Posted by: missionventureministries | June 10, 2020

HOW TO INTERACT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE – Romans 12:18

When Jesus Christ lived as a human on earth, He had to deal with many difficult people. But Christ dealt with these difficult people in the right way. His examples, along with other instructions in God’s Word, teach us how to handle those who cause strife. 

As Christians we should follow Jesus’ example and try to get along with people around us. Romans 12:18 tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” This verse does not say it will always be possible, but we should at least try. 

God wants us to be peacemakers. By striving toward peace and not conflict, we can handle difficult people. Even difficult people like to be treated well, and that’s why treating them with the respect as we want to be treated, helps towards making peace. And learning more about God’s commandments will help us with our relationships with all kinds of people. 

No matter where we are in life, chances are we have regular contact with difficult people. They could be customers, co-workers, our boss, neighbors, acquaintances, church members, or even strangers. No matter who they are, when someone in our life becomes hyper-critical or spiteful or surly, we should take time to pray and ask God to help us in the given situation. 

We read in the Bible that Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but by being human that can be tough some times. As some said, “How can I demonstrate love to someone who is sending my blood pressure through the roof? Fortunately, when we study the Bible it will give us practical instructions on how to achieve something that at times seems impossible. 

 Here are a few principles, taken from the New Testament, for dealing with difficult people: 

  • James 3:1-12 teaches us how to tame our tongue, because words that explode from our mouth in moments of anger or frustration are rarely helpful. Instead, they generally do great damage. Therefore, we need to take a deep breath, get control, and take time out for a few minutes to cool off and ask the Lord for help. Keep in mind, that the same tongue that speaks words of division can also speak words of reconciliation. Instead of allowing our tongue to speak in a way that we will regret, we need to use it to transform the moment into something that will honor the Lord. 
  • In the book of Philippians, Paul gave a glimpse into some dysfunction inside of the early church. Apparently, a group of Christian teachers did not like Paul, and they used his imprisonment as an opportunity to simultaneously slander his reputation and advance their ministry. Paul was obviously not happy to see this, but he kept his eyes on something bigger. While these preachers criticized Paul, they continued to preach the Gospel. In light of that, Paul wrote, “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18). 
  • Matthew 5:43-48 tells us to love your enemies; and in order to really focus on loving others, we have to constantly be aware of how much Jesus loves us by how He laid His life down for us on the cross. When we understand and are thankful for what He did for us, we can express the love needed to plant the seed of peace and harmony into a difficult person’s heart. 
  • We need to watch out for pride and instead imitate Christ’s humility. If we think about it, we are the only ones that can control conflict with others. We cannot control others but we can control our attitude. That is why Paul writes to the Philippian church, suggesting that the key to unity is humility. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5). 
  • God calls us to be channels of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. When we understand what Christ did for us, we should do the same for others. As Jesus shows compassion for us, we must show the same to others. He grants us mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. Should we not do the same? As Paul said to the Philippians, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2). 

In Romans 5:8-10, Paul reminded the Romans that while they were enemies of God, Christ died for them. He loved His enemies. He prayed for those who persecuted Him. He demonstrated restraint and mercy, and in doing so, gave us an example to follow as we deal with those difficult people in our own life. 

We need to be patient and kind, remembering that God alone is the one who changes hearts. 

Paul gave Timothy a wonderful teaching which we should also follow: the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). 

If we are willing to surrender our right to be angry and our right to be “right”, we can diffuse any difficult situation . . . and with faith and obedience we can transform it for good. 

We should never treat someone in a way we would not want to be treated. Just because someone mistreats us, we have no right to mistreat them. God says vengeance is Mine (Romans 12:19), because He alone can carry out righteous justice. In fact, when we overcome evil with good, it makes a positive impression on those who mistreat us! 

Remember, we can’t change people; only God can. What we can do, by God’s grace, is cultivate a kind and gentle heart that is ready to listen, able to teach, quick to forgive, and prepared to direct difficult people to the Savior.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | June 3, 2020

SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND – Isaiah 55:6-7

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7) 

Our heavenly Father cares for us and loves us. He wants us to seek Him and draw near to Him with confidence and faith.

Not seeking and failing to call upon the Lord while He is near, means we miss the opportunity to get to know our awesome God and miss out on the blessings He promises. The writer of Hebrews tells us that, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, (11:6). 

Isaiah impresses the need for repentance among God’s people. Repentance is turning around from doing things our own rebellious way, and turning to God to do it His way. It clearly means forsaking our own manner, because the Lord’s restoration work is through repentance.  

We need to understand that the battleground for a righteous walk with the Lord is often found in our minds and in our thoughts. Just as Paul wrote: “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). 

Paul also stated that we are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). 

When anyone turns to the Lord and forsakes their sinful way and thoughts, the Lord will have mercy on them and will pardon then. Peter writes: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

If you are being drawn to seeking God that is the work of the Holy Spirit because as Scripture tells us: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:8-9). 

To become a God fearing person takes more than external behaviors; it is the continual seeking after God’s heart (Isaiah 55:6-7). To seek and become a godly person refers to having an inward devotion for God that is outwardly displayed. So a godly person is one who has received Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as payment for His own sin and has accepted the righteousness purchased for him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

With God’s Spirit inside their being (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), the seeking person is able to understand the deep things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). They begin to see life differently. Life is no longer about pleasing themselves but about pleasing the Lord (Hebrews 12:28). They realize that they will still stumble as they strive toward holiness (James 3:2), but their goal is to be holy as the Lord is holy (1 Peter 1:16). 

