Current Events and the Bible - Part 3

Current Events and the Bible –Part 3

               “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants                                      things which must shortly take place.” Revelation 1:1

In the book of Revelation, (not Revelations,), but is singular because it is about The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  John, the Apostle was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos when Jesus came to him in a vision. Jesus spoke to John about things to come and End Times.  He began with seven churches and what was good about each one and what was wrong.  Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea were the seven churches. 


There was a good part for 6 of the 7 seven churches, but the last one; the church at Laodicea.  “I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.” (Rev. 3:15)  Then comes a fiery dart to your heart.  “So then because you are lukewarm and neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”    (3:16)


This is so scary because I know so many people who are lukewarm. Let’s begin with Hot and Cold.  Hot is easy to explain.  It is someone who is filled with zeal to follow Jesus.  Let me give you an example; Peter was so filled with zeal that he followed Jesus where ever he went.  When he was in the boat with the other disciples and saw Jesus walking on water, he jumped right in the water and began walking toward him.  After Jesus died on the cross, Peter was the one who preached to all those around him and Acts 2:41 tells us, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Our pastor, Verne Wright of Shiloh Tabernacle Fellowship is much like Peter; very zealous and ready to share Jesus with anyone and to pray for healing.


It reminds me of my husband, Associate Pastor Jerry Ritter and myself when we first got saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.  We carried a big Bible wherever we went and witnessed to every person we knew and to our entire family.  We were hot!  I will say that today most of our family are saved, serving the Lord and active in ministry.  Praise God!  Over these many years, our zeal is not as hot as it was, but our faith has grown and is deeper than ever.  Whomever needs to know Christ, will hear it from either of us.


Now about cold!  How many people have you known who are back-sliders and wander about in darkness?  They may still ‘believe’, but they don’t really want anything to do with church and keep what they know about salvation to themselves.  Their hearts have grown cold and they have nothing to share with others.  However, they do not deny the existence of God and Jesus. 


What is ‘Lukewarm’?  Rev.3:16: “But since you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”  (Bible: Lukewarm is defined as ‘nauseating) It means that you have no desire to actively serve God.  On occasion you may go to church, but are not involved. You may occasionally put something in the offering but don’t believe in tithing. “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”  [Rev. 3:16-17]  Meaning you don’t feel you need God in your life and you don’t ask him for help, because you don’t believe he would help you.


When you don’t have God in your life, you don’t have any hope.  What a scary place that is to live without God in your life and feeling hopeless.  Yet, he still loves you and in Rev. 20, he offers you a way out. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

 When I was about 11 or 12, I spent a week at my Grandmother’s house.  She was a woman of God, although I didn’t know about things like that at the time.  A neighbor girl came over to play and my Grandmother gave us a picnic lunch on the grass along with a Bible.  Then she said, “You girls each pick a verse out of the Bible and memorize it.”  The verse I found was, Revelation 3:22.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  It took me many years to understand what it meant, but I never forgot it.  I say that to you today, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  If you fit into the category “lukewarm”, ask God to show you what it means; touch you with his mercy and fill you with Hope!

Current Events and the Bible - Part 2

Current Events and the Bible - Part 2

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when these things will be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and  of the end of the age?”     Matthew 24:3

Before Jesus was born, God planned the day of Jesus return to this earth. We can read about it in Job and in Daniel, like we read last week. Isaiah Even told about his birth. Ezekiel tells about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in the book of Revelation.  All through the Old Testament we can read of his coming and in the New Testament about his death on the cross and his return to earth. Throughout the Bible we hear about last days, or end times. God is telling us to prepare for those times.  Are we really listening to what He says to us?

In Matthew 24:3, the disciples had been listening to Jesus, but they wanted to hear more of what he meant about ‘last days’. “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus began to tell them many of the things that are going to happen in Matthew 24:3-31. This shocked them and so they wanted to know when it will happen.  In vs. 32 he answers them, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! (Jesus is telling his disciples to be watching for certain signs as we should still be doing today.

Then Jesus gave them a hint, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”   (Matthew 24:36-39) We won’t know when it will happen until after it has happened.

Now, that was prophecy of a long time ago.  You may think it will never happen, but our great God who created us and watches over us is never late! The book of Revelation in the back of your Bible tells so much yet to come, but I can tell you it will come to pass and is already building up speed. I’ll give you a hint in Revelation, chapter 11:3-10; prophesy that no one could ever understand, but today it is very understandable to most people. Near the end, God rose up two witnesses and they stood in the streets of Jerusalem and testified about God.  Everyone was so ungodly they tried to kill them, but no one had the power to do so until they were finished talking.  Then Satan came and God allowed them to be killed.

