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Every human being has a duty to serve the God who made them whether they realize it or not. God always has a reason for everything he does and he made us to serve him. You’re a foot soldier for Christ if you accept your calling. We can either run toward our destiny and embrace it by doing our duty or we can run away and deny our reason for being here. Man’s first duty is to find out the reason for his existence. God made man in his image so that we would seek out our God and find salvation unto eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If a person does these two things then their life has been a success. In fact, life is meaningless without a right relationship with God. Don’t just take my word for it. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said the same thing in the book of Ecclesiastes. The second duty of man is to share the gospel of Christ with nonbelievers in order to save as many lost souls as possible for the kingdom of God. Man’s third duty is to do other good works so that nonbelievers will see the light of God in our actions and be attracted to God’s message of hope. These three duties are man’s all; it’s why believers are left here on earth after their salvation unto eternal life.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

As a believing Christian I’m constantly striving to maintain my fellowship with God the Father by being obedient to his commands and just by doing the right thing. It’s not easy to do because I’m weak and I’m a sinner. Believers are disciples of Jesus Christ and our number one priority is to share the gospel of Christ, the Great Commission, with all nations and all peoples. This is the work that Jesus gave us to do just before his ascension back to heaven. Witnessing should always be on our minds throughout the day every day as our number one mission in life. After all, witnessing for Christ is the primary reason God leaves us here on earth after our salvation. God should always be on our mind because man is always on God’s mind. Repeating things that are important is a literary device I picked up by reading my Bible.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 28:18-19 – (Jesus) – All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Witnessing for Christ is the number one good work we do for God. If we want to please God we must work alongside him (the Holy Spirit) in his harvest field to save lost souls for the kingdom of God. It’s the Holy Spirit who actually does the saving of the spirit of man unto eternal life and writes our names in the book of life. The Holy Spirit is God. It pleased God to allow us to help in his salvation plan for man. God does this to bless our lives. If believers don’t share the gospel message of Christ with nonbelievers then all the other good works they may do are meaningless when they have to stand before the bema judgment seat of Jesus Christ on the last day. Their works will be burned up by fire.

1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Matthew 4:19 – (Jesus) – Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Staying in fellowship with God is fairly easy if you follow this rule: love what God loves and hate what God hates. It sounds simple I know but in practice it’s harder than you realize. What does God love more than anything else? Us, of course; we’re God’s children and he loves us dearly. The fact that God the Father sent his beloved son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins proves beyond any doubt that God loves us. If God loves us that much then we should love ourselves and every other person just as much because God made us all and Jesus Christ died on the cross for each and every one of us. God made each one of us to be unique individuals in our own right and each person is equal and priceless in God’s eyes.

John 3:16 – (Jesus) – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Isaiah 46:4 – Even to your old age and gray hair I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

On the flip side, what does God hate the most? Losing us, of course; because we’re God’s beloved children. God hates Satan and so should we because he is evil incarnate, he causes us to sin and he steals the souls of men. Satan is our mortal enemy! Have you ever taken your children somewhere and lost them? I have. I lost my boys on three separate occasions and I’ll never forget the sheer panic I felt each time in that moment when I realized I’d lost them. As the author of history, God never panics about anything because he knows the end from the beginning. However, that doesn’t stop God from grieving for every human soul when it’s lost to the clutches of Satan. God loves deeply therefore God grieves deeply. It doesn’t have to be this way. God created all of us to live with him as royalty in heaven forever but he won’t force us to accept his grace. God has revealed himself to his creatures by the universe he has made and also by the word of God (the Bible) that he has left us so we can know God and find his salvation unto eternal life in heaven. God gives every man he has made the free will choice to serve God or Satan. Choose wisely!

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Isaiah 44:24 – Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.

God is an eternal spirit so when he gave us a part of himself at our conception (our spirit) it means we too are eternal spirit beings. We will live forever like God. The only question to be decided is where we will live. Our eternal spirit is now housed in a physical body on earth that grows, matures, ages and eventually dies, leaving only our spirit behind. Our soul then returns to God in heaven if we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior during our life on earth. Our eternal spirit goes straight to hell when we die if we don’t acknowledge God and don’t believe in Jesus Christ while we’re alive in the flesh. God hates losing his children through the rejection of his saving grace because it results in man’s eternal separation from God and eternal damnation of that soul in the fires of hell for all eternity.

Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

Psalm 139:14 – I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

We’re talking about a billion trillion years being only a single day in eternity. The human mind cannot grasp the length of eternity. That’s why God grieves for every lost soul that he has made. Therefore the number one job of every Christian is to prevent as many people as possible from going to hell by witnessing Christ to nonbelievers in order to save them. By effectively witnessing for Christ we’re showing that we love what God loves (every person) and that we hate what God hates (losing human souls). When we witness for Christ we’re doing something about it, in the face of rejection and ridicule. We’re doing what God intended for us to do from the foundation of the world and we’ll receive rewards in heaven for our obedience to God’s number one command, which is to witness for Christ in order to save souls.

Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

Look, if you’re alive today congratulations because you’re an immortal being. Start acting like it by thinking about your future life after you depart this earth. With immortality comes responsibility and accountability. Our life on earth is very brief; seventy years if we’re lucky. Then what? You’ll have many trillions of years to spend somewhere. Where might that be? Don’t you think the issue is important enough to spend a little time now investigating your options before it’s too late? When your heart stops beating it’s too late. If you’re smart, you will seek out the truth of the Christian God Jehovah while you yet live. You’ll find in God’s word (the Bible) that the eternal soul can only end up in one of two places, heaven or hell, depending on whether you decide to serve God or Satan. If you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior it’ll be the smartest decision you’ll ever make in your life because it will save your soul and you’ll be royalty in heaven forever where you’ll be showered with heavenly riches from God the Father.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Ezekiel 36:27 – I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

On the other hand, if you reject God and his Christ you’ve made a bad decision that’ll result in you losing your soul to the fires of hell where you’ll be in pain and agony forever. Think it over carefully. It’s a stark choice and I find it hard to believe that anyone in their right mind would choose hell over heaven; but there are fools who will. In fact, most people do wind up choosing Satan because, as the god of this world, he has successfully deceived most men so that they cannot see the truth of God. Satan has put blinders over their eyes. Satan has convinced many people that there is no God and where he hasn’t been successful with that Satan has created fake religions and false gods to divert man from the truth of God and his saving grace. Don’t be fooled by the devil!

Exodus 20:3 – (God) – You shall have no other gods before Me.

Hosea 13:4 – (God) – Yet I am the Lord your God…there is no Savior besides Me.

As believers our duty to God is clear. We’re to witness Christ to nonbelievers in order to point the way to salvation for the lost. We’re to expose all the lies told by all the fake religions and false gods used by Satan as a smokescreen to hide the truth of God from man. Study your Bible (King James version only) so you can answer any questions the nonbeliever may have. Learn how to share the gospel message of Christ and how to guide the nonbeliever into accepting God’s grace unto salvation. In my earlier blogs I’ve created a set of useful guides and proofs that are a great help to anyone wanting to share their witness for Christ with nonbelievers. I have a list of 23 physical proofs of God (there are over 200). I have Bible proofs of God. I have a list of 36 prophecies foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled by the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are over sixty prophecies about Jesus in the Bible. I also have a witness outline, known as the “Roman road” to salvation, using the Scriptures in the book of Romans to guide someone to the logical conclusion that they’re a sinner who needs God’s saving grace.

Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

Isaiah 33:6 – Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

These are all good starting points when discussing whatever it is that’s holding a person back from accepting God. You can prepare to witness all you want but in the end you must know your Bible well enough to answer any questions that come up. And you must also take a leap of faith and share your witness if you want to save someone. Don’t be afraid to fail. The Holy Spirit will help you. Preparation plus action equals success. It’s so very important that your witness for Christ be effective in order to save at least one soul for the kingdom of God. I don’t want to put any pressure on you but your witness for Christ might be a nonbelievers only chance at heaven so you want to be ready to do it well. You don’t want to stand before the bema judgment seat of Jesus Christ empty handed. Jesus will ask every believer if they’ve witnessed in his name and you must be able to answer yes. If any believer saves at least one priceless soul for the kingdom of God they will be rewarded by Jesus Christ on the last day. The Lord will be pleased with you. How could he not be?

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.

The vast majority of believers in heaven will be there only because of their faith in Jesus Christ, not having saved even a single soul for the kingdom of God. Because of that they’ll have eternal regret that they didn’t witness for Christ on earth. However, if you save at least one person for the kingdom of God you will be satisfied. More is always better but one will do. If you save one person for the kingdom of God you’ll probably be in the top ten percent of all believers in heaven, with the rewards that go with it. If you want to be great in heaven, like I do, that’s another matter entirely. That will require a lot more planning and hard work on your part to achieve it; plus the help of the Holy Spirit. Most people aren’t up to the task but if you think you are then follow me.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 – (God) – Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

First, set a goal for yourself. If you don’t have a goal then you’re not really serious about it. My first goal is to save one hundred nonbelievers to the kingdom of God and after I reach that goal my next goal is to save one thousand souls for heaven and then as many more as I can after that. I’ll never stop working God’s harvest field until the Lord takes me home. I don’t know how many people I’ll help save for the kingdom of God but God knows. All I know is God has protected me from harm all my life for this moment. I feel it more than I know it if that makes sense. I plan to shine for the Lord and be a co-worker with God in his harvest field. And so, I will work diligently, with love and gratitude toward God and joy in my heart.

Isaiah 45:22 – Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Psalm 20:4 – May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.

How did I come up with my goals in the first place? I came up with my first goal of saving one hundred lost souls because in the Bible God often talks about a good harvest being a “hundredfold.” If one hundred is good enough for God it’s good enough for me as my first goal. There’s not a doubt in my mind that if I save a hundred souls for the kingdom of God I’ll hear the Lord say on the last day, “well done good and faithful servant.” In the Scriptures the number one thousand is also important to God so it’s a logical number for my next goal after one hundred. One thousand saved souls will be hard for me to achieve but it’s not an impossible number to reach. In the Bible it says those who save many will shine like the stars in the firmament. In my mind I associate the term “many” with one thousand. I feel certain that if I save a thousand souls for the kingdom of God I’ll be in that top one percent of Christians in heaven who will likely shine like the stars in the firmament. I don’t know exactly what that means on a personal level but I trust in God that it’ll be wonderful.

Daniel 12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Psalm 33:18-19 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

One on one witnessing is always the best way to go but let’s face it, you’re not going to save more than a half dozen people that way because the witness opportunities are few. The key to saving “many” is to leverage your witness so you get the gospel message out to as many people as possible. To be sure, witnessing is a volume business like any sales transaction only this time you’re selling God. So how do we do it successfully? It’s rare for anyone to accept Jesus Christ the first time they hear the gospel message. It usually takes hearing the gospel 15-20 times or more before someone internalizes the gospel message which allows the Holy Spirit to convict someone of their sin and make them aware of their need for God’s saving grace. The key is to focus on spreading the gospel seed because it moves someone along the path to salvation. God generously rewards each sower equally with the eventual reaper of every soul for the kingdom of God.

Psalm 16:11 – You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness and joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 55:6 – Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

If you want to save many and you haven’t been called to the ministry to preach then be a Sunday school teacher or a missionary. Share the gospel on a television show or radio program if you have the money to do it. You can start a Christian blog and share the gospel of Christ through the internet like I do (see also www.christiantractministry.com). You could become a Christian author and share the gospel that way. Do whatever the Holy Spirit calls you to do. God has a plan for your life but it’s up to you to find it. Everyone needs to brainstorm and come up with their own way to leverage their witness for Christ. I know the perfect way for me to witness for Christ. It’s been in use for many years and I’ve just adopted it as my own. I have bought and personally distributed Christian tracts for the last eight years. I leave them wherever I go when I’m out and about shopping, doing errands, etc. I have expanded my Christian tract ministry this past year to include fourteen new ministry partners (primarily prisons) so that other godly men can distribute for me the free tracts I provide for nonbelievers. A generous God will reward all sowers of the gospel seed, including those like me who provide tracts for that purpose.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony if the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Isaiah 44:22 – I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

These little Christian tracts are cartoon booklets that contain the gospel message in written form. There is documented proof that thousands of people have been saved over the last seventy five years by Christian tracts alone so I know they work. I also provide free Bibles for nonbelievers. I believe at least one tract out of a thousand will be instrumental in moving a nonbeliever along the gospel path that ultimately leads to salvation and I’ll be rewarded as a sower of that seed when the person is saved. I also believe that to be the case with one Bible out of every hundred I provide, because the Bibles aren’t disposable like tracts are. Bibles might get passed around for forty years. One tenth of one percent return on Christian tracts I’m providing is only a conservative guess but I prefer to be pleasantly surprised in heaven on the last day by the number of souls I’ve saved rather than over estimate and be disappointed. I also count one saved soul for ever one thousand hits on my two blogs with the same rationale. It’s just a way for me to keep score and stay on track. The number of souls we save for God isn’t as important as the consistent effort we give in working God’s harvest field. As 2022 comes to a close, my ministry this year has given away 20,445 Christian tracts, 910 Bibles and New Testaments and 255 gospel comics and pamphlets. In 2023 I pray that God will bless me even more!