Those who are seeking learn early that their fleshly attempts at holiness only result in pride and failure. They learn that as they surrender their will to the Holy Spirit and rely upon Him for strength to overcome temptation, they can withstand more temptation and accomplish greater eternal goals than they ever thought possible (Philippians 4:13). 

Those seeking the Lord rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help them say “no” to the flesh and “yes” to the Spirit (1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 5:16). And as the person regularly opposes sin, they find that their spirit grows stronger and temptation becomes easier to resist (Hebrews 10:23).

If you want to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you must invite Him into your heart as your personal Savior. As Christ comes into your life your faith grows; and as you repent and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you, He will. And as you submit to Him and ask Him to take total control of your life, He will do it if you allow Him.

And finally when Christ lives in our heart, He expects us to willingly let Him reign, recognizing that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

If you have not already done so, we invite you to receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your life. Let Him be your Savior and cleanse you of your sins. Give Him control of your days while you are still able to do so. Remember that once your life ends, you have sealed your fate; therefore, seek the Lord while He may be found.

If you are ready to turn you life over to God you can talk to the Lord and sincerely tell Him: “Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I accept the fact that Christ died upon the cross to save me. I now open my heart’s door and receive you as my personal Savior. Please forgive me of all my sin. I also receive you as my Lord and willingly give you full control of my life. Thank you for helping me to be the kind of person you want me to be. Guide and direct me from this day forth so that I will serve you faithfully in everything I say, think and do.”

Always remember to seek God with all of your heart, your soul, and your mind!  Put God first in everything and in everything give Him thanks and praise.  Keep your mind on the things of heaven, not on carnal pleasures and lusts; because the Lord is faithful and righteous, never-changing, always the same; loving, kind, merciful, forgiving, and true.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 28, 2020

YOU CAN RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU CHOOSE TO KNOW AND OBEY GOD’S WORD – John 17:3

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) 

In order to truly know God, we must first receive Him into our life as our Lord and Savior. Because, “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). 

There is nothing of greater importance than understanding this truth when it comes to knowing God. Jesus makes it clear that He alone is the way to heaven and to a personal knowledge of God: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). 

As we see, Scriptures was given to us by God so we could know Him; and in order to know Him and be transformed we must read the Word and apply what it says to our lives. 

Every born again believer should have the desire to read Scripture and learn from it. We need to learn to meditate on God’s Word, and not just read the words written there in. 

It is vital that we do not twist God’s Word and commands to try to make a rebellious spirit and sinful lifestyle conform to our desire to receive approval for sin in our life. 

Meditation is the process by which we learn to focus and listen to the Lord through His Word; applying the learned biblical principles to our life, and then watching God work. 

When we do not comprehend, we must ask God to reveal to us what we are reading and clarify for us through His Holy Spirit what we do not understand. 

The Lord has divinely preserved His Word throughout history so that every generation can read, hear, and apply it. However we must understand that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). 

God’s Word gives us wisdom, insight, understanding, and protection from sin and every false direction we might take if we don’t consult with Him first. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path to guide us through life (Psalm 119:105). 

Whatever we choose to put into our mind influences our behavior, and that is exactly what the Scripture will do if we tune our hearts toward it rather than the world. 

When a person trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell and seal us as children of God, empower us to live righteously, and teach us to believe and understand His Word. As we meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit applies its truths to our lives according to our needs, giving us the right perspective and direction for every circumstance we face. 

People without Christ lack God’s guidance and are like a person drifting in the ocean without a compass or map. However, as believers we have access to divine direction for life, because, in meditation we think about what God has said and plead as David did: “Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11). 

Meditation requires time alone with the Lord in His Word and prayer without external distractions; and as we quietly seek to understand the Word, God brings truths and insights to mind that we need to consider before making any decision. 

Jesus is our greatest example. After feeding a multitude of over 5,000, He sent the crowds away, and made His disciples go ahead of Him across the sea, and went up on the mountain by Himself to pray for an extended time as we read in Matthew 14:21-23. 

On another occasion, He rose early in the morning to find a place of solitude in which to pray (Mark 1:35). If the Son of God needed time alone with His Father, we certain do as well. 

When we are troubled we should be wise by taking time to seek the Lord; because, God’s Word calms our hearts, assuring us of His faithfulness, love and sovereignty over our lives. In the process of speaking to us thru His Word, He gives us a sense of peace, confidence and trust. 

When we are weak, we find strength in God’s Word if we let Him guide us instead of the world, because, He knows exactly what we need and will provide it according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). 

Meditation on Scripture reveals aspects of His nature that we may not have seen before. His love in saving sinners, His capacity to forgive those who don’t deserve it, and His care and interest in every detail of our life assure us that He is trustworthy and good. And as our view of the Lord is enlarged, we will realize how dependent we become of Him and how much we need to humble ourselves before Him rather than walk in pride. And our trust in God grows as we learn of His faithfulness and experience it in our life through answered prayer. 

When you read the Bible, do you take time to think about what it says and how God wants you to apply it to your life? If not, why not start now by turning to God’s Word, because “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

One of the first things Jesus instructed believers after His resurrection was, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Christ commissioned us to continue His work here on earth, to encourage people to read His Word and to teach about His atoning death and how to have a relationship with the Father. 

