"The Reality of God"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #67 – “The Reality of God”

               Last week we listed three things we must keep in mind and heart as we do our best to serve our living God.  The first one mentioned was; you must be convinced of the reality of God.  That may seem strange to consider the reality of God.  It would seem that we would already have that resolved in our hearts and minds, if, we have believed in Jesus Christ.  It was settled in the mind of Elijah and later the people of Israel as they witnessed God consuming all that was on and around the alter built for the sacrifice. (1 Kings 18:36-39)  It is settled in my mind.  I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and it is the inerrant, infallible and authoritative revelation from God to men.  It is the only guide to matters of faith and practice and that Jesus is the virgin-born Son of God; the second person of the trinity.  Jesus became incarnated in the flesh and later died on the cross for the sins of the world. 

I was absolutely shocked to read in an article recently stating that professors, students, and graduates in most American theological institutions claim that there are few things, if any at all, that we can be certain about, we cannot even be certain with facts presented to us regarding anything.  They claim that there is only one thing we can be certain of and that is that there is nothing certain.  They apparently are even questioning the existence of God.  It went on to say that they no longer study the Bible but study what others say about the Bible.  I find that very alarming and if true, why are there theological institutions at all.  What is happening to the teaching of sound doctrine?  Those people who have this mind-set cannot possibly serve God if they question His existence.  This is another sign, in my opinion, that the end of the church age is getting very close.

Jesus spoke with certainty regarding the Father in Heaven, Himself, and those who chose to believe in the Son; “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)  There did not seem to be any doubt in the mind of Jesus regarding the existence of God.  Of course, those doubters who do not even accept facts, would not believe and would not accept proof that Jesus really said those things.  What does God say about those who say there is no God; “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God,’ they are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.” (Psa. 53:1)  He also says, “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind” (Prov. 19:2)

For us to properly serve God, we must be like Elijah and believe in the reality of God as is evident from his prayer, “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” (1 Kings 18:37)  God answered that prayer so the people of Israel would also know of the reality of God.

You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish

"Elijah (Part 4 )"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #66 – “Elijah (Part 4)”

Ahab raced his horse drawn chariot down the mountain.  When he reached Jezreel, he told Jezebel, his wicked wife, that Elijah had killed all of the prophets.  “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, ‘so may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.’ And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and come to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1 kings 19:2, 3)  This is one of the great things about God’s Word, the Holy Bible, it not only tells of the great acts of the people of the Bible but it also tells us of their failures.  Elijah’s response to Jezebel’s threat was to be scared and run and hide from her.  Most would probably have done the same but, after what God had just accomplished through him, then being scared and running from a woman just does not seem to make sense.  But, don’t we do the same things?  We ask God in our prayers to do something or help us to do something.  When He does, we can’t believe it.  The next time we need something, we do not even lift it up to Him in prayer, and we just try to do it in our own strength.  We, indeed, are strange creatures!

Now that Elijah was out of the reach of Jezebel, he was in such depression that he wanted God to take his life, there was nothing more for him.  The Bible assures us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)  That means that we have been given all of the spiritual enrichment that is needed to accomplish the things for God.  We have all that is needed to serve Him, we just need to appropriate it in the same way that Elijah did.  Of course, we will from time to time falter, as Elijah did, but we must remember that the Jezebel’s of this world are nothing but a speed bump in our service to God.  It is never easy or comfortable to take a stand for God and when we do there will be testing. 

While we are earnestly trying to follow and serve our living God, there are at least these three things we must keep in our hearts and minds constantly:

1.      You must be convinced of the reality of God.

2.      You must know that you are God’s representative.

3.      You must be convinced of the resources available to you.

Without a person knowing completely, those three things, I do not believe he or she can successfully serve God.  It is not easy to serve God.  In Elijah’s case, there were 7000 followers of God hidden in caves and only Elijah took a bold stand for God.  Elijah knew the three steps listed above, otherwise he, too, probably would have failed in carrying out God’s plan to bring His people back to Him.  He was convinced of the reality of God when he said, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand,” (1 King 17:1) there was no doubt in the mind of Elijah that God is real.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More on Elijah next week.