Deuteronomy 12:32 – Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

Isaiah 64:4 – For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.

The trick is to plan your work in God’s harvest field as his co-worker and then go work you plan. It’s all about the work we put in with perseverance. The Apostle Paul said it’s okay to strive for treasures in heaven. There’s nothing to be ashamed of so go for it. The point is even if there were no rewards in heaven for saving lost souls I’d still be doing the same thing because I love God and I love my fellow man. I don’t want to see anyone go to hell for the lack of a witness. Rewards in heaven are just a way of staying motivated; it’s the work for God that’s important. My goal is to always act in such a way that God is pleased. When I stand before the bema judgment seat of Jesus Christ on the last day my heart’s desire is to hear Jesus say, “well done good and faithful servant.” Join me in my work and you’ll share in my joy on the last day. The Holy Spirit has given me my ministry of blogging about the kingdom of God, although it took me a while to recognize it. I’ll never stop doing my duty to the Lord my God while I live. Don’t shirk you duty to God. It’s our responsibility to recognize our duty to God and then go do it. Now you have been told what you should do so you have no excuse. Pray and meditate on God’s word daily and he’ll show you the way you should go.

Psalm 95:6 – Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Psalm 51:1 – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Explaining the problem of suffering is probably the most difficult challenge of Christianity in modern times. Even ordained ministers and Bible scholars have a hard time explaining why a loving God allows suffering to continue in the world he created. I’m just a layman; a believer who loves studying God’s word and sharing what I know and think through my blog. Do I think I know more than the experts? No I don’t. But I do meditate daily on the magnitude and majesty of God and the issue of suffering is often on my mind. My ministry of writing about the kingdom of God was given to me by the Holy Spirit so I won’t belittle what I’ve been given. Let’s discuss human suffering but at the same time I want you to study your Bible and go to God in prayer asking for a personal revelation on the nature of suffering.

Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 8:22 – For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pains together until now.

First of all, why do we always blame God for our suffering when we brought suffering on ourselves? God is perfect and his creation was once perfect. In the beginning there was no sin, pain, suffering or death in the world. The first man, Adam, was given dominion over the whole earth by God. But then Adam sinned against God and Adam became a fallen creature. As the father of the human race, that fate was imputed to all men who came after Adam. Sin, pain, suffering and death all entered the earth because of the disobedience of Adam to the commands of God and not through any action on God’s part. Adam’s sin allowed dominion over the earth to pass from him to Satan, who is the master of dispensing pain, suffering and death on the human race whom he hates.

1 Peter 4:16 – Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

1 Peter 4:19 – Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful creator.

Philippians 1:29 – For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Romans 8:17 – And if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

God has given all men the freewill choice to serve God and obey his commands or serve Satan through disobedience. One of the spiritual truths of heaven is, “you reap what you sow.” In Adam’s case, he sowed the seeds of sin, pain, suffering and death by his disobedience to God and, as a result, the human race has reaped what Adam has sown because he is the earthly father of us all. God does not change. God dispenses justice fairly to all. It grieves God greatly to see all the sin, pain, suffering and death in the world. That’s why God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to defeat Satan, reclaim the earth and save mankind from their sins and eternal death in the fires of hell.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

1 Peter 2:21 – For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 4:1 – Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

1 Peter 5:10 – But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

It will take the entirety of human history (7000 years) to eliminate all sin from God’s creation and imprison Satan and all his demons in hell forever. Why does God take so long? I don’t know. God has his own timetable for doing things. God’s actions are perfect, as is his timing. God always does as he pleases when he pleases. We are not to question the motives and actions of Almighty God. The finite human mind cannot understand the infinite mind of God and his ultimate use of and purpose for our suffering. We know from our own experience that suffering is inevitable and that fact is confirmed numerous times in God’s word. The key for believers is to accept that suffering is part of the human condition and trust that God has a purpose for our suffering that will benefit us. Christ’s suffering and death is a prime example of this.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Revelation 2:10 – (Jesus speaking about the tribulation period) – Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1 Peter 3:14 – But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.

John 16:33 – (Jesus) – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

We know from a study of the Scriptures that when we suffer for the Christian faith then God is glorified. The more we suffer for God the more we ourselves are glorified in heaven. Through stories in the Bible we learn that our physical suffering for God purifies us spiritually and makes us more fit to live in heaven. Our earthly suffering is an important part of God’s sanctification process for us whereby we become more like Christ over time. Jesus could have died an easier death and it would’ve still redeemed us. Instead, Jesus died an excruciation death on the cross to the glory of God the Father. As believers we’re called to suffer in our lifetime as Christ suffered, although not to the same degree. No matter what suffering we encounter during our life it’ll never come close to matching Christ’s suffering on the cross. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the example how to bear up under suffering with dignity and grace and if believers emulate Jesus in their suffering they will receive honor and glory in heaven.

Philippians 3:10 – That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

2 Corinthians 1:7 – And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

1 Peter 4:13 – But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

James 5:10 – My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

When the early church leaders compiled the books of the Bible they didn’t know where to place the book of Job. The 66 books of the Bible are the revelation of Jesus Christ and they also chronicle God’s relationship with man in general and God’s people (Israel) in particular. Job is different from any other book in the Bible. Job doesn’t add to the historical narrative of the human race in any way. Job also doesn’t quite fit any of the known sections of the Bible so the compilers eventually decided to put the book of Job in the poetry and wisdom section of the Bible, after Ester and before Psalms. Most of the Old Testament was written by the prophets of God but the author of Job is unknown. We do know the book of Job is one of the oldest books of the Bible. Job was a man of God and a contemporary of Abraham so the setting of the story was in the time of the patriarchs which means Job could be as old as the book of Genesis. The question is why did God give us the book of Job?

Job 1:21 – Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job 14:1 – Anyone born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.

2 Corinthians 1:5-6 – For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The book of Job is in the Bible because God wants to talk to us about suffering. The book of Job teaches us that suffering comes to everyone, the righteous and unrighteous alike. Suffering comes to the innocent as well as the guilty. God does not always keep the righteous and innocent from danger or suffering. The fact that one person may suffer more than another is God’s choice as the Sovereign Lord of creation. God doesn’t have to explain his reasoning to his creatures, which we are. Ultimately, God controls all of life’s situations and we have to trust in God’s provision for us and his love for his children, which we are. In Job we get to see the veil of heaven pulled back with God talking to Satan. We see that Satan cannot harm one of God’s children without God’s permission. We learn that Satan does indeed go to and fro across the earth seeking to do evil to men and to cause suffering at every opportunity. The book of Job is a stark reminder that man is only safe in the arms of God.

Hebrews 12:5-6 – My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

The Bible has many examples of godly men who endured suffering during their lives. These men were no different from you and me. They were persecuted for their faith and, in many cases, they compounded their suffering by making bad decisions. Take the psalmist David for example. David endured much pain and suffering in his life and this is reflected in many of his poems collected in the book of Psalms. David was hounded and chased by King Saul for years and after David became king himself he was punished by God for his adultery with Bathsheba. God loved David as a man after his own heart but he didn’t spare the rod.

James 1:12 – Blesses is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

2 Corinthians 12:10 – Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalm 22:1-2 – (David) – My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Romans 8:24-25 – For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

We all remember the Bible story of Joseph, son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph was taken to Egypt where he was later thrown into prison for years based on false charges. Joseph suffered greatly through no fault of his own. Then we have the example of the Apostle Paul who served the Lord for forty years. Paul was beaten up regularly for preaching the word of God and Paul was often cold and hungry. Several times Paul was whipped, stoned and imprisoned for sharing the gospel of Christ. Paul also had some sort of physical ailment he had to deal with all his life. Paul endured his hardships and sufferings with stoicism knowing his reward in heaven would be great. We should all have the same mindset as the Apostle Paul when it comes to dealing with suffering.

Philippians 1:21 – (Paul) – For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (go to heaven).

2 Corinthians 12:9 – (God speaking to Paul who asked God to relieve his physical suffering) – My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all those who have loved His appearing.

Proverbs 13:15 – Good understanding gives favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

God could prevent suffering but if he did that he’d be perverting his perfect justice. Instead, God uses suffering to achieve his own purpose in our lives. God can use suffering for good. God can use suffering to draw us to God, to prove our faith is real or to make us focus on heaven and not earth. Suffering can be used by God as a form of discipline to bring the believer back into fellowship with God. Suffering enables Christians to identify with and encourage other sufferers. Suffering can remind us that this world is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven. In the end, the genuineness of our faith determines our response to suffering.

1 Peter 1:6-7 – In this (salvation) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that in the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glorify at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 21:4 – (in heaven) – And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Genesis 3:17-19 – (God speaking to Adam) – Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground.

John 18:36 – (Jesus) – My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I am not delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here.

In summary, to live life is to suffer. There’s no way around it. Some will suffer more and some less. We have no say in the matter. It’s all up to God. What we do know is the believer has the hope of salvation. When the believer suffers in this life he’s suffering with Christ. When believers suffer they’re building up honor and glory in heaven. God has promised the believer they will not suffer more than they can bear. On the other hand, when the nonbeliever suffers they have no such assurance or comfort. They have no champion whereas the believer is protected by God. The nonbeliever is on their own and adrift in a sea of pain, suffering, misery and evil without end. They have no anchor in the storms of life. The nonbelievers are without hope which is one of the reasons they are prone to committing suicide. Decide beforehand whom you will serve, God or Satan, and also how you will endure suffering in this life. Gird yourself for the ordeal to come. Make sure you bear your sufferings with dignity and in such a way that it’s pleasing in the sight of God.

John 15:18-19 – (Jesus) – If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 14:6 – (Jesus) – I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Psalm 34:19 – Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 33:11 – The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

I’ve been an avid reader all of my life and I find the poetry and prose of the Bible to be uplifting and unparalleled, not only by its obvious wisdom, but also because of its beautiful words and the clear message of God’s love for us by the coming of Christ to save us from our sins. The books of the Bible were written starting around 3400 years ago with the book of Genesis written by Moses. The book of Revelation was the last book of the Bible and it was written approximately 1900 years ago by the Apostle John. Over this 1500 year period the Bible has been consistent in its message of Christ and also in the majesty of its writing. All 66 books of the Bible mesh together seamlessly without any contradictions or errors as if they were written by one author, which they were. God is the author of the Bible and he used holy men under the influence of the Holy Spirit to be his writers. Let’s look at a few of the Scriptures that sing to our soul:

John 3:16 – (Jesus speaking) – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

When God refers to the world he means us, you and me, and all human beings who have ever lived in the past or who will ever live in the future. The only begotten Son of God is Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune godhead. Jesus has always existed in heaven along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit because Jesus is God. Three distinct persons but one God. When God says he “gave” his son it means that he (God) voluntarily stepped down from his throne and humbled himself by coming to the earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice to save man. God came to this earth as a poor, humble servant to give his life as a ransom so that our sins could be forgiven by a just and loving God. God didn’t just simply die for us; God died for us in the most cruel and agonizing way possible. Roman crucifixion was designed to be torture of the worst kind; designed to keep the victim alive as long as possible while inflicting the most pain and suffering.

1 John 2:25 – And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life.

Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Luke 24:46 – (Jesus speaking) – Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.

John 10:28 – (Jesus speaking) – And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.

Crucifixion was so cruel that by law no Roman citizen could die by that method. Crucifixion was so cruel that it only existed as a means of execution for about 200 years before Rome banned its use. When God says all who believe in Him (Jesus) he means the believer must acknowledge God, repent from their sins, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A believer must believe the gospel message; that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day, before returning to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. God says believers will live forever in heaven in the presence of Jesus. Those who don’t believe in Jesus will perish. There is no middle ground. The human spirit received from the hand of God at our conception is immortal because God is giving us a part of himself. Since God is eternal that part of himself which he gives us must also be eternal. It can’t be any other way. When God refers to unbelievers being destroyed (perishing) he doesn’t mean they will cease to exist. God means they will separated from God and suffer eternal death by being condemned to hell for all eternity for their iniquity.