Remember that as long as there are unbelievers, we face the unfinished task of leading them to Christ. We are salt and light on this earth (Matthew 5:13-14), intended to bring God’s flavor and to serve as a shining light to a darkened world. Not only must we read and understand God’s Word, we must apply it obediently and remain faithful (Hebrews 12:1-3). Jesus Himself placed the greatest importance on loving God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37-39). This command is impossible to keep without the commitment to reading and applying His truth revealed in His Word.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 21, 2020

DEVELOPING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

…in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

While life has many challenges, we must not allow persistent and dominant fear and anxiety to destroy our peace of mind; because we can find God’s peace in face of the storms of life. Instead of being overwhelmed with worries, we can receive God’s peace each day. Then we can truly say that the joy of the Lord is our strength! (Nehemiah 8:10). 

As we identify the factors that cause us to be anxious, we must change the way we respond to these stressors. Instead of being overwhelmed we can pray and meditate maintaining a strong relationship with God by starting each day with an attitude of thankfulness. 

There are many things we can be thankful for, and the greatest is God’s love that He grants us every single day. And by having this kind of grateful attitude we experience a more satisfying life. 

Here are some steps we can take to cultivate this attitude of thankfulness. 

  • Spend time each day in thanking and praising God for His goodness.
  • Remind yourself of past blessings and how they have enriched your life.
  • Recognize the things that God has entrusted you with and express appreciation for them.
  • Connect with people who love Christ and have a positive outlook on life.
  • Express thanks to someone each day, text them a short note to bless their day.
  • Try to help others, through volunteer work. This gives us a sense of satisfaction and well-being when we touch the lives of others. 

Get familiarized with God’s Word and help others during difficult times. Here are some Scriptures that we need to be familiar with and should memorize: 

  • Cast all my cares, worries, and anxieties on God because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)
  • When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)
  • Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
  • Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).
  • Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1)
  • The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
  • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
  • The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1)
  • My God’s grace is sufficient for me, and His power is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

We have to trust God at His Word, and when we do we replace fear and anxiety with faith. The Bible tells us that God’s “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). We have to make the choice to believe in God’s Word instead of the situation we are facing; because, believing and standing on God’s Word should be our way of life.

Here are some steps to take to increase our faith.

  • Spend a designated time each day in prayer and meditation on God’s Word to build your faith.
  • Practice the presence of God throughout the day, and talk to Him and seek His counsel because He is your best friend.
  • Spend time thanking and praising God for His goodness even during difficult situations; because, God is well able to meet all our needs.
  • Share with other believers, in an atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement, and our faith will be built up.

No matter what circumstances come into our life, we can always count on God to be with us. Circumstances change, but God’s presence is constant. Psalm 139:7 asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” and then describes how God is with people anywhere they could ever go. 

Therefore, we must always remember that if we obey Him our greatest reason to be grateful is that God is always with us! 

The more we develop an attitude of contentment, the less changing circumstances will affect our emotional stability. Learning to be content – no matter what’s happening in our life – helps us learn to be grateful in any situation because we are acknowledging that God will accomplish good purposes even through the bad circumstances in our life. Just like the apostle Paul wrote: “…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” (Philippians 4:11). 

In other words, no matter what is happening in our life, we can be thankful. The Bible gives us a long list of things we should be thankful for; here are some of them: 

  • That God is good (1 Chronicles 16:34)
  • That His love lasts forever (Psalm 106:1)
  • For God’s amazing grace (Hebrews 4:16)
  • For the wonderful things God does (Psalm 107:8)
  • Because God answers prayers (Psalm 118:21)
  • Because God gives us wisdom and reveals His truth to us (Daniel 2:22-23)
  • For other believers (Philippians 1:3) 

Please remember that thankfulness and trust are bound together. If we are trusting God, we are thankful. If we are not thankful, then we are not trusting God. Therefore, we need to develop a habit of trusting God, especially in trials, and to thank Him for the opportunity to see Him work in our time of need. For that reason we are to, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 14, 2020

WILL YOU BE ASHAMED BEFORE HIM AT HIS COMING? – 1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1 John 2:28) 

Abiding means that we have come to know Jesus through faith in His word (Romans 10:17), and as we trust and obey our Lord and Savior we need not be afraid or ashamed when He returns; because, we have confidence at His coming. 

Many however, will be afraid when Jesus returns, because they have never known Him. And among those who know Him, many will be ashamed when He appears and will become aware that they were living a worldly, unfruitful and undisciplined life and did not abide in Him as they should have and could have. 

There are many that have worked for Christ out of selfish, prideful motives, and if they are truly born again they will be saved, but fire will test the quality of each person’s work. This is what Paul told the Corinthian church, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). 

Verse 15 speaks of those who are “barely saved,” they are the ones who will suffer loss and will be ashamed at His coming. 

The key scriptural prescription for preparing for His coming is to, ‘abide in Him;’ following His example, studying His word and remembering that “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2). The clear teaching is that for believers to appropriate any of God’s promises they must live in unbroken fellowship with God, never acting in self-will but doing only what God directs in His word. They must be totally yielded to the authority of Jesus. 

When we abide in Him, we are ready for Jesus to come at any time. Because everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him (1 John 2:29); and born again means that we have changed our lives from a tendency to sin to a determination to righteousness. We need to understand however, that while we will not achieve perfect righteousness until we are glorified with Jesus; we can practice righteousness right now, as born again Christians. 