Lowell Parrish

"Elijah (Part 3)"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #65 – “Elijah (Part 3)”

               Last week, we left Elijah praying to God to consume what was on the alter.  “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God.” (1 Kings 18:38, 39)   God’s purpose in all of this was to bring His people back from worshipping false gods.  It was not to make a hero out of Elijah.  It was not His plan to punish Ahab.  The three years without rain and the demonstration between Elijah’s God and the gods of the prophets of Baal and the Asherah was to show to the people of Israel that Elijah’s God was real and the other gods were nowhere to be found.  The people saw and worshipped the real and living God.

King Ahab was told to go down the mountain because the heavy rains were coming so he got on his horse drawn chariot and raced down the mountain.   “Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:46)  I went to a liberal arts college and was required to take a course in religious studies.  I chose to take a class in the Old Testament.  When our professor taught us on this account of Elijah, he said that this had to be just an entertaining story because, everyone knows that no one could outrun a horse drawn chariot down a mountain path.  I wasn’t even attending church at the time but wondered how strange that the pastor of the local university church, and professor of religion could not see that God had His hand on Elijah and thus he surely could outrun a horse drawn chariot.  If we do not have faith to believe that this is possible, how could we have faith to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins?  When God is in charge of any situation, all kinds of supernatural acts may occur.  It is by faith that the great men and women of the Bible did the things that they did and it is by faith that we believers must believe the acts that they carried out.  Without that faith, what can we possibly believe concerning the accounts of the Bible?  We cannot pick and choose what to believe and what not to believe.  We must see the Bible as being the literal, inerrant word of God where when the Word tells us that Elijah outran a horse drawn chariot, that is precisely what occurred.

Elijah had two things working for him as he was serving God.  One was God communicating with him and, he was communicating with God through his prayers.  We have the same tools when we are serving the living God.  We have His Word, the Bible, His communication to us and our prayers to talk with God.  When we are using the tools that God gives us to serve Him, we also have the hand of God on us and we also can do some things that otherwise we could never accomplish.

You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More next week regarding Elijah.

Lowell Parrish

"Elijah (Part 2)"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #64 – “Elijah (Part 2”)

               Last week we left Elijah in hiding after praying before King Ahab that it would not rain for 42 months.  Elijah went and hid himself where God had told him and he was provided for by the same one who provides for us, our God in heaven.  You know that it would not take long for things to get pretty desperate after no rain for a few months.  As you would expect, the brook dried up and King Ahab had everyone looking for Elijah.  However, God had other plans for Elijah and used him during this time to minister to a widow and her son where he performed miracles in the name of God.  Through God he assured the widow would not run out of provisions until the drought was ended.  He, also, brought her son back to life after he suddenly became ill and died.  When her son was returned to her alive, she said, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” (1 Kings 17:24b)  God always uses people to carry out His plan.  Today, I do not believe that God uses us with the kind of miracles that were used in those times.  However, He uses us in ways that are extra-ordinary or supernatural for us to show His greatness.  His use of us is not to bring honor and glory to us but to Him.  All through the ages, God has shown his attributes through the acts of people like Abraham, Noah, Moses, and many others like them.  He did this to show who God really is to the rest of the world who does not acknowledge Him as the one and only true and living God.  He still uses people with a nature like Elijah to show Himself through us.

God would not have him go to Ahab until three and a half years had passed and the time of drought had done what God wanted.  When the time was ready, He told Elijah, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.” (1Kings 18:1b)  The drought was very severe and Ahab sent Obadiah to search for water and green grass for the animals.  While searching, he met up with Elijah and told Obadiah to go to his master and set a meeting between them.   

 “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is this you, you troubler of Israel?’  He said, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals’” (1Kings 18:17,18) Elijah then asked for Ahab to call together 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah who ate at the table of Ahab’s wife Jezebel.  Elijah then challenged the false prophets to bring fire from heaven to devour their sacrifice.  They were obviously unable to accomplish the task showing that their gods were false gods.  Elijah then called together all of the people to come close as he built the alter and placed his sacrifice there and prayed, ”O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.  Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.” (1 Kings 18:36b, 37)  God is ready to show the people who their God really is.