John 3:18 – (Jesus speaking) – He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Psalm 33:18-19 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Psalm 62:1-2 – Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation; He is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

1 Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

We all know John 3:16 is the best known verse of the entire Bible. There’s a reason. It tells us unequivocally that God loves us. God is giving up his most treasured possession to save us and as human beings who love and value our own children we can see the love God has for us when he sends Jesus Christ to die in our place. Actions speak louder than words and God proved his love for us. Just think of the grief and anguish that God had to go through to watch his beloved son die on the cross. God allowed that to happen because God also loves us just as much as he loves Jesus.

It’s hard for us to understand the depth of God’s love for us but one day we’ll understand. We can see from John 3:16 that we can all have the free gift of salvation in heaven for simply believing the gospel message of Christ. There are no exclusions or exceptions to this precious gift from God. God loves every person that he has made equally. God is not only saving us; God is making it easy for all to accept his grace unto salvation. While salvation is freely offered to all people it must be accepted individually by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. There is no other way to heaven other than through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let’s look at another beloved set of verses from the Bible; Psalm 23:

Psalm 23:1-2 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

If John 3:16 is the most memorized verse in the Bible then Psalm 23 is a close second. There’s a reason for this. John 3:16 gives us our fondest desire which is a promise of God’s love for us and a guarantee of salvation unto eternal life. Psalm 23 is beloved because it assures us in verse one that God will provide for all our needs. God will take care of us. In verse two God assures us we’ll have the peace of God that is beyond understanding. When we make peace with God he will give us his peace in this life and also later on when we’re living through the 1000 year millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ in our glorified bodies. I see verse two also pertaining to the new heaven and new earth at the close of the 1000 year millennium period. When God says in Scripture that he’ll never leave us he means it. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit forevermore.

Psalm 23:3-4 – He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

When God says, “He restores my soul”, he’s referring to Old Testament saints being declared “righteous” in the eyes of God for their faith. That means Old Testament saints went to Paradise within the earth when they died to await the coming of Christ so their sins could be forgiven. When Jesus was buried three days in the earth he went down to Paradise and escorted the saints to heaven. Jesus was restoring the souls of Old Testament saints to the condition they were in before Adam’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden and sin entered the world.

In the New Testament God is referring to the fulfilled prophecy of Jesus Christ coming to die on the cross for the sins of all men, thereby restoring man’s soul to the way it was before it was stained by sin. Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden and he was expelled. Adam’s sin remained in his body and spirit and also in the body and spirit of all men who came after Adam. Man became a fallen creature full of sin whose destiny changed from eternal life in heaven to eternal death in hell in that moment. To make the restoration of man’s fellowship with God possible the Lord himself came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ to die on the cross so our sins could be forgiven (removed). One of the spiritual truths of heaven is, “the wages of sin is death.” There was no qualifying sinless human sacrifice available on earth to save us so God himself had to save us or we all would’ve gone down to the pit (hell) for all eternity. For this reason Jesus Christ is our Savior and we must never forget for a moment what Jesus has done for us. All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus has reconciled us to God by his death on the cross, each person is responsible for completing the process by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It’s a two part process. God took the first step by his sinless sacrifice to remove our sins and we must take the second step by repenting and asking forgiveness of our sins. If we don’t do our part then we still abide in our sins before God and eternal death in hell is our fate. God himself will make the believer more like Christ during their lifetime in a process we see referred to in Scripture as “sanctification.” The Psalm says God is doing this to glorify his name. Once we get to heaven God will complete the process of making us like Christ (glorification). I don’t know exactly what that’ll look like but I know it’ll be wonderful.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

John 11:25-26 – (Jesus speaking) – I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

John 3:36 – (Jesus speaking) – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 6:40 – (Jesus speaking) – And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

In verse four of Psalm 23 we find the most important verse in the entire Psalm. Our journey through life is compared by God to a walk through a valley. Once we’re born we must continue on through the valley of life until we die, or we get raptured or we reach the other side safely. We can’t have the privilege of life without facing the almost certain probability of death. Most of us will die along the way. All believers, both dead and alive, will be raptured to Jesus in the air at his appearing. A small number of people who miss the rapture will later become believers during the tribulation period and reach the other side of the valley alive to see the second coming of Jesus Christ. Most people who miss the rapture and become believers during the tribulation period will have to live through God’s wrath on earth and possibly suffer a martyr’s death by having their head cut off. The raptured saints will go to heaven first in their glorified bodies but they will return with Jesus Christ at his Second Coming on the last day. All nonbelievers will go to hell forever.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

John 14:23 – (Jesus speaking) – If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him (Holy Spirit) and make Our home with him.

Romans 5:5 – Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

The history of the world is divided into two parts; before Christ and after Christ. We see that in the world’s dating system. It’s not an accident. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the single most important event in the history of the world because it meant that believers would likewise rise from the dead and not die. Jesus’ death and resurrection was proof that believers were saved unto eternal life in heaven. Because if Jesus rose from the dead it means that we too will not see eternal death if we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We’re told not to fear physical death because death is the beginning not the end. God was with the “righteous” of the Old Testament and he saved them from eternal death. The Holy Spirit did not indwell all the righteous in Old Testament times but only a few selected individuals. Those New Testament believers living after the resurrection of Jesus are living under the new blood covenant of Christ and not the law. That means ALL believers are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. What a marvelous thing to behold!

We are to have no fear of physical death because the Holy Spirit of God indwells all the believers as soon as they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Praise God! When we die in Christ the Holy Spirit will immediately return our soul to heaven from whence it came to be in the presence of Jesus. How could it not? The Holy Spirit and our spirit are together inside our living body. One of the spiritual truths of God is eternal spirits cannot remain inside a corrupted (unclean) corpse so they have to come out immediately upon our death. At our death do you think the Holy Spirit is going to say to our spirit, “so long, see you later?” Of course not. The Holy Spirit is going to say, “come with me, let’s go home to Jesus.” It can happen no other way.

God is reciprocal so the opposite is also true. When nonbelievers die their souls are also expelled from their dead bodies. The difference is their immortal souls are taken down to hell by demons kind of like we saw in the movie “Ghost” only they will be much scarier. Nobody goes to hell voluntarily. The spirits of the damned must be dragged down to hell against their will. When we walk with God he will protect us, guide us and discipline us when we need it like any parent would their child; hence the reference to rod and staff in this verse. This shows God’s love for us which should comfort us as we go through the hardships of this life.

Psalm 23:5-6 – You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

In verse five of the Psalm God assures us that all believers who obey his counsel will have his protection and live very fruitful lives in service to the Lord. Goodness and mercy will follow believers all their lives because they are attributes of God and God is on the inside of us. We know we’re talking about God because only God can dispense mercy. The anointing of someone’s head in Old Testament times symbolized their selection by God as his own. We see that in the case of the king of Israel or a ‘”righteous” saint or prophet if they belonged to God. After the time of Christ the anointing of believers is accomplished internally by the washing and regeneration of our eternal spirit by the Holy Spirit of God. Verse six reaffirms verse five by restating God’s salvation and provision for our lives by using different words so there can be no misunderstanding or ambiguity about what God is saying to us. The very last statement in the Psalm says it all. God doesn’t say believers could or might go to heaven; God says believers “will” live in heaven in the presence of Jesus Christ forever. This is a promise from God to us and God cannot lie or break a promise once made. Psalm 23 is so popular because it gives us a glorious “hope” for the future.

Deuteronomy 17:19 – And it (God’s law; the Bible) shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

I have read the entire Bible several times and each time through I find a new revelation about the kingdom of God that I missed on prior readings. I’m currently reading in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah. We know the entire Bible is about the coming of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. We see in Jeremiah 23:5-6 the complete revelation of Jesus Christ in two verses. The only thing missing is when Jesus comes in the air to rapture all believers to himself before taking all the saints with him back to heaven. Let’s break down the two verses to see what God is telling us about the coming of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 23:5 – “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

Jeremiah was one of the major prophets of God and also one of the 15 writing prophets who produced books in the Old Testament. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, also had the distinction of writing the longest book in the Bible, which bears his name, as well as a second book called Lamentations. Jeremiah served the Lord for forty years from 626 BC to 586 BC. In verse five we see that Jeremiah prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, the son of God, about 600 years before the blessed event took place. Jesus lived and died over 2000 years ago. The second statement in verse five is the prophesied millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ on the earth which hasn’t occurred yet. We know it will come true in the future because the first part of the prophecy came true. The Bible contains over 1000 prophecies, over 500 of which have been fulfilled and documented as historical fact. We know God promised King David that his branch, or descendant, would sit on his throne and rule forever and that branch is Jesus Christ; a direct descendant of King David and also God in the flesh.

Luke 1:32 – He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 John 5:12 – He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

By capitalizing the word branch we know that Jeremiah is talking about the Messiah; Jesus Christ, the divine son of God, as well as a direct descendant of King David. There’s only one God so Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. God is righteous therefore Jesus is righteous. All believers God considers righteous because at our salvation Jesus gave his righteousness to us in exchange for our sins. The wages of sin is death so Jesus died so we wouldn’t have to. Let me say this again. When Jesus came down from heaven he took away our sins and in exchange gave his righteousness to everyone who believes in his name. That’s the best trade in the history of the world and it’s in our favor. Jesus took the sins of all men upon himself when he died on the cross in our place so that our sins might be forgiven by a just and loving God.

Psalm 18:30 – As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

1 Chronicles 22:19 – Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.

John 6:47 – (Jesus speaking) – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

Hebrews 13:5 – I will never leave you nor forsake you.

The last statement of verse five is referring to the 1000 year millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ which starts immediately after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth on the last day. Jesus came to earth the first time as a suffering servant but his second coming will be to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. We know this is the prophesied second coming of Jesus because the word king is capitalized indicating a devine person (Jesus) will rule the entire earth and the Bible tells us that only happens during the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. This is further emphasized by saying the king will execute judgment and righteousness in the earth, which only the Lord Jesus Christ has the authority and power to accomplish.

Jeremiah 23:6 – In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The divine pronoun is used three times to reinforce we’re talking about Jesus Christ. We know the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah and they have been punished by God for over 2000 years for their sins. Make no mistake, the Jews are still God’s chosen people. God does not change. We know from this Scripture that a Jewish remnant (Judah) will be saved at the battle of Armageddon on the last day when Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives (the Second Coming). We know Israel will only dwell in safety with Jesus during the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ as King of the earth. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is righteousness (morally good; virtuous) and we have our righteousness through his sacrificial death on our behalf. “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,” is capitalized which means we have our righteousness (salvation) because of Jesus and God is screaming out this truth of God from his throne in heaven and we better recognize it and praise God for his mercy and grace toward us. Only God could have saved us from an eternity in hell and he did it through Jesus Christ who voluntarily died on the cross in our place. Praise God for his love and mercy! Jesus Christ is Lord of all forevermore.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Romans 4:5 – But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Hebrews 9:22 – And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins).

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The three verses I’ve just commented on, John 3:16, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and Psalm 23, are prime examples of the beauty of God’s poetry and the majesty of God’s prose. There are millions of people dying every day and going to hell because they haven’t chosen to serve the Lord our God. Satan has blinded them. There are countless thousands of people every day who are committing suicide because they don’t know God. Satan has fooled them. They consider themselves to be failures in life whom nobody loves. Satan has convinced them of this and led them to take their own life. It’s so sad! There are millions more who suffer symptoms of depression and live out their lives in utter despair. Satan seeks our destruction continually, every second of the day. It doesn’t have to be this way! If every person would simply read the three sets of verses I’ve just described every morning it would totally change their outlook on life. Write them on index cards so they can be reviewed every day. If everyone took the time to just meditate on these words every day they would soon realize they’re God’s masterpiece of creation and just how precious they are in the eyes of God.

Knowing the love of God these people could then fend off the fiery darts of Satan trying to convince them they’re worthless. The scales would be removed from their eyes and they could see the truth of God clearly. If God loves you so should you. If God thinks you’re priceless so should you. If everyone saw themselves as God sees them suicide rates would likely drop dramatically. Once Satan has been exposed as the one who wants to kill us he can be easily rebuffed by the word of God. God has plans for all of us to prosper here on earth. God wants all believers to reside in heaven with Jesus Christ forever. God never created anyone with the intention of sending them to hell. That’s a choice we make. Don’t let Satan harvest your soul for the kingdom of hell and divert you from your true destiny which is to live in heaven with Jesus forever. Fight back with all your might! Resist Satan and he will flee according to Scripture. All you have to do is read the Bible daily and pray to God daily. If you are in fellowship with God Satan has no power over you other than what you give him. God will protect you from Satan and the powers of darkness if you ask him because Satan is no match for the power of God.

Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, fear not, I will help you.

Psalm 31:15 – My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

Psalm 62:8 – Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 50:15 – Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.