Living righteously is a lifelong process of growth in obedience to God’s Word. It does not happen instantly or without setbacks and struggles. But if we are born again, we will be learning to evaluate every thought, motive, and attitude by God’s Word. The fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) will be growing and molding our character; and we will be disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). Of course, all of this is done in dependence on the Holy Spirit, but we must be actively involved in the process by walking by the Spirit, and not gratifying the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). 

Believers are commanded to abide in Him. When we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Paul uses this phrase often to describe our permanent position of identification with Christ and all of the blessings that He bestows on us by His grace (Ephesians 1:3). 

The position of being in Christ comes to us through the new birth, when we are born into God’s family. If you wonder how you can know if you’ve been born again, look for signs of new life. Have you truly trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Have you repented and are you continuing to repent when you sin? Do you love God and the things of God? Is Jesus the center of your attention? These and many more are signs that you have been born again; and if you have been born again, you are in Christ because, the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked (1 John 2:6). 

Please keep in mind that when a person has truly been born again the intense desire of his or her life is to live a holy life that pleases God and honors our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

So, are you ready for the most amazing event in world history; the return of Jesus Christ? Are you abiding in Him? The answer to that question depends on whether you are saved or not. 

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior why not do it right now? Talk to the Lord and tell Him that you want to be His child that you do not want to be ashamed when He returns. Confess all known sin to Him. Repent and accept His gracious forgiveness; and as you do, you will grow in confidence as you anticipate His coming. 

1 John 5:13 tells us, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” God wants us to understand salvation. God wants us to have the confidence of knowing for sure that we are saved. So let us go over the key points of salvation:

(a) We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God (Romans 3:23).

(b) Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished with eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).

(c) Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved. His resurrection proved that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay for our sins.

(d) God grants forgiveness and salvation to all those who place their faith in Jesus – trusting His death as the payment for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1).

That is the message of salvation! If you have truly placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are saved! All of your sins are forgiven, and God promises to never leave you or forsake you (Romans 8:38-39; Matthew 28:20). Remember, your salvation is secure in Jesus Christ (John 10:28-29). If you are trusting in Jesus as your Savior, you can have confidence that you will spend eternity with God in heaven! 

Remember, the key is that if you are truly born again, your life will be transformed by the Holy Spirit who will dwell in you and your deepest desire will be to please God and live a life that honors Him.

Jesus assured His disciples a few days before being crucified: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

And forty days after Jesus’ resurrection the disciples watched the risen Christ ascend bodily into heaven; and while they were watching two angels appeared to them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11); assuring them once more that Jesus will return. 

Jesus is coming again for those who are His. Are you ready for Jesus’ soon return for His saints? We are. Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 7, 2020

ARE YOU READY FOR HIS RETURN? BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR – Matthew 24:36

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) 

With the global corona virus pandemic that has led to governments enacting strict shutdowns across the world, Christians are naturally wondering whether this could be a precursor to the events the apostle John writes about in the Bible’s final book of Revelation, which details a global governance led by a leader called Antichrist, the worldwide tribulation, and the long expected return of Jesus Christ with His raptured saints (Revelation 19:14). 

Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.… for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:42, 44). 

Those who study Bible prophecy are not surprised by the events that have been triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us signs that would precede His second coming, and one of the many signs that we are seeing today is “pestilence” (Luke 21:11). Pestilence is defined as a “deadly or virulent epidemic disease.” The Lord Jesus said the signs will arrive like “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), meaning they will increase in frequency and intensity prior to His return. 

It is true that we have seen devastating plagues and pestilences throughout history, but none of them have had the global impact of Covid-19. Could it be that our sovereign Lord is giving a merciful warning of more devastating pestilences that awaits those who do not seek Him as their Savior? 

During the tribulation, one fourth of the world’s population will perish by plagues (pestilence) and the sword (Revelation 6:8). And more plagues will follow that will kill one third of the remaining world’s population (Revelations 9:18). 

Another one of the prophetic signs is that a global government will arise, that will be ruled by a dictator who will have “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7). And he forces all, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and no one will be able to buy or to sell without having the mark (Revelation 13:16-17). 

This present world-wide pandemic has been a catalyst for globalists to centralize and digitize data on a growing segment of the world’s population. The ultimate goal of the globalist agenda is widespread surveillance and control over people’s lives, including our jobs, our religious activities, our medical care, our travel, and our buying and selling. Historically, we have seen that every serious crisis has brought about new opportunities for government control. This crisis may eventually diminish, but “the government” will never forget how easy it was to take control of our lives. 

The World Health Organization is proposing a cashless society because cash may be spreading the corona virus. To prevent the spread of the disease, they claim we need to use the latest technology to buy and sell. And an invisible quantum dot tattoo implant is now in the works that is anticipated to track who has been tested for and vaccinated against Covid-19 before you can go about your “new normal activities.” 

Countries like Singapore and China are using cell phone-based tools to identify and monitor people who might have been exposed to someone with Covid-19. Google and Apple have partnered to build a Bluetooth-based tracking system that can automatically log people’s interactions. The push for a global government, coupled with the necessary tools for surveillance technology, will one day enable the Antichrist to introduce his mark that will control a global economy. 

Over 180 countries throughout the world have been dealing with the devastating effects of this suspected virus, enforcing lock-downs and stay-at-home orders that have produced angry protests, rising unemployment, and a world wide economic collapse. 

