Celebrating Christmas In The Truth

Please Tell The Truth To The Little Ones Who Believe In Yahushua, Jesus

This commentary is not about whether or not you should observe Christmas. If you are a Christian, it is about celebrating the birth of Christ Yahushua in the truth.

The Truth About Christmas

Holiday Reveal Tuesday: Christmas

Most of us know that celebrating the birth of Yahushua on the 25 of December has a pagan origin. The word Christmas comes from the word "The Mass of Christ" or "Christ's mass" for short. Pope Julius I, in 350 A.D., declared that Christ's birthday was to be celebrated on December 25th. He had good intentions behind his decision. His intent was to make a smooth transition for a gentile to move from a pagan belief to Christianity. It was a follow-up from Constantine The Great, who in 320 A.D. made it mandatory to observe the Sabbath rest on a Sunday.

Sunday is a Roman pagan day for worshipping the sun god. Since Christianity was gaining so much popularity among the Roman citizens, Constantine wanted to be favoured by the majority; he played politics and made a compromise to gain favour from pagan beliefs and the Christian faith. The Gentiles continued to worship their sun god and the Christians, the Son of God, on the same day, Sunday.

Please watch - the origin of the Roman Catholic Church - "Know Your Enemy (Part 23 - Roman Catholicism)"


Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity for personal gain only. The power of emperors was generally based on the accumulation of powers from republican offices and the support of the army. Several other titles and offices were regularly accumulated by Roman emperors, such as Caesar, princeps senatus, consul, and Pontifex Maximus (Pope). Constantine ignored Yahushua’s teaching, which under the Law of Christ, commands Christians not to dispute among themselves on days they should or shouldn't observe.

"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ," Colossians 2:16-17.

Jeremiah 10:1-5 - The Lord and the Idols

Family of Israel, listen to the Lord!  This is what the Lord says:

Don’t live like people from other nations.

Don’t be afraid of special signs in the sky.

The other nations are afraid of what they see in the sky.

But you must not be afraid of them.

The customs of other people are worth nothing.

Their idols are nothing but wood from the forest.

Their idols are made by workers with their chisels.

They make their idols beautiful with silver and gold.

They use hammers and nails to fasten their idols down so that they will not fall over.

The idols of the other nations are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field.

They cannot walk.

 They cannot talk, and people must carry them. So don’t be afraid of their idols.

  They cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you either.

Making Sunday a doctrine (false doctrine) and obligation as a day of worship became unfavourable for Christians and Jews. For Christian's gentile, no specific day was appointed for the get-together. As for Christian Jews, they kept the traditional Sabbath Saturday to assemble. Persecution took altogether a different form for both Jews and Christians who refused to obey. It did favour the Roman citizens who observed their pagan god. It turned for the worse when the pope declared himself the only vicar between man and God. Yahushua died on the cross to redeem our souls and establish a true relationship directly with God the Father.  Please read:"THE CHRISTMAS LIE: It's Bigger Than You Think".

Have a big dose of a reality check... today Christianity is a pot of soup with Yahushua teaching mixed with the pagan observance that the scriptures called the tradition of man. Please watch Occult/Satanic Holidays Exposed! (X-mas, Easter, V-Day, & Halloween)

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ," Colossians 2:8. Compare with Paul teaching relating to Christian's tradition; "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you," 1 Corinthians 11:2. Please view this video from John MacArthur over Christmas.

Now that you know the truth, what are you going to do about it? Christians swim in a pool filled with Satan's lies, and we are drowning in it. We have been lied to, deceived, and manipulated to believe that our faith is strong, yet we are so weak when the trial comes our way. Satan’s lies cause weakness in our faith. To be a pillar, it is to be built on a solid foundation of Jesus's teaching. To discern it is to know the truth. To know more about Satan's lies, please read my article titled "Satan Lies. Is It That Simple To Detect?"

The difference between a pagan holiday and God's appointed festival to the Jews is that God's festivals are full of teachings pertaining to God's plan for man. Pagan holidays are meaningless or are counterfeit to hide God's plan. To understand the meaning of God's festival, I encourage you to read a free online book titled “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done" by Ron Graff and Lambert Dolphin at http://ldolphin.org/kingdom/.

