NASA & THE BIBLE

Thought this was pretty amazing and interesting!

For all the scientists out there, and for all the students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible, here’s something that shows God’s awesome creation, and that He is still in control.

Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called ‘myth’ in the Bible is true?

Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, Maryland, and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development.
‘I think one of the most amazing things that God has done for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland .

They were checking out where the positions of the sun, moon, and planets would be 100 years and 1,000 years from now. We have to know this so we won’t send up a satellite and have it bump into something later on in its orbits.

We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.

They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries, and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong with either the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.
They called in the service department to check it out, and they said, ‘What’s wrong?’ Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.

They scratched their heads and tore their hair out. There was no answer.

Finally a Christian man on the team said, ‘You know, one time I was in Sunday School, and they talked about the sun standing still.’ While they didn’t believe him, they didn’t have an answer either, so they said, ‘Show us, ‘
He got a Bible and went to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with ‘common sense.’

There they found the Lord saying to Joshua,
‘Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before Thee.’
Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy! And if darkness fell, they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That’s right… ‘The sun stood still and the moon stayed and lasted not to go down about a whole day!’
(Joshua 10:12-13)
The astronauts and scientists said, There is the missing day! They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua’s day was 23 hours and 20 minutes. not a whole day.

They read the Bible, and there it was about [approximately] a day. These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes, you’ll still be in trouble 1000 years from now.

Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS.

The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings that told of the following story: Hezekiah, on his death bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said ‘Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?’
Hezekiah said, ‘It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees, but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees.’ Isaiah spoke to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes!’
Twenty-three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe! Isn’t it amazing?

References: Joshua 10:8 and 12,13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11.

SADLY ENOUGH THIS STORY WAS CHECKED OUT AND HAS BEEN DENIED BY NASA ACCORDING TO VARIOUS URBAN LEGEND SITES. Truth of the matter is though that things like this happen all the time and the devil will continue to bombard us with ‘logic’ and ‘coincidence’. I am sure you have seen a movie before that did not contain all truth and even conspiracy…This never happened…or it did…either way God is real and the bible does give us those examples as where a day went in history. God will soon explain that too us.

NASA probe finds heaven

FAST FACT: The Hubble Space Telescope photographed what appeared to be Heaven in deep space in 1992, but after a flurry of excitement and wild speculations, “Paradise” was proved to be a simple cloud of dust and gasses left over after a star exploded 600 billion years ago.

THE DISCOVERY of pearly gates, temples and streets of gold on the otherwise barren and lifeless surface of Mars has stunned scientists and clergymen alike, many of whom believe the items are dazzling new proof that Heaven not only exists, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from earth – on the Red Planet.

Hundreds of top-secret, black-and-white photographs beamed back to earth by NASA’s hard-working Spirit rover beginning, sources say, on Nov. 14, 2004 show architecture reminiscent of the glimmering marble structures that were common in ancient Greece and also have appeared in descriptions of Heaven by people who have died and gone there while having near-death experiences.

And in many of those same photos, gigantic “pearlescent” gates can be seen in the distance connecting to what appear to be well-worn streets of hammered gold, several of which lead to a towering stone monolith that at least one NASA analyst has said “might be a throne.”
Equally intriguing are several images of golden feathers – some the size of yardsticks – that match up with biblical mentions of those that occasionally have dropped off of angel’s wings during their visits to earth throughout history.

“But here’s the capper,” says a NASA source who is heading up one of five independent teams charged with analyzing the photographs that have not been made public to avoid what one insider calls “confusion, angst and panic” among non-Christians.

“Spirit is equipped with sensitive on-board microphones that have been detecting noises that, though faint, are unmistakable – and nothing like the simple rush of wind and ‘tic … tic … tic’ of blowing sand that we heard almost continuously since the rover landed in 2003.

“What we’re hearing now sounds like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the strumming of harps. It’s faint. It comes and goes. There’s room for error. We could be wrong.
“But most of us who have heard the tapes agree that whatever’s going on up there sounds a lot like what goes on in churches here on earth.

“The only things we haven’t heard are mothers shushing their babies, fire-and-brimstone preaching and the jingle of coins dropping into a collection plate.”
NASA spokeswoman Marcia Pendergast, in the space agency’s Washington office, declines to discuss the photographs or even acknowledge they exist pending what she calls “the outcome of a continuing investigation” that she admitted “may drag on for months.”

She was equally tight-lipped about speculation the space agency has, in fact, stumbled on Heaven – or something just like it – in its exploration of the Red Planet.

“We have to proceed carefully to avoid offending non-Christians and atheists who don’t believe in God and Heaven and, as we know from numerous political and sociological polls, that’s 48 percent of the country,” says a NASA administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her job.

“But the mood inside NASA is absolutely electric. There’s hardly a person here who’s seen the photographs and read the reports who doesn’t believe we’ve found Heaven.