The inflated death count along with all the fear-mongering and misinformation produced by the liberal media is inciting the flames of hysteria and causing growing confusion and hopelessness; and worldwide mandatory vaccinations are being proposed. Doctors are being commanded to report many normal respiratory, complications and other diseases as COVID-19 deaths. 

As we see, the whole world may be being primed for a man to rise up with all the solutions for a new world order of peace and prosperity. The apostle Paul described him as the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, who oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). And, “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). 

Hence, we need to always be ready to stand before the Lord, because as Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour when He will appear, because His appearance will be according to our Sovereign Lord’s prophetic time clock. But, when the “beast” does appear, the whole earth will marvel as they follow him (Revelation 13:3). 

We have seen how God disciplines His people who go astray and how He judges godless nations with pestilence, war and famine. Therefore, the wisest response to God’s judgment has always been repentance, faith and obedience to the one true God and Savior. 

Christians, who have been called out of darkness into the glorious light of our Savior, are not to be troubled or afraid. Our Lord is with us no matter how hopeless the situation or circumstances appear to be. He is sovereign and controls everything in His creation, including Covid-19. 

We do not know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future. Therefore, “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25). 

Satan is waiting his time and he can read God’s Word just like we can. He knows his time to take over the entire earth is getting closer, and he is putting people and actions into place to use after the rapture has taken place. 

So when we hear references to a future global government, universal currency, a single worldwide economic system, a one world religion and the micro chips that are already voluntarily being implanted into people, we should be very alert because these are precursers to what biblical prophecies reveal to us. 

Satan will eventually get 3 ½ years on earth just like Jesus had 3 ½ years during His ministry. But where Jesus brought healing, love and freedom, Satan will bring just the opposite; sickness, hate and bondage. But true Christians will not be here to suffer the wrath of God. 

Keep in mind that while the Holy Spirit, the One who restrains is still present on earth and indwelling believers, Satan does not have complete control over the earth. 

As Bible prophecies teach us, it appears that we are presently living at the very end of the Church Age. And when this dispensation period concludes, there will still be the 7-year tribulation followed by the Millennium, the 1000-year reign of Christ, before the earth is burned up (2 Peter 3:10). Then all things are made new and there will be a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (Revelation 21:1). 

So even though we do not know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return for His bride, which we refer to the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), our focus should be on how we can bring the Gospel to those who so desperately need to hear it. Remember that Paul said that when the last gentile is saved (Romans 11:25), which signifies that the Church will have a predetermined number of members and when that number is reached all true Christians will be removed from this earth. 

Please understand that there will be many, perhaps millions, of Jews and gentiles saved during the Tribulation that did not believe or did not think it was important to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life. And the Holy Spirit is the only one that can accomplish this. Those left behind will have to endure terrible times and many will be martyred for their faith and others will survive to help re-populate the planet during the Millennium. Therefore, being saved before the rapture takes place is a much wiser commitment and decision. 

If you are a true born again believer remember what Jesus said to the church of Philadelphia who was a true church and kept His word: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 3:10). 

God’s word tells us that no true believer will have to go through the tribulation. But we must be always ready, because Jesus is going to call His bride to meet Him in the air during the imminent rapture of the Church, at an hour we do not expect. 

As we see, we should live each day with an eye on that future day when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). And we will be blessed if the Master finds us ready when He comes (Luke 12:37-38).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 30, 2020

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND DEAD? – 1 Corinthians 2:14

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14) 

Scripture gives us a clear understanding of what it means to be spiritually blind and dead. 

A spiritually dead person does not love God and cannot please God (Romans 8:8). If fact, they want to please themselves, not God (Philippians 2:21). Like the Pharisees, they may appear to perform good deeds from an external perspective in that their deeds conform to the letter of the law. However, Jesus told them that the spiritually dead can look nice on the outside but inside be filled with death and everything unclean; and, even though on the outside spiritually dead people appear as righteous on the inside they are full of hypocrisy and wickedness, and He called them blind guides and blind Pharisee! (Matthew 23:24–28). 

Paul told the Ephesians church:  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). 

Here Paul described three marks of those that are spiritually dead. 

  1. They followed the ways of this world. This refers to the world’s immoral lifestyles and godless motives. People who live like the rest of the world cannot be followers of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2). 
  1. They follow the ruler of the kingdom of the air; who is Satan and are those who have not surrendered to God. They are strengthened and energized by the power of evil and live in constant rebellion and opposition to God. 
  1. They are enslaved to “gratifying the cravings of the flesh” (Ephesians 2:3). 

In his letter to Timothy, Paul outlines a great number of distinctive characteristics of those who are spiritually blind and dead: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:2-5). 

When a person is spiritually dead and blind they can’t see Christ because they have hardened their heart and won’t come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Spiritual blindness is the evidence that when biblical truths are being preached to false or carnal Christians, they still find excuses for their sin and rebellion. Jesus stated; “blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Those who are pure in heart will see God working in our world and ruling our world, and they will see God and the Savior through out all of eternity. 

Have you ever wondered why people listen to the Gospel of Christ, but never repent, change and trust in Christ? 

Many times you might feel like saying: “If you really are listening, then pay attention to God’s message.” Don’t you understand that “because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed?  God “will repay each person according to what they have done” (Romans 2:5-6). 