You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More of Elijah next article.

Lowell Parrish

"Strenght & Weakness"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #63 – “Strength & Weakness”

               In reading and studying the Scriptures, we learn of many special personalities.  One of my favorites is Elijah.  Probably the reason he is one of my favorites is because in the book of James, Elijah is described as having a nature like ours.  Elijah was a man with great spiritual strength and also a man with human frailties like us.  God reveals to us in 1 Kings 17-19 what a great man of God he was and yet how frail he could be.

               Most of the great heroes of the Bible were the same.        Abraham lied about his wife Sarah and warred against kings to protect his family and possessions and, was chosen by God to establish a new nation.  Abraham showed his humanity and his weakness and as he grew in faith obeyed God when tested by Him.  David committed adultery and murder, and yet grew to be known as a man after God’s own heart.  The Apostle Paul was probably the world’s greatest evangelist and yet he states, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” (Rom. 7:24, 25)  Every person from time to time has struggled with the old sin nature.  As our faith grows our struggles become fewer as is found to be true in each mentioned above.

               “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.” (James 5:17)  After God told Elijah to go to King Ahab and pray that it would not rain for three and a half year, God told him to go and hide.  Elijah had a nature like you but, can you imagine the courage it would take to approach the king and do as God had instructed him?  This king Ahab ruled in Israel for 22 years and, “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.” (1 Kings 16:30)  This would make any human being tremble to think of approaching an evil king, especially one married to Jezebel who was possibly more evil than her husband.  More than likely, most of us would respond to God like Jonah when asked to go to the Ninevites to warn them of coming judgment.  Jonah ran from God rather than obey him as Elijah did.  You see, Jonah also was a man with a nature like ours.  We, too, can lack the courage to do as instructed by God through His Word.

               It is not easy to be a Christian and follow God’s instructions.  In fact, most of us fail most of the time.  As much as we want to do the right things for God, we often fall short.  Just as Paul described himself in Chapter seven of Romans (Rom. 7:14-25), we have two natures, the old nature before believing in Jesus and the new nature following our new birth in Jesus.  My old mentor of several years ago told me that it is like having within you a black dog and a white dog.  They are continually battling within you but the one that wins the battle is the one you say “sic him” to.  It is a struggle that never ends, however, the more we grow in our faith, the fewer and less intense the struggles become.  You can look at all of the Godly men in the Bible to prove that is true.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow regarding Elijah.

Lowell Parrish

"Judgement"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #62 – “Judgement”

               It is so important for Christians, born again believers, to seek to work pleasing God.  Works, as in doing good, is key to everything in the eternal life to come.  If a person has denied Jesus Christ and failed to believe in Him, that person will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment.  His name not being found in the Book of Life, will receive eternal punishment.  The severity of the punishment will depend upon his works done in this life.  A greater punishment will be meted out to those who have performed the worst deeds.  We find in Revelations 20:11-15 what takes place at the final judgment, “and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:13b, 14)  The first death is the physical death and the second death is being cast into the lake of fire.  You probably have heard; if you are born once you will die twice, but, if you are born twice you only die once.   The second birth is a spiritual birth that takes place when you believe in Jesus Christ.

               You will notice that those thrown into the lake of fire are judged when their name is not found in the book of life, they are also judged according to their deeds.  The same is true with believers; “for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10)  Just as it is with the unbeliever’s judgment, the ones with the greatest good deeds receive the greatest rewards.  Those who have done nothing as a Christian will not lose their kinship with God but will lose their rewards.  Paul writes, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15)  Just as the poem states, “Only One Life, T’will Soon Be Past, Only What’s Done for Christ, Will Last.” 

