God Saves

 Judges 6:1, "Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So, the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years." consider that the Lord did not set the seven years as a set time for the Israelites, but it took seven years for the Israelites to call out to Jesus. He could have saved them in one day or one month, or even one year it they had just called out to Him. We humans tend to make matters worse for ourselves, thinking we can handle things on our own. 

Judges 6:6, "So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord."

Philippians 1:6, "Being confident in this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Romans 10:13, "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." This is an unconditional promise that no matter where you are or what you have done, God will save.

Psalm 510:15, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify God."

Psalm 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles." We are righteous because of Jesus.

Psalm 66:18,19."If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly, God has heard me; He attended to the voice of my prayer." God is merciful, not because we are worthy of His mercy, but because He values us. Likewise, He desires us to be merciful to others who don't deserve it.

Psalm 18:6, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears."

God's waiting for us to call on Him and let Him know we can't handle it anymore. We prolong our suffering by not going to Him. God allows things in our lives, so our desires turn to Him. He wants to save and doesn't throw people away.

So, my question is what is holding you back? Jesus desires a relationship with you. He is interested in your story. He was interested in the woman who touched His garment.

God Bless You always, Sherry

Revelation 22, Heaven is For God's People

 

Revelation 22- Heaven is For God’s People

The river of life courses through it. Clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of Go and of the lamb. The tree of life grows there. In the middle of the street, and on either side of the river was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits. Heaven is for God’s people. Those who have accepted Christ as Savior. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall sere Him. Those who reject or neglect faith in Jesus will never see Heaven. That’s unfortunate because Jesus died for the whole world. He is the only means of forgiveness and salvation, for He alone died on the cross for the sins of the world. And He alone was raised from the dead as a testimony of God’s forgiveness. One of the reasons Christians are so driven to share their faith with others is that they do not want anyone to miss God’s wonderful plan for eternal life in Heaven. Only those individuals’ who have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf, committing their past sins, their present life, and their eternal future to Jesus, will experience heaven. The time is near. We do not know when Christ will return to take His people with Him, but we do know that He will come. As we await His return, we must continue to share our faith with others, hoping to bring them with us to heaven. What a glorious future awaits us! We can excitedly say with John, “Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20”.

 

Other passages to read about eternal life are:

Job 19:25,26

Luke 10:20

John 3:16; 5:24; 11:23,24; 17:1-3

I Corinthians 15:12::12-57

I John 5:11-13

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible

 

 

As you can see we are at the end of the Books of the Bible. Please go back and reread my blogs to further understand God’s word. Be sure to set your Bible passage next to the blog so that you will get a greater understanding of what God has said. It has been a pleasure to study God’s Word and can share it with my readers. May God Bless everyone who has shared in this journey. Sherry Southard.

 

Revelation 21, Eternal Life in Heaven

 

Revelation 21 – Eternal Life in Heaven

It is certain that we all want to live a life in a better world. The only way we can accomplish that is if we live in obedience to the instructions given in the Bible. We remember what the Bible described as the garden of Eden. It was a place of beauty, plenty and peace for both humans and animals. Heaven will be even better. It is indescribable and yet the imagination of all of us. All pain, sorrow, and death will pass away. Everything will be perfect, straight from the hand of God. He promises to “make all things new.” Believers will be given heavenly bodies and live with God in heaven forever. When Jesus lived on earth, He called heaven his Father's house. Heaven is a place where God lives, where his angels dwell, and where his people will spend eternity. John 14:1-3 says “In my Father's house are many mansions; If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; That where I am, there you may be also.” We have the promise from Jesus that he will take us to his Father's house. Heaven will be a place of eternal joy. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain. It is filled with the glory of God. God is heaven's focal point. For the glory of God will shine in it and will be a light to all who live there.