I’m from Oklahoma, which makes me an “Okie.” You can tell an Okie, you just can’t tell him much! Most people who know me consider me to be stubborn and a contrarian and I agree with that assessment. Some people think that I’m also argumentative and I’m all that. I have a natural tendency to go against the flow most of the time. I usually take the road less traveled because most of the time that’s the right road. I have dogged determination. I know what I know and I’m not easily swayed by the opinions of others. I’m also getting long in the tooth which is a nice way of saying I’m older than dirt. In short, I have most of the attributes needed to be an effective witness for Christ. Do you? If so then come join me as a foot soldier for God.

In the grand scheme of things our brief life here on earth is meaningless apart from a right relationship with God. King Solomon reminds us of that in the book of Ecclesiastes. Our life is like a morning mist that lingers but a short while and is no more. However, when we witness for Christ and save others for the kingdom of God that good work will be remembered by God in heaven and the rewards we receive will last for an eternity. Knowing that, can you think of any better use of your time? I can’t. It’s critically important that we use our brief time here on earth to witness for Christ as God commands us. It’s very important each believer saves at least one person for the kingdom of God.

Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 119:2 – Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

Psalm 33:11 – The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

I’m comfortable in my own skin which is what we should all strive for. I know who I am, where I came from, and where I’m going. Best of all, I know why I’m here on earth. Do you? The Bible, the wisdom literature of God, has all the answers to life’s questions so go find out your destiny if you don’t already know. You know, older people tend to get cranky and not suffer fools lightly because they’ve seen it all and done it all. I’m in that age group. I don’t have time to waste on foolish things. I don’t have time for false teachings, false doctrines and dealing with fools. I enjoy my own company and value my own counsel more than anyone else’s; with one exception. I will seek out and listen very carefully to anyone I consider to be wise. I recommend you also be wise and always strive to learn from those you consider wiser than yourself.

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

1 John 5:11 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

How can you tell if someone is wise? I’m glad you asked; but first let me tell you what I know. I rarely take anyone’s word about anything and that’s a good way to approach the world because the world is full of swindlers, thieves, liars and cheats. We’re in a fallen world and that’s just the way it is until Jesus comes. I never take anyone else’s opinion as the final word on any matter without verifying it and neither should you. Everyone has their own vested interests which may be different from yours so beware. I like to do my own homework in areas that interest me and I like to research the truth of any matter before I commit myself. I have always applied this process to the study of all religion, and with Christianity in particular. As I searched for God he found me. The Scriptures confirm that if you earnestly seek God you will find him. You have God’s promise and God cannot lie. I’ve been studying God’s word for over twenty years and you have my testimony that God is who he says he is and his word is true. I urge you to verify this yourself by studying God’s word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

I know that the Holy Bible is God’s word and God’s wisdom. In fact, the Bible is the only true source of wisdom in this world. Nobody can be truly considered as wise without at least a basic understanding and familiarity with the Bible. Many people have a hard time believing there’s a God or that the Christian God is the one and only true God. That’s understandable because we live in a fallen world where sin is pervasive. Satan is the god of this world and he has put blinders on nonbelievers so they can’t see the truth of God on their own and if that’s not enough then Satan will also seek to deceive men with false religions and fake gods. Regular reading of the Bible and prayers to God on a daily basis will keep Satan at bay. Scripture says to resist Satan and he will flee from you. The word of God can remove the scales from your eyes that Satan has put there and allow you to see the truth of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 – Whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.

Psalm 53:1 – The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

If you look closely at the holy books of all the false religions of the world you’ll see they are a bunch of vague contradictions and trite platitudes. It’s obvious they were all written by evil men with their own agenda. A plethora of words that sound good but signify nothing; words without meaning, power or wisdom. All the fake gods of all the false religions of the world stand mute before the true God of creation. Satan is not an original thinker but he is a master at imitation so he created false religions to compete with God for the affections of men. Satan is the father of Islam, Hinduism, Bhuddism and all the other Christian cults that are out there. Don’t be fooled by the lies of Satan and be drug down to the pit of hell with him. On the other hand, when you read the Bible the truth and wisdom of God shines through like the noon day sun.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you also want to find God start reading the Bible daily, starting with the New Testament. Read the entire Bible all the way through and then do it again. As you do this ask God daily in prayer before your start reading the Bible to reveal himself to you and he will do it because God has promised in his word that he would do so. The Bible is without error and God cannot lie. At some point in your walk with the Lord the truth of God will be settled in your soul and give you peace like you have never known. Rarely does it take more than one reading of the Bible to find God, if you have an open mind. You have my testimony that it’ll happen to you like it did for me and millions of other Christians throughout the world.

Psalm 119:97-99 – Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

Romans 15:4 – For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (salvation).

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

As I continue my study of the Bible, God’s word is confirmed in countless ways and never contradicted. The books of the Bible fit together seamlessly as one word of God with one consistent message about the love God has for us. How could it be otherwise since God himself authored the Bible over a period of 1500 years, from 1400 BC to 100 AD, using godly men who were moved by the Holy Spirit? Bible critics have been trying to disprove the Bible for over 2000 years and they haven’t found any errors or inconsistencies yet but they keep looking. Only the Christian Bible has over 1000 prophecies, over 500 of which have been fulfilled and documented as historical fact. All the false religions in the entire history of the world do not have even one fulfilled prophecy. They can’t because they are not from God. Only the true God of creation knows the end from the beginning. Our God is the Lord, and Jesus Christ is his son.

2 Peter 1:21 – For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37:27-28 – Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, and does nor forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

God wants us to know him and his salvation plan for man. When I first read about God’s plan for our salvation and fully understood the implications the first thought that came into my mind was, “this is perfect.” This could only have come from the mind of God. God’s salvation plan is perfect in its simplicity; so simple in fact that men think there must be a catch. I can tell you there is no catch. God wanted to make salvation easy for us. God is not trying to keep us out of heaven. God is inclusive and doing all he can to get as many of his children to heaven as possible. Never lose sight of the fact that God is good and he is always for us. Unlike all the other false religions that require men to jump through hoops without promising salvation, the Lord our God freely gives salvation unto eternal life to any man who asks for it. Those who repent of their sins, acknowledge God, and then accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior have salvation unto eternal life in heaven given to them as a free gift by the grace of God. By his goodness and generosity God shows his love for us.

1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.

2 Corinthians 4:3 – But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

In Scripture God has identified those who have been saved as “wise” and those men who have rejected God and his saving grace as “fools.” These are only two types of people in the world. Don’t get me wrong, there are intelligent people, smart people, and clever people out there but that doesn’t make them wise. You also can’t use money as a yardstick for wisdom because money can’t buy happiness or salvation nor can man save himself like the humanists want us to believe. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ our Lord and the only way to true happiness is through obedience to the commands of God. The only way to know the command of God is to study the Bible. God gave us his word so we’ll know what we must do and why.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile).

Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

2 Peter 1:2 – Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

God watches over all believers because we are his children. We are God’s portion on this earth, his holy inheritance. All believers are saved but not all believers are wise; only those believers who actually immerse themselves in a study of God’s word and obey God’s commandments can be considered as wise. Truly wise men of God are as rare as hen’s teeth. Search them out and when you find them seek them as mentors and listen to their counsel. Of course the #1 counselor is God himself so talk to God often in prayer and watch for his revelations in Scripture. We talk to God in prayer and he promises to listen to us. God talks to us in Scripture so we need to be spiritually aware to hear him; the small still voice of God that speaks to our soul.

1 Timothy 1:9 – Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

1 John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

Colossians 4:2 – Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

God calls nonbelievers “fools” because they reject the truth of God that is right before their eyes and as a result of their unbelief they are destined to spend eternity in hell. All they have to do is believe in God, repent, and ask for his forgiveness of their sins. How hard is that? The nonbeliever can’t even do that simple little thing so their sins still abide on them and a just and fair God has no choice but to condemn them to the lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity where they will be in constant pain and agony. Millions of people are dying every day and going to hell forever for the lack of a witness about the saving grace of God. It’s such a waste! God leaves believers on this earth to witness the gospel message of Christ to nonbelievers to save as many as we can for the kingdom of God. We can’t save everyone but we can save one more for Jesus if we try.

Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 9:27 – And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

Proverbs 13:13 – He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

God is good and always has our best interests at heart so therefore God never made man with the intent of sending anyone to hell. The nonbeliever makes the free will choice to serve God or Satan on their own, so they are without excuse. God knew who would accept his grace and who wouldn’t before he laid the foundation of the world because God knows the end from the beginning. Seek wisdom where you can find it and make the decision to serve God while you yet live. Once your heart stops beating your testing time on this earth is over and your fate is sealed. The ultimate destination of your eternal soul is either heaven or hell. There are no other choices so don’t delay making your choice. It only takes five minutes to change the destination of your eternal soul from hell to heaven for all eternity. Do it right now this minute!

Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

After our salvation God leaves us here to witness for Christ and do good works. That is our reasonable service to the God who made us and saved us. God has blessed all believers by allowing us to participate in his salvation plan for man and build up treasures for ourselves in heaven. God has bestowed this honor upon us and it’s our sacred duty to help save as many lost souls as we can for the kingdom of God. God says his harvest field is great and believers are his co-workers. Nonbelievers are the harvest field. I have answered God’s call to join him in helping save the lost. Come join me. Failure to obey God in this regard will mean the loss of rewards in heaven for all eternity.

2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

1 John 3:22 – And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 5:12 – He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

All believers will one day have to stand before the bema seat of Jesus Christ to have their good works judged before the Lord. If you haven’t witnessed for Christ and helped save at least one person for the kingdom of God all your other works will burn with fire. You could give a billion dollars to charity and it won’t do you a bit of good unless you also do the main thing, the important thing, which is to witness for Christ and save at least one soul for the kingdom of God. If you disobey God you will not have any rewards in heaven because you haven’t obeyed the Great Commission of Jesus given to all disciples of Christ, which is to witness the gospel message to all nonbelievers. See, I have told you. You must obey God or lose all rewards. Scripture tells us the mind of man cannot comprehend the riches God has in store for those who love him. Take God at his word and strive for the prize.

Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Psalm 34:15 – The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears open to their cry.

Romans 10:9 – 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.

I know I’m repeating myself here but repetition is good for the soul. When we say something over and over the mind starts to incorporate it into our belief system. That’s why if you’ll notice God repeats important spiritual truths many times in is word. God is trying to drum his truth into our heads. I’m moved by the Holy Spirit to blog so witnessing for Christ is always on my mind. It’s a consuming fire that never leaves me. During my early morning walk every day I’m talking to God and mentally composing my next blog. I love what I do. By his knowledge God created the physical universe we live in. Through his understanding God made the angels and man and established the physical laws of nature. Because of his wisdom God developed his perfect salvation plan for man. We don’t know God’s plan for us in heaven but we do know it’ll be greater than we can possibly imagine because Scripture says so. God is the source of all wisdom. God is wisdom. As children of the Most High we have the wisdom of God on the inside of us (the Holy Spirit) and we’ll share in God’s divine nature forevermore. The Holy Spirit will also reside in our glorified bodies in heaven which is why we will not be able to sin in heaven. God will complete our glorification by himself once we get to heaven. Praise God!

Ephesians 6:10 – Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Hebrews 13:15 – Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks in His name.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We know the Bible contains secrets of heaven for us to discover. The Bible also contains some secrets of hell as well. People often refer to heaven, hell, and the last Day without an understanding that there are actually two heavens, two hells and two last Days mentioned in Scripture. We sometimes can’t tell which heaven, hell or last Day the Bible is talking about until we look at all of the surrounding Scriptures and examine the target audience or the topic of the book where the verse or verses are found. Never take Scripture out of context if you want to fully understand its true meaning. The Bible refers to the earth’s atmosphere as the first heaven and outer space as the second heaven. The third heaven is where God lives. Don’t confuse those descriptions of heaven with my listing of heaven number one and heaven number two.

Heaven #1 is Paradise within the earth and heaven #2 is upward where God lives. Hell #1 is also within the earth and is sometimes called Hades or the Pit. Hell #2 is the lake of fire and brimstone mentioned in the book of Revelation where all nonbelievers and fallen angels will eventually end up after final judgment at the Great White Throne of Jesus Christ. Last day #1 is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth to set foot on the Mount of Olives at the battle of Armageddon. Jesus will then judge all the nations for their iniquity before establishing his 1000 year millennial kingdom to be ruled from Jerusalem. The last day #2 will occur at the end of the thousand years. This is when all nonbelievers in hell #1 will be resurrected bodily to stand before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment. All who appear at this final judgment are condemned already. An angel of the Lord will grab hold of each nonbeliever and throw them into the lake of fire and brimstone where they will be in pain and agony without end for all eternity.