Christmas is not an appointed festival by God. Actually, there is no scripture that supports the observance or that made it mandatory to celebrate Jesus's birthday. Celebrating birthdays is a human tradition. There is absolutely nothing wrong about commemorating someone's birthday. I love it. It is a special day. It is a celebration of our first day of existence. God gives us life, and it should be remembered. The story of the birth of Yahushua was written so that we may remember that God fulfills His promise, which His prophets foretold from one generation to another. To comprehend God's implication to bring this prophecy to pass, I encourage you to listen to this free MP3 bible study by Jack Kelley's title, "Christmas Prophecy" at http://gracethrufaith.com.

Was Jesus Born in December?

Bible scholars agree that Yahushua's birth couldn't have occurred in winter. The shepherds were still out in the field, tending their sheep. Sleeping outdoors all night would have been too cold. It was in the Fall, Autumn. 

If we are to celebrate Jesus's birthday on December 25th, let us celebrate in the truth.

What is celebrating Jesus's birthday in the truth? To know the truth, we must understand the factual truth. We cannot deny the fact that December 25th is a pagan holiday in which Pope Julius 1 in 350 A.D. declared a day to celebrate Christ's birthday. It is what it is. Christians who argue that Christmas Day is all about Yahushua are wrong; it is little about Yahushua’. Anybody who does not consider Christmas as Yahushua's birthday is right. It is two customs observed on the same day. It is what it is. So please, Christians, respect the choice of the secular society. Let us profess our faith, which is Christ's resurrection, and not our day of preference to celebrate Jesus's birthday.

This is for Christians whose desire is to live in the spirit of the Philadelphia church: you have kept Jesus's teaching and have not denied His name. To understand the spirit of the Philadelphia church, please read my commentary titled "The Philadelphia Church" at http://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2012/12/the-philadelphia-church.html.

Now there are Christians who celebrate both customs. The scripture is specific; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon," Matthew 6:24, and “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, he My Father will honour," John 12:26.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that so many Christians (or so-called Christians) live in a lie and teach a lie. The worst part is that they keep saying the same lie year after year and profess that there is nothing wrong with it. What is the lie? Let me give you a hint: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea,” Matthew 18:6. Who are the little ones that Jesus is talking about?

"These little ones who believe in Me" are children who attend Sunday school and are taught that Jesus is the One who listens to them and that they can trust Him. They are encouraged to know Jesus all year round except on Christmas day. Santa is introduced in their early life just because it always has been so.

There are Christians or so-called Christians with a millstone hung around their necks. Year after year, they have been lying to their children and grandchildren. What is worse yet is that they claim that there is nothing wrong with a little lie.

Lies, lies, Satan lies. Santa is a myth, yet is treated as equal to God. The lyric in "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" describes Santa as such: He sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows if you've been bad, are good, so be good for goodness sake. In "Here Comes Santa Claus," it claims that "Santa knows that we're God's little children, that makes everything right."

Is it right to lie? Is it right to lie to little children, especially to children who believe in Yahushua? “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea,” Matthew 18:6

As I mentioned, this commentary is not about celebrating Christmas or not. If you are Christian, it is about celebrating the birth of Christ Yahushua in the truth. Tell your children that the gifts come from mommy and daddy, nanny and poppy, and from Aunt Judy and Uncle Bill. Tell them the truth all year round, especially on Christmas day. Tell them the truth and let go of the millstone hung around your neck.

From Simplicity in the Gospel, which consists of my wife (editor) and I, we pray for the Thy Kingdom Come and that God bless you and your loved ones on Christmas day, forever and beyond. Merry Christmas

Joy To The World

Have You Traded Your Soul? Is It A Done Deal?

Have you sold for power, wealth, an attractive mate, and virtually anything else you ever dreamed of.

It is amazing what I will find on the web now days. Make a google search for "How do you sell your soul to the devil?" and the result is astonishing. There are hundreds of sites!

Have you traded your soul to Satan? Have you signed a contract with Satan? Yes? The truth is... if not saved ... Satan is already your master. So how can Satan buy something that is already his? It is another deception from Satan to have you believe that there is no way out once you traded your soul to him. Satan is a liar and a great deceiver. The truth is that there is a way out. Jesus is the way, John 8:12, John 14:6.