1. There will be a total absence of sin.

2. The new Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven.

3. There will be traffic between the new Jerusalem and the earth.

4. There will be no sun to give life, for God himself will supply it.

5. There is no night there because we will not need to rest.

6. There will no longer be sea on the earth. Fruit and vegetation will be our food.

7. The presence of Christ and God, together with the throne of God will be made visible for all the new creation.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Revelation 20, 1,000 Years Millenium

 

Revelation 20 – 1,000 Years Millenium

While satan roams the earth there can be no Millennium which means 1000 years. It starts out with an Angel taking hold of satan and throws him into the bottomless pit. This is not the lake of fire. To recap: the first resurrection started with Christ’s resurrection, followed by the rapture of His church more than 1900 years later. At the end of the tribulation those that were martyred and those that did not take the mark of the beast and the Old Testament Saints will reign on earth with Christ for 1000 years. The church which is the bride of Christ will live in the new Jerusalem. These Saints will be able to travel back and forth from heaven to earth. There will be multitudes of people still in their earthly bodies and some will be born during the Millennium. These people haven't died but will mingle with the heavenly bodies of people that have died. During the 1000 years people will live under ideal conditions. There will be plenty of food, no diseases, the curse of sin will be removed from the earth. Christ will rule the world with a rod of iron. It will be His way or else. At the end of the thousand years satan will be let loose from the bottomless pit and those who get tired of being told what to do will turn against God and follow the great deceiver, satan. This will be man's final rebellion, the end of man's disobedience to God. Nothing but the final judgment remains.

Contrary to popular belief, satan is not in hell today. He is the one who is in control of the world, limited only by God. In the tribulation, he will have full reign for a while. As we saw he is not the first to be cast into hell the Anti-Christ and the false prophet preceded him by 1000 years. The second resurrection is where the lost is raised from the dead to be given a chance to state their case as to why they should go to heaven. No one will be saved by their works.

In this heavenly courtroom, Christ himself is the judge. Everyone, small and great, rich and poor, the notorious and the reputable will stand without excuse before their maker. The only thing that will matter is whether one's name is written in the book of life. That book has no misprints, admissions, or mistakes. No person can blame anyone else if their name is missing; and they can take no credit if their name is included. Each person can be sure that their name is written in the book by trusting Christ today. Our judgment will be as a child of God at the judgment seat of Christ to reward us. All the lost will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. It is this eternal separation from God. When the lost dies today, they go to hell, they will be raised to face this judgment. When the saved dies today, they go to paradise and then to heaven with Christ on to the new Jerusalem.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Revelation 19, The Coming of Christ

 

Revelation 19– The Coming of Christ

We start with a chorus of elders, the church, Angels and all of God's children including those elect that were left behind. They sing “Hallelujah” that appears four times in the 1st 6 verses. It is the first time it is used in the New Testament. It is reserved for the final victory. It is an expression of praise as the final phase of salvation is coming to pass. The earth will be released from the bondage of sin. In the meantime, it groans. How many of us groan? It's all right to groan with the earth now but be prepared for the hallelujahs to come when we won't groan anymore. Because the devil's church made martyrs of God's people, God is true and righteous in his judgments. This is a time when God takes vengeance on all who hurt His children. This is the time when all those He had called forth will become the bride of Christ. It is a time when Jesus prepares to take control of the world. All the body of believers from the Pentecost to the rapture will be presented to Christ as his bride for marriage. We will for once and all times really get to know Christ for the first time. All the righteous acts we did in the name of Jesus will be our wedding gown and will be our reward in heaven. We have no right to heaven and would not go there except for the righteousness of Christ and the fact that we belong to Him. This marriage of the lamb will take place in heaven, but the marriage supper will take place on earth. This will be a 1000-year honeymoon for both the Israelites and the gentiles who enter the Millennium. The Angels voice says “praise God” and says that “these are the true words of God.” Then John sees the heavens open, and Christ comes on a White Horse which is an animal of warfare. While Jesus lived on earth, he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This is the animal for kings and for peace. When He raptures His people up it will be in the twinkling of an eye. Now after the great tribulation He will exit heaven on a white horse to execute final judgment on satan, demons and his followers. He will come to judge and make war “with eyes a flame of fire. His clothing is sprinkled with blood because He is exercising the fierceness and wrath of God. He will rule the world with a rod of iron. Then an Angel announces the end of the Armageddon war and sends the flesh-eating birds to eat till they are full. While there are eating, the anti-Christ, the false prophet and all those who took the mark of the beast were gathered to fight against Christ. What a futile thing to do! At the word of Christ, he sends them all to hell. This is the sword that comes from his mouth. Hebrews 4:12. God created the earth with a spoken word and now His word destroys the wicked from the world.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Revelation 18, The Fall of Babylon

