Even Unto Death

“For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death.”  Psalms 48:14

 

This is being written as a warning to those who have been Left Behind.  The “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), commonly known as the Great Tribulation or Tribulation is upon the earth, the Rapture has now happened and those who truly were Christians are with the Lord.  There are people around the globe seeking answers, many presumably refusing to believe the lies purported by governments and fellow mankind. 

 

A terrible time for all of mankind has begun as God is carrying out His Righteous judgment against Israel and the world.  Now choices have to be made, those who did not fully realize and deny the full true Gospel are likely awakened to a harsh reality, one that will have the hearts of many men failing them: they were Left Behind.

 

Americans probably have more hints and supposed knowledge about the last days because of the strong Judeo-Christian background of the United States.  Around the world many are Roman Catholics, Muslim, worship demons (Hindu) or other false religions, but in America there have always been some talk about the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, the four horsemen, Armageddon, etc.  While much of that talk is speculation, false proclamations or even some interesting fictional scenarios, there is the belief amongst many generations that at some point ‘the end will come’.  This is written for those who are living in that time, the end has come!

 

You are now faced with a choice, if you are reading this early on during the Tribulation, things might not be so bad and you might assume to have some ‘time’ to make a decision.  Others might come across this while running for their lives, unwilling to accept the mark of the beast or worship the beast or his image.  For either, the answer is the same, you need to believe into Jesus Christ, you need a Savior, you need Salvation, you need it now!

 

“And it shall be, that whoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall escape.”  Joel 2:32a

 

“But what does it say? The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the Word of Faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Everyone believing on Him will not be put to shame.  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich toward all who call upon Him.  For everyone, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:8-13

 

How many people put off learning more of God before such things happened?  How many people pondered whether or not the things that they heard bits and pieces about regarding God’s truth was realistic or not?  How many people heard someone preach the Gospel but put off further consideration due to the cares of this world?  Really how many people reading this knew better, knew that they had to do ‘better’, to change, but either didn’t fully understand the Gospel, wasn’t prepared to yield their life or didn’t seek after God to find Him in the absence of not having any Believer around willing to or actually explain the Gospel to the curious.  Now will you dare put it off any longer?

 

Do you make an assumption that you will decide when you absolutely are forced to decide?  Do you assume that you will still be alive when you are absolutely forced to decide?  Take a good look around, you are not just gambling with your life, your eternal soul is at stake, you will either ultimately end up in Heaven with the Lord or you will be in the Lake of Fire for eternity!  There is NO middle ground, do not play around with your soul! 

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2 

 

“And the devil, who led them astray, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:10-15

 

What shock and horror for numerous people around the globe when they were with someone who was taken at Christ’s appearing!  When the Rapture happened, how many nearly fainted, how many died, just due to the shock, horror and awe of the situation, realizing that they had been Left Behind?  In all of this there is still good news, God knew beforehand what would happen and He still is providing Salvation to anyone willing and able to receive it.  You will have to make a choice.

 

The obvious logical choice will be for everyone to accept God’s free gift of Salvation, the problem with man is sin.  Instead of being willing to yield their lives to God, they would rather lives their lives contrary to Him.  Now on one hand the choice could be perceivably tougher to unregenerate eyes, as believing into Christ will most definitely equate dying for Him, likely as the guillotine will be used to chop off your head, for failure to go along with the world’s ways.  Another way to consider it is that things are going to get so bad in the world that men will look for places to hide, they will seek death and ultimately without Jesus Christ, you are eternally doomed to the Lake of Fire.

 

“And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and through the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death.”  Revelation 12:11

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I love you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”  John 15:12-14

 

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself over to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”  1st Peter 2:21-24

 

“Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

“And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and because of the testimony which they held.”  Revelation 6:9

“And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will crave to die, and death will flee from them.”  Revelation 9:6

 

Your decision will affect your life as you remain on the earth during the Tribulation time period.  What do you do regarding your friends and family who worry more about the cares of this world and accept the mark of the beast to be able to continue financially, no matter how rough?

 

“If then you are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on the things of the earth; for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4

 

“Therefore whoever shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in Heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in Heaven.  Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life on account of Me will find it.”  Matthew 10:32-39

 

“And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and put them to death.  And you will be hated by everyone on account of My name. But he who endures to the end will be kept safe.”  Matthew 10:21-22

 

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads names of blasphemy.  And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.  And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled at the beast.  So they did homage to the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they did homage to the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?  And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in Heaven.  And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.  And all who dwell on the earth will do homage to him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  If anyone has an ear, let him hear.  He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.  And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to do homage to the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven onto the earth in the sight of men.  And he leads astray those who dwell on the earth by means of those signs which he was granted to do in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  And it was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not do homage to the image of the beast to be killed.  And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,  so that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”  Revelation Chapter 13

 

“And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”  Revelation 6:6

 

Choosing Life is not choosing death.  For these bodies that we have will certainly pass away, but our souls never die. 

 

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this the judgment”…  Hebrews 9:27

 

The point is that the choice should be simply accepting Salvation by believing into Jesus Christ, casting off all cares and anxieties of this world, even unto death.  You can not chose to accept the mark of the beast or worship the beast or his image and still be Saved, there is a line drawn in the sand regarding this, so be warned!

 

“And when He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:34-38

 

“And He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He says to me, Write, for these Words are true and faithful.  And He said to me, It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending. I will give of the fountain of the Water of Life freely to him who thirsts.  He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, prostitutes, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:5-8

 

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.  And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and prostitutes and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and produces a lie.  I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you, to the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take of the Water of Life freely.  For I testify to everyone who hears the Words of the Prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add upon him the plagues that are written in this Book; and if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book.  He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”  Revelation 22:11-21

 

“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.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  John 14:1-4

 

 

“And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; also, do homage to Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and springs of water.  And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.  And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone does homage to the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His anger. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who do homage to the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.  Here is the perseverance of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow with them.”  Revelation 14:6-13

 

Even during the dark times, know that God cares about those who are His.

 

“For Jehovah knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.”  Psalms 1:6

 

“Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of His saints.”  Psalms 116:15

 

Amen!