               One other thing that is important to know about building our treasures, our rewards, in heaven is that while we must work to earn them, we must also work to keep them.  The Bible states over and over again that we must “stand firm”, “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.” (1 Thess. 3:8) The same words are used in 1 Cor. 13; Eph. 6:11, 13, 14; Phil. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Pet. 5:12.  To keep our rewards intact till we see Christ at the judgment seat of Christ, we must stand firm and endure, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12)  Where it says He will deny us means that He will deny our rewards if we stop serving Him which is the same as denying Him.  Until we die, we are to continue serving Him as we are preparing for eternity with Him

               You, too can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish

"Oue Proving Ground"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #61 – “Our Proving Ground”

               We concluded last article with speculation as to what life on the new heaven and new earth would look like.  We need only to look at the economy that we currently have.  We have industries, production, life, and authority on various levels from kings, queens, and presidents to the common laborers.  This is the life and economy that God has given us beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  This all began with God creating male and female and placing them in the Garden to cultivate it and to eat of the produce of the garden.   Why would we consider that life in the new earth and heaven would be different, except for having no sin?  God created the institution of Church, marriage and family, government, and business.  The question might be, what determines who does what in the new life?

               Works determines what happens to us and determines who will do what in the new life.  Many people believe that it is by works that a person is saved and that works keep a person saved.  That position is held by many big named, so-called preachers and comes from chapter one in the book of Malarkey.  There are many places in the Bible that speak of works to save ones temporal life, such as the case with the people of Nineveh in the book of Jonah.  They repented to be saved from God’s destruction.  That salvation was from temporal destruction not saved to eternal life with God.  Works have absolutely nothing to do with spiritual salvation only temporal salvation.  Works that count spiritually are the works that are done by a person following belief through faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)  Following the conversion to Jesus Christ by faith, a person’s works for God is stored up in Heaven in the form of rewards to be given to the one who earns them and endures until the end.  Those works, depending on the measure of them, will determine a person’s place or station in the new life on the new earth.  You could be a king or you could be one who cultivates the garden, depending on what you do in the name of Christ while you are here on this earth.  This is our proving ground or area of preparation for what is to be in the new life with God in the new world.

               Many people talk of losing salvation but the truth is; if you are not working to praise and please Jesus, you are not losing your salvation but, losing your eternal rewards.  Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6: 19-21)  Then, if we have worked to earn our rewards in the life to come we must endure to the end.  “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2:11-13)

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish

"Can You Imagine?"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #60 – “Can You Imagine?”

               Over the past ten articles, including this one, we have been considering ten stages that every person must go through.  This is the last of the series and will consider the final destination for all people who have been born into this world.  In the previous article, it was pointed out that everyone who will reject Jesus Christ will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment and with their name not found in the book of life will be cast into hell forever and ever.  That will be their final or, eternal destination.  “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murders and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)

               For every person who has or will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their final destination will not be in heaven as many believe, but will be on the new earth and new heaven.  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’” (Rev. 21:1-4)

               We cannot even imagine what a glorious eternity we will have.  There will be no more sin, imagine if you can, no more lying, stealing, cursing,  or corruption of any kind and no more politics.  Even better than that is there will be no more sorrow, sickness, arthritic pain, and no more death.  There will be only love and contentment with God dwelling among us with everyone honoring and worshipping Him.  The Jewish people will have their promised land and they will be a people loved by God and all people, never to be persecuted again.  What glory our finite minds cannot grasp or even imagine in this life.  Wow!  We should all be looking forward to the time when all of this becomes no longer faith but reality.

               Everything comes full circle.  God, in the beginning of the world, Genesis chapter one and two, created a perfect environment without sin, with beauty and purity that we can only imagine and ends with Revelations 21 and 22, a new world without sin and indescribable beauty and purity to last forever.  And, all those who have trusted in Jesus Christ will be there to enjoy it.  Praise God for His greatness!

