1 Corinthians 1: 18

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

For further study - Psalm 83:1-18

This is a very important Psalm in the "last days scenario" that is found in Bible prophecy. Combining this chapter along with Daniel 11:40-45 and Ezekiel 38 will give you an understanding of how the nations will align themselves against the Jewish State of Israel in the last days.

I must remind you that there is no prophecy of private interpretation, II Peter 1:20, therefore these three passages of prophetic scripture that I mentioned above, and many other passages in God's Word, enlighten us to how the nations form a coalition to destroy Israel in the last days.

In this passage the Psalmist is actually praying and the very first verse sets the scene for what is the theme of this prophetic passage.

The Psalmist wants the Lord to awaken to the fact that these nations are making plans to try to remove Israel from the face of the earth. Thus he wants God to protect them and destroy the attacking enemy.

Verses 2 and 3 record the prayer alerting the Lord of the enemies of Israel, and thus enemies of the Lord Himself, relaying to Him that these enemies are ready to go after Israel, having developed a plan.

Verse 4 states that these enemies of God and Israel want to destroy Israel so that “the name of Israel will no longer be remembered”.

By the way, verse 4 is almost a quote from Iranian President Ahmadinejad's speech to over 4,000 Arab and Islamic leaders in Tehran when he called for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth and be forgotten forever.

These are the names of some of the enemies of Israel that you will recognize. The Edom, in verse 6, is the Palestinian people of today. The Ishmaelites of that same verse are the people of Saudi Arabia. Tyre, listed in verse 7, is modern-day Lebanon.

I believe I have given you enough names of nations who are today preparing to join with other nations to form a coalition of nations aligned against the Jewish State of Israel.

We are living in Psalm 83. These nations mentioned, plus those mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and Daniel 11 are making ready for their attack on Israel. This attack takes place in the first six months of the seven year long Tribulation Period after the body of Christ, Christians, have departed earth at the Rapture.

With the nearness of this coalition of nations attacking Israel upon us, the Rapture, which happens before these nations attack, the Rapture must be very close at hand. Keep looking up!

PRAYER THOT: Your time clock dear Lord, Israel, is about to be attacked, which indicates the Rapture must be close at hand. Even so come Lord Jesus, today!

Psalm 122 vs.6 - Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

For further study - Psalm 121 & 122

I have given you two chapters in Psalms to read for your devotional today. These two chapters have an interesting relationship, in fact, several different aspects of relationship are apparent.

You will most likely notice that under the number of the chapter it may say "a song of degrees", and with some of the chapters you will see it mentions a name, the name of the author of that Psalm.

These Psalms that mention "songs of degrees" are psalms that most likely were "chanted" by the Jewish people as they went up to Jerusalem to observe one of the many "Jewish feast days".

Psalms 120 to 134 are listed as Psalms that are "songs of degrees". The other similarities between Psalms 121 & 122 would be that both chapters are talking about the "peace and safety" of the Jews, Jerusalem and the State of Israel.

In Psalm 122:1-2 the Psalmist recognizes where the help for "safety and peace" comes from, the Lord, "Creator of the heavens and the earth". What a thought. There is no creature that the Lord, the Creator, hath made that He can not protect us from its attacks.

In fact, the Lord "never slumbers or sleeps", the Lord is "always on duty" as the "keeper", verses 3-4. The Lord watches over us as we "come in" and "go out" and He will do this forever, verse 8.

Then as we come to Psalm 122 we see the promise of the blessings received as we go up to the "House of the Lord" in Jerusalem. Jerusalem and it's "peace and safety" are a major focus in Psalm 122. Notice that Psalm 122 is a "song of degree", the "chant" of King David.

The man, King David, who will be the co-Regent with Jesus Christ in the Millennial Kingdom in Jerusalem speaks of the "judgment in Jerusalem", and the thrones of King David in the future. The Davidic Covenant, II Samuel 7, is the absolute promise of King David and his descendants on the "Throne in Jerusalem".

Our key verse, another very familiar verse, is extremely prophetic as it exhorts us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem". That is not something that will happen at this time in history but in the future, after the Rapture, the seven year Tribulation Period and the Second Coming.

The "timeline" has the Lord Jesus Christ setting up His future Kingdom at His return, therefore, there will never be a true peace in Jerusalem or anyplace else until He does comes.