 

Revelation 18 – The Fall of Babylon

The commercial Babylon is loved by the Kings and the political Babylon will be destroyed by the judgment of God. This will be accomplished at the second coming of Christ. John says “after these things” meaning, after the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 persons and seven bowls of wrath comes another Angel who is superior to the other angels. He is a messenger of God with authority and his presence lightens the earth with glory. He announces that Babylon has fallen. It is the headquarters for demons and a place of rebellion through the years. They have combined business and government together and denied God's authority. Another voice spoke and it was the voice of the Son of God. He is calling his people out of the world before judgment comes. God has always told us to separate ourselves from the sinful world. 1 Cor. 11: 31-32 and 1John 1:9. Babylon has a long history of many sins, and God kept a record. It is one of the oldest cities in the history of mankind and except for Jerusalem it is the most mentioned city in the Bible. In the end, judgment will come upon the city like a flood. They will get what they dealt out. Sort of like the saying “what goes around comes around.” This godless city was characterized by luxury, arrogance, pride, sin and self-deception. In one day, God's judgment will hit the city with death, mourning and famine and end in fire. Once everyone sees the smoke coming from Babylon there will be a great wailing around the world. Remember by this time, Babylon has become the capital of the world. It will be so much worse than a government shutdown. Everything that was, will be gone in the fire. All the riches, clothes, food, autos, etc. will be gone. While the earth is mourning their loss, heaven is rejoicing. The Saints prayed for this and the prophets predicted it. The angel’s final act is to throw the burnt Babylon into the sea, it is no more. There will be no more music, crafts, marriages, etc. all because God's people were murdered here.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Revelation 17, The Woman

 

Revelation 17 – The Woman

John is talking directly to one of the angels who had poured out one of the bowls. He takes John in spirit to see the judgment of the woman who sits upon many waters. This harlot is the false church, the ones who took the mark of the beast. They claimed to be rich in goods and in need of nothing. There are those who never trusted in Christ as their savior. The many waters are masses of peoples and nations. This church will control the world. This will be more dangerous than any political or other movement. It will have the world under the influence of the wild beast, which is the anti-Christ. Then the Angel carried John into the wilderness. This is both Babylon and Rome. The woman is a city, and the city is Rome, the religious capital of the world. The seven heads are 7 mountains which Rome sits. Full of names and blasphemies reveals how far religion has departed from Christ. Purple and scarlet were the main colors in the Roman Empire. The emperor's robes were purple and Roman Catholic Catholicism wore scarlet. Gilded with gold shows it is pretty in outward appearance and on the inside is a fake gospel and a failing system. On her head is her name, Mystery Babylon. It is a mystery to John because he did not know of this false church until the angel showed him. Babylon is known for false religion. Therefore, she is known as the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth. Today sex and false religion are intermingled. Those who have not kept their bodies pure for marriage and stands before an altar before God to make their vows was and is an abomination to God. Drunken with wine speaks of Babylon who persecuted God's people. It was Babylon who put Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace. The Angel tells John of the wild beast and the past history of the Roman Empire which today has fallen apart and cannot be put together until the anti-Christ comes and succeeds but only for a short time. Then he and the Roman Empire will go to Hades upon the return of Christ. Among those are 7 kings who are named by John Vernon McGee in his commentary as Julius Caesar-assassinated Tiberius-poisoned or smothered. Caligula-assassinated. Claudius-poisoned. Nero committed suicide. These 5 kings along with the Antichrist who was the 6^th, came out of the abyss (Hades) with satan who is the 7th to come to earth to fight against Christ. These seven will destroy Babylon and the Roman Empire with fire so that God's word will be fulfilled. We as Christians should have thankfulness in our hearts that we will be spared this period and still have concern for those who will be faced with it.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.