However, the man without the Spirit doesn’t want the things of God because he regards them as foolishness. He can’t understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. It would be wrong to expect the man without Christ to see and value spiritual things, just as it would be impossible to expect a corpse to see the material world. 

As a result the person without Christ rejects as foolish anything that comes from the Spirit of God. Those who have only their human senses will never be able to comprehend the spiritual truths of God’s revelation about sin, salvation, and Christ to His people. It’s unreasonable to expect non-believers to process spiritual issues in the same way as believers. It’s impossible to expect them to have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) when they don’t have the Spirit of God. 

The only way to believe the truths of God, including His plan for salvation through faith in Christ, is for God to communicate those truths through His Holy Spirit, because intellectual knowledge and human reasoning cannot produce faith, they can only share facts. 

A man without Christ is spiritually dead, “they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18). 

To be separated from life in Christ is the same as being dead. However, when we are born again, the spiritual death is reversed. Before salvation, we are dead spiritually, but through Jesus we are made spiritually alive. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, …But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:1; 2:13).

We need to understand that spiritually dead people are also blind and deaf. Just as the Holy Spirit said to Isaiah about his people, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Acts 28:25-27).

Everyone should have the desire to know what it means to be spiritually dead because all mankind born after the fall of Adam and Eve inherited a sin nature and therefore are spiritually dead (Romans 5:12). 

However because, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18). 

In summary, the unbelieving mind is spiritually dead, is hostile toward God and does not and cannot submit to God or please Him. This means that salvation is not a matter of the human will, but rather of God’s imparting new life to those who are spiritually dead (John 1:12-13). This means that salvation is of the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30) and therefore, He gets all the glory (Ephesians 1:12). 

For that reason as you witness and share, pray that God would grant repentance and saving faith to those you are teaching; as Jesus told Nicodemus:  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:19-21). 

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 23, 2020

HOW TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS – Matthew 6:10

Our attitude toward making a decision must be the same as that of Jesus who affirmed to the Father, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) and He taught His disciples to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). 

God reveals His will to us primarily in two ways.

  • First, through His Spirit: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).
  • Second, God reveals His will through His Word: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). 

Therefore, making a solid decision needs to begin by discerning the will of God; because, God delights in revealing His will to those who are eager to follow His precepts, and who put their hope in His unfailing love (Psalm 33:18; Psalm 147:11).   

God sees the complete picture; the past, present, and future of our lives. He teaches and advises us by revealing Himself to us through His Word and by the Holy Spirit; if we are willing to listen and obey. God has made this promise to us: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). 

The key to making solid decision is praying and knowing God’s word instead of following the desires of our own hearts because: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12), and another proverb tell us that: “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15). 

God blesses decisions that He initiates and that line up with His Word: “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness” (Proverbs 4:11). And the Lord blesses decisions that accomplish His purpose and depend on His strength because: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). 

The Lord blesses decisions that reflect His character, that promote justice, kindness and humility: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). 

He blesses those decisions that come from faith in Him because: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). And those decisions that are made that result in His glory: “… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

God promises to give His children wisdom when they ask for it: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). However, the important thing is that, “let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). 

Patience is also important, while waiting for God’s time, because decisions are an act of the will and are influenced by the mind, emotions or both. The decisions we make actually reflect the desires of our heart (Psalm 119:30). Therefore, a key question before making a decision is ‘do I choose to please myself, or do I choose to please the Lord?’ Joshua set the standard for us when he told the Israelites: “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 

Paul wrote: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). 

If you are making any decisions, you should be looking to God’s Word for direction, and taking comfort in the peace which only He can provide, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Ask for wisdom, trust His promises, and He will guide your path: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

There will be times when God’s ways may seem undesirable or unpleasant, when our heart wants to follow our own desires instead of trusting God. But, when we finally learn that God’s will is always for our benefit; and when we place our trust in God, and not in ourselves, we will discover which decisions are pleasing to Him. Therefore, we should obey and exalt the Lord because He delights in the well-being of His servant (Psalm 35:27). 

Remember that part of being protected by God has to do with obeying Him and living in His will. When we don’t do either of those things, we come out from under His covering. We don’t hear His voice telling us which way to go when the Bible tells us that: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17), and “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).  

There are also times when godly people try to warn others, as Paul did and they don’t listen and have to suffer the consequences as we read in Acts 27:10-11 and 20-25. 

Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.” 

The event tells us that they were caught up in a tremendous storm and for many days and the storm continued raging and they finally gave up all hope of being saved. Now, “after they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. 

How many times might a person have been spared from something disastrous if they had only asked God to show them what to do and then obeyed Him? 

Do you need to make a decision? Have you gone to the Word and ask for His guidance through prayer? 

Remember Jesus never did anything before talking to the Father and waiting to hear from Him, because He did not seek to please Himself but the Father who sent Him (John 5:30). 

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3:25

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 16, 2020

When will Ezekiel’s Chapters 38 and 39 prophecies be fulfilled?

We would like to start by stating that since God has only given us some eschatological clues of His future plans regarding the timing of the Gog and Magog war; we are using the passages that are available, to present our point of view.

As a result, this study should never be one that divides the brethren since God is the only one that knows the final outcome of this battle and the time when all these things will take place.

Introduction

About 2,600 years ago Ezekiel unveiled the prophecy the Lord God had given him concerning the future of the nation of Israel.

Recorded in the Book of Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37, the prophet revealed that God would fulfill His promise to re-gather the Jewish people “gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). The Lord had dispersed them, and now would bring them back to the land promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:7; 1 Chronicles 16:17-18; Psalm 105:8-11).