When we pray for the "peace of Jerusalem" we are praying for the "Prince of Peace", Jesus Christ, to come back and then there will be the true, long-lasting peace. Even so come Lord Jesus.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for Your watch-care over not only the Jewish people, but me also. I do pray for the "Peace of Jerusalem" to come, and to come very soon.

Psalm 132 vs13

For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

For further study - Psalm 132:1-18

This Psalm is one of the Psalms that King Solomon wrote, and he wrote it in honor of his father David and the promise that God had made to his father, the Davidic Covenant.

David had passed from the scene and now Solomon prepared, by prayer to the Lord for provision and direction, for building the permanent worship center that David wanted to have been able to build.

The Lord had promised his father that there would be a Temple in Jerusalem and that King David's son would sit on the throne in Jerusalem and this would be the case forever as well, II Samuel 7, (The Davidic Covenant).

Solomon opens his prayer calling upon the Lord to remember the promise that He made to David. Solomon was eager to do the work of the Lord to build the Temple in Jerusalem.

In fact, Solomon tells the Lord that he would be willing to not go into his own home and go to bed and sleep until he had found the place where the Lord would dwell among His people, the Jewish people.

Solomon set the example that we should follow, the Lord's work comes before our own need for sleep. The Lord assured Solomon that He would fulfill his father David's desire to build a "permanent dwelling place" for the Lord.

Then, the Lord tells Solomon and all saints down through the ages that, in fact, He has chosen Jerusalem as the location on earth where He will dwell among His people, the Jewish people, forever, verses 13-14.

This was the Lord's plan from eternity past and is the reason that King David purchased the threshing floor from Ornon the Jebusite, I Chronicles 21:18-30. It's the reason that King David made Jerusalem the "political capital" of the Jewish people, II Samuel 5, and also, the "spiritual capital" of the Jews, II Samuel 6.

God, in eternity past, chose Jerusalem as His eternal abode among His people, the Jewish people. It is the reason the Lord had Solomon to build the first Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This is also the reason that Jerusalem has been a center of controversy in the past. It's the reason that Jerusalem is so controversial today and it will continue to be that way until the Lord Jesus comes to build His permanent Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and to dwell among His people, forever.


PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to realize as I watch the controversy surrounding Jerusalem today, to realize Your plan for Your city and how close that plan may be to fulfillment.

Revelation 1 vs3

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.

For further study - Revelation 1:1-20

As we come to the book of Revelation for our daily devotions, we have come to the 66th daily devotional since we started January 1st. For tomorrow, we will start with Genesis and go through the Bible again, looking for another devotional with a prophetic prospective.

Once every 66 days we will visit this book of Revelation which is packed full of “end time prophecies”. I am going to encourage you to read through the entire book before we ever will be able to cover the whole book in our devotionals. By the way, if you will read through Revelation and maybe listen to it on an audio Bible, and then go out into the world and live in light of what you read and hear, then you are promised a blessing, verse 3.

As we look at this last book of the Bible, we see the “resurrected Jesus Christ” as described in the written word, Revelation 1:12-18. God gives the “message” of this book to Jesus. The Lord then gives the contents of this prophecy to an “angel”, who will deliver it to John, verse 1. The title of the book is also found in that first verse, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”.

The first chapter presents Jesus Christ in His “person”, His “power”, and His “program”. The “person” of Jesus Christ is the resurrected, glorified Son of God with white hair, verse 14a. The Lord's “white hair” depicts his purity and his longevity. Verse 14b tells of His “eyes” - eyes that see our every activity. The “feet” of Jesus, as described by John, are like brass that has been burned in the furnace, verse 15a, which speaks of Jesus as the coming Judge.

The resurrected Christ has a “voice” like the sound of many waters. That voice spoke the worlds into existence. That voice will shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies. To those who have never been saved, that voice will say, "sorry, I never knew you."

Revelation 1:16 describes Jesus with the Seven Angels of the Seven Churches in His “hand”, verse 20. In this verse, it depicts His word coming from His mouth as a “two-edged sword” and His “face”, His countenance, as the sun shineth in its strength. The power of Jesus is found in verse 18. The Lord gives testimony of being alive, dead, and now alive. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the manifestation of His strength.