               We can only speculate on what life on the new earth might be like.  It makes sense that it will be like it was in the beginning where Adam was to work to keep the garden and he could freely eat from the produce of the garden.  It is reasonable to think that there will be those hoeing in the fields and those who manage the fields all the way to those in authority over cities and countries.  Think of an economy like the one we have now but without sin, crime, corrupt, and such.  Everyone will be happy at whatever station they find themselves based on their service to God in building rewards in heaven while on this earth.  Consider these things.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish

"What's Next (Part 2)"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #59 – “What’s Next (Part 2)”

               Last week’s article ended with Jesus returning to earth and the first resurrection.  As Jesus takes up His seat on His glorious throne, He calls all the nations together in what is referred to as the sheep and goat judgment.  He will separate the sheep to His right and the goats to His left.  Those on His right were told to enter into their inheritance, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  (Matt. 25:34b)   Those on His left are told, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41b)   Those on His right are those who believed in Jesus during the tribulation period and the ones on the left refused to believe in Jesus and chose rather to follow the devil or the anti-Christ.   Those who entered into their inheritance in the kingdom would spend a thousand years on this earth with Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.

               At the end of the thousand year Kingdom Age, Satan will be released from the abyss only to rally his band of devils and other followers to try one more time to overcome God.  “Fire came down from heaven and devoured them.  And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev. 20: 9b, 10)  This will bring to an end the treacherous deeds of Satan and his followers, forever. 

Following the final defeat of Satan, comes the Great White Throne Judgment.  “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Rev. 20:12)  “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (Rev. 20:15)  The book of life contains only the names of those who believed in Jesus Christ.  Those whose names were not found in the book of life were cast into the eternal fire.  They were judged according to their deeds.  Those who had the worst deeds were to receive a greater punishment than those whose deeds were not as bad.  Many of those judged may have had all good deeds but their only bad deed was that they refused Jesus Christ, for any who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in hell where there is torment day and night forever and ever.  Every person born in this world will have eternal life.  Your eternal destiny is contingent upon whether or not you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (John 14:6)

This subject is difficult if not impossible to deal with properly in five to six hundred words.  Therefore, you should take a few minutes to read from your Bible, Matthew 24 and 25 along with Revelations 19 and 20.  This is a very interesting study of what is coming for us, believers or not.

You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  Next article will be on the final destiny of the believer in Jesus.

Lowell Parrish

"What's Next?"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #58 – “What’s Next?”

               Following the rapture of the church, the Lord will return to earth, “They also said, ‘men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”  (Acts 1:11)  From this passage, we find that as He was raised He will also return.  Before the Lord returns the second time, following the rapture of the church, a period of seven years of tribulation takes place.  This is the final seven years of the Jewish age, a time of God’s wrath being poured out upon unbelievers.  This subject stirs up a great deal of controversy.   Due to time and space considerations, we will only look at what I believe the Scripture says on the matter, my understanding to the best of my abilities.  My position is that of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, followed by the seven years of tribulation, followed by the return of Jesus and His bride, the church.

               Immediately following the rapture, the anti-Christ is revealed and makes a world-wide contract for a one-world government to bring peace to the world.  It makes sense that when all Christians on the earth disappear, there will be mass confusion and despair.  Something drastic will be necessary to calm the masses.  Some charismatic person will have to rise to the occasion and therefore, the covenant for peace.  After three and a half years, the anti-Christ breaks the covenant and the great tribulation takes place for another three and a half years.  Jesus said, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now nor ever will.  Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matt. 24: 21, 22)   If the Lord does not intervene, no life would survive.  We cannot possibly understand or imagine the evil that will exist during this time.  The restrainer of evil will have been removed where evil and chaos reigns supreme in all the world.

               The Lord returns to earth to bring an end to the terrible devastation taking place.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords will return to earth to set up His kingdom. The Lord then chained Satan and cast him into the abyss where he will remain for a thousand years.  At this time the first resurrection occurs where Jesus raises those who have been martyred during the tribulation period. (Rev. 19; Matt. 24, 25)  “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.  And I saw the soul of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed, this is the first resurrection.   Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4-6)

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to come.

Lowell Parrish

"Heaven?"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #57 – “Heaven?”

               Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like?  First of all, it is where all believers go when their life on earth comes to a close.  Jesus said to His disciples, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)  We see from this passage that there is already a place prepared for us.  We will one day be there where the Father and the Son currently dwell.  “The Lord is in His holy temple the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.” (Psa. 11:4)  In this passage, we learn that the Lord Jesus resides in heaven where we all will reside, IF, we believe in Jesus Christ.  The Scripture is clear that when we pass on from this life we go to be where the Lord is, in heaven. 

There are two possible ways for Christians to get to heaven.  One is through the process of dying, the other is to be raptured.  Paul describes the rapture, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17)  Those who have passed on, their bodies reside in their grave while their spirit is present with the Lord.  However, when the Lord comes in the clouds for the body of Christ, those believers who have passed on beforehand will have their bodies raised from their graves to join the Lord.  He then calls all those Christians who remain alive at the time to meet them in the clouds and they all will reside with the Lord forever.  This is what is referred to as the rapture of the church. 

               In the book of the Revelations of Jesus Christ, chapter 1:12-16, and chapter four gives us pictures of some of what we will see in heaven when we get there.  This describes pictures or symbolisms used by John probably because of the overwhelming, breath-taking view that is impossible, in human terms, to describe what John was seeing.  It would certainly be beyond our imagination the brilliance, power, purity, and the orderliness of what we will one time lay our eyes upon.  The perfection of heaven cannot be described by the finite human mind.  In chapter 6:9-11 is also pictured the souls of those slain because of their testimony of Jesus.  In verse 10; “And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” This would indicate that heaven is physical in nature and that those there can see what is going on with those left behind.

               Many and maybe most of Christians, and the world, think that heaven will be our final destination and that we will spend eternity there.  The Bible indicates that heaven is only a temporary dwelling place for believers until Christ returns to earth to set up His kingdom.  The church returns to earth as the bride of Christ to reside there with Him for a thousand years.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus.  More to follow on the millennial reign.

Lowell Parrish

"Eternal Rewards (Part 2)"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #56 – “Eternal Rewards (Part 2)”

               Understanding eternal rewards is so terribly important to us as believers that it deserves more attention.  Many churches and people believe if you sin you will lose your salvation, or, that you never had it to begin with.  That is not based on the Scripture.  Jesus said, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)  The promise here is that if you believe in Jesus you will have everlasting life.  That is a promise from God and He does not break His promises.   This is clear throughout the Bible so, that question should be settled for good.  Now, what does happen if we fall into sin or if we do not serve God?  We don’t lose our salvation, so, what happens? 

               God has all kinds of rewards or treasures laid up for those who love and serve Him.  We cannot know what rewards await us following the judgment seat of Christ but, we must know that whatever they are, we must work for them and endure until the end.  We can know generally what the rewards will look like; in the parable of the 10 minas one received authority over 10 cities and another over five cities.  In 2 Timothy, we read, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we die with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12a)  From this passage it is certain that we could potentially have authority to reign with Christ.  The capacity at which we could reign is dependent upon the value of our works and whether we endure to the end.  It looks like the promise is twofold, you do good works and last to the end honoring God.  Paul writes about running the race to win. (1 Cor. 9:24)

               In Revelations, chapter two and three, John writes to the seven churches passing along what Jesus has instructed him regarding the behavior of these seven churches.  He both criticizes the churches and encourages them.  Jesus tells each of them what they have done right and what they have done wrong.  At the end of the letter to each of the seven, Jesus instructs them what they must do and what they may be rewarded.  These rewards are not to the churches but to the individuals within each of the churches.  To the church of Ephesus He instructs, that they will suffer tribulation but if they are faithful until death, they will be given the crown of life.  To another church He promised if they repent of their wrongs they would receive hidden manna and a white stone.  To a third church He says, “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.  And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.” (Rev. 2:25-28)

               Blessed will be those who serve God with a loving heart and will endure, last, stand firm in the Lord to the end of their lives.  For them the rewards will be great.  All who have believed in Jesus will inherit eternal life in heaven but for those who serve and honor God to the end will have a much greater eternal experience than those who do not.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish