The Coming Slaughter

We know from the book of Revelation that a slaughter is coming on an unimaginable scale.  The opening salvo is found in Rev 6:

Rev 6:7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, Come and see.

8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the living creatures of the earth.

A fourth part is 25%, and by last count there are around 7 Billion people in the world, so do the math.  That's 1.75 Billion people dead.  Why?

Isaiah 65:11But you are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that in which I delighted not.

Up through this very day, the recent history of this world has been one of warning and patience.  This writer's problem in past years was not to fully grasp our Lord's patience, how long suffering He really is and how long He waits for people to turn around and repent.  But we know that long suffering and patience will come to an end.  When it does it will result in slaughter but this is not the reason for today's post.

Today's post is written to provide the good news.  If we read on in Isaiah 65, we see the Lord contrast "His servants" with "you" (the wicked in the text):

13Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed:

14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for anguish of spirit.

15And you shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay you, and call his servants by another name:

16That he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from my eyes.

There is a reward and a reason to love and worship our God other than just because we have to.  This world and its systems are spiraling down into the drain of history.  If recent history has taught us anything it is that the present day status quo can last into the future for years....

Back in 2007 I would have told you no way in 2014 could things still be limping along 'business as usual' but they are.  What does that mean?  Could things continue to limp along until 2020 or 2030?  Absolutely.  Yes, the Lord could appear at any moment (in the clouds not the second coming) but He can also cause us to wait.

We must be ready for both.  Nobody promised us tomorrow, this could be our last day who knows?  People die every day.  We could also be here for years to come, working out our salvation with patience

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

This world is headed for destruction, but we must be counted as His servants.  While we live as His servants we have a heritage and a supply in Him and of Him:

13Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed:

14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for anguish of spirit.

15And you shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay you, and call his servants by another name:

16That he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from my eyes.

We are a needy people.  When we ask of the Lord we should never tell Him "I promise I will never ask you for anything again" as the world does.  That reveals a worldly mindset.  We should promise Him that we will bury Him in prayers in requests:

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all ...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying

and let us not forget to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  This is a lesson I had forgotten and the Lord brought back to my mind just recently.  We have an enemy who is very subtle and active who constantly works to suppress our prayer life.  Let us give him a battle, we must pray and continue to pray.

I challenge you to try to overwhelm our God with prayers and requests.  This nobody thinks such efforts can only end well.  Ask, seek, knock and continue to ask, seek and knock with great perseverance and long suffering and let us expect results from our God from such efforts:

Psalm 625My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer ...

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

The Lord has made us many promises, but not all people inherit.  Those who inherit do so through faith and patience:

Hebrews 6:12

... indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.

Keep the faith, be patient and continue to ask the Lord for all things with many many MANY prayers and requests.  Try to overwhelm Him :)  He loves you...

grace and peace

No Peace For The Wicked

Isaiah 57:20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.

Look around at the world and tell me what you see.  The world (and especially America) have kicked the Lord out, and what is their reward?  Peace is removed.  What did the Lord say?

21There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.

America is turning into a military camp, look at Ferguson, MO for a recent example.  I just read an article that said we are 800% more likely to be killed by an American policeman than a "terrorist."

What happens when the Lord is kicked out of a society?  Oppression comes in and peace goes out.  Who is to blame?  The people, you and I.  Not Obama, not the police, not the new world order, we are to blame.  Proof?  Sure:

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Does this look like healed land to you?

Yes, I know there are a million excuses for it.  "Oh, its just global warming!" or "Its just a cycle, its perfectly normal."  Yea, they will be saying the same things during the tribulation when the seas turn to blood and all the green grass is burned up etc etc.  "This is all normal!" Really?

Politicians the world over are now completely and utterly corrupt.  Why?  The people have been given the leaders they deserve.  Again, where is the proof?  Read the history of Israel.  When the nation repented and did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, what happened?  When the nation rebelled and fell into unrepentant sin, what happened?  Simple questions and you know the answers....

The good news is if we are the problem we are also the solution.  The bad news is the book of Revelation predicts what the people will choose and the results.

Is all lost?  No, there was always a remnant, a few who chose the Lord and His ways.  We are called to be that remnant, the called out ones who separate themselves from this world and its Babylonian systems and ways to do what pleases the Lord.

I believe the Lord brought these things to mind as I was considering the state of affairs here in the United States and around the world.  The Lord said it, and we are seeing it.  There is no peace for the wicked.

grace and peace

Be Ready

Matt 24:44Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.

45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them food at the proper time?

The entire world will mourn at the presence of our Lord.  That says alot about the spiritual condition of the world.


30“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^c will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory

Why would they all mourn?  We know why, they never wanted Him and now they will be forced to face Him.

We must remember to be watching and ready at all times.

grace and peace

Tieing Luke 21 and Matt 24 Together, The Escape

Luke 21 tells us this:

34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Clearly this is the Lord warning us and describing the escape.  He tells us to watch and pray always for it.  What does the Lord tell us in Matt 24?

36But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luke 21 tells us to beware of carousing, drunkenness and the cares of this life weighing our hearts down, Matt 24 tells us people will be eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage right up until (Noah escaped into the ark) the flood came.

