These Present Times

What did the disciples ask Jesus regarding the time we are now living in?

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

What does Luke record of our Saviour’s reply to this question?

Luk 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; Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

What did the Old Testament prophet say regarding these events?

Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

We should look into History and we will see that these signs spoken of in the previous Bible verses happened a long time ago. The Great Lisbon Earthquake of November 1, 1755. The Dark Day of May 19, 1780. The Great Star Shower November 13, 1833. These events having passed many moons ago, coupled with the World economic crisis, and the state of man, or the condition of mans heart, should really wake up Christians and worldlings alike.

Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

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Proper Rest

Proper Rest

Genesis 2:1-3  “  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made”.

     We need proper rest on a daily basis, as it is essential to healthful living. God is our example in all things and it is clear that He rested after his labors were complete as presented to us in the Bible. We were created to work for a period of time and then our bodies require rest in order to rebuild and restore so that we can continue our labors and remain healthy temples for the living God.  Rest is necessary for us as it was for God, and He designed us to work and rest as He is our example in all things. In order for us to receive proper rest, we must follow Gods instruction which is laid out plainly in the Bible, and the Bible should be our instruction guide to healthful living.

      We read in Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it”.

God has instructed us as to when we are to work, He says six days are we to work, as he also worked, Sunday the first day of the week, thru Friday the sixth day of the week, then He rested the Seventh day which is the sabbath of the Lord thy God.  God rested after creation week on the Sabbath, He also rested in the tomb on the sabbath after being crucified, and rose early on Sunday morning and returned to work.  The earth is a practice field for the next life where those who have followed Gods instruction will have the priveledge to reign or live in the many mansions in His fathers house.  Isaiah 66:22,23 says

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.”

   When we rest as God has instructed us on a weekly basis, following His law and word on a daily basis, we have marvelous rest daily and especially on the Sabbath day, the day God blessed and sanctified, or set aside as Holy.

    Rest helps the body fight off invaders, such as bacteria and viruses that would leave us incapable of functioning at optimal health.  The best hours for sleep and rest are 9:00PM to  6:00AM,  and we should make it a habit to form a regular sleeping pattern. The hours from 9:00PM to 12:00AM provide excellent assistance to the body systems for restoration and rebuilding as the brain releases the seratonin which aids in restoring the immune system and assists other organ systems with the repair of the damage done by the days activity. Sleeping an hour, two or three, between 9 and 12AM provides twice the actual time in restful sleep to our bodies, and these are critical hours. Drugs for sleep assistance should be avoided. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid which is sold in health food stores and can assist the body to get rest in preparation for the brain releasing seratonin. Always consult your healthcare professional and read the labels prior to taking natural or man made chemicals.  Adequate physical activity during the day will cause a relaxing of the muscle tension, and will increase the natural hormones that act as tranquilizers to aid the body getting rest. If we follow Gods instruction, we can have peace and obtain the rest our bodies require.  May God bless this endeavor.

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The Condition, or State of The Dead.

The State of the Dead

What does the Bible say of a person when they Die?  Where do they go,  what do they do?

Gen 2:7  “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Job 27:3  “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;”  When man gives up the spirit, what becomes of it?  “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it”Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Job 7:9  As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

Job 7:10  He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Job 14:10  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Job 14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Job 14:13  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Job 14:15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job 17:13  If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

Job 14:21  His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

 Psa 146:4  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

2Sa 12:23  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Psa 88:5  Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Psa 115:17  The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

Isa 26:14  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.  

Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecc 9:6  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Ecc 9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

SUNSHINE!

SUNSHINE

 God created two great lights, the sun to rule the day and the moon by night.  Genesis 1:14-18 says “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days years:  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night: he made the stars also.  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.”  God gave the sunlight for our daily use, to keep our bodies healthy and fit.  Sunshine equals Heat and Light.  On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the earth’s atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon. We must be cautious even on very overcast, cloudy days, because it is still very easy to obtain sunburns on cloudy days as certain of the suns rays penetrate the clouds and are absorbed by the skin. You have heard that people who live in cool, rainy, dreary, climates, such as Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, are more depressed and often are likely to deal with feelings of suicide, more often than someone who lives in an area with abundant sunshine. Science confirms the benefits of daily sun exposure, but too much sunlight can cause harmful effects. If you have a high fat diet and get too much sunlight, skin cancer can result. Approximately one hour per day is adequate, and the hours of 9:30AM to 10:00AM and 3:00PM to 3:30PM are good hours generally, depending on the seasons. The body absorbs vitamin D from the Sunlight and it helps to lower the bodies blood cholesterol level, it also increases the white blood cell count which are the defense mechanism for the body. Sunlight also helps to lower the pulse or heart rate and blood pressure at the same time strengthening the heart. Blood oxygen levels are also increased by sunlight. Human health is greatly improved by getting regular exposure to Gods great light.