The program of Jesus Christ is found in verse 19 where John is told to write about those things in the “past”, those things that are “happening at that time”, and those things, which happen “hereafter”. The things found “hereafter” are found in Revelation 4-22, which we will eventually get to in our devotions.

The “resurrection”, which is the “cornerstone of our faith”, is also the “foundation of Bible prophecy”. The “resurrected” Jesus Christ proves His authority to foretell the future as the authoritative Word of God which does indeed know the future.

PRAYER THOT: Thank You Lord, the One who knows the future, because Your are the “resurrected One”, for revealing the future to me and all that read your “Word”.

Revelation 1 vs.18 - I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
For further study - Revelation 1:1-20
This first chapter of Revelation sets the stage for the rest of the book of Bible prophecy that describes the events of the future. There is a natural outline for the entire book found in verse 19.
John the Revelator is told to write down, "the things which thou hast seen", which is the first chapter; then he was told to write, "the things which are", Revelation 2 and 3; and finally write "the things which shall be hereafter", Revelation 4-22.
God gave us the book of Revelation not only to reveal the future but to show us the events that bring to completion human history and show us how it will play out in the last days. However, most important in Revelation is that the book presents Jesus Christ, His person, power, and program.
On this Christmas Day we are celebrating the first coming of Jesus Christ, as we should. There are over three hundred prophecies of the first coming of the long awaited Messiah for the Jewish people.
Jesus Christ fulfilled every one of those prophecies with His birth, His life, and His death, burial and resurrection. There is no question that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and the Coming King of Kings.
This is an absolute fact of history because of verse 18 in our devotional reading for today which is the testimony of Jesus. The verse tells us that Jesus said, He is the one that lived, that He died and that He is now alive, because He rose from the dead.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees He was who He said He was and can, and will, do what He said He would do. The entire book of Revelation lays out for the Christian all the information about the "end times", and the return of Jesus to set up His earthly, physical Kingdom. It also tells us of eternity future.
This is one great book, a great Christmas gift for anyone. And for those who read it, listen to it, and do the things it instructs us to do, there is the promise that they will receive a "blessing", Revelation 1-3. This is a "gift" that keeps on giving.
Revelation 19:10 says that Jesus is the "spirit of prophecy", as He should be. The truth is He should be the "spirit of Christmas" as well. This Christmas as we look back to His first coming, allow the events of the day to cause us to also look into the future and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and your family.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord, for fulfilling all of the prophecies for Your first coming, especially Your death, burial and resurrection which gives me eternal life, the very best gift ever. Thank you also for the promises of Your Second Coming which could be very soon, in fact, even today. Even so come Lord Jesus.

Revelation 2 vs7 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

For further study - Revelation 2:1-7

As we come in our daily reading to Revelation 2, we begin to look at what Jesus has for the “church”, before the Rapture and after His Second Coming. Revelation 2 and 3 are messages to “seven churches” that were alive and active during the first century in the area of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey.

John, the writer of the book of Revelation, had been the pastor of the church in Ephesus and had a close relationship with the other six churches, most likely as a visiting minister on a regular basis. While on the Isle of Patmos, as a prisoner, John received these messages from Jesus to give to the churches. It will be a great benefit to you, as it has been to me, to spend time reading and studying these seven messages to these seven churches.

In our devotional today, I will only have time and space to look at the one church, the church in Ephesus. However, before I do that, let me remind you that there are similarities between the messages to the seven churches.

Each letter is written to the “angel of the church”. This is the Greek word "angelos" - meaning angel. I Corinthians 11:10 reveals that there are “angels” in attendance at each church meeting. Also at the beginning of each message there is a characteristic of Jesus.

Each of the letters reminds the church that the Lord knows of their works. John records the messages from the Lord to "those that are overcomers." I John 5:4-5 tells us that "overcomers" are those who know Christ as Lord and Savior.

There is also the phrase in each letter, "he that hath and ear let him hear." This means to pay attention to what is being said. The other similarity is that the Lord promised something to the “overcomers” of each church. These rewards are for us and will be given to us during the “kingdom to come”, after the Lord's return to earth.

That is what I want to look at for those in the “church at Ephesus”. But I must hasten to write that all seven messages are applicable for each of us, including the promise for each of us. In this letter to Ephesus, to those “overcomers”, they shall eat of the “tree of life”, verse 7.