“And I’m not just talking about scientists and bureaucrats, we’ve brought in a number of clergymen and theologians as consultants and they agree with us.

“We could explore space for a thousand years, send rockets and astronauts to the farthest reaches of the universe, and even fly forwards and backwards in time, and we’d never top this.
“Finding evidence of an afterlife … well, what else can I say? Surely this will change human behavior for the better, because now that we know there is a Heaven, surely the reverse is true – there must be a Hell.”

Rev. Dr. Paul Stack couldn’t agree more. The famed short-wave radio evangelist whose daily sermons reach an audience of millions in 73 countries believes God is using NASA and the Spirit rover as tools to warn mankind of impending doom.

“Judgment Day isn’t just near, it’s here,” he said in a telephone interview from his home in Hahnville, Louisana,. “I strongly advise every man, woman and child with ears to hear and eyes to see to get right with the Lord straight away.

“He’s shown us Heaven. What more proof do you need? Either you get down on your knees and pray for salvation right now or you accept the alternative, which is nothing less than a trap door falling out from under you at any moment – and dropping you straight into Hell.”
When – and if – NASA will go public with the pictures remains to be seen.

“The big boys want to make sure they’re right so they don’t wind up humiliating themselves,” explains a source who says NASA has always been reluctant to rush to judgment about any discovery in space.

“Can you imagine them trumpeting to the world, ‘We found Heaven! We found Heaven!’ only find find out a few months from now that all they really found were some odd rock formations and sandscapes that just happen to look like pearly gates, temples and angel feathers?

“Heads would roll and it wouldn’t be pretty – I’ll guarantee you that.”

Copyright (c) 2008 Derek Clontz/4-Page Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Evil Spirits

What Are Evil Spirits?

The many accounts of evil spirits in Scripture affirm the reality of powerful spiritual forces of wickedness. Evil spirits (also known as demons or devils) are depraved spirits which are familiar with human weaknesses and desires. Some are more vile than others.

The Bible has many names for these spirits:

• Deaf and dumb spirit (Mark 9:17-29)

• Evil spirit (Luke 7:21; Acts 19:12-13)

• Familiar spirit (I Samuel 28:7)

• Foul spirit (Mark 9:25)

• Lying spirit (II Chronicles 18:20-22)

• Perverse spirit (Isaiah 19:14; Romans 1:17-32)

• Seducing spirit (I Timothy 4:1)

• Spirit of an unclean devil (Luke 4:33)|

• Spirit of antichrist (I John 4:3)

• Spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15)

• Spirit of death (I Corinthians 10:10, 15:26)

• Spirit of divination (Acts 16:16)

• Spirit of error (I John 4:6)

• Spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

• Spirit of haughtiness (Proverbs 16:18-19)

• Spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3)

• Spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-13)

• Spirit of jealousy (Genesis 4:5-8; Numbers 5:14)

• Spirit of slumber (Isaiah 29:10, Romans 11:8)

• Spirit of the world (I Corinthians 2:12)

• Spirit of whoredoms (Hosea 4:12, 5:4)

• Unclean spirit (Mark 6:7; Luke 11:24-26)

Evil spirits can enter into and possess people, causing all kinds of sicknesses, diseases, and terrible manifestations. The Bible records many occasions when Jesus healed those who were tormented by these spirits (see Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 1:23-27, Luke 9:37-42, and Acts 19:13-16). "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick" (Matthew 8:16).

Where Did Evil Spirits Come From?

An evil spirit (or demon) is not the same as a fallen angel; it is actually the offspring of a fallen angel. When fallen angels took to themselves human wives (Genesis 6:1-2), the children born to them became mighty giants, corrupting the human race and accelerating wickedness to such a degree that God saw it necessary to destroy all flesh with a Great Flood, saving only the righteous man Noah and his family.

When the mortal bodies of these angel-human hybrids died, their immortal spirits roamed the earth seeking human bodies to harass and indwell. The male ones are malevolent spirits and the female ones are seductive spirits. These continue to afflict the human race even now. They know the weaknesses and desires of mankind, for they once experienced a human body.

Unlike fallen angels, who can appear in bodily form, evil spirits must inhabit a body (either human or animal). An example of this is when Jesus cast out the legion of demons from a man and sent them into a herd of pigs (Luke 8:27-35). Both fallen angels and evil spirits serve their master Satan in the kingdom of darkness.

What is Demon Possession?

Demon possession is the control of an individual's personality so that actions are influenced by an evil demonic spirit. The signs of demonic possession in the New Testament include: deafness (Mark 9:25), blindness (Matthew 12:22), speechlessness (Matthew 9:33), convulsions (Mark 1:26), unusual strength (Mark 5:4), suicidal attempts (Matthew 17:15), and foaming of the mouth (Luke 9:39). Although these ailments are not necessarily caused by evil spirits, they are among the many possible effects of demonic activity.