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Satan's lie ... "Once sold, your soul belongs to me!"

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Are you of those in the entertainment industry that has given your souls for the purpose to succeed now in this life? Did you make a pact with Satan to become famous and wealthy? Satan granted your wishes, didn't he? It is easy to recognize you nowadays. You openly show your alliance by displaying a sign of Satan horn with your fingers and one eye gesture. Your lifestyle is all self-centre and self-glorifications. The Bible describes you this way: "But others are selfish and refuse to follow the truth. They follow evil," Romans 2:8. You proudly acknowledge your immoral ways and promote it openly. "These false teachers do whatever they want, and they are so proud of themselves. They are not afraid even to say bad things against the glorious ones," 2 Peter 2:10c. 

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The sad part is that your influence over our youth causes a moral decline in our society. You proclaimed that there is no absolute, no right and no wrong, and encourage them to live the moment now by following their feeling. The bible portrays you as such: "They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them," Romans 1:29-32.

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God is giving you fair warning: you have no part of His kingdom. The danger in selling your soul to Satan is that demons influence your every thought and action. You even fall into the risk of being possessed by a demon or a legion of demons. You believed in Satan's slander, that God wronged him. You believe in Satan's accusation, blaming God for the wrong things that is happening in the world. You believed in Satan's theory of evolutions being another imperfect process from God over His creations. You believe you live in the truth, but you are so far from it. Watch: Satanic world? Did they sell their souls to the devil? illuminati

Ever wonder where those distorted sexual desires you are experiencing come from? You were not born with the wrong sex. It came about because you refused the truth and accepted the lies. Please read my commentary title, "Satan Lies. Is It That Simple To Detect?"   In the commentary, I use this analogy to make my point: ‘I was once in an antique store. There was a table that interested me, so I call out to the storekeeper, “what kind of wood is it made out of?”  He replied, “what kind of wood would you like it to be?” Get the point? You listen only to what suits you, and Satan's lies are what attracted you.

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You consider yourself above God, therefore, deem insignificant to acknowledge the Truth. Therefore, God left you and allowed you to have your own worthless and worldly philosophy. The Apostle Paul explained it this way: "Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women. In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies, they received the punishment for those wrongs, " Romans 1:26-27. There is the truth in a nutshell; you were not born with the wrong sexual orientation, not at all. You were lied to. You followed your own feeling - the lust of the flesh and believed in Satan's lies.

Deep down in your heart, you feel disgusted about yourself. You may have fame and wealth but apprehensive about your future, eternal future. You finally realized that it is not about this life but the afterlife that is important. It is about where do you wont to spend eternity, in hell or in heaven, with Satan or Jesus. However, since you made a pack with Satan you believe that there is no way out of your contract. Yet there is. This is what Satan doesn't want you to know.  Satan's motto, "They must not believe".

You can still be free from Satan's bond. He lied to you, saying that there is no way out. What he doesn't want you to know is that you are either son of God (saved) or son of disobedience. If not saved when you made a pack with Satan nothing changed, you are still not saved. He made you believe that there is no way out of the agreement. Liar, Satan is a master liar. He will say anything to hide the truth. Read Genesis. Satan deceived the woman then Adam. Satan succeeds to have them believe that God was wrong. The result was that they lost their status as the son of God and received the same fatal destiny as Satan, hell for eternity. The good news is that God promised to make it right again. God promised to send His Son (The Word) to pay for the consequences of our sin so that whoever believes in Him may return to the status of son of God, John 3:16.

The truth is that God created you for a purpose and that is to reign with Jesus for eternity in heaven and here on earth. You were made a little bit lower than angels, with a will to make choices and to grow in the knowledge of God's government (righteousness). The earth was created for mankind as a learning environment. The earth is the centre of God's plan. New age teaches that to ascend to a higher plane of existence, you must grow in knowledge and spiritual awareness. New age teaches that you are your own little gods. What a contrast with God's word. God invites you to become the son of God just by believing in His Son Jesus and accepting Him as your new master and Lord. Becoming the son of God doesn't mean you become like God, it means that you are part of His Family. Inasmuch as a king has many princes, there is only one king: there is only one God with a multitude of sons.

