First, we must understand that we cannot work for our salvation. Jesus did all the work, and what a price He paid for us! We can’t do anything to add to what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. That’s a blessing, but too often, we are ungrateful and take it for granted. We need to share our faith with everyone.

Why are we so selfish with our salvation? “I’m saved but too bad for you.” That’s a very wrong attitude. The joy of our salvation should be a driving force in our life. We can’t earn our salvation, but we can show our gratitude to Jesus by sharing salvation with others. We all know people who mock and ridicule our faith, but worse than mocking us, they mock Jesus. Instead of getting angry at their ignorance, we need to put in some work. Ask yourself why you believe what you believe. Can you defend your faith? Most of us just parrot what somebody told us. Ask yourself if the person who taught you had a true grasp of Scripture.

There was a TV show many years ago where the mother was a Christian and tried raising her children to believe. The problem is that she didn’t have a clue about what she believed. All that mattered was that she was a Baptist. It takes work to study Scripture, but that’s the way to know God. Study Genesis chapter 1 and look up the Hebrew words. By doing so, you will understand that God created everything in six literal days.

Yes, Peter says, “But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

Sounds like evolution could have happened, right? First, “scientists” think it took millions or billions of years, not a thousand. It might take some work on your part to study, but it’s worth it. If you read a little further in that passage, you’ll see Peter is talking about God being outside of time and the Lord coming back. It seems long to us, but to God, it isn’t long at all.

Scoffers laugh at us for thinking Christ will take us Home, but the Rapture isn’t a new idea. Paul taught about it, and God gave “pictures” in the Old Testament to show us. For example, Enoch was Raptured prior to the judgment of the Flood. Why would God wait so long to return? That’s an easy question. His delay will allow more people to come to faith and not spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

If you study Scripture through prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit, you won’t be confused by Satanic lies; you’ll be able to share God’s truth and hopefully bring someone to faith in Christ.

Prophecy is a very good tool for witnessing. Yes, it takes some work to study and understand, but there are many upsetting reports in the news that show us that prophecy is quickly being fulfilled. It takes work to study it and sort through misinterpretations.

A very wrong misinterpretation of Scripture is replacement theology. You can’t find a passage in Scripture where God states He is done with Israel. Prophecy is easier to understand when you put Israel in the right focus. God has been angry with them at times, but He has never replaced them.

Today, we are living in an “in-between” time, a pause if you want to look at it that way. The prophet Daniel was given a prophecy that covers seventy weeks. That doesn’t sound like a long time, but a little study will reveal that in Jewish reckoning, there is a week of years. Just like if I say, “I’ve lived 7 decades” – you know, I’m 70 years old. So, this prophecy in Daniel is speaking of 70 weeks of years. That is 490 years. As you read through the prophecy, you will understand that Israel is very much still in God’s sight.

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24).

Daniel was Jewish, so when this prophecy says “…upon thy people…,” we can be certain it isn’t talking about Christians but is talking about the Jewish people, and “…thy holy city… “is talking about Jerusalem. The One who will accomplish the things in this prophecy is Jesus. Only He can “…finish the transgression…make an end of sins… make reconciliation for iniquity…bring everlasting righteousness…” This is talking about their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Sadly, they rejected Him.

The prophecy goes on to say that the Messiah will be “cut off” (crucified). This “in-between” time in which we live is the time for Christians to get out and work for the Kingdom of God. We need to spread the Gospel to the lost. God doesn’t want anybody to perish, no matter what their sin. True repentance of sin will bring salvation through faith in Jesus, but people need to hear about Jesus. Daniel 9:27 gives a quick look at what will happen soon.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

The “he” in this verse refers to the man of sin whom we call the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is described in many prophecies throughout Scripture, including Revelation. If you study this verse of Daniel, as well as the following chapters, you will see that time is drawing to a close. In order for this evil person to stop the sacrifice and the oblation, there must be a Jewish Temple in place. This is going to happen very soon. The Jewish people have everything they need in order to build and use the Temple. We also know that the Anti-Christ will defile the Temple by setting himself up in the Holy of Holies. We all need to get to work sharing the Gospel so fewer people will be left behind.