One of those Jesus healed was Mary Magdalene, "out of whom he had cast seven devils" (Mark 16:9). The apostles cast out spirits as well, by the power of the Holy Spirit: "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed" (Acts 8:7).

Jesus commanded evil spirits with His word, and "devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, 'Thou art Christ the Son of God.' And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ" (Luke 4:41). The powers of darkness, including Satan, can go no further than the bounds God has set for them (see Job 1:6-12). They will always leave when He casts them out and must comply when He gives them an order. "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him"
(Mark 1:27; also see Luke 4:36).

Yes, evil spirits know Who is ultimately in charge! "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). They will always be subject to Jesus: "And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God" (Mark 3:11).

The powers of darkness are used for the purposes of God. "He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them" (Psalm 78:49).

Scripture records several times when the Lord sent an evil spirit for a specific and sovereign purpose. "Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech" (Judges 9:23). It could also be said that when God withdraws his protection, evil rushes in to fill the void. Those who give place to the Devil are opening a door for demonic influence. When King Saul rejected the word of the Lord, "the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him" (I Samuel 16:14).

An evil spirit can be cast out of a person through the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it is extremely important that the void within them is filled with the Holy Spirit, lest the evil spirit return and bring with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself (Luke 11:24-26; John 5:14).

The Signs of His Coming

One of the biggest mysteries in the Bible concerns the timing of Jesus Christ's return to earth. Although the Bible tells us no one knows the hour nor the day when the Lord will return, the Bible is filled with many indicators or conditions we can use to assess how close we may be to the season of His return.

As you are about to read, many of the conditions spoken of in Bible prophecy which seem to indicate Jesus Christ's return is coming in the not-too-distant future are clearly visible in the world today, reminding us that He could come, to Rapture His Church at least, at any moment! After the Rapture takes place, the horrific seven-year Tribulation Period will occur

The signs are as follows:

1. The Gospel will be preached in all the world before the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth occurs at Armageddon, although exhaustive efforts are presently underway to accomplish this:

Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

2. There will be a mixture of believers and false believers within the Church body:

Matthew 13:24-30: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 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? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 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.

3. There will be scoffers:

The Bible tells us one of the key signs of the end times will be people doubting the return of Christ will ever happen.

2nd Peter 3:3-4: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

4. Humanity will be able to cross the globe rapidly and science will be advancing:

Daniel 12:4: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

5. Perilous times will come for mankind:

2nd Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

6. Mankind will deny God once flooded the earth:

2nd Peter 3:5-6: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7. The earth will be swimming in a sea of violence:

As it was in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26), so it shall be at the end. How was the earth in Noah's time?

Look no further than Genesis 6:11: The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

8. There will be warfare all over the globe:

Mark 13:8: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

9. Mankind will have the capability to destroy all life on the planet:

Unique to our generation, this prophecy could not have been fulfilled prior to the invention of weapons of mass destruction such as the nuclear bomb. Matthew 24: 22: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

10. Deadly diseases will be rampant:

Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

11. Famines will be common:

Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

12. Earthquakes will be occurring globally:

Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

13. There will be violent weather:

Luke 21:25- And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

14. Children will be disobedient and rebellious:

2nd Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

15. Christians and Jews will be hated for their faith in and connection with Christ:

Luke 21:17: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

16. Mankind will be in a state of moral, spiritual decay:

2nd Timothy 3:2-5: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

17. Religious cults will flourish:

2nd Peter 2:1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

18. There will be progress made toward a global government:

The European Union, the revived Roman Empire, is alive today and moving steadily toward the fulfillment of this prophecy as seen in Daniel 7: 23: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." The Antichrist who will lead this world government (after the rapture of the Christian Church takes place) will be (or become) leader of the European Union as seen in Daniel 9:26. He will be a descendant of the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary in AD 70, the Romans.

19. The world will be desperately seeking peace:

1st Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

20. Global means of communication will exist:

We know this because the book of Revelation teaches us the entire world will see several events. This is unique to our generation as only recently in mankind's history have these technologies been present.

Revelation 11:9: And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

21. In the last days, fallen angels will mingle with mankind:

I know this one is going to be controversial, but there is a scriptural basis for this, as seen in Luke 17:26: And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

A careful examination of what was going on in Noah's day seems to suggest fallen angels were somehow mingling with mankind.

Genesis 6:4: There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

If so, one of God's motives in destroying mankind at the flood may have been Satan and his fallen angels, in an attempt to save themselves from His judgment, were trying to taint the bloodline that would lead to the birth of Christ.

We find Noah was spared from destruction for three reasons as seen in Genesis 6:9. They are as follows:

1) Noah was a just man.