There are several thoughts that we must consider. First, we will all eat of the “tree of life” during that 1,000-year period as Jesus sits upon His throne in Jerusalem. This helps to understand how those with physical bodies who go through the Tribulation Period, having become believers, will live for 1,000 years in that physical body. They will be eating daily of the “tree of life”, Genesis 3:22.

This “tree of life” is different than the one in the "New Jerusalem" in Revelation 22:2. The "tree of life" in Revelation 2:7 is located in the “earthly Jerusalem”, in the “paradise of God” which is the Garden of Eden, as it was 6,000 years ago. The Garden of Eden was, and is today, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (see my audio series, "Return to Eden").

Please consider reading the other seven messages to find out what is in store for each of us who are "overcomers", in the future. God is so good.

PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord, to learn from the messages You sent to the seven churches, through John.

Revelation 3 vs.10 - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

For further study - Revelation 3:7-13

The passage for today's devotional is actually the letter to the church in Philadelphia, a church in full operation in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, during the life of John the Apostle who recorded Revelation.

I say "recorded" because the book came from God to Jesus to an angel who gave it to John to write it down, Revelation 1:1. In Revelation 2 and 3 we have the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor, churches that John had ministered in and had a relationship with over the years.

The church at Philadelphia was one of the two churches of the Seven Churches that received no condemnation from the Lord. The other was the church in Smyrna. It was hard to pick the church letter for our devotionals for today, however, this letter has such great promises to those of us who are Christians and are awaiting the coming of the Lord.

The Rapture of the Church is an event that happens before the terrible time of judgment in the future, the seven year Tribulation Period. Notice our key verse, verse 10. The Lord promises to those of us who are saved that He will take us up to be with Him before the judgment starts.

The promise is, "I will keep you from, the judgment." He did not say that He would take us out of that time of judgment but He would keep us from that time. This means that the Rapture of the Church comes before the Tribulation. That promise is worth the entire letter.

However, there is more in this letter to praise the Lord for. Notice verse 8. The Lord tells us that He has set an "open door" before us that no man can shut. He then reminds us that we are of little strength. At the same time, He commends those in the church at Philadelphia and each of us, as well today, who have kept His word and have not denied His word.

I love the thought in verse 8, that we the "minority," those of

little strength; as we stand on the "authority," the Word of God;

we can reach the "majority," those people we come in contact with as we go through open doors that only He can shut.

Notice just one more great thought, verse 11. John exhorts us by quoting Jesus who says, He is coming "quickly." When the Rapture starts, it will be quick and that we should live so that no one can take away the crown that the Lord will give us. These are the crowns that we receive at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" for works we have done in His power and for His glory. We must not allow our relationship with any man to take away those crowns.

By the way, the text says "He is coming quickly." I know that it means, it goes quickly when it begins. However, I do believe that His coming is closer than it has ever been and I live and believe that it will happen in my lifetime, and yours. Even so come Lord Jesus.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for the open doors you give us to serve You and also for the promise to call us up to be with You before the terrible judgment comes to the earth.

Revelation 4 vs10

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

For further study - Revelation 4:1-11

In the fourth chapter of Revelation we see John, first on the "earth," verse 1, and then he is in the presence of God in the "throne room" in heaven, verse 2.

With this in mind, we thus picture the “Rapture of the Church” in verse 1, "the first voice I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me which said come up hither." That would be the Rapture, and the next verse, verse 2, shows John in heaven.

That phrase, "come up hither," may well be the words Jesus will shout at the Rapture, to call us up to join Him in the heavenlies.

As we take our guided tour of the "throne room in heaven" there are many things to notice, like the "rainbow" over the throne reminding us of God's promise that He would never again destroy the earth with water.

Then there are the "twenty-four elders" seated around the throne. Notice they are clothed in "white raiment" and they have "crowns on their heads". These 24 elders represent the "Church". I believe this to be true because the number "twenty-four" is the number of "representation".

Only Christians will wear "white robes" and we Christians will be the only ones who receive "crowns" at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

We also see the "throne room creatures", the four beast which are actually “angels”. They are different than cherubim and seraphim. These four "angelic creatures" sing "holy, holy, holy" 24-7 at the throne of God the Father.