You may think that’s a lost battle, but listen to this; they lay dead in the street for three days.  Verse 9 says “And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.” Rev 11:9 (NLT) Why is this so significant? Not until recent years could people all around the world see wars while they were being fought or see things while they were happening!  Only by broadcasting through satellite can we sit in our living rooms watching TV and see a war being fought on the other side of the world at the same time. This is happening today. 

Can you think what people 2000 years ago could even imagine?  It’s like us trying to image what heaven is like. I Corinthians 2:9 tells us what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) God tells us all these things in the Bible; are you listening to Him?


            Next week – Part 3

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: Current Events and the Bible

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: Current Events and the Bible: Current Events and the Bible “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro...

Current Events and the Bible

Current Events and the Bible

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.”   Daniel 12:4

When we think about the old-time Prophet Daniel of Old Testament times we generally think about Daniel in the Lion’s Den.  It also holds a lot of information about Israel and its future.  It tells of many life and death situations and it would pay for you to study the entire book.  However this week we will be dealing with Daniel’s visions regarding future kingdoms and end-time events in chapters 8-12.   

The angel, Gabriel, appears to Daniel and he speaks outright by saying, “This refers to the time of the end.”  Could he be referring to the times we live in?  Many believe we are living in end times.  Gabriel showed Daniel in visions a terrible time in this world; it was so bad that Daniel fainted and was sick for days after, but no one understood how horrible the vision was. 


Daniel prayed and prayed that God would forgive his people for not being faithful or obedient. From then on Daniel was told many things which probably don’t make much sense to the average person today, but Daniel understood and knew what was to come in end times.  Then Daniel was told to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end.


When you stop and think of the times Daniel lived in back then, when the fastest thing in the world was a horse and a chariot and compare it to our rockets and jet planes.  It would be so terrifying, but angel told him a little more, “Many shall run to and fro and knowledge will increase.”  Now think about how fast we travel today and also how knowledge has increased with everything going digital. Then Daniel was told to go on about his life and he will die some time, but in the end he will arise, (come back to life) and receive his inheritance.


This is a brief summary of Daniel and what he was told about the time of the end.  The pictures that come to mind are amazing.  When it talks about people running to and fro on the earth puts forth mental pictures of the thousands of people traveling by cars, trains, rockets and jet planes.  For us this is how we live, but for Daniel, he could not have imagined these things.  This leads one to believe only God would have known what it would be like today.


The other amazing thing was that in the days of Daniel, communication was very limited.  Few could even write, let alone read and the rest was passed by person to person. Other than God, no one knew anything about telegraphs, telephones, television, languages, computers and satellites.   Today we can send and receive information from over two-million miles into space. 


In Daniel’s time the average person probably grew crops and raised a few animals.  It was enough to think how to feed a family and take care of them.  Their minds were not crowded with schedules, travel, shopping and a thousand other things. When they finished their work for the day, they went to bed and when the sun came up, they rose and went to work again.

Now we live in such miraculous times, yet it is all so commonplace to us.  It must be very difficult for us be quiet long enough to hear from God and meditate long enough to understand what He is telling us.  Yes, God still speaks to his people when he can get our attention.  Daniel always made time for God by kneeling and praying three times a day to God.  When he was ordered not to pray, he still prayed. He heard God’s voice and obeyed. 

How about you; do you make time to listen to God’s voice?

Is Satan Real?

Is Satan Real?

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” Job 1:6 (NKJV)

Many years ago I attended a Christian retreat.  There were two spiritual leaders there; one was a Catholic priest and the other was a Christian Reformed minister.  We had a question and answer period one evening and the first question was, Is there a real Satan, or Devil that existed?  I was a young Christian at the time, but I was shocked when both the priest and the minister agree that there was not such a thing.  They agreed that there is evil in this world but it is not part of a single entity.  When people do evil things we know that it’s evil. You cannot blame anything else the evil that is done.


The second question was, “Is there a place called Hell?”  Again their answer in agreement was, “no”, Hell is a figment of our imagination.  I was so confused and upset that people would believe their answers.  What they were really saying, is that the Bible is a lie.  Theses man were supposed to believe the Bible and teach the truth.