2) Noah was perfect in his generations (note this reference to his bloodline being pure).

3) Noah walked with God.

There is potentially more to the numerous UFO sightings and alien abduction stories in the news today than we have ever imagined!

22. Israel will exist as a nation in the latter days:

Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 to see this prophecy, which was fulfilled in 1948.

23. Israel's birth as a nation will have happened in one day:

Fulfilled on May 14, 1948 as seen in Isaiah 66:8: "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?"

24. Israel will be in possession of Jerusalem (has been since 1967):

This happened as a result of the Six-Day War in 1967. The capture of Jerusalem was critical from a prophetic standpoint as the Antichrist will someday enter a rebuilt Holy Temple that will be standing in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation Period where he will declare himself to be God. This event, referred to by most as the abomination of desolation, is documented in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15.

25. Israel will be surrounded on every side by enemies:

Psalms 83:4: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

26. The possession of Jerusalem will be the source of international conflict:

Is this happening today or what? It's a HUGE sign to us! Zechariah 12:3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

27. Christians will be lukewarm in their faith:

In Christ's address to the seven churches, He says in Revelation 3:15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

28. Many will claim to be Christ:

Matthew 24:5: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

29. False Christs and false prophets will be very effective in the art of deception:

Matthew 24:24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

30. There will be signs in the heavens:

Luke 21:25: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

31. Mockers will abound because those who live according to their own desires love to mock those who try to live theirs in a manner pleasing to God.

Jude 1:18: How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

32. Idolatry will be common:

Revelation 9:20: And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

33. Many Christians and church doctrines will depart from the faith:

1st Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

34. Mankind's state of rebellion will be so great, the coming of Christ will catch them completely off-guard:

Luke 21:35: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

35. Homosexuality will be flaunted:

Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

This is also spoken of in Luke 17:28- 30: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

Although homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God, all sin is! I bring up this point because many Christians treat homosexuality as if it is the most unforgivable sin of all. Jesus Christ forgives all sins and we, His followers, should be reaching out to these people with love in our hearts that they might be saved! Homosexuality is not an unpardonable sin any more than any other sin is!

36. Many will rejoice in their unrighteousness:

2nd Thessalonians 2: 12: "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

These people, according to 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, will be subject to believing the lie the Antichrist will present to the world in the aftermath of the Rapture of the Church, leading many of them to eternal damnation. God will allow them to be deceived, it seems, as a reward for their bold defiance of Him. What a frightening thought!

37. Aliyah will be taking place:

What is Aliyah? Aliyah is the Hebrew word used to describe the physical return of the Jewish people, the children of Israel, to their ancient Promised Land, Zion, from abroad.

In Scripture, God promised He would bring the Jews (descendants of Abraham) back to their Promised Land from all the nations of the world where He had scattered them! It is happening even as you read these words.

Ezekiel 36:24: For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

39. There will be signs Earth's environment is in trouble:

Romans 8:21-23: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.

40. Technology will exist capable of tracking the world's population, finances.

Revelation 13:16-17: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

41. The capability will exist for an army of 200 million soldiers to be formed:

In Revelation 9:16, John sees a specific number of soldiers/"horsemen" preparing for or entering into war: And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

Estimates of the total human population of Earth during Christ's day typically vary between 100 to 400 million people. In 2004, the CIA determined China had an estimated 208,143,352 in its population alone fit for military service. As of 2006, that number had risen to 281,240,272 men fit for military service.

42. Drug use will be rampant:

Revelation 9:21: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The original Greek for the word 'sorceries' is pharmakeia {far-mak-i'-ah}. It means the use of or the administering of drugs OR sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.

43. Evil men, seducers and deceivers will get worse and worse. (2nd Timothy 3:13)

One doesn't have to think too hard to realize this prophecy is being dramatically fulfilled in our times. Upon reading this, close your eyes for a moment and think of how many people you know (or have heard of from reputable sources) who seem to be evil to the core! Similarly, think of how many people you know who have fallen victim to frauds and scams perpetrated by seducers (deceivers/imposters). The world today seems full of these types with no letup in sight.

44. There will be wars and rumours of war.

Matthew 24:6: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

It seems that for every international conflict that exists at a given moment in our present time, there is potential for another to manifest itself as well. It's as though our world is about to blow apart at the seams!

45. When we begin to collectively see the signs listed above, Christ's return is near!

Luke 21:28: And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Have you seen any of these signs in the world today?

If so, I suggest you quickly enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ if you haven't already done so! He is coming soon!

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?

The direct answer is yes, Jesus is the only way into heaven. There is no other way.

The question that lingers is, "How do we arrive at that conclusion?"

Well, it boils down to a matter of choice, your choice. These days we talk a lot about choice. We discuss all types of choices: abortion, premarital relations, school choice, lifestyle, vocation, etc., etc. In America, the land of freedom, we may choose anything we wish. Some choices are good, some bad. Some choices are legal. Some are illegal.

