In 1990 Aaron Tippin, William Brock and William Calhoun Brock Jr. wrote a song called “You’ve Got to Stand for Something.” Aaron Tippin sang the song, and some of the words are:

You’ve got to stand for something

Or you’ll fall for anything

You’ve got to be your own man

Not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what’s right

And uphold your family name

You’ve got to stand for something

Or you’ll fall for anything

As I was listening to this song the other day on the radio, it got me to thinking about the words.

You got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything –

This is a broad statement since it really depends on what you are standing for. My first thought is standing up for Christian values given to us by God in a book we call the Bible. Now, that’s something worthwhile to stand for. It is also the reason so many Christians fall for anything because they don’t faithfully read the Bible. Therefore, they don’t know what to stand for.

On the other hand, one could stand for abortion … for example. That certainly isn’t anything reputable to stand for. Stand for butchering babies because having a child might disrupt your life? I don’t think so!

It’s true that if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything, but it would be wise to closely examine what you stand for.

You’ve got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string –

Now, this makes more sense. Most people are like a puppet on a string because they are afraid to be different. I have witnessed countless people in this mode. They just compromise and go along with what everyone else says to avoid any confrontation.

Instead of being “our own” man, though, wouldn’t it be wiser to be “God’s” man? For the Bible says,

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

Hebrews chapter 11 provides us with a list of people who were God’s men (and women) and definitely not puppets.

The apostles were God’s men, and they definitely were not puppets. Just think if they tried to be their own man. They would have eventually become puppets to the squeaky wheels of the religious crowd and Rome.

Take, for example, Jesus. Did He try to be His own man? Even though He was God, He came to do the will of the Father, and He accomplished just that.

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me“ (John 5:30).

So, being our own man really isn’t the answer, simply because none of us are qualified to be our own man. As I have already said, Jesus was certainly qualified to be His own man, but He chose to do the will of the Father.

We could totally eliminate the puppets if we would just choose to be God’s man or woman.

Never compromise what’s right, and uphold your family name –

Now we’re making more sense. Every true Christian has the family name of the one true God of Heaven, and this is the name we need to cherish. Whatever we do, say or think reflects on that family name.

Since the true Christian is a child of Almighty God, then it stands to reason that “compromising” God’s Word is totally out of the question. But here’s the problem … if we aren’t in the Word (the Bible), how can we know what not to compromise?

Every Christian is a disciple, and this word “disciple” simply means we are a student of His Word. Unfortunately, far too many Christians are not attending class, and then there are others showing up for class but fail to listen.

Now we’re back to:

You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything –

More and more, the world we live in is becoming anti-God. It hates God and wants nothing to do with Him or His true followers … you know, those stiff-neck Christians who cause so much friction.

God sent Daniel a message by the angel Gabriel about a period of 490 years – which is for Israel, by the way, not the Church. In Daniel 9:24-27, Gabriel explains this to Daniel.

²⁴ “Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

To make an end of sins,

To make reconciliation for iniquity,

To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

And to anoint the Most Holy.”

This verse covers the period through the end of the 7-year Tribulation we talk so much about. It will be completed at the Lord’s 2nd Advent (2nd coming).

²⁵ “Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,

There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

Even in troublesome times.”

This verse begins with the decree of Artaxerxes, in the twentieth year of his reign, to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8), and follows through to Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11).

²⁶ “And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood,

And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

This verse speaks of Christ being crucified a week after He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, then the Romans destroying Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

²⁷ “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.”

Today we are sitting between verses 26 and 27, in what is called the Church age. It amounts to a long parenthesis that will close with the Rapture. Beginning with verse 27, the 490-year prophecy will continue when the Antichrist confirms a covenant with Israel for seven years. This last seven years will complete the 490-year prophecy.

My point in quickly showing this prophecy in Daniel is to emphasize that verses 25-26 have been fulfilled (483 years of the 490), and only verse 27 remains (the final 7 years of the 490). The objectives listed in verse 24 will be accomplished by the end of the seven-year Tribulation period.

My next point is to emphasize that we are ever so close to the beginning of the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy. Once the Church is removed, events will rapidly happen to start the Tribulation period.

My final point is that we need to decide now where we stand with God. Tomorrow may be too late.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

This article is a follow-up to my earlier article called “What’s Next?”

Today is January 7, 2021. Today we know that the Democrats control the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Is there anything remaining that will not be under their control? Not that I can think of, but let’s not kid ourselves; most of the Republicans are just as corrupt.

