time is ½ year equals 1,260. A day for a year principle applies here so we are dealing with 1,260 years. We see that God declared a restraining order against the little horn (Church of Rome) in favor of the saints. The timing is shortly after 1798 when the little horn power was brought to its end. The deadly wound was inflicted upon the Papacy when Napoleon captured the pope in February 1798.
The 2nd Seal

And when He broke the 2nd seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword (the Word) was given to him. Revelation 6:3-4

The Bible must interpret itself. The sword that this rider carries is the "Word of God". In Jesus' messages to the churches:

'Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:16 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

When God removed Rome's authority the gospel commission was given to the Protestants (protestors.) Bible Societies were formed and Bibles were printed and distributed all over Europe and America. The work of this angel was to release the Word of God. The people of the world began to hear about the Salvation of Jesus. Bible's, the Word, had been kept from them during the dark ages, (1,260 years). It is said that over 50 million people were killed by the early church. From the work of this angel the Bible Societies grew all over America and Europe. Never has the gospel spread so far and fast as in the middle of the 19th century. The Word was finally available to all those from whom it had been withheld. This cause will be the source of a great war under the 5th seal.

The 3rd Seal

And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come". And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it has a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, " A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." Revelation 6:5-6

We see this rider go out with a pair of scales in his hand. Even in our own judicial system, scales represent judgment. This rider went out to carry a message so that the people of earth might understand what Jesus was doing in heaven, for He had began to judge the dead and the year is 1844. Many still do not understand the pre-advent judgment, in fact most have not even heard of it or if they have, they rejected it because of an incomplete understanding. It is kind of like throwing the baby out with the bath water. In my own background in the church, if it is different then we don't believe it, and then it is a cult and we reject anything new as if God can't reveal anything new. Yet the books of Daniel and Revelation are only now being understood. We now have history behind us so that we can see exactly where we are in God's plan as new truth's unfold.
It is helpful if you will study the sanctuary service in order to better understand what Jesus is doing in heaven, for He is now our High Priest. The sanctuary service on earth was a model of what was going on in heaven. God has not left us to our own imaginations
The idea of a preadvent judgment is hard for some to accept. But think about it. When Jesus returns the Bible tells us the dead in Christ rise first and those who are alive will meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 So the records of the dead have to have been examined before the 2nd coming. The differences in the wicked and the righteous have been determined, otherwise we would see the wicked headed straight for heaven.


We know that Jesus received the Book of Life in 1798 and began opening the first seals. We also saw in Daniel 7:9-10 a heavenly court scene and that the books were opened. These books were the books of deeds or records. These books contain every thing that we do or say and every opportunity that we have had to come to Christ. God is fair in His judgment and every thing that we know or do not know is taken in consideration. All this is recorded by the recording angels. We are judged from these records as to whether we will receive everlasting life or death. We are judged by Jesus Christ Himself. It is important to realize that we are not judged from the Book of Life. The seventh seal will not be removed until after the 1,000 years of Revelation 20. What Daniel was witnessing was the judgment. This process began in 1844. Jesus began to investigate the records of the dead but, the living will judge themselves as to whether they take the mark in order to survive or live by faith in Jesus.
An interesting point is when Jesus was on earth He cleansed the earthly temple. It took 46 years to build this temple. It also took 46 years to prepare the way for understanding the pre advent message, 1798-1844. Just a little food for thought.
So how do we arrive at 1844.

In Daniel 8:14: And he said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings (years) ; then the holy place will be properly restored (cleansed)." Now Daniel wanted to understand this vision and he was answered by Gabriel, ………"Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end. Daniel 8:17 We see in these verses that it pertains to the end times. We also see the process begins after the 2,300 years. The 2,300 years began with the decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem in 457 BC and ended in 1844. Actually we can see that 2300 - 457 would be 1843, but there is no year 0 to span BC to AD so 1843 + 1 = 1844. Every sin is recorded in heaven's sanctuary just as the sins of Israel were recorded on the horns of the altar in the earthly sanctuary. On the Day of Atonement these sins were removed and the sanctuary was cleansed. In 1844 Jesus began this process in heaven and He began to examine the books of record.
Is there an event on the earth in 1844. Yes. This year certainly did not go by unnoticed. God raised up groups of people in America and Europe who had prophetic understanding about the 2,300 days in Daniel 8:14. One of these was William Miller a Baptist preacher, but Miller thought the cleansing was that of the earth and that the 2nd coming would occur when the 2,300 days expired. .Many people in many denominations believed that Jesus was about to return. There was a great revival. The followers of Miller became known as the Millerites. When Jesus did not return the Millerite revival died. But the understanding of the 2,300 days continues to unfold.