Matthew 5:16 – (Jesus speaking) – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (#2).

Matthew 5:18 – (Jesus speaking) – For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven (#2) and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled,

John 3:18 – (Jesus speaking) – He who believes in Him is not condemned (to hell #1); but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Isaiah 14:15 – Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (hell #1), to the lowest depths of the Pit (hell #1, within the earth).

Nonbelievers don’t believe in hell and even some believers don’t think hell is real. They think hell is an allegory or a spiritualization of God’s word. First of all, God speaks only the truth and God speaks plainly. When God speaks with symbolism it’s easy to recognize, like in the book Revelation. The rule of thumb with Bible interpretation is this: if the Bible verse makes plain sense when you read it, then seek no other sense. Hell (Hades) is mentioned 54 times in the Bible. Hell is also often referred to as the “pit”. The word pit occurs 88 times in the Bible and at least half of those occurrences are talking about hell within the earth, which I am calling hell number one. When God mentions hell in his word 100 times you can be sure hell is a real, literal place. You have been told so you are without excuse.

Matthew 10:28 – (Jesus speaking) – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (#1).

NOTE: Upon death the spirit of all nonbelievers immediately goes to hell #1 within the earth. The human corpse decays here on earth so it’s destroyed on this physical plane. When the spirits of the damned are resurrected for the Great White throne judgment they will all be given bodies that are decayed (destroyed) and they will keep those maggot-infested bodies throughout all eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone. The souls of all men are immortal but the soul of the nonbeliever is destroyed in the sense that he suffers eternal death in hell forever. The Bible often equates destruction with going to hell.

Matthew 8:12 – (Jesus speaking) – But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness (hell #1). There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

NOTE: When Jews speak about “outer darkness” they are talking about hell #1. Matthew was a Jewish disciple of Christ writing his gospel for a Jewish audience.

ln Old Testament times when the righteous died their eternal spirits went to Paradise within the earth, which I’m calling heaven #1. The Old Testament saints couldn’t go directly to heaven above, which I’m calling heaven #2, because their sins were not forgiven at that time. When God came down from heaven in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and died on the cross his atoning death allowed the sins of all men, past, present and future, to be forgiven. During his three days in the earth Jesus Christ, the son of God, descended into Paradise and escorted the saints waiting down there to heaven because he had paid their sin debt. Paradise within the earth is now empty and is no longer needed because all believers living after the time of Christ’s resurrection have their sins forgiven already. After the time of Christ the spirit of all believers who die immediately goes to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus. In the Old Testament when it talks about going to heaven it is usually referring to Paradise within the earth (heaven #1) unless the Scripture’s context indicates otherwise. In the New Testament all reference to heaven is heaven #2 above, with the same caveat.

Daniel 12:2 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life (heaven #1), some to shame and everlasting contempt (hell #1).

John 5:28-29 – (Jesus speaking) – For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life (the rapture or glorious appearing of Christ), and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of the damned (from hell #1 on the last Day #2).

John 5:24 – (Jesus speaking) – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My words and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life (heaven #2), and shall not come into judgment (on last Day #2), but has passed from death into life.

John 12:31-32 – (Jesus speaking) – Now is the judgment of this world (last Day #2); now the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (the appearing of Christ in the air), will draw all peoples to Myself (all believers, dead and alive).

When a nonbeliever dies their eternal spirit immediately goes to hell within the earth (hell #1) where they’ll be suspended in total darkness, alone, and in great pain and torment continually. All the unrighteous dead who lived before Christ also go to hell #1 within the earth. Cain was the first person to go hell for killing his brother Abel. God made the lake of fire and brimstone for Satan and his fallen angels to reside for all eternity (this is the second hell). The lake of fire and brimstone is currently empty until such time as Jesus Christ executes final judgment on the damned, both angel and man. I don’t know where this lake of fire and brimstone is located. It may be within the earth or somewhere else in the universe. Only God knows. In the book of Revelation, after hell #1 is emptied of all condemned people the final resting place of all the damned is only referred to as the lake of fire and brimstone (hell #2).

Psalm 16:10 – For you will not leave My soul in Sheol (hell #1), nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption (bodily decay).

Psalm 86:13 – For great is Your mercy toward Me (Jesus), and You have delivered My soul from the depths of Sheol (hell #1).

Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Titus 2:`13 – Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing (rapture) of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The first last Day will be when Jesus Christ sets his foot on the earth for the second time (on the Mount of Olives). Before then Jesus will come in the air with all his angels to call all believers to himself, both dead and alive, and Jesus will give all the believers their glorified bodies right there in the air. This is the “rapture” of the saints or the “appearing” of Jesus Christ in the air. It will occur exactly seven years to the day before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be just after the battle of Armageddon and before Israel can be destroyed. Jesus will save a remnant of Israel, God’s chosen people, before defeating Satan, the antichrist and all the nations surrounding Jerusalem with the intent of destroying Israel. Jesus will then judge all the nations for their sins against God. Believers alive at the Second Coming will become a part of the millennial kingdom and all nonbelievers will be sent to hell #1.

John 12:48 – (Jesus speaking) – He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day (#2).

John 6:40 – (Jesus speaking) – And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (#1).

Acts 10:42 – And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He (Jesus) who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement (last day #2).

After this, Jesus will establish his 1000 year millennial kingdom on the earth to be ruled from Jerusalem. At the end of the 1000 years the second last Day will occur when all the damned throughout history will be resurrected bodily from hell #1 within the earth to stand before Jesus Christ in judgment at the Great White Throne. All who will appear here are condemned already. After sentencing, all nonbelievers will be grabbed bodily by an angel of the Lord and hurled into the lake of fire and brimstone where they will remain for all eternity along with Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet and the fallen angels (demons). Those in the lake of fire and brimstone will be in constant pain and agony. At this time hell #1 within the earth will be emptied and remain empty and unused just like Paradise.

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 – Now if anyone builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the day (last day #1) will declare it; because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom (last day #2).

1 Peter 1:17 – And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.

Isaiah 45:22 – Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Think of hell #1 as a temporary lockup for condemned prisoners in use for only 7000 years; a holding cell for the guilty, until such time as they get to go before the righteous judge, Jesus Christ, to receive final judgment ( their eternal sentence). This is known as the Great White Throne judgment and all who appear here are condemned already. All nonbelievers receive the same sentence. All the damned will be incarcerated in the lake of fire and brimstone forever where they will be in continual pain and torment without end. Please don’t be in this group! Avoid the nonbeliever’s fate by believing in God, repenting of your sins, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. God gave us his word to show us the way while we yet live. Take advantage of your opportunity while you still have time. The wrath of God is a terrible thing. Once you die unsaved your fate is sealed forever.

Jude 1:6 – And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness (hell #1)for the judgment of the great day (last Day #2).

Philippians 1:6 – He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (the rapture or the glorious appearing of Christ).

Numbers 16:31-33 – Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit (hell #1); the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Revelation 20:1-3 – Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven (#2), having the key to the bottomless pit (hell #1) and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years (the length of the millennium); and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

In summary, God created the universe and allotted man 7000 years on this earth. From creation to Abraham was 2000 years and from Abraham to Jesus was 2000 years. From Jesus to now it has been almost 2000 years. The millennium is the final 1000 years. According to God’s timetable the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will end the current 2000 year period of human history and that time is almost upon us. It will be exactly seven years prior to the Second Coming Jesus to the earth that Jesus Christ will appear in the clouds to “rapture” all believers to himself, both dead and alive. Jesus Christ will give all believers their glorified bodies in the air before taking all the saints back to heaven with him.

The rapture could occur at any moment. If the rapture occurs the whole world will know about it. If you’re not one of those Jesus calls to meet him in the air all is not lost. The good news is you have seven years after the rapture occurs to change your mind and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The bad news is you might not last that long. If you become saved you’ll probably end up a martyr and get your head chopped off. You could also die from one of the many plagues God is about to unleash on the earth (read Revelation). Why not skip all that terror and accept God’s salvation unto eternal life right now before it’s too late? Either way you’ll kneel before Jesus one day.

Revelation 14:9-11 – Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

Revelation 20:10 – The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 21:8 – But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

We know there are different levels in heaven based upon our good works. God is fair to the believer and nonbeliever alike so I’m pretty sure there are also different levels in hell based upon our sins committed against God. I can’t believe that a person going to hell for not accepting Christ will be punished the same way as a mass murderer like Hitler, Stalin, Genghis Khan or Muhammad. God is just so I expect levels of punishment that fits the crime. The Bible doesn’t give us a breakdown with hell the way it does with heaven but we can make a few guesses. The Bible does tell us that fallen angels who took on human form and slept with women are an abomination to God and he has chained them in the bottom of the “pit” until judgment day. Next level above that would be the mass murderers of the world. I list four levels of heaven so there must be at least four levels in hell. Heaven and hell probably have many more levels I don’t know about.

Mark 9:43-44 – (Jesus speaking) – If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, go to hell (#2), into the fire that shall never be quenched-where, “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Mark 9:45-46 – (Jesus speaking) – And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell (#2), into the fire that shall never be quenched-where, “Their worm does not die. and the fire is not quenched.”

Mark 9:47-48 – (Jesus speaking) – And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire (#2)-where, “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

There is one last thing you need to know. When nonbelievers are resurrected bodily on the second last Day for judgment before the Great White Throne of Jesus Christ the body they receive will be decayed, rotting and filled with maggots (worms) that will never die. Imagine the zombies in the “walking dead” movies and on television and multiply that putrefaction by a factor of ten and you get the general idea. It won’t be a pleasant sight.

Just imagine the eternal spirit of the damned locked up inside a decaying corpse and bobbing up and down in the lake of fire and brimstone like a cork while screaming their head off forever because of the pain and agony. To make matters worse, the damned will be constantly gawked at in their pain and misery by all the saints, angels and Jesus himself. Oh, the indignity of it all! Don’t be that man or woman! Save yourself while you yet live! The putrid bodies of the lost will be as gross as the glorified bodies of believers are wonderful. They are complete opposites, which is how God does things.

God is fair, just and reciprocal to both the believer and the nonbeliever. If the believer gets a resurrection body then so does the nonbeliever; only at opposite extremes. That’s only fair. In this blog I’m including Scriptures from the book of Mark that confirm what I’m saying about the resurrected bodies of the damned. God says it plainly three times in a row. When God repeats anything twice we need to pay attention. When God says anything three times it’s like shouting from the rooftops and we better pay attention. Don’t just blindly believe everything I’m telling you. The purpose of my web site has always been to encourage you to check out God’s word and then you decide yourself what is true and what is not. That’s all I can ask of you and all God commands you to do. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. That’s true for both horses and men. Your salvation is in your hands. God has given you the free will to make that decision. Don’t delay making it.

The wonders of heaven are revealed by God all throughout the Bible. In fact, the word “heaven” appears 582 times in the Bible and in 50 of the 66 books of the Bible. God’s word is his testimony about heaven and God speaks the truth plainly and without any exaggeration. The Lord our God cannot lie. We also have the personal testimonies of two Apostles, John and Paul, who went to heaven in the spirit and described it for us in the books of Revelation and 2 Corinthians, respectively. God doesn’t allow sin to enter heaven so man can’t go there in the flesh but we can go to heaven in the spirit if called upward by God. John was brought to heaven so he could record what he saw in the book of Revelation. The Bible also records that Paul visited the third heaven on one occasion.

Revelation 4:1-2 – After these things I (John) looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

2 Corinthians 12:3-4 – And I (Paul) know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

As the Apostle appointed by God to preach the word to the Gentiles, Paul met with Jesus several times personally and he spoke with Jesus Christ often in the Spirit. Many of the mysteries of God and secrets of heaven were revealed to Paul and he wrote them down in his epistles, which later became books of the New Testament. I look to Paul as an example of how to lead a Christian life in service to God. Paul uses the analogy of a competitive race to explain what believers are to do with their lives here on earth in their personal walk with God. No two people will run the same race before the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things, now they do it for a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

The one who receives the prize from God is the believer who uses his time wisely on earth to witness for Christ at every opportunity and saves people for the kingdom of God. The prize spoken of in this verse is a crown which is in reality the heavenly rewards referred to as precious stones, silver and gold. Which prize, reward or treasure the believer receives will depend largely on the total number of souls saved for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 – Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

For the believer to witness for Christ effectively he must be in fellowship with God and live his life in obedience to the commandments of God so that the nonbeliever can see the light of God in the believer’s actions and be drawn to the gospel message of Christ. This takes personal discipline on the part of the believer and a plan of action to witness for Christ effectively over a long period of time.