By accepting Jesus, He will automatically break the bond you have with Satan. God has given power and authority over all things to Jesus including Satan and his demons, subdued by Jesus' power His blood at the cross. Now is the time to repent and to believe Jesus. Satan will be mad and angry but will be powerless. You will be sealed with the presence of God's Holy Spirit. Your body will become God's, Holy Temple.

You become one with Jesus and nothing can separate you:

"So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? As the Scriptures say,

“For you we are in danger of death all the time.

    People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.”

But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 8:31-39 (ERV).

Satan lied to you even after you traded your soul to him. You always did belong to him, before or after you sold your soul to him. Jesus desire is to break the bond. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:17. Any gain and richess you made through Satan's contract must be left behind Accept the invitation because time is short, Jesus return is imminent.  Please watch this video: Satanist Discovers That Jesus Christ Always Renders Satan Powerless!

Mark of the Beast - Satan's seal of belonging.

There will be a time in a near future when a contract made with Satan will be bond in hell and Jesus will not break it. It is when individuals will accept the Mark of the Beast.

"The second beast also forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark put on their right hand or on their forehead,” Revelation 13:16. "No one could buy or sell without this mark," Revelation 13:17

God is very clear; He will not save those who accept the Mark of the Beast. Whoever accepts the mark will be condemned to eternal hell. Although they have been deceived and tricked by Satan, they were forewarned.

"But the beast was captured, and the false prophet was also captured. He was the one who did the miracles for the beast. He had used these miracles to trick those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its idol. The false prophet and the beast were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur," Revelation 19:20.

“God will punish all those who worship the beast and the beast’s idol and agree to have the beast’s mark on their forehead or on their hand," Revelation 14:9b.

Have you noticed that Satan had used these miracles to trick those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its idol? There is no salvation for those who have been deceived to accept the Mark of the Beast. It is a done deal for trading their soul to Satan.

Unfortunately, there is no coming back for those victims of Satan's deception. They refuse to yield at all the warning given by Christians before the day that they were snatched away by Jesus in the event called the Rapture.

Conclusion

Today is the day you can be free from the bond of Satan, whether you have sold your soul and made a pack with Satan or not. You can be made free. You are saved or not save. The truth is... if not saved ... Satan is already your master. So how can Satan buy something that is already his? It is another deception from Satan to have you believe that there is no way out once you traded your soul to him. Satan is a liar and a great deceiver. The truth is that there is a way out. Jesus is the way, John 8:12, John 14:6.

To be save, all that is required is to believe in the One that God had sent. That One is Jesus. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins, and that on the third days He rose again. Salvation is an act of believing. What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It means, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved," Romans 10:9. It is about Christ resurrected. It is about believing that He rose from the dead. When you believe in that, you are redeemed, which mean that you are saved and are now part of His Heavenly family. It means that one day you also will rise from the dead, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:52. To understand more on the subject of redemption, please read my commentary title, "To become a Christian, that is easy".

Do it, do it now.

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Watch: 

• EXPOSED: Satanism in the Industry (Music, Hollywood, Illuminati, 
• NWO)Black Celebrity Luciferians Part 1: The Indoctrination of their followers
• "Selling Your Soul" Goes Mainstream! "Devil's Due" Illuminati Exposed!
• Brainwashing America: Satanic Illuminati Mind Control(2014)-PART 7
• After selling your soul can you still be saved?
• Famous Artists And Celebrities Who Sold Their Souls To The Devil

Articles:

1.  Spiritual Warfare by Grant Phillips:  http://www.onegospelonetruth.com/2013/01/spiritual-warfare.html

The Philadelphia Church

What would it have been to live in the town name Philadelphia?

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Revelation 3:7-13(NKJV)

The Faithful Church

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it for you have a little strength, have kept "My word, and have not denied My name". 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

What would it have been to live in the town name Philadelphia? Like so many towns of our days, Philadelphia has many places to worship, although pagan origin.  In my town, there are 5 distinct churches: Rome Catholic, Anglican, Salvation Army, United Church, Pentecostal Church, and the Seven Days Adventist. I do not imply that these churches are pagan origin, only that they are far from following the early church format.