During the time between the Messiah being “cut off” and the present day, we are living in the “church age.” Christians have a job to do, and I think we have been shirking our duties. It’s up to us to spread the Gospel. Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, but He conquered death and rose from the grave. That is what we need to share with this fallen world.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Sin in this world is beyond comprehension. Only faith in Jesus can bring everlasting life. The governments of this world are trying hard to silence Christians, and they are accomplishing their goal. Brothers and sisters, we can’t allow that to happen. Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, but the world is blinded by Satan. Just before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus gave His disciples a mission.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Does that mean all of us need to go to deepest, darkest Africa or the Amazon jungle and spread the Gospel? Some people are called to do that, but our own neighborhoods are a mission field. You may be the only person who can reach a family member or a friend with the Gospel. Remember, the Rapture will happen only after a certain number of Gentiles accept the Gospel of Christ. The Jewish people are, for the most part, blind to the Gospel.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

It takes work to plant seeds of the Gospel, and we all need to start working for the Lord. There is a certain number, known only to God, that must come to faith before the Rapture. The best thing we can all do is get to work and share the Gospel with everybody we know. Prepare yourself to work for the Lord, so you can answer questions and be confident in your faith.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman, that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Start studying to make sure you have a good understanding of God’s word. How can you teach a non-believer if you don’t understand the Gospel yourself?

One day, after Jesus had healed a blind man, His disciples had a question about if it was his sin or his parent’s sin that caused the blindness. “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:3-5).

Today, we are the vessels through whom the Light shines. We will soon be taken out of this world. If you study prophecy, you will understand that Christians will not go through Daniel’s 70th week but will be Raptured prior to its start. Revelation makes it clear that we will be called Home prior to the Anti-Christ being revealed and prior to the horrors of the Great Tribulation. The only way to be taken in the Rapture is to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Repent of your sin and be born again. The study of prophecy will show you that we are extremely close to the Rapture. When that happens, the Light will be gone from the world.

Start studying now. Share the Gospel. Get to work.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

 

“Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

I’m going to date myself here. When I was a young child, my family didn’t have a television set. When we finally got one, we had to get an antenna. That antenna went on the roof and captured the signals to give us a picture. We only had three stations, but occasionally, we could get a fourth station. Quite often, the picture was full of snow, and sometimes there was a problem with the vertical hold. There were buttons and dials on the TV set to adjust these problems. Sometimes, the problem was more serious than a button on the television set could fix. So, we had to adjust the antenna. The truth is, Christians need to adjust the antenna so we can receive a very clear signal from God. If you aren’t receiving a clear signal, then you need to adjust your antenna. The signal is clear, but the receiver is flawed.

In modern times, most people have at least one television set. Instead of an antenna on the roof, we pay for cable. Those cable providers choose what you pay for. Sadly, even the children’s channels promote things that aren’t Biblical. You might only watch the “good” channels, but you still pay for and support the channels that promote sin. The signal may be clear, but the signal is coming from an evil agenda. Is there a lesson to be learned?

We need good reception from God in order to have a true Christian walk. Just like you pay for the sinful channels on cable TV, sin comes with a cost. I choose not to have television. It’s way too expensive, and I don’t want to pay for channels that promote sin. I do have a television and a DVD player. We buy DVDs and are able to choose what we pay for. I’m becoming more and more convicted that I shouldn’t pay money for these. Even though the movie might have a good plot with no foul language, violence, or sinful lifestyles, I don’t like spending my money to support the personal lives of the actors and actresses who are ungodly in their lives.

In the first chapter of Romans, I read about what happens to a nation when the people fail to recognize God as the Creator and begin to worship the creation rather than the Creator. He turns them over to a reprobate mind. I believe Scripture and have no doubt that God created everything. I’m far from perfect, but I don’t take pleasure in sin. Am I still taking pleasure in the sin of others when I buy movies with stars who embrace sin? Paul tells us, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32). I need to be sure my antenna is adjusted properly.

Brothers and sisters, it’s important that we all adjust our vertical hold and start looking up. Instead of walking with one foot in the world, stop accepting Satan’s lies as truth. We need to tune out the snow that fuzzes our understanding by studying Scripture and listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It’s easy to watch a TV show or movie that’s supposed to depict Biblical events, but they all take an “artistic license” and tweak God’s word to make it more entertaining.

When I met my husband, he wasn’t a Christian, but his favorite movie was The Ten Commandments. It’s a good movie but doesn’t follow the Biblical account accurately. I told Ron, “If you like the movie, you really need to read the book.” Eventually, he did study Scripture, and that taught him to adjust the vertical hold and tune out the snow that confused God’s truth.

When the nation of Israel came back to a right fellowship with God, Solomon built the temple. He listened to God and received a directive that Christians need to heed today. “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). That was true for Israel, and it’s true for America and all nations. Too many Christians embrace sin but expect God’s blessings. We need to tune our hearts to God… adjust our antenna… and turn from our wicked ways.