But we have many choices. The great thing about choice is that it is an individual privilege. No one else can make our choices for us. We must make our own choices. Some choices are leisurely choices and some are required choices. The leisurely choices might be to choose what outfit to wear today or where to go out to dinner. But the required choices are more difficult. We must choose whether to be a productive member of society or not. That choice is mandatory. There is no way around it. Either we become good citizens or we do not. We each have to make that choice.

There is another required choice that every one of us must make. We must choose to believe in God or we must choose not to. Everyone must make that choice. There is no way around it. How we feel about and what we do about God is a required choice. Choosing to do nothing about it is still a choice. It is the choice not to follow God.

I believe that the most important choice we must make is whether or not to believe in Jesus Christ. But that choice may be predicated by other choices. One of those choices is about the Bible. We must individually decide, or choose to believe (or not to believe) that the Bible is truly God's words. If it is truly the words of God, then we must do what it says if we are to be acceptable to God.

I say that it is a personal choice whether or not to believe in the Bible. There are many voices out there with things to say about the Bible. Some, like me, believe it is the inspired words of God without any error. That is, it was written by men inspired of God and they wrote precisely in every detail what God wanted them to write. There are those who say that the Bible is good literature and that it is worthy of examination because it is good literature. But they reject the idea that it is God's words. Some say the Bible is a book of mythology and not of God. Some also say it is a work of history—the history of the Israelites. Others say that it is simply the superstitions of the Israelite peoples and cannot be trusted to be accurate. There are some, claiming to be people of God, who say that God's words are to be found in the Bible, yet it is not without error. And some religious types say it contains the words of God but not every word is from God. There are many other ideas about the Bible floating around, but these are the most prevalent ones.

Those voices are all striving for your attention. The bottom line is still that it is your choice. If you choose to believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant words of God, then you will understand that Jesus is the only way. If you reject that it is God's words, then you have no basis to believe that Jesus is the only way.
Let me try to influence you. First a philosophical point of view. If there really is a God who created everything including you and me, then would he not have provided a way for us to know Him? If there is not a God, then this is a moot point. But the statistics show that the vast, vast majority of people believe that there is a God. Even the agnostics acknowledge that God may exist. Many atheists really secretly believe in God. I know. I was a professing atheist. But I always knew in some corner of my mind that I was being dishonest to myself. There was always the knowledge of God in my subconscious.

So, if there is a God, and the great majority of us believe there is, then why would we hesitate to believe that He has spoken to us? And if he has spoken to us, then the Bible is the most likely place He did so. Why?

The answer to that question has spawned volumes. But let me quickly outline a few areas of proof that the Bible is indeed God's Word.

• The historicity of the Bible. As archaeology has progressed in the last three centuries (19th, 20th, and 21st) it has proven over and over that the accounts in the Bible are historically accurate. Let me give two brief examples. 1.) The Bible tells us that Abraham came from the city of Ur. Ur was considered to be a myth for centuries. Then in the early part of the 20th Century, Sir Leonard Woolley of the British Museum and his staff of archaeologists unearthed the city of Ur, proving its existence. Prior to the expedition directed by Woolley, another British Museum archaeologist named J.E. Taylor began to dig at the site of Ur. It is now an accepted fact that Ur was a real historical city in the trans-Euphrates area, which is the location in which the Bible places it. 2.) The Biblical story of Jericho (about the walls falling) was also considered to be a myth. Yet in the 1950's, Dame Kathleen Kenyon, an extraordinary archaeologist named Honorary Director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem proved that the walls of Jericho collapsed just as the Bible says. Here is a quote from her excavation report: "The destruction was complete. Walls and floors were blackened or reddened by fire, and every room was filled with fallen bricks, timbers, and household utensils; in most rooms the fallen debris was heavily burnt." There are numerous other examples of archaeology proving the accuracy of the Bible.

• The unity of the Bible. The Bible consists of sixty-six books written over a period of fifteen hundred years by forty different writers. These men did not know each other because they were many times separated by many years; even centuries; even millennia. They could not get together and collaborate to produce such a cohesive work. They did not fabricate it. These writers came from many different walks of life and classes of society. Some were poor, some rich, some powerful, some weak. Some were prophets, some historians, some poets, some farmers, some very wise, and some not as wise. Some were kings, some lowly subjects. Some were respected; some were reviled. They came from all classes, cultures, and experiences. Yet they are in complete agreement. The Bible is a cohesive, relevant, and up to date collection of writings. The Author of the Bible is Almighty God. It is His letter to us, His people. It is a complex living organism whose elements are interlocked, interwoven, and interdependent. God used men who had different personalities and different writing styles. But even so, the Bible is complete, organized, unified, and consistent.

• Fulfilled Prophecy. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled by Jesus. Psalm 22 tells us about His hands and feet being pierced, about the soldiers casting lots for His clothing, and about His being reviled on the cross. Jesus actually quotes from Psalm 22 on the cross. David wrote Psalm 22 almost 1000 years before Christ was crucified. Isaiah tells us how he would be wounded for our transgressions. That prophecy was fulfilled when He was scourged, beaten, and crucified. Micah tells us that He was to be born in Bethlehem, which He was. Daniel wrote his prophecy around 500 years before Christ was born. Daniel predicted the birth of Christ to the exact year. He said that the Messiah would be born 483 years after Cyrus decreed the rebuilding of Jerusalem. That is precisely when Christ was born. He predicted the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 AD. Daniel accurately predicted Alexander's conquest of the world and how his generals split up his empire among themselves. He predicted how Antiochus Epiphanes would come in and fight against Jerusalem and desecrate the altar of God. His most awesome prophecy was that the four major world empires would rise and fall. He predicted Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Every prediction that Daniel made came true with the exception of those that are scheduled for future fulfillment. The Bible has a 100% accuracy rate on prophecies coming true. This fact alone should sway any doubter.

• The scientific accuracy of the Bible. Solomon said that the earth is a globe: Proverbs 8:27 "When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:" Isaiah 40:22 "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:" Job said that the earth hangs in space: Job 26:7 "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." Solomon affirmed the hydrology of the earth: Ecclesiastes 1:6-7 "The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. {7} All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again." When Job said that the morning stars sang together, he was scientifically accurate. When sensors are aimed at stars, it has been found that the light they emit can be turned into sound. The sound is musical. And when different stars are checked, it is found that the sounds they make all harmonize*!

If, after reading these things you do not believe that the Bible is the true and inspired words of God, there is little more I can do to persuade you. Again it is your choice. If you choose not to believe that the Bible is God's Word, then I have no argument to prove to you that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But if you choose to believe that the Bible is God's Word then I can show you the verses that prove that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Heaven is where God the Father is.

Here are some verses stating that Christ is the only way to heaven:
John 14:6 [Jesus speaking] "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the father, but by me".

Acts 4:12 [Peter telling the crowd about Jesus] "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

1 John 2:23 "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."

Romans 5:21 "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {17} For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. {18} He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Jesus is the only way to go into the presence of God. God is sinless and cannot allow sin in His presence because it would stain Him. For example, if you have twelve eggs that are fresh, you have a perfectly fresh dozen eggs. But if you take one out and put in a rotten egg, then you no longer have a perfectly fresh dozen eggs. You have twelve eggs but the dozen is polluted. It is the same with God. He is perfect. If anyone who is not perfect comes into His presence, His perfection is sullied. He cannot and will not allow that to happen.

The Bible tells us that the payment we must make for sin is death. If we sin we must die to pay for that sin. There is no work we can do on this earth to make up for our sins. We are doomed. Like the verse above says, we are already condemned.

The Bible says, in Hebrews 9:22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." In other words, only the death and spilling of the blood of a substitute victim will allow our sins to be forgiven. In the Old Testament they killed bulls and goats and the blood shed by the animals gave temporary forgiveness and the sacrifices had to be made over and over. But Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God gave his life and shed His blood for the remission of sins. He became our substitute victim. If we believe that He did that we are forgiven by the blood He shed. Jesus died on the cross, shedding His own blood for the world. But unlike the bulls and goats, Jesus died and God raised Him from the dead. He is alive today, now, this very second. His blood no longer needs to be shed. He died and shed His blood once for all and His blood never needs to be spilled again like the blood of the bulls and goats.

No one else has shed His blood for us, not Mohammed, not Buddha, not anyone. And not one of the founders of any religion is alive today. Only Christ, who founded Christianity, is alive today. He is the only one to shed His blood for all and then be raised from the death. He is the only way to get to heaven. There is no other. The Bible says so. If you have chosen to believe the Bible, it is the Bible that tells us Jesus is the only way.

Facts about Bible

The Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by over 40 different authors from all walks of life, shepherds, farmers, tent makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings.

Moses contributed the most books to the Old Testament. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, referred to as the Pentateuch - Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers.

The Apostle Paul contributed the most books in the New Testament. He wrote 14 books over half of the New Testament.

The Bible was written over a period of some 1,500 years, from around 1450 B.C the time of Moses to about 100 A.D.

Many scholars agree that Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written by an unknown Israelite about 1500 B.C, others hold that the Pentateuch the first five books of the Bible are the oldest books in the Bible, written between 1446 and 1406 B.C.

The book of Malachi, written about 400 B.C is the youngest book in the Old Testament.

Probably the book of James, written as early as A.D.45 is the oldest book of the New Testament.

