Why is it so Important to Study "Bible Prophecy"?

Why is it so Important to Study "Bible Prophecy"?

Bible prophecy confirms the divine inspiration of Scripture. Bible prophecy exalts God above all others as the only One who knows the end from the beginning. We are exhorted to listen to and heed Bible prophecy.

Prophetic declarations exalt God and confirm the divine inspiration of Scripture:

Isaiah 46:9-10

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Over one fourth of the Bible consists of Bible prophecy:

In addition to the Old Testament books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel and the twelve Minor Prophets, a good portion of the Psalms and many other passages such as Genesis 49 record future events.

In the New Testament, four books - I and II Thessalonians, Jude, Revelation, as well as many passages in the Gospels and in the other epistles deal with prophecy.

The Second Coming of the Lord is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament.

Salvation is the only subject referred to in the New Testament more frequently than the Second Coming.

The ordinance of communion is only recorded twice in the thirteen epistles of Paul, but the return of Christ is mentioned fifty times.

The Bible contains 1,817 individual predictions concerning 737 separate subjects found in 8,352 verses. These numerous predictions comprise 27 percent of the 31,124 verses in the whole of the Scriptures.

We are exhorted to listen to and heed prophecy:

2 Peter 1:19

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

All of the Feasts of the LORD were appointed times which not only commemorated historical events that took place for the nation of Israel, but also are prophetic pictures that foreshadowed Christ. Jesus Christ fulfilled the spring cycle of biblical festivals in His First Advent by instituting the New Covenant at the Passover; being entombed during the Feast of Unleavened Bread; resurrecting on the Festival of Firstfruits; and sending the promised Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Heavenly Father forgive us our sins, open our spiritual eyes and ears to your truth. Amen

Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr...Does This Man Look Like DARTH VADER? Where is he now? What has he been doing?

 Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr... Who is this man?  What has he been doing? Where is he now? What is he up to now?

Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), "Even now are there many antichrists."

(1.) This name has been applied to the "little horn" of the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 7:24, 25; 8:23-25).

(2.) It has been applied also to the "false Christ's" spoken of by our Lord (Matt. 24:5, 23, 24).

(3.) To the "man of sin" described by Paul (2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 8-10).

(4.) And to the "beast from the sea" (Rev. 13:1; 17:1-18).

He is often referred to as Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr. The title Sayyid ("Mr." or "Sir") is generally used among Arabs to denote persons descending directly from the Prophet Muhammad, through his daughter Fatimah's marriage with Ali. Thus a great deal of respect is paid by the Muslims to the Sayyids throughout society. The al-Sadr family has a clear and distinct lineage that can be traced directly to Muhammad. The lineage is traced through Imam Jafar al-Sadiq and his son Imam Musa al-Kadhim, the sixth and seventh Shi‘a Imams respectively.

Western media often refer to Muqtada al-Sadr as a "firebrand" or "militant" cleric, but his formal religious standing is comparatively low, at a mid-ranking Shia religious rank perhaps reflecting his young age, and he does not claim the title of mujtahid (the equivalent of a senior religious scholar) or the authority to issue fatwas (religious edicts). In his youth, he was more preoccupied with videogames than Islamic studies which earned him the nickname "Mullah Atari". In early 2008, however, al-Sadr was reported to be studying to be an ayatollah, which would greatly improve his religious standing.

Family

Muqtada al-Sadr is the fourth son of a famous Iraqi Shi‘a cleric, the late Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr. He is also the son-in-law of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr.

Muqtada al-Sadr is of Iraqi and Lebanese ancestry. His great-grandfather is Ismail as-Sadr. Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, Muqtada al-Sadr's father, was a respected figure throughout the Shi'a Islamic world. He was murdered, along with two of his sons, allegedly by the government of Saddam Hussein. Muqtada's father-in-law was executed by the Iraqi authorities in 1980. Muqtada is a cousin of the disappeared Musa al-Sadr, the Iranian-Lebanese founder of the popular Amal Movement.

Positions

Muqtada al-Sadr gained popularity in Iraq following the toppling of the Saddam government by the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Al-Sadr has on occasion stated that he wishes to create an "Islamic democracy".

Al-Sadr commands strong support (especially in the Sadr City district in Baghdad, formerly named Saddam City but renamed after the elder al-Sadr). After the fall of the Saddam government in 2003, Muqtada al-Sadr organized thousands of his supporters into a political movement, which includes a military wing known as the Jaysh al-Mahdi or Mahdi Army). The name refers to the Mahdi, a long-since disappeared Imam who is believed by Shi'a Muslims to be due to reappear when the end of time approaches. This group has periodically engaged in violent conflict with the United States and other Coalition forces, while the larger Sadrist movement has formed its own religious courts, and organized social services, law enforcement, and prisons in areas under its control.

His strongest support comes from the class of dispossessed Shi‘a, like in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. Many Iraqi supporters see in him a symbol of resistance to foreign occupation.

Always Watching...Rev. Ed Sarnella

LOVE, PEACE and JOY in JESUS CHRIST!

Sharing an Ancient Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

                                                     Rev. Ed Sarnella

Sharing an Ancient Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, do not keep silence;

Do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;

Those who hate you have raised their heads.

3 They lay crafty plans against your people;

They consult together against your treasured ones.

