New Years Eve 2012 and Dead Birds Already Falling From the Sky

Birds are falling dead from the sky before the fireworks have gone up, so what's the excuse now for all the dead birds?

This Arkansas town that has seen dead blackbirds fall on new years eve and new years day 2 years in a row has banned fireworks...??  Its difficult for me to think of a more ridiculous story from the past year.  Fireworks shooting down birds?  Yep, that's their story and they are sticking to it.  How interesting will it be if the birds fall dead again (like they are already in Tenn.) while the anti-bird artillery (fireworks) has been grounded....

The real story here is how desperate they are to find any reason no matter how ridiculous to explain away what is happening to the world.  Be watching, be ready.  Everything the Lord said would happen is happening and the world has an inexhaustible store of ridiculous excuses to throw at people as prophesy is fulfilled.

They will use reasoning that is below a kindergarten student,  like fireworks shooting down birds and the people will believe it.  What they will not believe is Bible truth coming to pass each and every day.

grace and peace

Why They Do Not Watch?

The Lord told us explicitly and without caveat to WATCH at all times for His coming.  Here is a perfect example:

Mark 1335“Therefore  keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Do you see any qualifying statements in there like "keep watch when this or that happens?"  No, it says keep watch...period.  But those who distort the scriptures are not content with the Lord's plain language on this subject.  They deny His Word to watch at all times, and they cite distortions to do it, like here:

2 Thess 21Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^a is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

They tell us the rapture/coming of the Lord for the Bride cannot come because the anti-Christ has to be revealed before the gathering together to the Lord.  Is that what the Lord said above? NO.  "That day" is clearly stated as the day of the Lord, not the rapture.

saying that the day of the Lord has already come
for that day will not come

The two statements are practically on top of each other yet those who would twist the Word tell us "that day" is the rapture?

I am amazed at how many excuses people will come up with not to be watching and ready at all times.  To not watch and not be ready every single day is to put oneself in peril.  Is that my opinion or what the Word says, lets see:

Matt 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

13“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Again, do you see any conditions or caveats in here ^^^ as to when to watch?  No, you don't.  You see watch....period.  Not "watch when" or "watch if" it is watch PERIOD.  That means right now, today and every day until He arrives.  And, opposed to many people's opinions that we will all 'see each other on the way up' no matter what anyone does with their life after their 5 second teary eyed confession at the alter, the Lord says this:

The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

What does the Word say?  All the virgins went in?  No, the virgins who were ready went in....Is that in direct conflict with so many people's opinion today that no matter what all the virgins will go in?  Yea, there's a conflict and the Word wins that conflict.  Those who were ready went in, therefore what?  13“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

How much more plain could the Lord make it for us?  Yet many still refuse at this late hour.  Their 'pastor' or preacher or teacher or doctrine or whatever somehow trumps the Word of God in their hearts and minds and they refuse to do what they were clearly told to do in plain language.  Please tell me the downside of watching for the Lord every day?  Please tell me the downside of being ready to meet the Lord every day?  There is no downside, which is in itself a proof that it is the Lord's clear intent.

If we are watching and ready every day, then regardless of when the Lord arrives we will not be caught sleeping:

Mark 13:36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

People can argue all they want to, but to argue this point is to argue oneself into peril.  The fact is, and it is an absolute fact that we were told to watch without condition.  That means watch NOW and every day.  How many more ways could the Lord tell us to watch and be ready?  He said it over and over and over again, yet many still do not take Him at His Word.

There is coming a day, sooner rather than later when many people will find out the hard way (unfortunately) that the Lord meant what He said in plain language.  People try to 'spiritualize' everything the Lord said and they do harm to themselves and their listeners in the process.  In spite of the Lord's warnings todays 'wise' people think they can enter the kingdom of heaven based on some man's 'doctorate of divinity' degree instead of their understanding as little children.  What does the Word say?

Matthew 18:3 

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Do little children have doctorate degrees?  I don't think so.  Do little children write 50 page thesis papers explaining to us why the Word of God does not mean what it says at face value?  No, they don't.  The Lord meant what He said at face value.

Why write about this today?  Watching and readiness today is the clearest divide between the pre-trib rapture position and all the rest.  All the others tell us 'don't bother to watch because the Lord cannot come back' for one reason or another.  Their refusal to watch is a huge problem for them.  What will the consequence be?  I am not their judge but I would never ever want to be in their position.  They know they were told to watch now, and they refuse.  The Word says "watch" period.  And they say "we don't have to."

Time is passing quickly.  We will know soon enough who the wise and foolish virgins are.  There is no argument or doctrine or teaching that can outperform watching and readiness to meet the Lord every day.  Does watching every day promote holiness?  Yep.  Does watching every day meet the requirement of the plain reading of scripture?  Yep.  Does watching every day keep us focused on what's important in life?  Yep.  Does watching every day keep us from being found 'sleeping'?  Yep.

If there was ever a time to be watching and ready for the Lord's return for the Bride (not the second coming) it would be today and in the days ahead.  Obama will be 'coronated/crowned' on 1/20/2013.  It will be interesting to see what happens in the days around his coronation.  The people have chosen a type of anti-Christ for themselves.  Obama is the most anti-Christ president the United States has ever had and we have had some bad presidents.  What will the result be?

2013 has two bright comets coming in, one in the spring, one in the fall which just also happens to be our mega-quake windows and just also happens to be the exact time of the solar and lunar eclipses on the Feast days of 2014 and 2015.  Spring and fall are the windows.  Also we have had large earthquakes the past two years precisely on new years day.  On 1/1/2012 there was a 7.0 earthquake then the strange sounds started in the heavens and animals died all over the world.

The shaking of the earth is a great sign of the Lord's approach:

Heb 12:25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^e 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

The shaking is a process of removing what can be shaken, what a wonderful promise.  The destruction of the economy, the social fabric, the babylonian religious systems and every thing else around us is a sign that the new beginning is near.  The new beginning will be when the Lord rules the earth with an iron rod and Lord willing we are with Him as He does this.  "They" may win every battle around us but they lose the war.  How encouraging.  We know how this story ends.  Those who are in Christ will gaze in victory over their enemies soon.  We have years to go before all is wrapped up but time is flying.  As time speeds up we get closer and closer to ruling and reigning with our Lord Jesus Christ.  We cannot grasp with out feeble minds just how amazing this is going to be.  The pleasures of this world that we deny ourselves will be outshined by a river of pleasures for us to drink from in the near future:

Psalm 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

We do not worship the Lord in vain.  What He has stored up for us we cannot even imagine.  Keep the faith, be watching, be ready.  Soon enough we will explode with joy and gladness that we fought the good fight and held on to the end-whenever and however that occurs for us.

grace and peace

They Can't Figure The Weather Out

News Article here:  White Christmas for Moscow while south Europe sweats


Add to that record tornado activity in the U.S. over Christmas?  Record tornadoes in December?    Is that normal?  Far from it.

Why report on such things here?  Because we were told to WATCH for the Lord.  That's it.  I see it all around us, people weary of watching.  One event after another goes by us and no return of the Lord (for the Bride not 'second coming') so people give up.

Now 12/21/2012 has gone by without a whimper, a completely 100% blown call by the 'new age' crowd and the mayans.  Their fallen angels spirit guides led them off a cliff.  So now what?

Now, we continue to do what we have been doing.  We watch and wait.  That's it.  The problem with this for most people is it is not sexy or exciting or sensational.  There is no 'thus saith the Lord "words" or any of the other garbage being spewed by so many self proclaimed 'prophets' on youtube who get 'dreams, visions and words from the Lord' almost daily.

We patiently and obediently watch and wait while we suffer through these days.  Yep, we suffer.  There's nothing attractive about that is there?  What were we told to do, and why do we watch what is happening to the earth on this blog?  What does the Word say?

Mark 13:32“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert^f! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Too many find this patient watching to be booooooooring.  They are 'over it.'  "Things go on as they always have so why watch" they say.  We watch because we were told to.  We were ordered to.  We are soldiers of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3 

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Soldiers who have been ordered to keep watch have a sacred duty.  They watch over the lives of all their fellow soldiers.  If a soldier on watch falls asleep on watch and the enemy creeps in unaware, then what happens?  Keeping watch is SACRED DUTY.

If you wonder why the writing here has focused on earthquakes, dead animals, whacked out weather, the coming destroyer and all the other end time signs, it is all focused to one end:  watching for the coming of the Lord.

What I say to you, I say to everyone...WATCH.  For what?  For the owner of the house: 35“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back

I thanked the Lord recently that He keeps these end of the world type thoughts in my mind continually.  Some might consider this a curse, this writer believes it is one of the highest blessings. Why?  The wicked will not see it coming....

Daniel 12:10  Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

Whatever we have to do to stay motivated and keep watching, that is what we must do.  Do not be caught asleep when the Master arrives.  The watch is sacred duty...

What will happen in 2013?  World War?  Economic Collapse?  Global pole shift?  The Rapture?  Or, business as usual for another full year?  If history has taught us anything it is that things can be hanging on the brink of destruction for years and nothing earth shattering will happen.  2013 could be another 'ordinary' year of record weather, wars and rumors of wars, governments being overthrown in the middle east, massive earthquakes, record draughts etc.

The Lord has not given this servant a shred of a clue as to when things are coming.  What the Lord has done is instruct the servant to WATCH for His coming, every day.  So that is what I will do.  I pray that you will not grow weary of watching.

grace and peace

A Perfect Description of America

This describes America perfectly:

EZ 22:23Again the word of the Lord came to me: 24“Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers^c in the day of wrath.’ 25There is a conspiracy of her princes^d within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. 29The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.

30“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Notice the Lord's statement up front there: 24“Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers^c in the day of wrath

Remember 2012 was the year of the largest natural disaster in US history: drought.  Think about it.

If this does not describe the U.S. con-gress I do not know what does:  27Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain.

If this does not describe all the false prophets/pastors/teachers/preachers of Babylon I don't know what does:  28Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken

30“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

He looked for "a" man among a nation!  And could not find one!  If it happened before, it can happen again.  How many made it out of Sodom?  How many made it into the ark with Noah?  Few, very few.

You tube is full of self described prophets.  They have 'a word from the Lord' almost daily!  Really?  They have all been exposed and their judgement is coming....

Justice is justice.  Read the book of Ecclesiastes, if it happened before it will happen again.  There is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun

grace and peace

Why Doom on America/Babylon?

There is a reason the Lord gave us the old testament along with the new.  A large part of our walk on earth as children of God is getting to know Him in a deep and personal way.  Who is our Lord? How does He think?  What is in His heart?  We find the answers to such questions all throughout the Bible.  Which brings us to the destruction of Babylon/America..

If He did it before in judgement, He will likely do it again.  Sin is sin right?  Sin brings judgement right?  Is America a pure virgin in the eyes of the Lord?  Far from it, so:

EZ 22:1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices 3and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, 4you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries. 5Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.

A city that brings doom on itself, interesting.  How about a nation that brings doom on itself?  How?  Because of the blood she has shed and all the idols she has made.  Is America a land of idols?  Has America shed blood?  Is the answer is yes, and it is, then what?  She has brought doom on herself.  She has brought her days to a close.

Last night I had a dream that I was standing somewhere in America I had never been before.  I looked to my left and I saw a construction site that began to shake.  I some people panicking and then the ground below them liquified and it was as if a broom swept everything, dumptrucks, concrete mixers, buildings, people everything was swept away in a flash.  At the same time I noticed that the ground below my feet was heating up.  It makes no sense, but when I pulled my shoe up off the ground the bottom of the shoe was glowing red hot.  Somehow I knew that this fire, liquification threat was coming from below out feet and I tried to warn people and get out of there.  It was not a pleasant dream.

If 2013 follows the pattern we have been seeing, it will be a very bad year for this world.  Nobody knows the day of the escape and mass destruction, but the bad news we are seeing tells us the normal pattern of circling the drain will be enough to drive men mad.  What's should scare people more about 2013 is there is nothing special about it.  The doom the men predict is not what should worry them.  It is what they do not see and do not anticipate that should worry them.  Remember, the coming of the Lord will be just like the days of Noah and Lot.  Eating, drinking, planting, building, these kinds of things characterize the day the Lord shows up for us.  A plain old vanilla day will turn into paradise in heaven for a few, and hell on earth for many.  Let us pray for each other and ourselves that we are counted among the few who make it out.

grace and peace

The King of Babylon Sacks Egypt

Reading this morning in the Word I noticed this direct fulfillment of prophesy:

EZ 3211“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘The sword of the king of Babylon

will come against you.

12I will cause your hordes to fall

by the swords of mighty men—

the most ruthless of all nations.

They will shatter the pride of Egypt,

and all her hordes will be overthrown.

13I will destroy all her cattle

from beside abundant waters

no longer to be stirred by the foot of man

or muddied by the hoofs of cattle.

14Then I will let her waters settle

and make her streams flow like oil,

declares the Sovereign Lord.

15When I make Egypt desolate

and strip the land of everything in it,

when I strike down all who live there,

then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Who is the King of Babylon?  Babylon is America, King of Babylon=Obama.  Who among the nations was primarily responsible for the 'arab spring' that toppled Egypt this past year?  America/Obama/King of Babylon was responsible.

This is the Word of God made real today.  They continue to have riots and unrest in that country.  It appears this is in progress:

15When I make Egypt desolate

and strip the land of everything in it,

when I strike down all who live there,

then they will know that I am the Lord.’

grace and peace

6.6 Earthquake Today

Other than this serious M6.6  earthquake, 12/21/2012 has been a complete nothing.  These large earthquakes in December are strange and add to what might be a destructive 2013.  What we now can confirm about the 'esoteric'  secret sect, fallen angel worshiper  new age etc crowd is they wiped out.  These people, in gambling terminology, went all in on 12/21/2012 and it has been one of the quietest days of the year!

So much for 'ascension,' ufo's showing up, the return of Quetzalcoatl and all the million and one other predictions they made.  Why bring this up?  End time timing belongs to the Lord alone.  That's it.  The enemy can have plans by the millions.  He can advertise their plans in the movies, on tv, music and everywhere else they care to advertise and it does not matter one iota.

Glory to God that His plans and His timing prevail.  The 2012 nothing date will also have the effect of turning away many who were watching and now will throw their hands up in the air with a 'why bother' motion.  I cannot think of a worse time to stop watching.

Every sign and signal this brother has seen points to a 2013 filled with peril.  If there was ever a time to be watching it would be in the days after 12/21/2012.

In these last days one of the most important scriptures we could hold in the front of our minds is this:

2 Thess 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

Until the Restrainer is removed, the enemy does not get off of square one.  Who determines when the Restrainer is removed?  Not the enemy....

The day Noah entered the ark, then the flood came.  Lot left Sodom, then it burnt to the ground.  Lawlessness is at work but until the restrainer is removed it can only go so far.

If anything characterized days like today it is restraint.  What this world deserves and what it is getting today are night and day apart.  Only the Lord knows when judgement and wrath will be poured out.  Until that day, we can expect restraint and measures of the Lord's grace and mercy. We have signs all around us that judgement is pending but we also have grace and mercy extended.  How much longer is anyone's guess.  When things will happen is anyone's guess.

This writer prays that we will be found watching and ready when the Master shows up for us.  This calls for daily vigilance, now more than ever.

grace and peace

The Lord Knows How to Rescue The Godly

2 Peter 2:4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,^a putting them into gloomy dungeons^b to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.^c 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature^dand despise authority.

What we see above is the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from:

πειρασμοῦ

peirasmou

3986

an experiment, a trial, temptation

Which is the same word we see here:

Rev 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

πειρασμοῦ

peirasmou

3986

an experiment, a trial, temptation

Same exact Greek word.

And to finish it off perfectly we have this:

26“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

30“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 

The day the righteous leave, THEN destruction falls.  The Lord said it clearly in plain language...  As we see this day approach let us be found doing the things our Master would have us do so we will not be ashamed in His presence.

grace and peace

Mass Animal Die Offs Continue-Thousands of Dead Sea Turtles

Link here.

Here is the link to the predictions page for 2013.  We were expecting this.

grace and peace

12/21/2012 The World Doesn't End

This Friday the world does not end.  There is much yet to be fulfilled on this earth.  The Lord brought this to mind:

Jer 10:2 This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.

Whats going on out in space this week is special, it is rare, but the predictions we've been hearing about come from fallen angels.

This writer guesses that on Saturday all the scoffers will be out in full force slinging mud on everyone.  I hope they remember that the Bible predicts nothing regarding 12/21/2012.

"End of the world" stuff is coming.  A pole shift (Rev 6, seal 6) is coming.  Signs on the earth and in the heavens are already here.  What people should remember is the Lord controls the timing of things.  A Restrainer is in place that is holding back the plans of the enemy.  The enemy has been advertising what he wants to do for years, but he cannot.  Why?  The Restrainer.

We have come this far without all hell breaking loose because the Lord, not the enemy controls the timing of things.  Who knows what will happen, or I should say will be allowed to happen this week.  My guess is nothing special.  That said, we should always be ready for the return of the Lord, each and every day.  Not the second coming, the escape from all (Luke 21:36), the return of the Bridegroom for the Bride which is a brief visit to retrieve the Bride and take her back to the Father's house where she will be hidden away for 7 days (years).

2012 has been built up so high by those who have promoted it, I can only imagine the fall when nothing special happens and we roll into 2013 with the 'normal' economic collapse, mass animal deaths, the decaying magnetosphere, pole shift, sun going crazy, apostasy in the church, record volcanic action, record earthquakes and tornadoes, strange sounds in the sky, ufo's spotted in record numbers all over the world etc.  You know...normal stuff.

Keep the faith, be watching and ready.  The Master could return for us at any time.  Grace and peace.

Massive Fish Die Off-Iceland

Link here.

Google will translate for you.  What did we already know was coming based on the established pattern?  Massive fish and bird die off.  What are we seeing already before the 1st of the new year?  Massive fish die off.

See the "predictions for 2013 page for details."  This is a  well established pattern.  We have objective verifiable evidence to back it up, yet most people remain in denial.  When the animals all around us are dieing off by thousands of thousands, should we not be concerned?  Should we not ask why?  Nope! Better to stick our heads in a hole and wish it all away!

grace and peace

Faith, and "Once Saved Always Saved" (OSAS)

Hebrews 4:1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.^a 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’”^b

This scripture is another indictment of the 'once saved always saved' doctrine.  What does the Lord say?  Let us be careful?  Of what?  That none of us has fallen short?  Why would anyone fall short?  The Lord goes on to explain that..."the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."

Again we find ourselves on this issue of faith.  There are many who tell us today that a Christian does not need faith to be "saved."  Really?  They tell us all we need is a five second teary eyed confession and you are as sure for heaven as if you were already there!  Without faith, can a person enter the gates of heaven?  The promise of His rest still stands, indeed it does BUT let us BE CAREFUL that none of us be found to have fallen short of it.  That is a warning, to us.

The "grace only" equation is preached by way too many people today.  The "grace only" equation tells us we play no part, zero in the salvation of our souls.  If men play no part in the salvation equation, why will most be lost?  Didn't Jesus die for all men?  Why will so many be lost?  Not because of the lack of grace surely.  So why will so many be lost?

FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

The grace is surely there, and it is 100% a gift from God, AND it is THROUGH FAITH.
Why do so many remove FAITH from grace when they talk about our salvation?

Why did Jesus ask this:

Luke 18:8

... However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

Why did Jesus say this:

Heb 6:12

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

So let me ask you, if we inherit the promises through faith, what happens if a person has no faith?  Can a person inherit without faith?  What does the Word say?  THROUGH FAITH we are saved, THROUGH FAITH we inherit.  How much more clear could the Lord say it?

It is not grace or faith, it is by grace AND faith that the Lord said we are saved.

What we believe matters.  If all that was required was a 5 second teary eyed confession, why aren't most people going to end up in heaven?

Matt 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matt 7 actually begins with "judge not."  This brother judges no man.  If it were up to me all men, all of them would end up in heaven.  This brother would not commit one solitary soul to the horrors of hell.  I would not do it.  But this brother is not the judge.  What does the Lord say?  What does the Word say?  Does the Word say that few or many will enter the small gate that leads to life?

What else does the Lord tell us in Matt 7?

Matt 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven?  He who makes a teary eyed five second confession?  No, thats not what it says.  ONLY he who does the will of the Father in heaven?  Do the will of the Father?  What's that called?  Its called obedience.  So we are saved, by grace, through faith.  That is a true statement from Ephesians.  Also in Matt 7 we see that obedience is required to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Is that or is that not what the Lord said?  Is it said clearly enough for us to understand?  Did the Lord use cryptic language or did He say it clearly?  He said it clearly.

Understanding these things hopefully we come to a clearer understanding of the "fear of the Lord."

Is it easy to be saved?  I don't know, what did the Lord say through Peter?

1 Peter 4:18 

And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

What did the Lord say through Luke?

Luke 13:23Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

If men try to teach us doctrines that conflict with the Word of God, then those men should be shut out from our hearing.  How many 'pastors' today teach the fear of the Lord?  Why don't they?
How many "grace alone" teachers and preachers teach the fear of the Lord?  None.  Why?  It shatters their doctrine into pieces.  Who cares what man has to say, WHAT DOES GOD SAY?

Deuteronomy 6:24 

The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

Revelation 15:4 

... Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. ...

Psalm 19:9

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever

Think big picture here, the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  Why forever?  Because in the beginning, Satan would never had rebelled against the Lord had the fear of the Lord been in him.  In eternity, those who inherit salvation would never imagine to rebel against the Lord because the fear of the Lord will remain in them.

Isaiah 59:19 

From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory

Job 28:28 

And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"

Jeremiah 5:22 

Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? ...

Enough said, the Word speaks for itself.  All glory and honor and wealth and power be unto our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and to our Father in heaven.  Amen.