The Book of Revelation is the youngest book of the New Testament, written about 95 A.D

History Of Satan

History of Satan – Where did he come from?
The history of Satan is described in the Bible in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. These two biblical passages also reference the king of Babylon, the King of Tyre, and the spiritual power behind the kings.

What caused Satan to be cast from Heaven? He fell because of pride that originated from his desire to be God instead of a servant of God. Satan was the highest of all the angels, but he wasn’t happy. He desired to be God and rule the universe. God cast Satan out of heaven as a fallen angel.

History of Satan – Who is he?
Satan is often caricatured as a red-horned, trident-raising cartoon villain; no wonder people question the history of Satan. His existence, however, is not based on fantasy. It’s verified in the same book that narrates Jesus’ life and death (Genesis 3:1-16, Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11).

Satan acts as leader of the fallen angels. These demons, existing in the invisible spirit realm yet affecting our physical world, rebelled against God, but are ultimately under His control. Satan masquerades as an “angel of light,” deceiving humans just as he deceived Eve in the beginning (Genesis 3).

Jesus Himself testified of Satan’s existence. During His ministry, He personally faced temptation from the devil (Matthew 4:1-11), cast out demons possessing people (Luke 8:27-33), and defeated the evil one and his legion of demon angels at the cross. Christ also helped us understand the ongoing, spiritual war between God and Satan, good and evil (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:17-20).

With Jesus Christ on our side, we need not fear Satan’s limited power (Hebrew 2:14-15). We ought to be wise, however, in resisting his tactics:

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

History of Satan - What is his place now?
Throughout the history of Satan, evil has been his identity because he is directly opposite God’s character. God’s holy standard found in the Bible exposes evil. If not relying on its truth, we can easily error:

• One error is denying Satan’s existence
• Another mistake is fearfully focusing on Satan rather than on Christ Jesus who overcame him
• Others outright worship Satan, preferring the darkness of evil rather than light that reveals sin (John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Any of these approaches please the devil. He wants us denying, fearing, obeying, or worshipping him. Unless we follow the trustworthy source, the Bible, he’ll deceive us (Ephesians 6:10-11).

History of Satan - Satan’s seduction versus reality
In our scientific, rational age, spiritual beliefs are scorned as myth. Satan, however, doesn’t mind those who rebuff the reality of fallen angels or demons. By masking himself, he can tempt and deceive people without blame. The wise will never forget that Satan and demons, determined to deceive humans, are fighting real battles and wars against heavenly angels.

Satan compels or entices his prey to follow him whether they realize it or not. Maybe they are simply ignorant and confused. Many would rather believe human theory than obey divine revelation and natural law. Whether blind, bound, or brazenly willing, they join Satan for a doomed destiny. They condemn themselves to eternity in hell.

While Satan is more powerful than we humans, God doesn’t leave us defenseless (Ephesians 6:10-11). At the Lord’s rebuke, Satan and his demons shudder and flee (James 2:19; Jude 1:9). When Jesus Christ died, He overcame them (Colossians 2:15). Only in the authority of Jesus does anyone have power to stand against the devil. Those saved from sin by Jesus’ death on the cross are protected; those who are not saved from Satan’s power perish with him (John 3:16; 1 Peter 5:8-10).

Who will you spend eternity with? Have you accepted the fact that you are a sinner and that Jesus died on the cross and rose again?

Can Satan do miracles? What are Satan’s powers?

Can Satan do miracles is an interesting question because we know that some of the miraculous things that happened in the Bible were not inspired by God.

• Pharaoh’s magicians performed miracles
• The antichrist and false prophet will perform miracles
• The Bible speaks of counterfeit signs and wonders.

What are his powers? The only ruling power Satan has is over the human, secular, unsaved global world (1 John 5:19; Jude 9; Revelation 16:13-14)

• Satan, described in the Bible, can and does win battles for the mind. He takes devilish pleasure every time a human falls into sin and rejects God. Can he get away with his malevolence? While Satan does spread terror, his strategies are destined for defeat (Revelation 20:10).
• Satan is the author of sin and evil. For a time, God is allowing him to roam the earth like a roaring lion, devouring human prey. The ultimate source of all persecution, he hooks his evil character into the heart of a person’s soul to influence the mind, emotions, and will (John 13:2).
• Satan is not omnipresent – he cannot be in more than one place at a time. Only God is everywhere, only God knows everything.
• Satan uses supernatural schemes and tactics to overcome his victim. Satan is a supernatural being with great power to deceive (Job 1:7).
• Satan and his demon followers can attack both internally and externally yet escape unnoticed as the instigator of strife and suffering. Possession and oppression of people marks their work.
• Ruling from the unseen spirit realm, Satan commands his demons to possess or oppress his victims. He is responsible for tempting sinners; blinding their eyes with lies; leading them into sin; and then slandering them to God (Genesis 3).
• Satan, if allowed by God, can influence people’s speech (Matthew 16:22-23).