“Exercise, and a free use of the air and sunlight, would give life and strength to many an emaciated invalid.” Our Night Calling, p.223

“We may be cheerful.  God does not want any sour faces on this ground; the Lord does not want anyone in gloom and sadness; He wants you to lift up your countenance to Him, and let Him just pour upon it the brightness of the light of the Sun of Righteousness.”  Manuscript 42, 1894.

“If you would have your homes sweet and inviting, make them bright with air and sunshine. Remove your heavy curtains, open the windows, and throw back the blinds, and enjoy the rich sunlight, even if it be at the expense of the colors of your carpets.” 2Testimonies, p.527

“Life in the open air is good for body and mind.  It is God’s medicine for the restoration of health.  Pure Air, good water, sunshine, the beautiful surroundings of nature—these are His means for restoring the sick to health in natural ways.  To the sick it is worth more than silver and gold to lie in the sunshine or in the shade of the trees.” –7 Testimonies, p.85

“Face the Light.--I will Not allow my mind to dwell on the dark side.  Jesus has light and comfort and hope and joy for me.  I want to face the light, that the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness may shine into my heart, and be reflected to others. It is the duty of every Christian to shine—to shed abroad the light of the grace that Christ imparts.  God would have me,  even in my pain, praise Him, showing that I realize that His presence is with me”.  (Romans 5:1;  1John 5:11 quoted.)—Manuscript 19, 1892.

Daily Exercise

Daily Exercise

Genesis 2:15  States “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

 In the Hebrew, the root word for dress is to work, to serve, to till the ground, or exercise labor.
     We must exercise daily to maintain our health and be fit vessels as we are temples of the Living God.   God placed Adam in the garden of Eden as the verse states, so that he would daily maintain the beauty of the garden, and so that he would get regular exercise in the open air. This exercise does several things for the human body.  Christ, our example also got regular, daily, exercise.

  Luke 13:33 states “Nevertheless I must walk to day, and  tomorrow, and the day following:  for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem”.

                     

Exercise tones muscles and blood vessels, keeping them strong and working well,  instead of weak and flabby.  Exercise also firms our tissues and often causes a reduction in the blood pressure. Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improves  digestion, increases efficiency of the lungs and the number of blood cells. Exercise gives added protection to assist the body defenses against disease. Exercise also helps us sleep better, think more clearly and strengthens the will, builds endurance and helps control the body weight. Walking is one of the absolute best exercises and we should do it daily as our Lord also walked daily. There are many forms of exercise and a person must choose the exercise that best suits the individual, their health, body make-up and desire. Always consult your healthcare professional prior to starting an exercise regime.

This is a most fantastic form of exercise and I highly recommend it as I also use this form of exercise in my own life. It is called rebounding and can be done in small windows of time.

 Exercise is one of the Eight Health Laws and if done properly, will enhance the performance of the human machinery. Exercise will cause a beneficial effect upon all other areas of life, especially the mental and emotional wellbeing. When a regular exercise regime is carried out, the person is generally happier and more healthy, rested and less stressed.  Also the weight is better controlled and the diet and appetite are healthier. Many times people complain about not having time to dedicate to an exercise program that takes two to three hours per week, as well as having the energy to devote to that exercise program after working hard on a job forty hours per week.  There are some simple solutions to help with that dilemma. Read about it here;
http://www.cellercise.com/   May God assist all who are trying to lead healthier  lives  and
Improve the soul temple.

Open Air

Open Air

  Genesis 1:6,7  “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.  And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament:  and it was so”.

 

 God created the firmament, the air, the atmosphere, the heavens, and He intended for us to breathe clean, fresh, pure air, to sustain our bodies and keep us healthy.  Looking at the previous Bible text quoted above, many people don’t believe the historical revelation of the flood, but the text painly states that in the beginning of creation, there was a lot of water that God separated and placed the heavens, the air, the firmament, inbetween.  I have driven Highway 138 in San Bernardino, California, and at the lower portion of the 138, it is very evident that a lot of water rushed through that area and marked the mountain rocks.  I was also told by hikers that were near the summit of the mountain range near that location, that they saw sea shells imbedded high in those mountains.