It was a tremendous eye-opener to me.  I began to read the Bible and study what it said.  It was not a lie.  It proved over and over to be truth.  I came to the conclusion that if you could only believe part of the Bible, then the Bible was a lie.  Then I read John1:1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God!”  I chose to believe God was real and He could not lie, so His Word was all true. After all these years God is still continually showing me something new in His Word.


Is there a being called Satan, Devil or many other names?  Absolutely YES!  The Bible says he is the father lies.  Lies are where he gets you and draws you into sin.  His lies tell you to use drugs, his lies tell you the most important this in the world is money; his lies tell you it is perfectly alright to change genders.  The fact is that you cannot change your DNA.  Even with surgery, inside you are still the man or woman that God created you to be. He is telling you it’s alright to kill your unborn baby.  It is never right to kill your unborn baby as much as killing your child at any age.  Way back in time, Satan told the Pharaoh of Egypt to order the Jewish people of God to “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy in to the Nile River to die” (Exodus 1:22) It was called murder then and is still called murder today.


All the godly ways that Jesus wants us to live like and to be, Satan hammers away at, just like he did in the Garden of Eden.  Satan wants you dead without believing in Christ as your Savior, so when you die you will go to hell.  He is always whispering to you to “go ahead and sin; it’s fun.”  He encourages you to experiment with things you know aren’t right.  Why do we listen to his enticing words?  You don’t have to listen to it; tell Satan to get out and take his hands off you.  He hears you when you speak to him.

If you are a Believer, you have greater power in you than Satan. He has the power to tempt you but you the power within you to order him to leave you alone; to get out of your thoughts and your mind.  In old-fashioned language, cast him out of your life in the name of Jesus!  Stand up for Jesus and deny Satan access to your heart, soul and mine.  You have the power and the ability to do that.  You are more than a conqueror!

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.” Matthew 4:1

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: Nehemiah Built a Wall

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: Nehemiah Built a Wall: Nehemiah Built a Wall “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem until ...

Nehemiah Built a Wall

Nehemiah Built a Wall

“Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.”  Daniel 9:25

God promised the Jews they would be able to restore the temple and build the wall for their protection again. However, the city remained in this terrible state for (70) years. Then Nehemiah, a cupbearer for the king asked to return to Jerusalem and restore the city and build a wall to protect the Jewish people. (Nehemiah 2:5-6)  King Artaxerxes gave him permission to go and rebuild the wall. Troublesome times came on those who were working hard to restore things.  You will understand more if you read Ezra and Nehemiah to see the whole picture.

There is an interesting comparison in the Bible about a wall being built.  It took (70) years in Bible times for the Jews to return to Israel and begin to rebuild the wall and it caused such troublesome times.  Now in our time when Israel became a nation in 1968, it took (70) years until Jerusalem became the capitol in 2018. The US is a friend to Israel. Now part of our nation wants to build a wall for protection for our own country and it has caused very troublesome times. Why did Israel want a wall built?  It’s the same reason we want to build a wall and that was to protect themselves from enemies.

My question is, “Why wouldn’t we want a wall?” We are the greatest country in the world, but we are surrounded by people who hate us. Yet they still want to come over our borders and live here. While half our country thinks there is no need for it, the other half strongly believes we should build it.  This country that I love so dearly is in a troublesome time.  Let me share something with you.  I don’t care what you think of me or what names you call me, but we are in trouble.

Have you ever read the Quran?  I’ve heard it said that Muslims should kill all Christians and Jews.  I’ve only been told by Muslims that their goal is to have all people to become Muslims so they could take over the world. If this is their belief, why on earth have they been voted into our government? It may not mean anything to you now, but this is just the beginning of the end.  As time goes on things will change and not for betterment. 

Way back in Old Testament times, people sacrificed babies to the God, Molech.  We used to think that was such a horrible thing, but we do the same thing today and on a much larger scale.  I watched as thousands of women held up signs and chanted that they wanted the right to kill their babies before they were born. Do you think that God is sitting on the sidelines watching such a demonic thing take place?  There will be a price to pay as time goes on. 

I look at my own dear grandchildren and can’t even imagine a life without them; not being able to watch them grow up into men and women.  To see their first tooth, their first time to walk, and as they start school.  I am so grateful that they will go to church and learn about a loving Father in heaven.  They will learn about love, justice and peace.

This is why we need a wall; so no other country or false gods will take over our land. We need a wall so our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not have to live in fear and terror.  We need a wall so our loved ones will not be dying from drug overdose, because of all the drugs coming across our borders. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 (ASV) “For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection.”

God, help us from turning our backs on you!