What an awesome place the “throne room” is with God the Father on the throne, and Jesus seated at His right side. John the Revelator has given us a personal tour of the throne room. Before we leave, notice what the twenty-four elders do with the “crowns” that they will have received at the Judgment Seat of Christ, verse 10.

By the way, there are “five crowns” that are possible for us to receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ; the “crown incorruptible," I Corinthians 9:27, for bringing our bodies under subjection; the "crown of rejoicing," I Thessalonians 2:19, for being a soul-winner; a "crown of life," James 1:12, for not yielding to temptation; the "crown of glory," I Peter 5:1-5, for building up the body of Christ; and a "crown of righteousness," II Timothy 4:8, for eagerly looking for Jesus to appear in the last days.

Notice what the twenty-four elders do with their crowns, verse 10, they “cast them at the feet of Jesus Christ” to honor Him and thank Him for what He has done for each of us as Christians.

What a day that will be; therefore, we must work to receive as many crowns as we possibly can so that we can cast them at His feet.

PRAYER THOT: Help me dear Lord to work in Your power and for Your glory to receive these crowns so I can cast them at Your feet in honor and thanksgiving.

Revelation 5 vs5 - And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

For further study - Revelation 5:1-14

The scene is the throne room in the third heaven where John sees God the Father on His throne with Jesus at His right side. As John observes from the sidelines he sees that in the right hand of God there is a "book", a sealed book, sealed with "seven seals" and the book has writing within and on the back side.

What a scene. As John stands there a "strong angel" proclaims "who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals", verse 2. This book contains the "seven sealed judgments" as described in Revelation 6 and 8:1.

These "judgments" will be the first of twenty-one progressively worse judgments that will be released upon the earth during the coming Tribulation Period. However, this book is also the "title deed" to the earth that God the Father will give to Jesus the Son.

All of the judgments, twenty-one of them; seven seals, seven trumpet and seven vial judgments are for the purpose of preparing the Earth and humankind for the "Kingdom" that the Father will give to His Son, Jesus.

That's yet in the future, seven years after the incident found here in Revelation 5. Someone says, "who is worthy to open the "sealed book?" As John looks on from the sidelines he starts to weep when all of a sudden one of the twenty-four elders says "Jesus is worthy to open the sealed book."

Just then Jesus steps to the throne of God, takes the sealed book from His Father and all of the elders, twenty-four of them, and the four beasts, fell down to worship the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who now holds the "sealed book," the "title deed," to not only the Earth but all of creation.

Then there was singing in the third heaven with the heavenly harmonies of the twenty-four elders and the four beast. The sound was expanded when over one hundred million angels joined in, ten thousand times then thousand and thousands of thousands, verse 11.

As John listened he heard, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."

Just think, we will be a part of that heavenly choir, since the twenty-four elders represent the Church who will be there at this time, the Rapture having taken place earlier, Revelation 4:1-2.

Looking ahead to Revelation 6, we see that the Lamb, Jesus Christ, opens all seven of the sealed judgments to begin the judgment period that brings Jesus to the promised throne in the Temple, located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and the establishment of His 1,000 year Kingdom.

There is a mixed emotion within me as I write these words for this devotion. There's "joy" as I think of that time with Jesus and our praise to Him. However, there is "sadness" as I think of family, friends and loved ones who will face that seven years of judgment because they have refused to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour.

We must allow this "mixed emotion" to cause each of us to do what ever it takes to win our friends, family and loved ones to Jesus Christ. Maybe you should sit down at the computer and send those close to you an e-mail with the Gospel in it or maybe make a quick telephone call to them right now.

We all need to do this before it's eternally to late.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the prospect of that future gathering in the heavenlies to praise You. Help me to win others to You Lord so that they can join us there for that great time of celebration as well.

Revelation 6 vs17 - For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
For further study - Revelation 6:1-17
This sixth chapter of Revelation is the prophecy of six of the seven Seal Judgment that will come upon the earth and it's inhabitants during the seven year long period of judgment known as the Tribulation Period.
Throughout the entire time of the Tribulation Period there are twenty-one judgments, three sets of seven , seven "seal" judgments, seven "trumpet"

judgments and seven "vial" judgments that unfold.