Many of God’s truths are being obscured with the “snow” caused by a maladjusted antenna. One of those truths that seems to get blurred is God’s relationship with Israel. He is not done with Israel. Make no mistake, Christians have not replaced Israel. Many prophecies have been fulfilled regarding Israel, and more are on the verge of being fulfilled. The horrible events that happened in October 2023 have triggered prophetic events. The United Nations has turned against Israel and blames them for retaliating against Hamas. I’m ashamed to say that this is also true of America under the current president.

The heinous attack Hamas did to Israel was inexcusable. Israel is not usurping the rights of the “Palestinians” but has returned to the land God gave to Abraham forever. Forever means exactly that – for ever and ever, Amen. There is a promise of blessing to those who bless Israel.

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

As America turns more and more against God’s truths, we are being blessed less and less. Shame on us. I will never forget the sick feeling in my stomach when I saw then president Obama bow to a Muslim leader. I was also sickened by his mockery of Jesus. As Americans prepare to vote, we must adjust our antennas to hear God and obey.

It’s clear that America was blessed for many years, but recently that has changed. Christians are afraid to stand up for God’s truth as if we are ashamed of Him.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Sadly, many people who claim to be Christian and sit in pews on Sunday mornings seem to be ashamed of Christ the rest of the week. We’ve elected politicians who oppose God’s ways and oppose Israel. How can we expect anything other than curses? Abortion isn’t seen as murder but deemed a “woman’s right” to choose. Maybe her choice should have been made before the baby was conceived. Men who rape should be punished instead of murdering the baby. We all need to be responsible for our choices. We need to study and understand Romans chapter 1.

Schools teach our children they come from pond scum, then we expect them to understand morality. Gender is determined at the time of conception and not a choice that comes later. Yet many teachers conspire to help children make poor choices, then help to get hormone drugs to attempt to alter what they are, and then help them find a quack who will help them mutilate themselves. If you find this offensive, you are called a hater.

Gay marriage isn’t marriage at all in God’s eyes but is merely two men or two women who have no sense of right and wrong engaging in government-sanctioned sin. Do you approve of all the sin? Let me repeat what Paul said about those who may not participate in homosexuality but don’t oppose it:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32).

God clearly gives “rules” to live by, and when we reject those rules, we reject Him. If you say you’re a Christian, you need to honor God with your life choices.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus will forgive all sin, but sinners who seek forgiveness must adjust their antenna to hear God loud and clear and follow Him. Repentance and faith in Jesus are necessary for eternal life.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Tune your life to the Holy Spirit; He will never lead you into sin. If you feel led to do something opposed to God’s word as found in Scripture, then you’re listening to the voice of Satan.

Many pastors have failed by watering down sermons to appease the congregation and not endanger the tax exemption by preaching politically correct rather than Biblically correct sermons. I have to wonder what god they serve…. God almighty, or the god of the world.

Brothers and sisters, it’s important that we stop walking with one foot in the world. We need to adjust our antenna in order to hear God speak, and then obey His word. We can’t remove ourselves from the world because that takes away our witness to the lost.

I have never understood those who enter a convent or a monastery and take a vow of silence. How can they fulfill the Great Commission by isolating themselves and keeping silent? The final words from Jesus as He ascended to Heaven were to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). You cannot obey this command while keeping silent.

How do we get our spiritual antenna adjusted? We stop embracing the world. Instead of basing your faith on television preachers or Hollywood’s depiction of Scripture, study it for yourselves. The Holy Spirit is sealed within Christians, and He will not lead you astray. Satan is the ruler of this world and will always make static when we try to study Scripture and serve God. He has twisted God’s words since he convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. He put doubt in her mind about what God really said, then lied about why God didn’t want Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

Satan convinced her to believe his lie rather than God’s truth. Sin may look tempting, and Satan may sugar-coat it, but there is no lasting pleasure in sin. It can ruin your life and put a wall between you and God. That’s when most people stop reading Scripture and praying. Their faith becomes stale, and life seems hopeless. That’s when you need to pick up your Bible and let God speak to you. When you get to this point, you need to adjust your antenna and dig deep into God’s word. The Holy Spirit will guide your study, but you need to hear His voice.

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14).

In other words, be careful who you allow to teach you God’s truth. Not everybody who claims understanding is led by the Holy Spirit. Run all teachings through Scripture. Take a lesson from the people of Berea.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Remember, Scripture at that time was only found in the Old Testament. Don’t neglect to study both the Old and the New Testaments.

What is the antenna that makes Scripture clear? The Holy Spirit. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity, and He will never lead you into sin.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

He is sealed within every Christian at the time of true faith. He will lead and teach us as we search Scripture daily.

Don’t quench the leading of the Holy Spirit, but adjust your spiritual antenna to hear Him clearly.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).