RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD Study of Revelation Continued   REVELATION 20.4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 20.5 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. -WEB Bible   Revelation describes the resurrection of the dead as two events:   There will be a resurrection of the dead at the beginning of the Millennium for those who were martyred for Christ. Revelation states that this is the “First Resurrection.” There will be a second resurrection at the end of the Millennium for everyone else, at which time the Day of Judgment will take place. The book of Revelation doesn’t mention a Rapture event at all. The only clue we are given is the timing of the resurrection of the dead.   I THESSALONIANS 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. -WEB Bible   Since the “first resurrection” happens at the beginning of the Millennium and the other resurrection happens at the end of the Millennium, I don’t know what to say about the Rapture. The Bible doesn’t tell us enough to make solid conclusions. It’s probably best to leave that in God’s hands and trust his timing.   The main thing to remember about the Rapture and the End Times is that God has a wonderful plan for his people, and everything is going to work out for our good.     IMAGE CREDIT: Image of sunrise over the mountains, generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.   This study of Revelation will continue on Thursdays!                           You can also read the Word for the Day at our Blogspot: CLICK HERE

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE He giveth more grace when The burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength When the labors increase; To added affliction He addeth His mercies, To multiplied trials His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ‘ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of Our hoarded resources Our Father’s full giving is only begun. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth and giveth and giveth again. —Annie Johnson Flint, 1930 CLICK HERE to listen to this Hymn  on Facebook

THE NOAH’S ARK LEGENDS

 

THE NOAH’S ARK LEGENDS By Biblical Creation Researchers have catalogued over 270 ancient flood accounts from cultures across the world, many of them existing long before any Christian influence. Over time, details naturally shift. But what stands out is where they agree. The Greek story tells of a man warned to build and stock an ark before a god brought destruction on humanity. The Babylonian account shares multiple major details with Genesis. The Aztec tradition places a universal flood about 1,716 years after creation, strikingly close to the biblical timeline. Similar accounts appear across Australia, India, Scandinavia, and China. That kind of global agreement is not what you expect from isolated myths. Myths don’t appear everywhere with the same core storyline unless they are rooted in something real. The simplest explanation is that these accounts are distorted memories of a true event. Over generations, the details changed, but the foundation remained. The Bible doesn’t just tell a flood story. It preserves the clearest and most consistent record of a real, world-changing catastrophe remembered across human history. By Biblical Creation on Facebook Used with Permission A Research team is in Turkey now, with the goal of doing some core drilling and other experiments at the Durupinar formation, which is the most likely location for what remains of Noah’s Ark. They have all the necessary permits and permissions to do minimally invasive testing. They also intend to send a small robot underground to try to inspect a central “hallway” running lengthwise through the formation. The hallway was discovered during a previous expedition, using ground-penetrating radar. They do request your prayers because there’s been a lot of opposition.  Noah’s Ark Scans on Facebook

HEAVENLY QUOTES

 

HEAVENLY QUOTES   God's plan for enlarging His kingdom is so simple - one person telling another about the Savior. Yet we're busy and full of excuses. Just remember, someone's eternal destiny is at stake. The joy you'll have when you meet that person in heaven will far exceed any discomfort you felt in sharing the gospel. ~ Charles Stanley   My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world. ~ Billy Graham     For victory in life, we've got to keep focused on the goal, and the goal is Heaven. ~ Lou Holtz   Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven. ~ Walter Savage Landor     If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. ~ Jesus Christ   God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. ~ Izaak Walton     On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. ~ Jules Renard   The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ came to do three things. He came to have my past forgiven, you get a purpose for living and a home in Heaven. ~ Rick Warren     Lower your expectations of earth. This isn't heaven, so don't expect it to be. ~ Max Lucado   If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there. ~ Martin Luther     It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven. ~ Matthew Henry   God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. ~ Izaak Walton

YOU CAN TRUST HIM

 

YOU CAN TRUST HIM Offer yourselves to God in gratitude for having been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him to be used for his righteous purposes. Romans 6:13  I went one night to hear a sermon on consecration. No special message came to me from it, but as the speaker kneeled to pray, he dropped this sentence: “O Lord, we know that we can trust the Man who died for us.” And that was my message: it spoke directly to my heart. I rose and walked down the street to the train; and as I walked, I pondered deeply all that consecration to God might mean to my life; and I was afraid. And then, above the noise and clatter of the street traffic came to me the message: “You can trust the Man who died for you.” I got on the train to ride homeward; and as I rode, I thought of the changes, the sacrifices, the disappointments which consecration might mean to me; and I was afraid. I reached home and there upon my knees I saw my past life. I had been a Christian, an officer in the church, a Sunday-school superintendent, but had never definitely yielded my life to God. Yet as I thought of the darling plans which might be baffled, of the cherished hopes to be surrendered, and the chosen profession which I might be called upon to abandon—I was afraid. I did not see the better things God had for me, so my soul was shrinking back; and then for the last time, with a swift rush of convicting power, came to my innermost heart that searching message: “My child, you can trust the Man who died for you. If you cannot trust Him whom can you trust?” That settled it for me, for in a flash I saw that the Man who so loved me as to die for me could be absolutely trusted with all the concerns of the life He had saved. Friend, you can trust Jesus who died for you. You can trust Him to baffle no plan which is not best to be abandoned, and to carry out every goal which is for God’s glory and your highest good. You can trust Him to lead you in the path which is the very best in this world for you. By James Henry McConkey