These twenty-one judgments get progressively worse and will intensify as the Tribulation Period unfolds. These initial six judgments in Revelation

6 are the beginning of the terrible time to come upon the earth.

A quick look at the six judgments reveal how the seals are broken on the sealed book, most likely a single scrolled book, and each seal is broken by the Lamb, verses 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12. The Lamb, of course, being the person of Jesus Christ, who will bring these judgments upon the earth in the Tribulation Period.
The judgments are released upon humankind on the earth, after the Rapture.

All six of these judgments happen in the first three and a half years of the seven year long judgment period.

In verses 1 and 2 we see a man on a "white horse" who is the "Antichrist".

This satanically energized person is the one who tries to fool the world into believing that he is the long awaited Messiah.

Verses 3 and 4 reveal a man on a "red horse" who comes to take peace from the earth, it's the judgment of "war" released upon humankind.
The man on a black horse, verses 5 and 6, is the judgment of famine, which when it calls for a "measure of wheat" for a "penny" that is referring to enough wheat to make bread for a family of four for one day at the cost of a days wages, a penny.
The fourth seal is depicted as a man on a "pale horse". When this judgment is released "one-fourth of the earth's population is killed." That's 1.5 billion people.
Verses 9 to 11 describes those who will be "martyred" for their testimony.

They are not Christians but people who will come to Christ after the Rapture, during the first of the Tribulation Period.

The sixth seal, verses 12 to 14, will be "ecological" judgments upon the earth, earthquakes, and in the heavens.
These judgments that happen early in the Tribulation Period are events that seemingly are in the process of coming about today. Jesus said when you see these things happening, Matthew 24:4-7 and 32-34, you can recognize that this is the time of His return to the earth.
However, remember that the Rapture of the Church takes place seven years before He comes back to earth. The fact that we can see the stage being set for these six seal judgments, indicates that the Rapture could not only happen at any moment but it could happen soon, even today.

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord to live today as if the Rapture could happen this day.

Revelation 7 vs.9 - After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

For further study - Revelation 7:1-12

In my prophecy conferences across the United States and around the world, we set aside some time for "Prophecy Q & A". I love this time because it gives me the opportunity to respond to what someone really wants to know about prophecy.

Often I'm asked, "Will there be anyone that can get saved during the Tribulation Period?" Our key verse, verse 9, states that a large number of people will get saved during that time of coming judgment.

In fact, in verses 4-8 it speaks of 144,000 "male, virgin, Jews" who will be saved at the beginning of the Tribulation, a result of the ministry of the "two witnesses", Revelation 11:3-12.

These twelve thousand men from each of the twelve tribes of Israel will have a ministry of "evangelism" during the Tribulation and every person on earth, all six billion, will have an opportunity to hear the "gospel of the Kingdom", Matthew 24:14, and many will be saved.

However, there is a group of people who will not be able to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. Those people will be the ones who have heard the gospel before the Rapture, understood the gospel and rejected the gospel, II Thessalonians 2:8-12.

Notice there are three steps, hear, understand and reject. There will be no "second chance" to get saved during the Tribulation Period. There may be some who have heard, but never understood the gospel, those will hear and have an opportunity to get saved during the Tribulation.

The Bible truth that I have just explained may not fit with a fictional novel about the second coming. But remember, we don't get "doctrine" from novels, but from God's Holy Word, II Timothy 3:16-17.

Those who get saved during the Tribulation Period are not known as Christians, all Christians leave the earth at the Rapture when the Lord Jesus Christ shouts for us to join Him in the heavenlies.

Those Jews and Gentiles left on earth at the Rapture, who trust Christ during the Tribulation, are called "Tribulation Saints". These Tribulation Saints will "rule and reign" with Jesus in His Kingdom to come, Revelation 20:4.

Peter wrote, in his last letter, II Peter 3: 9 and 12 that the only reason Jesus has not called us up to be with Him is because He is not willing that any should perish but all should come to salvation.

II Peter 3:12 seems to say that we can hasten His return by leading people to the Lord. Please let this devotional encourage you to do all that you can to introduce Jesus to those who need Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, help me to be a soul winner as I await Your soon coming.

Revelation 8 vs.1 - And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

For further study - Revelation 8:1-13

As we come to another chapter in the book of Revelation, we move into the second set of seven judgments, the seven "trumpet judgments". Actually the last of the seven "seal judgments" is found also in chapter 8, verse 1.