What are the names of Satan?

The following are names of Satan and aliases he uses:

• Lucifer, meaning morning star (Isaiah 14:12)
• ruler of the demons (Matthew 12:24)
• god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)
• devil/accuser (Matthew 4:1)
• prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)
• roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)
• serpent (Genesis 3:1)
• dragon ( Revelation 12:9); 20:2
• adversary (Job 1)
• tempter (Matthew 4:3)
• the anointed Cherub that covers (Ezekiel 28:14)
• Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24)
• Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15)
• wicked one (Matthew 13:19)

What are Fallen Angels?

The Bible teaches that fallen angels are invisible, supernatural, angelic, spirits created by God. Satan employs them as his immoral agents. After one-third of the heavenly angels sided with Satan, they were cast out of heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:4).

The Bible calls fallen angels devils, demons, evil, and unclean spirits. Their lust for power is matched with an evil mind, emotions, and will. In their present, restrained state, demon angels are awaiting God’s final judgment and their ultimate destination: God’s predestined, eternal hell, a place of “reserved everlasting chains.”

While the Bible doesn’t offer the exact number of angels, the hosts could outnumber people. Of all the multitudes of angels God created, fallen angels comprise one-third. Satan keeps demons in bondage to his will: corrupting humans to separate them from God.

Fallen Angels -- What are demons allowed and forbidden to do?
God controls the universe -- including Satan. However, He permits Satan to assign demons to activities and people to test. Demons tempt, accuse, and deceive. Demons dominate and captivate people who practice sin. Demons can inflict disease, ruining bodies and souls (Luke 9:42).

Demons can possess a person who is not under God’s protection (i.e. saved from sin by Jesus Christ), causing them to say and commit evil things (Matthew 8:28-24). The goal of demons is to separate as many people from God as possible forevermore, taking them to eternal hell with them. Their war strategy is influencing the mind to reject the Lord Jesus and live in sin. In God’s churches, they attempt to draw people away from the truth (1 John 4:1).

Satan and demons cannot possess true Christians because the Holy Spirit indwells and protects them (1 John 4:4). Although demons can oppress people and tempt them to sin, they cannot make people choose wrong. Demons fear God’s presence (James 2:19).

Why did the Angels fall?

What caused the angels’ fall? When the fallen angels, led by Lucifer, challenged God’s rule, they failed their created purpose of worshipping and serving God. The Bible reports that Satan was cast from heaven to earth (Luke 10:18)

Speaking of Lucifer (Satan), the Bible says, “All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain (Isaiah 14:11-13).

The history of Satan and the fallen angels is described in the Bible in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. These two biblical passages also reference the king of Babylon, the King of Tyre, and the spiritual power behind the kings.

Lust for power had infested their soul, strangling faith in God’s wisdom which says love and service for one another is greater than power in rank, status, or authority. God’s natural law of divine morality is defined relationally. Those first in power will be last because God humbles the proud and honors the humble.

The rebellious angels became their Creator’s adversary. What began as a lustful seed of power flourished in spreading evil among the human race. God, however, had a plan of salvation to defeat sin, Satan, and death. His Son, Christ Jesus accomplished the plan when He took our punishment on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrew 2:14)!

Why did the Angels fall – Are they dangerous?
Fallen angels spend their time tempting, taunting, teasing, deceiving, afflicting, and accusing people of wrongdoing. They keep people stirred up in confusion and chaos, alienated from their sole hope: God.

Satan commands his evil legions. Ultimately, however, all are bound to the sovereign control of God (Job 1).

Why did God create Satan?

God created Satan as Lucifer, the highest ranking angel of all. Lucifer, however, wasn’t content to worship and serve his Creator. Full of pride, he rebelled, leading a third of the angels. Unable to match the Almighty God, Lucifer was cast to the earth where he has operated as the devil ever since.

The biblical passages of Job, Isaiah 14:12-15, Matthew 4:3-10, and Revelation 12:7-12 provide a glimpse of Satan’s history and character.

God did not create Lucifer as evil but allowed the potential for sin. While God cannot commit sin, He doesn’t take it away from those who do. When Lucifer chose to rebel, he instantly became the author of sin. Evil is the result of a free-will choice by Lucifer.

Satan and sin don’t foil God’s divine purposes. Evil in stark contrast to good, shows God’s mercy to whom He chooses to provide salvation. God uses evil and demons for His divine purposes (1 Samuel 16:15-16).

Satan fears God’s predestined plan: salvation, new heaven, and new earth for His chosen people who are made holy, perfectly moral, and volitionally loving. He will prove that He is victorious over evil and evil beings who follow Satan’s ways. Personal peace of mind about Satan and evil comes from being God-centered. God rules forever!