 

Genesis 2:7 says “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of  life; and man became a living soul.”

 We see that man became alive when God gave man breath, air, the soul came to life.

Revelations 16:3 says “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea;  and it became as the blood of a dead man:  and every living soul died in the sea.”

 Here is shown that all creatures that God created are called souls, whether they are on earth or in the sea.  They were given breath by God.

Genesis 7:21,22 speaking about the flood, says “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of foul, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man; all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.”  Evidently, we have the same breath as the animals.

 Ecclesiastes 3:19 says “As the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.”

    The air we breathe, can help us remain disease free, or it can contribute to illness, and death. We are advised to take several deep breaths of fresh air every morning upon waking,   as the air is fresh prior to rush hour traffic and factory exhaust.  We are also advised to keep a flow of air in the home while we sleep, having some windows open if not the windows in the room we are sleeping.  Think about the people who choose to poison themselves and their close associates by smoking cigarettes, and cigars. The smoke, carbon monoxide and poisons inhaled, compete with the clean, pure oxygen, (02) breathed in, to be carried throughout the body for nourishment and to assist the vital organs in waste elimination. Our environment is already so polluted that additional poisons taken into the body can only cause a more rapid decline in health and proper bodily functions.
   

Job 27:3,4 says “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.”  When one of Gods creatures dies, since God had loaned them breath, that breath return to God from whence it came and mans flesh returns to the ground.

 Ecclesiastes 12:7 says” Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”  

   

We need to daily, breathe in vast quantities of fresh air, unpolluted air from an open environment. We have been counseled to leave the hustle and polluted noise of the cities for more quitetude. In the rural areas we are more susceptible to the voice of God.  He speaks through nature.  We may find this really difficult, if we are crowded up in a large metropolitan area. Fresh air with the greatest quantities of oxygen is most likely found away from the large cities, and this air will fill the lungs with purified firmament thus cleansing the blood and assisting all bodily functions. The early mornings are the best times to take deep inspiration in the clean, fresh, unpolluted air. We need the Godly trust to assist us in breathing the fresh air as we should.

Why is Gods Word and His Testimony so neglected and shunned today?

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Ministers and people declared that the prophecies of   341

Daniel and the Revelation were incomprehensible mysteries. But Christ directed his disciples to the words of the prophet Daniel concerning events to take place in their time, and said, “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” [Matthew 24:15.] And the assertion that the Revelation is a mystery, not to be understood, is contradicted by the very title of the book: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. . . . Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.” [Revelation 1:1-3.]  {GC88 340.3}
     Says the prophet: “Blessed is he that readeth”—there are those who will not read; the blessing is not for them. “And they that hear”—there are some, also, who refuse to hear anything concerning the prophecies; the blessing is not for this class. “And keep those things which are written therein” —many refuse to heed the warnings and instructions contained in the Revelation. None of these can claim the blessing promised. All who ridicule the subjects of the prophecy, and mock at the symbols here solemnly given, all who refuse to reform their lives, and prepare for the coming of the Son of man, will be unblest.  {GC88 341.1}
     In view of the testimony of Inspiration, how dare men teach that the Revelation is a mystery, beyond the reach of human understanding? It is a mystery revealed, a book opened. The study of the Revelation directs the mind to the prophecies of Daniel, and both present most important instruction, given of God to men, concerning events to take place at the close of this world's history.  {GC88 341.2}
     To John were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the experience of the church. He saw the position, dangers, conflicts, and final deliverance of the people of God. He records the closing messages which are to ripen the harvest of the earth, either as sheaves for the heavenly garner or as fagots for the fires of destruction. Subjects of vast
342
importance were revealed to him, especially for the last church, that those who should turn from error to truth might be instructed concerning the perils and conflicts before them. None need be in darkness in regard to what is coming upon the earth.  {GC88 341.3}

     Why, then, this widespread ignorance concerning an important part of Holy Writ? Why this general reluctance to investigate its teachings? It is the result of a studied effort of the prince of darkness to conceal from men that which reveals his deceptions. For this reason, Christ the Revelator, foreseeing the warfare that would be waged against the study of the Revelation, pronounced a blessing upon all who should read, hear, and observe the words of the prophecy.  {GC88 342.1