Those who built the sanctuary in Solomon's day were paid with wheat and barley (2 Chronicles 2:10, 15). Those who first tried to build the understanding of heavens sanctuary are promised wages. Those who first carried this message believed that most of Revelation was fulfilled. They did not carry a complete message as they did not have full understanding but, God will give them a full reward for their services. There is also a warning in this seal. Don't harm the oil or wine. The oil represents the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4), the wine symbolizes doctrine or teaching. (Revelation 17:2) Receive the Holy Spirit, don't reject this teaching of the ministry of Jesus. New truths continue to unfold in prophecy as we come closer to it's fulfillment. We need to be open to the Spirit so He can reveal these deep things of God.


The 4th seal

And when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying,, "Come." And I looked , and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8

We see this rider go out and he brings death and Hades meaning the grave with him. The opening of this seal brings devastation upon the earth with these four judgments of God, sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. Twenty-five percent of the people of earth will die during these judgments.
The fourth seal is chronologically the next to be opened. To those claiming that these seals were all opened in the past, where in history can we find that ¼ of earth's population has died from these judgments. We are not speaking of ¼ of an area but of the earth.

God has used these four judgments before when man has filled his cup of iniquity.
Ezekiel 14:13 "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it, and cut off from it both man and beast….

15 "If I were to cause wild beast to pass through the land, they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts…

17 "Or I should bring a sward on that country and say, 'Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,……

19 "Or if I should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it, to cut off man and beast from it…..

21 For thus says the Lord God, " How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beast, and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

22 " Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come froth to you and you will see their conduct and actions; them you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it.

23 "Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done in vain whatever I did to it," declares the Lord God.

We also see where God used these judgments in Deuteronomy 32 and Leviticus 26.

For those who claim the seals have already been broken, this one seal proves that they have not. When in the history of this world has ¼ of the world been killed. This does not say one area but ¼ of the whole earth by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts.
This seal is the next to open. Man is so busy all the time that He has forgotten his Creator. God is going to get his attention and His wrath is going to be poured out on this earth. Many will be ready to hear the gospel when all the props are knocked out. Everything we put our faith in, all the material things that we worship are gone. God has people everywhere and He will reveal His truths through His servants during this times. Many will come to Christ upon hearing truth with all man's traditions removed.



The 5th seal

And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also. Revelation 6:9-10

There will be many martyrs during the 5th seal because of the Word of God. Satan himself will be on the earth claiming to be God and many will believe him because of the miracles he performs. God's people will be faithfully witnessing, true to their faith. They would rather die than accept the mark. With the pressure on God's people they will shine and those who claim to be His and are not will be exposed. They will be no more straddling the fence, no more pretense.


The 6th Seal

And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb; for the great day of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has comp and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17

The opening of the 6th seal brings Christ's return for His people, but notice too that others come with Him. Just as the work of the 1st seal began on a white horse it's conclusion brings our Lord and Savior to our rescue on a white horse. Many do not realize that Christ does not return for us alone. God Himself comes with Him along with all the angels in heaven. What a sight!

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and he has a name written upo0n Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God.. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and he will rule them with f rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Revelation 19:11-15




The 7th Seal

And when he broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1

There is only one place in the Bible that tells us when the 7th seal is opened and the contents of the Book of Life are revealed. Jesus opens the 7th seal at the end of the 1,000 years. Everyone who has ever lived will be alive at the same time. Can you imagine this scene.

The rest of the dead ( the wicked) did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6

Verse 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Verse 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I pray that I will see each of you in heaven for that 1,000 years. It will be great getting to know you!