Philippians 1:21-22 – For to me (Paul), to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I choose I cannot tell.

The Apostle Paul had seen the wonders of heaven and he knew he would be better off going to heaven as soon as possible. But Paul also knew God had chosen him to preach the word of God to the Gentiles and so establish God’s church so that more people could be saved unto heaven. Paul took the harder road of obedience to God’s word and accepted his hardships and persecutions because he knew all his labors (saving the lost) would earn him honor, glory and riches in heaven that he would receive from Jesus Christ on the last day. No Christian will receive more honor, glory, and riches in heaven than the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul set an example for us all to follow and we would be wise to emulate the actions of Paul to the best of our ability.

Philippians 1:23-24 – For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul made the decision to remain on this earth and endured his hardships persecutions for God for more than forty years so he could save all the people he could for the kingdom of God. At the end of his forty year ministry, and just before he was beheaded in Rome by the Emperor Nero, Paul said he had fought the good fight and run his race for God to the best of his ability. He surely did and if all believers can accomplish even a small fraction of what the Apostle Paul was able to accomplish then they will be great in heaven.

Philippians 3:13-14 – But one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

1 John 5:11 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).

Ephesians 5:15-17 – See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

The bottom line for all believers is we need to be determined in our walk with God; immovable and resolute in our witness for Christ in order to save as many people from the fires of hell as we possibly can and we need to continue in that calling while we have breath in our bodies. All we can do is our best at all times and in all circumstances. After that it’s up to God to sort out the details and judge us based on our body of work once we get to heaven. Our ultimate goal on the last day is to hear Jesus say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.

James 1:7 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Proverbs 11:24-25 – There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

1 Corinthians 3:9 – For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

One last thing. Some believers are under the false assumption that when they die they will sleep until they are resurrected on the last day. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that when we die our eternal spirit, which is the real us, returns to heaven immediately to be in the presence of Jesus. I think the confusion stems from Paul’s Scripture about the rapture where he says the dead in Christ will rise first to get their new glorified bodies; then followed by those still alive at the appearing of Jesus in the air. What Paul doesn’t say is that all the dead in Christ are already with Jesus in the air when he comes.

It’s only natural that those saints arriving with Jesus in the air should get their new bodies first. So, in a sense, they are risen first but it has nothing to do with their rotting corpses rising out of the grave or believers sleeping until the last day. Our human bodies are corrupted by sin and not one molecule will be used in the creation of our new heavenly bodies. God doesn’t allow sin in heaven. After all believers, both dead and alive, receive their new incorruptible bodies in the air Jesus will take them back to heaven with him. Praise the Lord!

1 Thessalonians 4:18 – Therefore comfort one another with these words (the gospel).

Job 22:2 – Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Hebrews 13:16 – But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 – But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be no means precede those who are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – 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. Therefore comfort on another with these words.

God has graciously given us his word, our Holy Bible, so that we might know the secrets of heaven. God doesn’t tell us everything. God tells us what we need to know to find him and our salvation. God commands us to do good works and the number one good work we do for God is witnessing for Christ. God tells us how to live our lives in obedience to his will so that God is glorified. The Bible describes God’s dealings with man; from his creation in the book Genesis to the end of man’s reign on earth in the book of Revelation. As believers it would behoove us to study God’s word so that we know what has happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen in the future. You cannot please God if you’re not obedient to his commandments and you can only know what God’s commandments are by studying God’s word.

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 – Now if anyone builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it; because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

God wrote the Bible over a period of 1500 years, from 1400 BC to 100 AD. God used forty writers, mostly prophets of God, to write the 66 books of the Bible as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God. These forty writers may have penned the Bible but every word they wrote was from the mouth of God. The evidence that God wrote the Bible is undeniable. How can anyone refute the fact that the Bible contains over 1000 prophecies, over 500 of which have been fulfilled and documented as historical fact? How can anyone dispute the fact that over 60 prophecies about the coming Messiah were fulfilled by the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? They can’t because only God can tell the future because he is the author of history. Only God knows the end from the beginning.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 – If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures (the foundation of Jesus), he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss (rewards); but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Psalm 33:11 – The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

God appointed the Apostle Paul to preach the word of God to the Gentiles. We need to pay particular attention to Paul’s letters (epistles), which comprise 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament, if we want to know about the kingdom of God in more detail. As believers, we know we’ll be spending all eternity in heaven in the presence of Jesus Christ. Exactly what that will look like we’re not sure? God knows. One thing I do know is we’re not going to be floating on a cloud all day strumming on a harp. We know God loves work and that there will be work for us to do in heaven. We know we’ll be constantly busy in heaven but it’s not clear exactly what type of work we’ll be doing or where. I know God will make all things clear once we get to heaven but I want to know what I can do right now here on earth because all we receive in heaven will be based on the works we do during our lives here on earth. If we wait until we get to heaven it’ll be too late to earn treasures in heaven. We need to spend some time meditating on what heaven will be like when we get there and how we can reap rewards in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:12 – So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Based on my study of the Bible and its references to heaven I’ve come up with a mental picture of heaven that works for me. It’s not a complete picture of heaven by any means but enough of one so that I’m motivated to change my actions here on earth to coincide with my expected rewards in heaven. Let me share my thoughts with you. I believe there are at least four levels in heaven for believers, with each upward level having increasingly greater honor, glory, privileges and responsibilities. God refers to these reward levels as crowns. The Bible mentions only five crowns by name, Joy, Life, Glory, Righteousness and Incorruptible. I’m guessing there are many more unnamed crowns to be earned in heaven. I can’t believe that the thief who was saved by Jesus while on the cross just hours before his death will have rewards in heaven equal to the Apostle Paul. Paul labored for the Lord for over forty years suffering many hardships and enduring great persecution. Paul established the early Christian church and he is universally considered to be the greatest Christian who ever lived. Would that fair to Paul? No it wouldn’t. One thing I know about the Lord is that he is a just God. Paul and the thief are both equal in the sense they’re both saved but their rewards in heaven have to be vastly different because their works before God are polar opposites. One of the spiritual truths of God is you reap what you sow. The thief had no works and should be on level one. Paul, on the other hand, saved many thousands and will have the rewards of level four (gold).

Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Timothy 4:8 – Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.

1 Peter 5:4 – And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, the Apostle Paul gives us a vivid picture of what’s going to happen on the last day when believers stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ to receive their rewards for good works done in the body here on earth. We know we’re saved by faith and not by works and the Scriptures are clear about this. So you can go to heaven without any works; not having saved a single person for the kingdom of God. In fact, I believe the majority of believers who go to heaven will fall into the level one category. The thief on the cross is a good example. We see that confirmed in 1 Corinthians 3:15, with believers having their good works burned up without losing their salvation. This is what I call level one; in heaven by faith but without any works. Don’t get me wrong, getting to heaven at any level will be wonderful beyond our wildest dreams. For one thing, we avoid eternal death in the lake of fire and Scripture confirms those in heaven will experience great joy. I’m just saying there’ll be some kind of a pecking order in heaven based on our actions here on earth to serving God. Everyone can’t be a chief. Somebody has to be the Indians and I think that’ll be the believers without any works (saved souls). That’s just being fair to everyone and it makes perfect sense. You keep what you earn with God.

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 3:28 – Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:5 – But to him who does not work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Paul refers to the rewards in heaven as being precious stones, silver and gold, each of which I call a level of heaven (levels two to four). These things are worthless to anyone in heaven but God is using them as a reference we’re familiar with to show that his rewards will have great value to us much like precious stones, silver and gold here on earth; only much better. The most important thing to God is saving us, his children, from the fires of hell. That’s why God sent his only son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins through his atoning death. When Jesus ascended back to heaven his work of saving souls for the kingdom of God was passed on to his disciples as their life’s work. This Great Commission is also commanded by God to be the life’s work of all believers as disciples of Christ, which we are.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Titus 2:15 – Speak these things (the gospel), exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

The reward levels of heaven can only be based on how many people we help save for the kingdom of God by our witness for Christ. It’s the most important thing to God and nothing else makes any sense. Good works in the usual sense like helping the poor and needy Paul refers to those good works as wood, hay, and straw to show they won’t survive the fire of God on their own on the last day. Those good works can only be added to the rewards of someone who has already been rewarded precious stones, silver or gold. We know a human soul is priceless to God and I can’t imagine a good, kind and generous God who wouldn’t reward a believer who witnessed for Christ and saved at least one priceless soul for the kingdom of God. If a believer saves one person they will receive precious stones from God as a reward. God is generous and he cares more about quality than quantity.

Hebrews 6:10 – For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

2 timothy 2:15 – Be diligent tp present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

God doesn’t say what qualifies us to receive the silver and gold rewards levels so we have to search the Bible for clues. Over and over in the Bible God talks about a good harvest being a “hundredfold.” I’m taking this clue from God and arbitrarily assigning 100 saved souls as the number required to reach the silver rewards level. The silver rewards level has to be hard to reach by the believer but realistically attainable with continuous effort. One hundred is a good number. Whatever rewards God gives us for effectively witnessing for Christ in obedience to God’s will it will blow our minds. Our finite minds simply cannot conceive the riches God has in store for those who love him. I’m not really focused on what we’ll receive from God. God’s got that under control. I’m more focused on how to receive the maximum rewards God has to offer. As long as I give my all I’ll let the chips fall where they may. As my old boss used to say, don’t worry about the mule being blind, just load the wagon!

Galatians 6:9-10 – And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

And last we come to the gold reward level. The millennium lasts 1000 years. With God 1000 years is as one day and one day is as a 1000 years. The number 1000 is important to God so it is to me too. I’m arbitrarily assigning 1000 saved souls as the number to reach the gold rewards level. 1000 is a good number too because it can be reached with a lifetime of service to the Lord. I’m guessing only one in a hundred believers in heaven will receive the silver reward level and with the gold level it’s probably more like only one in a thousand. In the Bible God says those who save “many” will shine like the stars of the firmament. I believe “many” is 1000 people saved for the kingdom of God and that’s my personal goal. I know from experience that witnessing is a slog and the constant rejection can eventually wear you down to the point where it becomes overwhelming. Witnessing for Christ is “selling” God and sales is hard. It’s a volume business that takes a lot of time and effort. In order to save 1000 souls for the kingdom of God you must have a plan you can stick to and you must greatly leverage your witness for Christ to reach that level.

Daniel 12:2-3 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

Ecclesiastes12:13-14 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

God made man and put us on this earth to find our salvation, live in obedience to God and do good works for the kingdom of God. These are preconditions for living in fellowship with God here on earth. God’s word, our Bible, is our owner’s manual so that as believers we can know what to do; how to be saved unto eternal life and how to live a happy and successful life here on earth by being obedient to God’s word. There’ll be a pecking order in heaven and our position up in heaven will be determined by our obedience to the commandments of God here on earth, along with the good works we do on behalf of the kingdom of God. We have a loving God who has graciously given us his truth, his wisdom, in written form to guide us on our journey through life. Believers who don’t read their Bibles daily and study it for knowledge, understanding and wisdom cannot please God because they won’t know what it is they must do and how to do it.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 12:2-3 – I will make you (Abram) a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all of the families of the earth shall be blessed.

The Bible contains 129 direct commandments from God that man is to obey in order to please God. Some of these commandments are redundant, but any way you slice it there are about one hundred commandments of God that every believer should know and make every attempt to obey. You will not remember all the commandments of God nor will you come close to full obedience. But you must make a good faith effort to do so if you’re a believer who wants to please God. Do you know the ten commandments by heart? Most believers don’t. If believers can’t even get the first ten commandments right how on earth are they going to know the other ninety commandments of God unless they study their Bibles? They can’t; which is why believers cannot please God unless they immerse themselves in God’s word. Only 10% of Christians who attend church regularly have read the entire Bible and fewer still study their Bibles on a regular basis. Very few believers are living their lives with pleasing God as their top priority; but they should be.

Romans 4:7-8 – Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.

Luke 11:28 – (Jesus speaking) – Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

If you’re a believer and you don’t know your Bible intimately then start down that path immediately. In addition to learning God’s commandments and doing them, keep an eye out for the curses and blessings of God as you study your Bible. God is not shy about telling us about the things he hates and the curses that go along with them. On the flip side, God tells us plainly what pleases him and the blessings that accrue to those believers that obey God. It’s really quite simple to stay on God’s good side; love and obey what God loves and hate and avoid what God hates. If you follow this simple guideline you’ll always be in fellowship with God and living a life that’s pleasing in God’s sight.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 4:1-2 – Hear, my children, the instructions of a father, and give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.