In Ezekiel 37 we see the prophecies of the dry bones coming back to life. Israel did indeed become a nation again on May 14, 1948, after nearly 1900 years since the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D and scattered the Jewish people across the earth.

As we read chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel, history shows the Gog-Magog war is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. And as we study we learn that this war takes place with a massive federation of nations descended from Noah’s sons Japheth and Ham (Genesis 10:2-7), invading Israel.

The nations are from the territories of ancient Rosh, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer and Beth-togarmah (house of Togarmah). Their leader is called “Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.” (Ezekiel 38:2-5); while some translations, translate it as “Gog, the chief prince (or ruler) of Meshech and Tubal.”

The battlefield is on the “mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate” (Ezekiel 38:8). The purpose of the invasion is to “plunder and loot” and destroy the people of Israel (Ezekiel 38:12, Ezekiel 38:16).

The end result of this invasion will shock the world. The invading nations are being maneuvered by God, pulled out of their lands as with “hooks in (their) jaws” (Ezekiel 38:4), so that those nations can accomplish what God wants them to do and feel His “fury and anger (Ezekiel 38:18).

God draws these specific nations to the “mountains of Israel” to “execute judgment upon him (Gog) with plague and bloodshed… torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him” (Ezekiel 38:22).

God’s purpose is to, “magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23).

Through this battle, God declares Himself to the world that He is personally defending Israel.

Who is Gog?

Ezekiel 38:2-3 gives the prophetic name of the leader of this federation of nations: “Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.” Whether Gog is a real name like in 1 Chronicles 5:4 or a title remains to be seen. 

Who are the Nations involved?

Ezekiel 38:1-6 gives the ancient names of the territories that involve the invading nations in the Gog-Magog war: Rosh, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer and Beth-togarmah.

  • Rosh = In Hebrew described as – Head, Chief, Top and due to the text, leader in command of Russia (You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north – Ezekiel 38:15)
  • Magog = Central Asia and Russia
  • Meshech = Turkey, ancient cities of Muschki and Musku in Cilicia and Cappadocia.
  • Tubal = Turkey, ancient city of Tubalu in Cappadocia
  • Persia = Iran
  • Ethiopia = Sudan, ancient Cush, south of Egypt.
  • Put = Somalia
  • Gomer = Some believe it is Germany others believe it is part of the northwestern of Turkey. Only history will tell.
  • Beth-togarmah = Armenia, east of Turkey

As we notice, absent from this list of Middle Eastern nations are those surrounding modern-day Israel, such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Ezekiel 38:13 describes these nations as just observing, for many of them are described as “Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?”

Why these nations are not also actively involved in the Gog-Magog war is not revealed by Scripture.

Who is Rosh?

Ezekiel 39:1-2 claims Rosh to be “from the remotest parts of the north.” No other nation exists more directly north and is more remote than modern-day Russia.

When will this war occur?

The timing is clearly spelled out in Ezekiel’s account as events that must happen to set the stage for the war.

1) The first general timing clue is Ezekiel’s use of the terms “latter years” (Ezekiel 38:8) and “last days” (Ezekiel 38:16).

As prophesied in Ezekiel, the Gog-Magog war must happen in the prophetic scheme of the end times as it relates to the nation of Israel.

We need to understand that never in the history of the Middle East have the nations described in the coalition been united in an attack against Israel.

And, in no time in history has Israel named a valley Hamon-gog (Ezekiel 39:11), nor had a town called Hamonah (Ezekiel 39:16), where the Jews buried the invaders; which only leaves a future timing for this to occur.

2) The second evidence is given in Ezekiel 36 and 37, referring to the re-gathering of the Jewish people back into their homeland. “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24).

As we already stated, Israel did indeed become a nation once again on May 14, 1948, after nearly 1900 years since the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D and scattered the Jewish people across the world.

3) Third we see the economic bountifulness that Israel now has with its revitalized land and newly discovered gas deposits. Israel also has a vast amount of minerals that are worth a fortune in the Dead Sea. Therefore the question in Ezekiel 38:13, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?”

4) The fourth point can be viewed in different ways where Ezekiel 38:11-12 states that, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 

From a Jewish point of view this is how it could be viewed: 

  • I will go up against the land of unwalled villages – this is a good description of the current kibbutzim.
  • I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely – nowhere in the text does it say that Israel will be living in peace. Rather, Israel is merely living in security, which means “protected” (due to its great military powers, air force, etc.), regardless of whether it is during a state of war or peace. 

From this point of view, the invasion can occur at any time, including some time before the Tribulation.

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After much biblical research and analyzing what other theologians had to say, here is what we believe: 

The Gog-Magog war will happen at least 3 ½ years before the Tribulation and the Rapture will occur either before the Gog-Magog war but certainly before the Tribulation.

The rapture does not start the tribulation, but it is the signing of the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27) that begins the tribulation.

Placing the Gog-Magog war at 3 ½  year before the start of the tribulation period, would give Israel the full seven years to burn the weapons from the battle before being forced to flee into the desert during the middle of the tribulation also called “The Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:15-16).

1) With the world in chaos from a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, this could be the time that Russia and its Muslim coalition are drawn to attack Israel.