The seven "trumpet judgments" come out of the last "seal judgment" as is the case with the seven "vial judgments" coming out of the last, seventh, "trumpet judgment".

Notice that the seventh "seal judgment" is "silence in heaven about the space of half an hour", verse 1. The reason for the "silence", I believe, is because the "great cloud of witnesses", Hebrews 12:1, is "awestruck" by the six previous "seal judgments" and the seven "trumpet judgments" to follow.

I would like for you to notice what has been termed "ecological judgment" will be released on the earth in these first four "trumpet judgments". The fact is, we hear alot about "global warming" and "climate change" in the media these days.

I believe "global warming" is impossible because Jesus Christ created the heavens, the earth and all that is in them, Colossians 1:16, and He holds it all together, Colossians 1:17.

God is in charge and nothing can happen to this "earth" unless He allows it to. No act of man can overrule God's plan. However, as our text tells us, there will be "ecological judgments" upon the earth during the time of the seven year Tribulation Period in the future.

The first "trumpet judgment" is a third part of the trees and all the grass on earth burning up. "Trumpet" number two is a third of the sea turning to blood, one-third of the fish in the sea dying and one-third of the ships upon the seas being destroyed.

Next, the third "trumpet" judgment, is one-third of the rivers, ponds, lakes and fountains of water becoming bitter, so much so that many on the earth will die from drinking this water. The judgments now shift to the heavens, the sun, moon and stars lose one-third of their light and their is more darkness than usual upon the earth, which is the fourth "trumpet" judgment.

Verse 13 reveals that from here, continuing into the Tribulation Period, it gets worse. The three "woes" are to follow. which are the last three "trumpet judgments". We'll look at the "woes" in another devotional reading.

You might ask, "Why study about these judgments if at the Rapture we leave this earth and will not be a part of these judgments?" There are several answers to that question, the most important being, so we can warn our friends and loved ones about coming judgment and how they can escape the terrible time to come.

This is an excellent evangelism tool, prophecy. We all must make it a point to give out the gospel to lost people every day. The Rapture could happen, today.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord, for keeping me from these judgments to come. Help me to warn others and give them the gospel before it is eternally too late.

Revelation 18 vs2 - And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

For further study - Revelation 18:1-24

On this day, the sixth anniversary of the infamous attacks on the United States by Al-Quaida and the forces of Osama Bin Laden, I am reminded of a radio broadcast I did with the late Adrian Rogers heard across America on the Moody Broadcasting Network on that afternoon.

In the course of conversation with the talk show host we discussed the events of the day and how the planes had crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City and the single plane attack on the Pentagon in Washington.

Dr Rogers mentioned on the broadcast the similarities between the terrorist attack and the eighteenth chapter of Revelation. I know there are those who believe that the name "Babylon" mentioned in Revelation 18 is actually symbolic for "New York City."

Dr Rogers mentioned that day how verse 2, our key verse for today's devotional, speaks of a city which is the "habitation of devils". Verse 3 talks about this city that had made the "merchants of the world rich." In verse 9 it speaks of the "city burning." And in verses 10, 17 & 19 it speaks of the city coming under judgment in "one hour".

Think with me about the similarities. Indeed it could be said that New York City is the "habitation of devils". And it certainly has made many merchants very wealthy. If you remember back to that infamous day, the attack on the Twin Towers took place in about "one hour".

Let me say that Dr Rogers did not say that the events of September 11, 2001 were the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation 18. He just pointed out the similarities.

The truth is that Revelation 18 has nothing to do with 9/11, but is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled by the literal city of "Babylon" located on the shores of the Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq.

What did happen on September 11, 2001, however, set in motion the "beginning of the end" as the "ugly head of terrorism," inflicted upon the world by radical Islamic fundamentalist terrorists, released its venom on the plan of God for the future as found in God's prophetic word.

A close study of the prophetic scenarios found in the Bible will reveal the nearness of the return of Jesus Christ back to the earth to set up His eternal kingdom. Current events are indeed setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. Keep looking up...

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord to live in light of Your promise of the events that will happen as Your return draws near. Help me to be prepared, pure and productive as I await Your coming.