When I say read and study God’s word I’m referring to both the Old and New Testaments. It’s true you only need the New Testament to be saved but you need to also know the Old Testament to please God. Why is that? The word “cursed” appears in the Bible 72 times; 67 times in the Old Testament and five times in the New Testament. That means 93% of the curses of God appear in the Old Testament. You can’t avoid all the curses of God if you don’t know what they are. Old Testament familiarity is critical for the believer who wants to avoid the curses of God and also find the blessings of God that are there for the taking. Not knowing the Old Testament is a little bit like walking through a minefield blindfolded. It won’t end well for you.

Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 2:12 – Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

It’s the same thing when it comes to the blessings of God. The word “blessed” appears in the Bible 302 times; 217 times in the Old Testament and 85 times in the New Testament. A person unfamiliar with the Old Testament would miss out on two thirds of the blessings of God intended for those who love him. By studying the entire word of God we can have a clearer picture of who God is and we can live a more bountiful life here on earth. You will only need the knowledge contained in the New Testament in order to be saved but you’ll need to know the information contained in the Old Testament if you want to really know and please God and receive all the blessings God wants to give you. The New Testament did not come to invalidate God’s law or replace the Old Testament. The New Testament came to add to, or supplement, God’s existing law and both the Old and New testaments are equally God’s law and both should be studied thoroughly for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

Psalm 65:4 – Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.

Psalm 84:5 – Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

The dictionary defines the word “curse” as an appeal to a supernatural power to harm someone or something. To be “cursed” is to be continually affected by something bad. Only God can curse man and once God has cursed someone it lasts forever. On the flip side, the definition of the word “bless” is to ask God to protect someone or something from harm. To be “blessed” is to have or be given something that is of great value. Only God can bless man and once God has truly blessed someone (i.e. salvation) it lasts forever. To be blessed is the exact opposite of being cursed. They are two sides of the same coin; each dispensed by God. God blesses man for their obedience to the word of God and God curses man for their disobedience to the same.

Let’s look at the five verses in the New Testament where God talks about being cursed:

Matthew 25:412 – (Jesus speaking) – Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

In God’s economy man is either blessed with eternal life in heaven or cursed with eternal death in the lake of fire. Those are the only two destinations that are possible for the creatures God has made. God is never going to curse those believers who are saved unto eternal life nor is God going to bless those men who have rejected the saving grace of Almighty God. In the above verse God defines those going to hell as being “cursed.” When God curses someone in the Bible he is sentencing them to hell.

John 7:49 – But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.

The law refers to the entire Bible. God is saying man can only be saved by the word of God and without it man is acursed, or cursed, which means they are condemned to hell for eternity. The primary reason God gave us the Bible is so that we can find our salvation and know how to be obedient to God. Nothing on this earth is more important for man to do than reading and studying God’s word; along with daily prayer.

Galatians 3:10 – For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Salvation is only achieved by having faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and not by doing any works of the law. Going to church every Sunday and giving money to charitable causes won’t do you a bit of good if you don’t first believe in Jesus and put him above any church, pope, pastor, doctrine or ritual. This New Testament Scripture reaffirms that the Old Testament is still a valid part of God’s word. Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the Old Testament law, but to fulfill it and add a new blood covenant to it by his crucifixion, death and resurrection. Those who think the Old Testament is no longer valid should spend time meditating on this Scripture.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us for the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree).

Because of the sin nature all men inherited from Adam’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, all men are born under the curse of God. To be cursed by God means we’re all destined for eternal death in the lake of fire because of the stain of sin in our body and soul. One of the spiritual truths of God is the wages of sin is death. There was no perfect (sin free) sacrifice available to atone for man’s sin so a perfect God came off his throne and came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ to die in our place so that our sins could be forgiven by a merciful God. When Jesus was crucified on a cross (tree) he took our curses upon himself and gave us his righteousness. Jesus saved us from hell by his death and he gave us eternal life in heaven by his resurrection; for those who believe on his name. Praise God for his mercy!

2 Peter 2:14 – They (evil men) have a heart trained in covetous practices; and are accursed children.

Evil men are nonbelievers. Believers and nonbelievers are both made by God and since we we’re all made by same loving God we are all equally God’s children. God is just and gives everyone the free will choice to serve God or Satan. Nonbelievers are accursed, or cursed, by God because they have chosen to serve Satan. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Nonbelievers have not been forgiven of their sins because they haven’t asked for God’s mercy and grace by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The sins of the nonbeliever still abides on them and they will receive the wrath of God on the last day. Nonbelievers are “cursed” because God has condemned them to eternal death in the lake of fire for spitting in God’s face; for rejecting Jesus’ sacrificial death on their behalf. All nonbelievers deserve the fate they have chosen.

Revelation 1:3 – Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 22:14 – Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Dinosaurs:

Nonbelievers would like us all to think that the existence of dinosaurs debunks Christianity and proves the theory of evolution but they are mistaken. Believers don’t deny that dinosaurs once roamed the earth; it’s just a matter of when they did. Most believers just don’t think the dinosaurs became extinct sixty million years ago and well before man arrived on the earth. Those of us with a literal interpretation of the Bible understand that God created the universe, man and the dinosaurs 6000 years ago. As Christian believers we also agree that the original Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) does mention dinosaurs, though it never actually uses the word “dinosaur.” Instead, it uses the Hebrew word “tanniyn”, which is translated a few different ways in our English Bibles. Sometimes it’s “sea monster,” and sometimes it’s “serpent.” Today tanniyn is most commonly translated as “dragon.” The Bible describes a couple of creatures is such a way that some scholars believe the writers may have been describing dinosaurs.

Job 40:15-16 – Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; he eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles.

Job 40:17-18 – He moves his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, his ribs are like bars of iron.

The tanniyn appears to have been some sort of giant reptile and the mightiest of all God’s creatures; a giant whose tail is likened to a cedar tree. Some scholars have tried to identify the behemoth as either an elephant or a hippopotamus. Others point out that elephants and hippos have very thin tails, nothing comparable to a cedar tree. Dinosaurs like the brachiosaurus and diplodocus, on the other hand, had huge tails which could easily be compared to a cedar tree. The word “Leviathan” appears five times in the Old Testament, referring to a large sea creature we know to be a dinosaur. These tanniyn are mentioned nearly thirty times in the Old Testament and were found both on land and in the water. We know them all today, collectively, as dinosaurs.

Job 41:1 – Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

Isaiah 27:1 – In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; and He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.

The Leviathan was a large aquatic creature of some kind. The Bible refers to it as a fearsome beast having monstrous ferocity and great power. The Hebrew word for “Leviathan” has the root meaning of “coiled” or “twisted.” In Job chapter 41, God goes to great length to describe the size, strength and viciousness of Leviathan. God’s description of the leviathan concludes with a statement that it is the true king of beasts: “Nothing on earth is its equal-a creature without fear.” Based on the biblical description, it seems likely the leviathan is a large sea reptile, possibly a species of dinosaur such as the plesiosaurus. If God said he made leviathan and behemoth then, by extension, God must have made all the species of dinosaurs; and at the same time that he made the universe and us. Job’s acquaintance with a dinosaur is not far-fetched at all, given the book of Job is set in a very early time of history.

Psalm 104:25-26 – This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; there is that Leviathan which you have made to play there.

Job 41:11 – Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? everything under heaven is Mine.

Nearly every ancient civilization has some sort of art depicting giant reptilian creatures. Petroglyphs, artifacts, and even little clay figurines found in North America resemble modern depictions of dinosaurs. Rock carvings in South America depict men riding diplodocus-like creatures and, amazingly, bear the familiar images of triceratops-like, and tyrannosaurus rex-like creatures. Roman, Mayan and Babylonian history makes reference to dinosaur-like creatures. This can’t be all a coincidence. There are fossilized footprints of humans and dinosaurs found together at places in North America and West-Central Asia. Humanists would have us believe a giant meteor struck the earth 60 million years ago and wiped out all the dinosaurs. They also claim that a small cat-sized mammal survived the meteor strike and that man evolved from that small creature. Give me a break! That is total speculation without a shred of evidence!

Colossians 1:16-17 – For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Romans 11:36 – For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Job 9:8 – He (God) alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

If you’re a believer who interprets the Bible literally then you will have a young earth interpretation because God says he made the universe and man 6000 years ago over a span of six 24 hour days before resting on the seventh day. God always speaks the truth plainly. If you accept this truth of God then you must also believe man and dinosaurs coexisted at the same time in history past; which adequately explains the presence of dinosaur fossils. The question then becomes, what happened to the dinosaurs and when did it happen? Dinosaurs may or may not have been on Noah’s Ark but most scholars now believe God did save the dinosaurs from the flood. It doesn’t really matter.

What is important is accepting the fact that dinosaurs were created by God 6000 years ago. Dinosaurs could have easily fitted on the ark because the average dinosaur was about the size of a horse and for the larger dinosaurs only small juveniles would have been taken on the ark; similar to what we said happened with elephants, rhinos and hippos. While the Bible doesn’t discuss the issue, it’s likely the dinosaurs died out sometime after the flood due to a combination of the dramatic environmental shifts that occurred after the flood and the fact that they were relentlessly hunted to extinction by man.

Psalm 8:3-4 – When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?

Job 26:7 – He (the Lord) stretches out the north over empty space, He hangs the earth on nothing.

Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

The theory of dinosaurs is like the theory of evolution; they both sound good but they have no evidence to back them up. If the humanists had hard evidence to prove their theories we’d have heard about it by now. Humanists would like nothing better than to disprove the Bible story of creation and debunk Christianity as a religion altogether; but that’s simply not the case. They’ve been trying for 2000 years to find errors in the Bible and haven’t succeeded yet. The Bible is still the inerrant word of God. Praise the Lord! Humanists vehemently deny the existence of a supernatural God that is above man. They see man himself as a god. These humanist point to all these dinosaur fossils buried in the ground as proof that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. They deny the great flood ever happened and disregard any potential aftermath but the truth is self-evident.

During the great flood of Noah’s time many millions of tons of sediment would have been stirred up all over the earth. All the dead plants and animals of the earth would have slowly settled to the bottom of the seas first, and then all the sediment would have slowly settled on top of them. We’re talking millions of tons of dirt and organic debris eventually compacting to create a soft stratum (or layers of rock) on the surface of the earth. The organic debris decayed to form oil deposits. Think about this. All life, both plant and animal, are carbon-based life forms. When living tissue dies it decays back into its basic carbon compounds. Oil deposits prove that a whole lot of living things, both plant and animal, died all at one time and was deposited together in one place and was sealed off by a layer of sediment. The only plausible explanation for these occurrences is the great flood of Noah’s time.

Of course you’re going to find fossils buried in the ground because they don’t easily decay. The presence of fossils do not disprove the Bible. On the contrary, Fossil remains confirm the Bible account of Noah and the great flood. Sometimes these fossils were found deep in the ground and sometimes near the surface of the earth but that has no correlation to the age of the fossils. Digging through these so called “geologic zones” is the number one way paleontologists date dinosaur fossils and the deeper they are found the older they claim the fossils to be. It’s not accurate.

Zechariah 12:1 – The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Paleontologists are of course all atheists that accept the theory of evolution and that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. If they didn’t they wouldn’t be in their line of work. They interpret the age of fossil records based on that worldview. They make their data fit their menta; paradigm. The other major fossil dating method frequently used is through potassium-argon radiometric dating (K-Ar). This is a tricky method of determining how much of these two elements remain in the samples tested. The problem is this test has proven unreliable in the past. For example, living animals have been tested and the test said they were 300,000 plus years old. A ten year old lava flow from Mount St. Helens was dated 340,000 years old. The list goes on. There is no accurate way to date dinosaur fossils.

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Isaiah 44:24 – Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God is the author of all truth, knowledge and true science. It was God who established all the physical laws of the universe. When fallible science does not correspond to fallible theology, we cannot blame the Bible. The scientific assumptions may be wrong, or the biblical interpretations may be wrong, or both-but the Scriptures never are. Scripture may be misinterpreted, but it will never be wrong. Another unfortunate tendency in modern atheism is to compare science to a single interpretation in the Bible, then declare that science has “proved” the Bible incorrect. This of course is illogical. At the most, all that might be disproved is that particular interpretation of Scripture. God usually states important spiritual truths multiple times throughout the Bible so it’s a good practice to always use Scripture to interpret Scripture if you can. Never base a Bible interpretation on a single vague Scripture taken out of context as nonbelievers are prone to do.

Psalm 53:1 – The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

The fields of paleontology and fossilology are highly prone to error when dating fossil records. In the last century, we have witnessed countless examples of “groundbreaking” discoveries that have ultimately been proven to be misleading. One famous example is the coelacanth. Declared to have been extinct for about 70 million years, this fish was thought by scientists to have been among the first to walk out of the ocean on its way to becoming the ascendant of modern man. There was great excitement and surprise in the scientific community when a fisherman caught a living coelacanth off the island of Madagascar in 1938. Many evolutionists believed the reason this fish disappeared from the fossil record is that it had evolved into land-dwelling tetrapods.