Some Republicans are already making plans to recover at least the Senate in two years and the White House in four years. Frankly, I wouldn’t hold my breath. If you have been listening closely, you would have heard the sound of the most blessed nation in history, apart from Israel, going down the proverbial drain. The dark clouds of God’s judgment are positioning overhead, and His wrath is soon to come — not just on our nation, but all the world (the Tribulation).

Our 44th president (Obama) was the most anti-God President we have ever had in the White House. His actions were so anti-God and anti-American, many decent citizens of this land were like the deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming train. He can be credited for moving Satan’s plan forward several notches, but what we have coming next will put everything in high gear. Our new political leaders now have the keys to the candy store, and nothing will be denied them. I have little doubt that we will see changes made in the next two years that will make his legacy look like child’s play if that were possible.

A brother in Christ reminded me to read Habakkuk. I have read this book many times, but I read it again. I didn’t refer to it when writing, “What’s Next?” I just didn’t think about it at the time. I love the way Habakkuk is written. Habakkuk is complaining to God in chapter 1:1-4. God responds to him in chapter 1:5-11. Habakkuk complains again in chapter 1:12-2:1, and God answers him again in chapter 2:2-20. Finally, in chapter three, Habakkuk offers a prayer to God. If this doesn’t prove that history repeats itself, then I don’t know what does. Please read this book. It isn’t very long, and the key verse is chapter 2:4.

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

Also, take note of these Scripture passages in the New Testament.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith‘” (Romans 1:17).

“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith’” (Galatians 3:11).

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).

Folks, it really doesn’t matter who is in control of the White House, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Supreme Court, or any other governmental agency. GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THEM! God will only allow them to proceed so far, just as He would not allow Satan to take Job’s life.

Does it mean that life could get “uncomfortable” under these tyrants? Yes, it does. Just as life was uncomfortable for Job for a while, and think of the apostle Paul. Satan hated Paul and threw all the fiery darts at him he could, but don’t you think Satan was “pulling his hair out” and “gritting his teeth” while Paul and Silas were singing praises to God while in prison (Acts 16:25)? You bet he was! Will circumstances get that difficult for us before Jesus takes us out of here? I have no idea, but I do know “the just shall live by faith.”

My brother in Christ also sent me a video to watch of Dr. David Reagan. Dr. Reagan’s message was, “What Is God Doing in America?” It is less than 30 minutes and would be well worth your time to watch it. People like David Reagan and our own Terry James are men with God’s message that can be trusted with the Truth.

https://christinprophecy.org/sermons/americas-future-with-david-reagan/?fbclid=IwAR2-DyziTXap6n2hoLAQU812ntLcdJQRNrniFNQ3n-UE8wnprcQkwJ8cfk4

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, no one in their right mind would choose or even long for persecution of any kind, but millions of our fellow believers in other parts of the world are very acquainted with persecution. We in America have never known anything but being comfortable and having a rewarding life in most cases. The truth is, the next few years will probably be uncomfortable, not so much for those who would compromise God’s Word, but those who refuse to compromise.

Knowledge of the future belongs only to God. Life may get bad, or it may not. The Lord Jesus could remove us (true Christians) at any time. I don’t know when, but the point is, that same faith we used to trust Jesus to save us and give us eternal life is the same faith we use to trust Him now. In my opinion, those who are the most anxious about this whole sordid political affair are the very ones who are not faithful in the Word.

As a Christian, get in the Word, now. Read your Bible. Could it be this is one reason, among others, that God is allowing this to happen? Maybe He wants his own children to learn how to lean on Him. He’s done it before.

As a nation, we are on the fast track to judgment. The “glory days” are gone and will never return. There will be no national revival. We have passed the point of no return. We are just like Judah. God pleaded with them time and time again until He said enough is enough. God judged Israel, the northern kingdom. He judged Judah, the southern kingdom. He has judged other nations, and we are now under judgment.

BUT individually, we have everything to shout about if we know Jesus! As believers, our Redeemer is another day closer to snatching us away in the Rapture and taking us to the Father’s house. For unbelievers, they can ask Jesus to save them now and have the same promise in their lives.

In my opinion, I know we are in the season of our Lord’s return. I know He can come at any time. I know it “could” be today. I think it will be soon. Jesus told us He has gone to the Father’s house to prepare a place for each of us and that He will keep us from the hour of trial (the Tribulation).

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and 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).

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

Please read Habakkuk.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html