2) After Gog and his troops fall on the mountains of Israel and are buried in the valley of Hamon-gog; the Muslim world would be in ruins and their faith in Allah shattered from their defeat. The Muslim world would no longer be an impediment for the Jews to rebuild the Temple which the Antichrist will later desecrate (Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

3) With the world in chaos due to the rapture and the Islamic world in ruins from the Gog-Magog war, the remaining world would be clamoring for a savior, anyone that would bring some normalcy back to the world. The Antichrist would be ready for this moment by making a peace treaty with Israel and easily conquering the lands of the once Middle-Eastern Muslim countries, and the Roman Empire could be revived once more.

4) With the Church removed in a pre-tribulation rapture, those left behind would integrate well into the apostate one-world religion that the False Prophet promotes (Revelation 13:11-15). The only true monotheistic religions left to reject the Antichrist would be Judaism and the growing number of Jesus believers that now recognize the truth of what the Bible had been teaching all along; and which the Antichrist seriously persecutes during the second half of the Tribulation. 

5) If the Gog-Magog war happened closer to the mid-point of the tribulation, the question is raised as to why God would rescue Israel so dramatically from the Gog-Magog nations only to hand Israel immediately over to the intense persecution by the Antichrist.

6) The tremendous persecution of the Jews during the second half of the Tribulation would not grant them the freedom to bury the invaders dead bodies for seven months (Ezekiel 39:12) or create a new town named Hamonah (Ezekiel 39:16) unless the Gog-Magog war occurred earlier. 

Other Points of View

Some theologians believe that the Gog-Magog war and the final battle of Armageddon are one and the same.

And these are their reasons:

A) Both the Gog-Magog war (Ezekiel 38-39) and the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:19) are described as taking place in “latter years” (Ezekiel 38:8) and in the “last days” (Ezekiel 38:16).

B) Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20 and Revelation 19:17-18 both describe dead invaders being eaten by birds and wild animals.

However if we take a closer look there are many differences between these two events:

1) The participants in these two battles do not match.

The Gog-Magog war involves the specific nations against Israel (Ezekiel 38:1-6).

The references to Armageddon include the nations of the entire earth against Israel (Zechariah 12:3; 14:2-4; Revelation 19:19-21). 

2) The locations described for the two battles are different.

Ezekiel 38:8 describes the Gog-Magog war taking place on the “mountains of Israel.”

Armageddon takes place in a valley; the Valley of Jezreel by the plain of Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:22; Zechariah 12:11).

Today, the Jezreel Valley is a green, fertile plain and because of its location in the same valley as Megiddo, Jezreel is considered to be a likely spot for the future battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). In fact, the Valley of Megiddo is also called the Valley of Jezreel.

3) The account of the defeat of the invaders has similarities but does not match.

The Gog-Magog invaders are defeated by God who uses “torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur” (Ezekiel 38:22). As well as in-fighting: “I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (Ezekiel 38:21).

The invading nations at Armageddon are defeated by Jesus who uses “a sharp sword” coming from His mouth, meaning mere words are spoken (Revelation 19:15).

4) The leaders of the invasions are not the same.

Gog is the prince and ruler of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:3).

The invading leader at Armageddon is the Beast or Antichrist who controls the whole earth. 

5) The armies find themselves fighting two different opponents.

The Gog-Magog invaders look to conquer a peacefully unsuspecting Israel (Ezekiel 38:11).

The Armageddon invaders and their armies assembled to make war against Him (Jesus) who sat on the horse and against His army (Revelation 19:19).

Final points of view

While similarities exist between the Gog-Magog war and the Armageddon battle of the great day of God, the Almighty (Revelation 16:14); their differences far outweigh their similarities.

Also, placing the Gog-Magog war at the end of the Tribulation violates the first prerequisite that Israel is living in peace, a condition which would be impossible under the intense persecution by the Antichrist and Israel’s subsequent flight into the desert at the start of the great tribulation which takes place during the last 3 ½ years before Jesus returns.

Therefore, placing the timing before the tribulation, but not at the middle, of the tribulation gives Israel the seven months to bury the dead and the seven years to burn the weapons. 

CONCLUSION

Placing the timing of the Gog-Magog war before the beginning of the seven years of tribulation best fulfills these prerequisites, and in our view makes the most logical sense to us.

This is how we see the timeline most likely playing out:

  • The rapture of the church removes the One that is holding back the man of sin. (The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this – (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).
  • The Gog-Magog war destroys the Russian and Muslim influence in the Middle East.
  • The Antichrist comes on the scene, makes a peace covenant with Israel to complete the Revived Roman Empire.
  • Israel spends the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation continuing to burn the weapons.
  • Jesus returns at the end of the seven years of tribulation to defeat His enemies at Armageddon resulting in Israel acknowledging that Jesus is God’s Son.
  • Jesus gathers the people from all over the world for the sheep/goat judgment, which results in only believers entering the Millennial Kingdom.

Only time will tell when the Gog-Magog war will truly take place. But, we believe that the players are already in place and the scene is just about set for this epic battle to be waged in the not-too-distant future.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 10, 2020

Have a Blessed Resurrection Day!

As you reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, may He fill your heart with grateful praise and surround you with His redeeming love that reconciled you to the Father. 

May you live in Christ’s resurrection, knowing death could not consume Him, for when He arose victoriously, He sealed eternity for those who believe, love and obey in Him. 

Have a Blessed Resurrection Day!

 

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Posted in Have a Blessed Resurrection Day! | Tags: ,

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