Hebrews 12:28-29 – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing will be impossible.

The reason this is important is that many fossils have been dated to be roughly 70 million years old mostly because their remains were found in the same geological stratum as remains of the coelacanth. And yet there are coelacanths alive today that look exactly like those fossils-so use of coelacanth fossils to date other fossils, as it turns out, isn’t all that accurate. A fossil record is simply a catalog of when the death of a living plant or animal occurred. Fossil records don’t confirm the theory of evolution as the humanists claim. They prove just the opposite. The deposition of fossil records corresponds with the biblical account of the great flood and prove that a young earth is 6000 years old. The fact that there are vast sedimentary deposits all over the world confirms the great flood destroyed all plants and animals at the same and caused them to be deposited on the sea beds and then were covered over with sediment. It’s just common sense that the fossilization process must have occurred at the same time in our past. It must have begun after Adam’s sin introduced death and decay into our world. No other explanation fits the data.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Know that nonbelievers will confront us and attack Christianity. God calls them fools. They believe in their baseless theories on evolution and the age of dinosaurs without any supporting facts. Nonbelievers and some weak-minded believers tend to home in on the areas they consider the weak points of our faith, namely Noah’s Ark, Jonah and dinosaurs. Humanists took over the world’s education system in the world long ago so they could indoctrinate us with their lies and baseless theories of evolution and dinosaurs to the point where most people believe the lies. Humanists have brainwashed the masses and would have us believe that man evolved from one cell organisms in the primordial ooze of the distant past into modern man consisting of thirty trillion cells that arranged into specialized tissues, organs and body systems all by themselves, complete with a brain that is the greatest super computer in the universe. Their conclusion cannot be supported by the facts.

1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

Are you gullible enough to believe such a tall tale? I’m certainly not. Humanists must also convince us the earth is millions of years old to allow the necessary time for evolution to take place. The theory of the dinosaurs is just another lie backing up the first lie. Some lukewarm believers who are weak-minded and not strong in their faith have also fallen for these lies and started to doubt the absolute truth of the Bible, which is Satan’s plan. Once you start doubting the Bible you’re on the slippery slope that leads to doubting God and eventually losing your faith altogether. To prevent that we need to study God’s word so we know the truth of God. In this blog series I have tried to provide a defense for the three most common attacks against Christianity that you will hear from nonbelievers, which is Noah’s Ark, Jonah and dinosaurs.

Gird yourself for the battle that will surely come! Nonbelievers and doubters have no original thoughts of their own. They are just repeating what they’ve heard or what they’ve been told. They don’t know any better because they haven’t actually studied God’s word to find out the truth of God. If they did they would be resolute believers. They are just too lazy to search out the truth of God for themselves. God calls them fools. Try your best to educate the nonbelievers and lukewarm Christians. We owe it to Jesus to fulfill the “Great Commission” as best we can, with firmness and gentleness. It’s our reasonable service to the God who made us.

The prophet Jonah:

Jonah was one of the minor prophets of God. The book of Jonah was written around 780 BC, probably by the prophet himself. The book of Jonah recounts the incredible story of a disobedient prophet who was punished by God by having him swallowed by a great fish (whale) for three days and nights until he repented and agreed to preach repentance to the Ninevites as God had commanded. Jonah was promptly vomited upon the shore. Jonah then preached in Nineveh causing the city to repent of their sins which caused God not to destroy the city as he had planned to do. The miraculous content of the story of Jonah is denied by nonbelieving skeptics who don’t believe in God, miracles or Jonah.

2 Kings 2:23-24 – Then he (the prophet Elisha) went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled (killed) forty-two of the youths.

Jonah 1:17 – Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Matthew 19:26 – But with God all things are possible.

For believers with spiritual discernment the story of Jonah is biblical history as told by God himself to holy men, one of which was Jonah, who wrote down the story as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. For “lukewarm” believers who don’t believe every word in the Bible as written, the story of Jonah is considered to be a parable meant to convey the theological point that God also cares about Gentiles. Nineveh was the largest city in the world at that time with 120,000 people and the capital of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians were a cruel, evil and warlike people who Jonah hated. When God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to the city Jonah instead ran away from God and tried to hide so he wouldn’t have to preach salvation to those evil people. God cares more about sinners than we do. This story confirms that God loves everyone equally and he wants salvation unto eternal life in heaven for all his children. God wants all of us in his presence forever.

2 Kings 14:25 – He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.

1 Kings 20:36 – Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you.” And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.

Romans 14:12 – So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

So, is the Jonah account historical, a parable or a fake? Apart from the biblical account, there’s no conclusive historical proof that Jonah was ever swallowed by a fish and lived to tell about it. With Jonah we can’t see the obvious tracks of God like we can with Noah’s Ark so we have to base our decision on the circumstantial evidence that’s available and the credibility of God’s testimony on one hand and that of Satan and evil men on the other. Nonbelievers say there was no such person as Jonah and that Nineveh never existed. The Bible books of Jonah and Nahum are both about God’s judgment of the people of Nineveh for their sins before God. To deny the existence of Nineveh is to deny that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and to call God a liar to his face. Nonbelievers also declare that even Nineveh did exist there’s no way that the city could have been as large as God said it was through the prophet Jonah.

1 Corinthians 3:19 – For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Jonah was a real historical figure and prophet of God as mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, and reiterated by Flavius Josephus in his history of Israel titled, “Antiquities of the Jews.” The book of Jonah is also a part of the collection of twelve minor prophets contained in the Old Testament that are meant to convey prophecies by genuine historical prophets and, as such, the book of Jonah was considered to be a historical account by the compilers of the Old Testament. A Babylonian priest and historian named Berosus in the third century BC wrote of a mythical creature named Oannes who emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to man. Oannes is Assyrian for the name “Jonah”. Most myths are based on some historical fact so is it possible Berosus was writing about the real live event of Jonah being vomited upon the shores of Phoenicia? We’ll never know for sure but the similarity between the two stories is striking. In the New Testament Jesus confirms the story of Jonah when he speaks of Jonah being a sign to the Ninevites. This could be a reference to Jonah being vomited from a great fish in front of witnesses who took it as sign from their fish god Dagon that they needed to repent of their sins before God.

Matthew 17: 27 – (Jesus to Peter about paying the temple tax) – Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go out to sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.

Proverbs 5:21 – For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.

1 Kings 17:4 – (God speaking to Elijah) – And it shall be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.

The lost city of Nineveh was discovered in the mid-1800s after more than 2500 years of obscurity, which vindicated the biblical account. Nineveh was found buried in the vicinity of Mosul, in modern-day Iraq, and was confirmed to be a very large city as God said it was. Nineveh was discovered buried beneath a pair of tells (mounds) known by the local name of Nabi Tunus which in Arabic means, “the prophet Jonah.” Sometimes I’ve wondered how Jonah managed to preach repentance only one day in Nineveh and yet he managed to get every single person in that evil city to repent; from the king down to the beggar on the street. Let’s face it, nobody’s preaching is that good! The residents must have seen a miracle.

Matthew 12:39-41 – (Jesus speaking) – An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Jonah 2:10 – So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Galatians 6:8 – For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Follow my logic here. The Assyrians worshipped the god Dagon, who was part man and part fish. Jonah was vomited on the shore of Phoenicia from the belly of a whale in front of witnesses. Because of the digestive juices in the whale’s stomach Jonah’s skin and hair were probably bleached white. Given the piscine nature of Jonah’s arrival and his strange appearance the people of Nineveh recognized that Jonah was a sign from God and they all immediately repented of their sins. How could they not do it? It’s the only logical explanation I can think of for 100% of an evil and sin-filled population to repent of their sins.

Some great event had to have occurred for the whole population to repent like that in a single day. It’s like what happened when the meek disciples all became lion’s of the faith when they saw the risen Christ ascend into the clouds and returned to heaven. It’s like what happened to Paul, the greatest enemy of Christians, when he met Jesus Christ on the Damascus road and was subsequently transformed into the greatest Christian who ever lived. Whenever anyone observes a miracle of God, or hears about it from reliable witnesses, then, and only then, is it possible to have such a dramatic turnaround; to have immediate buy-in with God from everyone involved and their total repentance. Meeting God face to face will do that to you.

Biblically speaking, a “sign” is a miracle of God given to a targeted audience for a specific reason. God never gives signs just to show off. In Matthew 12:39, Jesus revealed that the Ninevites had received a sign from God. Now just having the prophet Jonah show up and preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, in itself, isn’t a sign from God. Where’s the miracle in that? The sign from God to the Ninevites, the miracle of God, was having a whale vomit Jonah, the prophet of God, from its stomach onto a beach in Phoenicia in front of a group of startled witnesses. It was this miraculous sign from God to the evil people of Nineveh that caused the whole population of that city to repent of their sins against God and cover themselves with sackcloth and ashes. This was decreed by the king to all the people of Nineveh because they accepted the sign of Jonah as a miracle of God intended just for them.

Psalm 139:7 – Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

Numbers 22:28 – Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man does, that he will also reap.

The miracles in Jonah are not impossible for God. God controls nature as we’ve seen time after time in the Bible. It’s easy for God to whip up a storm or calm the sea. God is the author of life so he can make any creature, including man, do his bidding. Only two marine animals are known to prowl the Mediterranean Sea and are also large enough to swallow a man; a Great White shark and a Sperm whale. Anyone swallowed by a shark would be cut to shreds by their razor sharp teeth. A Sperm whale, on the other hand, has no teeth so obviously Jonah was swallowed by a whale and not a shark. A person swallowed by a whale would naturally die from a lack of oxygen or from the digestive acid in the whale’s stomach unless they received God’s supernatural protection; which is what happened to Jonah. God could have just as easily brought a person back to life who died in that situation. This is child’s play for the God who created the universe and all life.

We see repeatedly in the Bible that God controls nature. God summoned the storm in the book of Jonah and dissipated it when Jonah was thrown into the sea. If God can call up lions and bears to kill people he can surely direct a whale to be on station to swallow Jonah and then spit him out again when commanded by God. Is the story of Jonah incredible? Yes it is. Is the story of Jonah physically possible? Yes it is. Is there corroborating physical evidence that confirms the biblical account of Jonah being swallowed by a whale? No there isn’t. Is there any eyewitness testimony confirming the story of Jonah? Yes there is. Is the story of Jonah a certainty? Yes it is; if you believe in the one true God of creation who cannot lie and does all he pleases.

1 Kings 21:13 – And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

2 Corinthians 13:1 – By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In Old Testament times there were no written languages so everyone operated by rote memory and their local verbal traditions. The truth of any matter in those days was always established by the personal testimony of two or three witnesses and this is well documented in the Scriptures. For example, if someone was alleged to have blasphemed against God they could not be stoned to death unless there was corroborating testimony by at least one other person (i.e. 1 Kings 21:13 – the story of Naboth’s vineyard). In the case of Jonah being swallowed by a whale we have no personal testimonies refuting this biblical story.

Luke 11:29-30 – (Jesus speaking) – And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He (Jesus) began to say. “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

Daniel 6:22 – (Daniel speaking to King Darius) – My God has sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouth, so that they have not hurt me.

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

On the other hand, we have the testimony affirming the truth of this story from God himself who spoke to Jonah and directed his actions. We have the testimony of Jonah. We have the testimony of the Holy Spirit, who wrote the Old Testament book of Jonah through the prophet. In Matthew 12:40-41, we have the testimony of Jesus Christ confirming the Old Testament account of Jonah being in the belly of a big fish for three days and three nights. Every divine person of the triune Godhead testified that the account of Jonah was true. If you, in your foolishness and pride, call God a liar then the wrath of God will be upon you. You will reap what you have sown. You will reap the whirlwind of your destruction.

Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Psalm 18:30 – As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven.

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

It all boils down to one thing. Who you want to believe. You can believe God who is truth and who cannot lie. Or you can choose to believe Satan who is a liar and the father of lies. Satan has been lying to man from the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, and he continues to lie to us to this day. In fact, Satan is incapable of speaking the truth at all. He is just the opposite of God in every respect. Don’t believe evil men (nonbelievers) either because Satan has put blinders on them, making them all pawns of the devil. The only one you can count on in this world who will never let you down is Almighty God, because he is always faithful and true. We have the testimony of God himself that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish. Do you want to believe God or Satan? Choose rightly because your eternal destiny depends on it.

John 8:44 – (Jesus speaking) – You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Matthew 10:28 – (Jesus speaking) – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing will be impossible.