4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;

let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"

5 For they conspire with one accord;

Against you they make a covenant-

6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

Moab and the Hagrites,

7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,

Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Asshur also has joined them;

They are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah

The above nations named in today's modern language, are:

Edom & Moab are southern and middle Jordan.

Ishmaelites, Hagrites, and Amalekites are descended from Hagar and Ishmael, and settled in southern Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Amalekites being solely in Egypt.

Ammon is northern Jordan. Its capital today is still Ammon.

Gebal & Tyre are in Lebanon.

Philistia is Gaza.

Asshur is northern Iraq and western Syria (Assyria)

So in reading and study we see that Asaph is pleading for deliverance from a coalition which intends to wipe Israel from the map, who sounds like this?

One thing I like to do is look at the bible's prophecies and read what God has to say.  We know that in the latter days all nations will be against Israel. (Zechariah 12:3).  We also know by reading in Ezekiel 38-39 another, different coalition attacks Israel while Israel is dwelling securely. We know that battle is going to take place in the latter days because it says so in Ezekiel 38:16.

We are watching and we shall see how it goes.

Love, Peace and Joy in Jesus Christ!

"We are the Reason the Temple is Not Rebuilt" So what is so interesting about the Temple? Please read along with me...:)

"We are the Reason the Temple is Not Rebuilt"  So what is so interesting about the Temple? Please read along with me...:)

 

  Rabbi Chaim Richman, the leading authority on the red heifer, says the temple will be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Rebuilding the temple will be an important fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It will be integral to the seven-year (end-times) treaty with Israel. After all, the rebuilt temple shows up in Jesus' warning to His Jewish followers in Matthew 24:15 ("the holy place"); and it appears in Paul's revelation that the "man of sin" (a.k.a. the beast of Revelation) will enter into the temple (after killing God's two prophets) and set himself up to be worshiped as God.
In addition, Daniel 9:27 shows us how important the rebuilding of the temple will be to the fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. Here is what that verse says:
"Then they shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week they shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

The Temple is not yet....
Love, Peace and Joy in Jesus Christ
Rev. Ed Sarnella

                                                             Rev. Ed Sarnella...PEACE IN CHRIST...:)

Syria In Isaiah 17:1-3...Please read along with me...:)

So what does the Bible say about Damascus Syria?
      In Isaiah 17:1-3...Please read along with me...:)

Isaiah 17

King James Version (KJV)

17 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

I wonder what series of events will bring this to pass...

Peace in Christ...:)

Rev. Ed Sarnella

"Consequences!", Galations 6:8

"Consequences!", Galatians 6:8"

     Please Read along with me:

 

Galatians 6:8

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

So what does this mean? Does it really matter? Who cares? I just do not have time for this! 
     I will read with you to help...we can make time to read together...:)

• Define Soweth:      
  Strong's G4687 - speirō
  σπείρω
                           1) to sow, scatter, seed
•  
• Define Flesh:
  Strong's G4561 - sarx
  σάρξ
  1) flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts
  2) the body
  a) the body of a man
  b) used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship
  1) born of natural generation
  c) the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"
  1) without any suggestion of depravity
  2) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin
  3) the physical nature of man as subject to suffering
  3) a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast
  4) the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.
•  
• Define Reap:
  Strong's G2325 - therizō
  θερίζω
  1) to reap, harvest
  2) proverbial expression for sowing and reaping
  3) cut off, destroy
  a) as crops are cut down with a sickle
•  
• Define Corruption:
  Strong's G5356 - phthora
  φθορά
  1) corruption, destruction, perishing
  a) that which is subject to corruption, what is perishable
  b) in the Christian sense, eternal misery in hell
  2) in the NT, in an ethical sense, corruption i.e. moral decay
•  
• Define Spirit:
  Strong's G4151 - pneuma
  πνεῦμα
  1) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
  a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit)
  b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth")
  c) never referred to as a depersonalised force
  2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
  a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
  b) the soul
  3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
  a) a life giving spirit
  b) a human soul that has left the body
  c) a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
  1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men
  2) the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ
  4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
  a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.
  5) a movement of air (a gentle blast)
  a) of the wind, hence the wind itself
  b) breath of nostrils or mouth
•  
• Define Life Everlasting:
  Strong's G2222 - zōē
  ζωή
  1) life
  a) the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
  b) every living soul
  2) life
  a) of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature
  b) life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Strong's G166 - aiōnios
  αἰώνιος
  1) without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be
  2) without beginning
  3) without end, never to cease, everlasting
  
  
  Yes it matters...:)
  
  
  
  

  Galatians 6:8

  King James Version (KJV)
  ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
  
  
  
  
  For he that scatters seeds to his flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts, shall reap, harvest, corruption, destruction, perishing; but he that scatters seeds to the "Spirit of Truth.": the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
  a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit)
  b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth") Shall of the Spirit,"Truth!", reap - harvest Life-everlasting: without end, never to cease, everlasting.
  
  
  I want this life, do you?
  
  
  Rev. Ed Sarnella
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD

Matthew 13

King James Version (KJV)

13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

² And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
³ And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
¹⁵ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
³¹ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
³² Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
³³ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
³⁴ All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
³⁵ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
⁴⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
⁴⁸ Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
⁴⁹ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
⁵⁰ And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹ Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
⁵² Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
⁵³ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
⁵⁴ And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
⁵⁶ And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
⁵⁷ And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
⁵⁸ And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Love, Grace, Peace and Joy in Jesus Christ...:)