The Church in Philadelphia has a very different kind of worshippers. It was a home-based get-together church. It was founded as Jesus instructed as described in Matthew 18:20, where God considered two or more gathered in his name, Jesus would be among them. It therefore represented an assembly – a congregation. The worship experience would have been more likely as camaraderie. A friendship and fellowship would have developed among believers. As it were with the Christians from Jerusalem, the Philadelphia Christians shared a common observance; the breaking of bread as commanded by Jesus at His last Passover supper with His disciples, Luke 22:19, Acts 2:42. There was no specific day appointed for the get-together, it was more likely cobble together with one point of interest, Jesus - the new life. A true love, as commanded by Jesus was built upon.  They shared the truth and lived by it. They were a light and a salt within the city of Philadelphia. I do not comprehend why many bible scholars view the church as evangelical as define as commanded in Mark 16:15, "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The Church of Philadelphia was local. My personal perspective is that they reflected evangelical characteristic by spreading the gospel as a testimony of the joy and blessing received by God. Loving one another was their strongest testimony to which they belong. John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Can our traditional church do that? Hmm ... makes you think doesn't it? As the old saying goes: love starts at home. I encourage you to read my commentary title, "Spirit of Cain: Is alive and doing well even within the churches."

What make the Philadelphia Church so different from all other six churches depicted by Jesus? Let us break down the description as Jesus view the church.

What are it characteristics?

·        It has little strength, The Philadelphia Church bore a resemblance to Paul’s dilemma in his walk with the Lord:  "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,”" 2 Corinthians 12:9.  "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you," 2 Corinthians 13:4. Is everything going your way or is it going God's way? If nothing seems to work out in your life, it is probably going God's way, especially if you are a son of God.

·        It followed Jesus' teaching, (kept My word) One verse come into my mind, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," 2 Timothy 4:2. Although the church did not have the scripture as we have today in the Bible, they remind each other of Paul's teaching. They probably had personal notes that they took while Paul visits them and shared with each other. They received the gift of the present of God's Spirit, which help them to remember, John 16:13.

·        It is not afraid to speak Jesus name (not denied My name) They did not denied His deity which is Jesus Son of God, the One that God sent, the Redeemer, the Messiah, who is now Lord, King, and High Priest.  "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us, "2 Timothy 2:12. That doesn't mean that we are cast out and thrown into hell. It means that we fall into another church category; we lose our status to reign in the temple... "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself, "2 Timothy 2:13.

·        It had persevered in applying Jesus teaching (kept My command to persevere) "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love, "John 15:10. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you," John 15:12. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” John 13:35. I personally have a difficult time with this one. In our days, the churches are divided over the interpretation of His teaching and service format. Please read my commentary titled: "Christianity is like the menu of an Ice Cream Parlour". I pray for unity in the Body of Christ. I only want to share the truth and develop a fellowship in a homegrown base setting as it was in the early church.

What are the Church of Philadelphia assignments?

·       Preach the kingdom of God - Jesus opens the doors of opportunities (v. 7-8), He said to them, “Go everywhere in the world. Tell the Good News to everyone - the gospel of Christ resurrected," Mark 16:15. According to scholars, the Philadelphia church was renown for their openness to share and proclaims the message of Jesus the redeemer. What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It mean, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved," Romans 10:9. It is about Christ resurrected. It is about believing that He rose from the dead. When you believe in that, you are redeemed, which mean that you are saved and are now part of His Heavenly family. It mean that one day you also will rise from the dead, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:52.

·       It had obstacles, and interferences. Intrusion of false teachers infiltrated the church. They call themselves Jews but they were not Jews. They were of those who have been deceived by Satan lies. Titus 1:16 "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." However, because of the church perseverance many of the so-called Jews have recognized the true teaching of Christ and repented. They have accepted Jesus. This is a sign of Jesus’ love among the church.  The parable of the Tare and the Wheat comes to mind. This is one of the two reasons why we are to leave the tare alone: to keep away from offending some of the wheat to avoid fall-out and to save some of the tare by persevering in the truth and applied love.

Note: Each one of us comes from the synagogue of Satan. We were once children of disobedience. We have since heard the gospel and accepted it. We are now to continuously search for the remaining Satan's lies that we have yet not recognized in our lives. They are principalities of the power of the air. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," Ephesians 6:12.