Both give us a picture of normal, every day life kind of days, days like today.  Look around, how many people are really watching for the Lord's return today?  The anxieties and cares of this life have overwhelmed many.

Get to the point?  Okay, the point is that days of complacency like today are the days when we should be watching the most.  Sure, we are in the midst of the blood moon cycle but it takes months between blood moons and most people's attention span is around 45 seconds (if that).

Today, and days like today are when we should be watching the most.  The days were completely normal right up to the day Noah entered the ark.  Those are not my words, that is the Word of the Lord

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

We would be wise to take heed of these words during this complacent time when the world and all of its people are asleep.  The sobering fact is, most people did not make it in Noah's day (how many made it into the ark?)  Most people won't make it in ever (Matt 7:13-14 and the entire history of Israel, always just a remnant left).  If it were up to me, everyone would get into heaven.  I would not send the worst of my enemies to hell, its just that bad.

These are the thoughts impressed upon this servant today.  Let us be found watching and ready on the day our Lord arrives.

A prayer:  Lord, I pray that all of the brothers and sisters and my family and myself will be found watching and ready and worthy of the escape You told us to pray for.  All glory and honor and power be Yours forever and ever.  Amen

grace and peace

A Time of Prosperity

According to what the Lord tells us, this writer believes "the snare" will come at a time of prosperity:

Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

What did the Lord warn us about to avoid the snare?
1. Carousing
2. Drunkenness
3. The cares of this life

What did He not warn us would weigh our hearts down?
1. Grinding poverty
2. Being hunted down by the anti-christ
3. Global economic meltdown
4. etc etc

Do you think if the anti-christ was hunting you down every day to take your head off, that might weigh your heart down a little bit?  Uh...yea.  No warning of that though.  What do carousing and drunkenness and the cares of this life appear to point to?  A normal time, a time of relative prosperity.  How can we arrive at this conclusion?  When people have what they want from this world, they forget the Lord

Hosea 13:6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were ...

When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

According the the Word, we should be on high alert when we are living in days like today.  When do people cry out to the Lord?  When they are in trouble and oppressed

Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my ...

... Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters.

When do they forget the Lord?  When they have what they want from this world.

These are the days, today when our eyes should be carefully trained on the Lord.  Who knows when the Lord will show up and call us to account?

Matthew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man ...

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Not the world, you...

The signs are all around us that this world is circling the drain of history and the wrath of the Lord will soon be upon it.  For years, we followed those signs here but the Lord instructed this writer to give it a break.  Why?  Long suffering and patience were not served by it.  How so?  Nobody can stay on the razors edge of preparedness all the time.  We have to find a sustainable, every day level of readiness that can be maintained until a. we die, or b. the Lord shows up.

Raising our expectations over and over only to have nothing happen over and over leads to discouragement.  The enemy loves this, it does not serve us well.  Should we pay attention to the signs all around us?  Sure, they were sent for a reason but we must temper them with longsuffering patience.  What did the Lord tell us?

Rev 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

8I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.

Because we have kept the word of His what?  Patience.......We are running a marathon, not a sprint.  Great is our reward if we finish the race "in Christ."  Keep the faith, expect to suffer in your patience expecting a payoff for your efforts.  The absolute best this world has to offer, money, power, sex, whatever does not even compare to a shadow of what we have waiting for us.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

  grace and peace

The Minefield

Yesterday, I was considering what a mess this world is in and how it would not be in this mess had people obeyed the Lord and had done what He said to do.  As I was considering this the Lord impressed this upon me:

This world and this life are exactly like driving through a minefield.  Before any of us even gets started through this minefield we can see all around us burned out hulks of vehicles that strayed and hit a land mine.  The Lord has given us commands and instructions to successfully navigate this minefield but most people will not listen.  As a result they "hit mines" which results in a life that resembles the burned out hulk of a vehicle that struck a land mine.  Most people do not make it through the minefield (Matt 7:13-14), shouldn't that encourage us to pay more attention to His instructions?

Where in the Word is this ^^ supported?

Matt 7:13Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there:

14Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Deuteronomy 28:14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I ...

... Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today, and do not go after other gods to worship them." ... //biblehub.com/deuteronomy/28-14.htm - 18k

Deuteronomy 5:32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has ...

... Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left! ... //biblehub.com/deuteronomy/5-32.htm - 18k

Proverbs 4:27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot ...

Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. ... Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. ... //biblehub.com/proverbs/4-27.htm - 17k

Deuteronomy 17:11 Act according to whatever they teach you and the ...

... Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left. ... Do not turn to the right or the left from the decision they declare to you. ... //biblehub.com/deuteronomy/17-11.htm - 19k

Joshua 1:7 "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all ...

... instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. ...  //biblehub.com/joshua/1-7.htm - 19k

John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands.

... "If you love me, obey my commandments. John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love ... ... When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. . John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my ... ... Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.

Obey and love are tied together in the 3 John verses above.  He loves us and does not want us to hit these 'mines' in life.

In other words, do exactly what the Lord told you to do because He knows where the mines are planted....

All believers will have tribulation in this life but how much do we bring upon ourselves through our disobedience and lack of attention to His commands?  It is something to ponder.


grace and peace