Ephesians 3:8-13, in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Paul shows some of the Philadelphia Church characteristics that he experienced.

"v.8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory."

Wherever Paul went - Jews authorities in the Book of Moses came visited those places and influenced the new believers to observe the Jewish festivals and laws. v9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." Remember the parable of the new wine in the old wineskins, Matt 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37-38. The Book to the Hebrews was written to give an understanding to a new believer, Jesus special covenant with the Church.

The Philadelphia church is encouraged to continue in the truth... by continually seeking the scriptures, testing all things. That is what followers of Jesus teach.

Special promises to the Church of Philadelphia. 

o      Jesus will take the church out of harms way. This event is call the Rapture

o      Will receive a crown of victory, 1 Cor 9:25 a prize that will last forever.

o      Will be in the present of God forever, in the Temple, government headquarter, will be top CEO, to be a pillar is a symbol of strength in the truth.

o      Will receive the new name of God - a name that describes His personal attribute, and the name of the city where God dwell, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, which is not man made.

o      Will also receive Jesus new name. This is my personal view, I believe that the new name will reflect Jesus introduction of Himself in this letter to the Philadelphian's Christians, "These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David.

Conclusion: In this bible study, we examined the qualities and attributes that made the Philadelphia Church distinct from all other churches. If you consider being part of this church with the expectation to be raptured away... think again. I do believe that once saved always save. So the questions are, Are you saved? Are you a Tare or Wheat? Are you of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews yet are not, in other words saying you are Christian yet do not truly believe? Do you truly, without doubts believe in Christ’s’ resurrection? Is Jesus your Lord? If so, share your blessed hope, because that is the Philadelphian Church feat.

Interested related article title, "The Little Church that Tried" by Ray Stedman at this web site: http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/the-little-church-that-tried. 

Understanding Bible Prophecy

Matthew 16:2-3

Why is it important?

"Because the testimony of Jesus is in the Spirit of Prophecy," Rev 19:10

What are the next prophetic events?

Jesus did not keep us in the dark concerning the plan He has towards His Church and His people Israel, Romans 11:25.  He prophesied, which mean that He foretold, the future events that will take place before His return. Jesus loves us.  He love to reveal to those who love Him and who seek Him, 1 Cor 2:9, Hebrews 11:6.  Jesus doesn't want to keep us ignorant.  To please Jesus it is important to take Him by His word. Therefore, it is important to take prophecies seriously.

To His Church and His people Israel, Jesus instruction is to watch.  "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming," Matthew 24:42.  That is not an instruction to Christians to be sinless for His return, because we know that Jesus paid for the penalty of all our sins, past present and future, on the cross.  "If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself," 2 Timothy 2:13. To be watchful has nothing to do with your salvation? 

Jesus instructs us to be watchful for three reasons:

·        So that we may not be taken by surprise,

·        So that we would not worry,

·        So that we may give testimony by using God's prophecies to bring others to salvation

"The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. This will help you in your prayers," 1 Peter 4:7.

"And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet," Matthew 24:6.

If you are a reader that has not yet accepted Jesus as your personal saviour, you have no time to spare. Jesus return for the church is imminent. If Jesus doesn't return today, what guarantee do you have that you'll live another day?  Please read this article title, "To become a Christian, that is easy".

We are to be curious and open-minded. The Jews at the time of Jesus didn't recognizes the signs of His coming as a redeemer. They refuse to accept and to test the prophetic signs.  They were not even curious. Here is one example:

Jesus birth: during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?   King Herod had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel," Matt 2:6. Quoting Micah 5:2,4

Be like the wise man. Notice that the priests and teachers didn't take prophesies seriously.  None of them were ready for Him; none were interested to see for themselves if the child was the promised King (Messiah).  As it is today, many church members do not take prophecies seriously. So many do not teach or research the scripture to understand God's plan.  Too many believe that the kingdom of God is in the heart, only, and do not literally believe in the resurrection of the body, but instead believe that once dead everyone goes to heaven.  Many do not believe in Jesus return, therefore are not watching.

During Jesus ministry, Jesus made a remark that the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the high priest couldn't discern the signs of time.

"Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?" Luke 12:56"

Jesus even warned them of the consequence that they will suffer for not recognizing the signs of His coming:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Matthew 23:37-39.

In Matthew 21:1-11, is the best example of how the Jews were ill prepared to receive their Messiah.

 "Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,  saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

The King Enters Jerusalem

“Tell the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your King is coming to you,

Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.  They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him[d] on them.  And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Hosanna in the highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” 

Did you notice that the multitudes didn't recognized Him as the Promised One, the Messiah, but instead accepted him as a prophet? He fulfilled all the prophecies mentions in the book of the major prophet, John 1:45, yet only a few recognized Him. John the Baptist recognized Him, so is Andrew the brother Simon (Peter) at the beginning of Jesus ministry, John 1:35-50.  Even gentile believed in prophecy concerning the Messiah, the example of a Samaritan woman,

"The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things,” John 4:25.

Let us not be like the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law. Signs of Jesus soon return are everywhere in the news.  What is going to be the soon coming events which will be reveal to the nations of the world as proof that God had sent His Son Jesus to judge and to rule the world.

What are the next prophetic events?

To The Church: it is a secret event revealed by Paul  "The Rapture"

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord,"  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

As for Israel, since it rejected Jesus as the Messiah the truth was partially taken away from them.

"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in," Romans 11:25.

This partial blindness started 70 year after Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple.

"Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2. 

And, in Matthew 23:38 Jesus warned them that the land of Israel would be left to the gentile, deserted and wasted. This happens in the year 70 AD. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the Jews were force out of their land.

Do you see the importance of taking prophecy seriously? God do exactly what He said He would do. Therefore, the church has a responsibility to read the scriptures of prophecy for understanding so that it may teach it.  God have chosen some among the Church with the gift of prophecy.

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy," 1 Corinthians 14:1. "for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit," 2 Peter 1:21.

Everything that we need to know has been revealed by the Spirit to God servants. The scriptures reveal its interpretation.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation," 2 Peter 1:20.

We may not know the Day or Hour of His return but He gave us signs.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect," Matthew 24:36-44.

To be ready has nothing to do with salvation unless you are not save. For Christians, it all about our mind set.  Do we desire with all our heart the return of the Most High?  Is it not part of the Lord Prayer that Jesus taught us, "Let Thy Kingdom Come?

There are signs that we can observe which will warn us that the time of Jesus return is near.  The Jews returned to their homeland is the most well known sign that His return is near.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." Matthew 24:32-35

Matthew 24, describes an increase of signs at the end time such as earthquakes, extreme weather conditions, famine on the raise, diseases escalating, and an increase in political turmoil. 

What are the next coming prophetic events pertaining Israel?

Ezekiel 37 - In 1947, we witnessed Israel restored as a nation, yet still partially blind.

Psalms 83 - describes the continual development of a coalition among the Muslim countries to war against Israel.

Jeremiah 49 is a message from God to the surrounding Muslims coalition. I wonder if this message has been delivered to each one of these nations.

Isaiah 17 - describe destruction of Damascus.  Have you noticed how much Syria is in the news lately? 

Watch: The Fate of Damascus and the Psalm 83 War produce by Prophecy Update Videos  https://youtu.be/utWQjChjUrI

The Rapture is imminent. Although the rapture is not a date and time event, we understand that Israel cannot fulfill its last day's commission as long as the Church is still here present.

"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in," Romans 11:25.

Ezekiel 38 - I do not know if the church will be around to see the fulfilment of the war of Gog and Magog against Israel. But I do know that  as long as the Church is present, Israel will continue to be partially blind and the anti-christ will not be made known.

"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, - For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way," 2 Thessalonians 2:3,7.

After the defeated armies of Gog and Magog, this man of peace will show up into the world seen as one who can bring a settlement in the Middle East conflict.

"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate,” Daniel 9:27.

Conclusion

Let us be watchful.  The hour is near. All the prophetic events mention in this bible study are at hand.

Jesus instructs us to be watchful for three reasons:

·        So that we may not to taken by surprise,

·        So that we would not worry,

·        So that we may give testimony by using God's prophecies to bring others to salvation

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him," John 4:23.

If not save, repent and accept Jesus as Lord 'NOW', the day and hour, no one knows.  When the rain start falling it's to late...as were the day of Noah.