Blessings and promises a bible study

 

            I red an excellent teaching piece on promises of God on Indie Gospel Artist’s blogs yesterday and felt the Holy Spirit tell me to do a bible study on a very similar topic. God does love us and He does indeed want to bless us for obeying. The first scripture to be used is from Deuteronomy 28 listing the various blessings for obedience:

(Deuteronomy 28:1)  "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:2)  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:3)  Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:4)  Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:5)  Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:6)  Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:7)  "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:8)  The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:9)  The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:10)  And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:11)  And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:12)  The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

 

(Deuteronomy 28:13)  And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,

 

(Deuteronomy 28:14)  and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

 

It does then go on to list a much longer list of punishments and curses for disobedience and walking away from God(verses 15 to the end of the chapter).

The Lord promised to be with Joshua wherever he went, and that promise still stands with us today as Christians:

(Joshua 1:5)  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

 

(Joshua 1:6)  Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

 

(Joshua 1:7)  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

 

(Joshua 1:8)  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

 

(Joshua 1:9)  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

 

This promise is backed up by these verses in Hebrews chapter 13:

(Hebrews 13:5)  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 

(Hebrews 13:6)  So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

 

(Hebrews 13:7)  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

 

(Hebrews 13:8)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

Here in Job 22 is an excellent promise for repentant people:

(Job 22:22)  Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

 

(Job 22:23)  If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,

 

(Job 22:24)  if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,

 

(Job 22:25)  then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.

 

(Job 22:26)  For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

 

(Job 22:27)  You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

 

(Job 22:28)  You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

 

(Job 22:29)  For when they are humbled you say, 'It is because of pride'; but he saves the lowly.

 

(Job 22:30)  He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

 

Here are the promises in Psalm 37 for those who trust in God:

(Psalm 37:3)  Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

 

(Psalm 37:4)  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

(Psalm 37:5)  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

 

(Psalm 37:6)  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

 

(Psalm 37:7)  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

 

Proverbs chapter 2 speaks of the promises gained by seeking wisdom, such as protection from evil people:

(Proverbs 2:1)  My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,

 

(Proverbs 2:2)  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

 

(Proverbs 2:3)  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

 

(Proverbs 2:4)  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

 

(Proverbs 2:5)  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

 

(Proverbs 2:6)  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

 

(Proverbs 2:7)  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

 

(Proverbs 2:8)  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

 

(Proverbs 2:9)  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

 

(Proverbs 2:10)  for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

 

(Proverbs 2:11)  discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

 

(Proverbs 2:12)  delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

 

(Proverbs 2:13)  who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

 

(Proverbs 2:14)  who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,

 

(Proverbs 2:15)  men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

 

(Proverbs 2:16)  So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,

 

(Proverbs 2:17)  who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;

 

(Proverbs 2:18)  for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;

 

(Proverbs 2:19)  none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.

 

(Proverbs 2:20)  So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

 

(Proverbs 2:21)  For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,

 

(Proverbs 2:22)  but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

 

These two in Chapter 24 also talk of wisdom

(Proverbs 24:13)  My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

 

(Proverbs 24:14)  Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

 

Here are promises for guidance in what you do, for He will make our paths straight:

(Proverbs 3:5)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

 

(Proverbs 3:6)  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

(Proverbs 3:7)  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

 

(Proverbs 3:8)  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

 

Here are a couple of other good proverbs with excellent promises:

(Proverbs 16:3)  Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

 

(Proverbs 16:7)  When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

 

(Proverbs 16:9)  The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

 

(Proverbs 16:33)  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

 

Here is a proverb that deals with God’s protection

(Proverbs 18:10)  The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

 

Psalm 91 is a very strong and powerful promise of protection in all ways:

(Psalm 91:1)  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

 

(Psalm 91:2)  I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

 

(Psalm 91:3)  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

 

(Psalm 91:4)  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

 

(Psalm 91:5)  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

 

(Psalm 91:6)  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

 

(Psalm 91:7)  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

 

(Psalm 91:8)  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

 

(Psalm 91:9)  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge--

 

(Psalm 91:10)  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

 

(Psalm 91:11)  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

 

(Psalm 91:12)  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

 

(Psalm 91:13)  You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

 

(Psalm 91:14)  "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

 

(Psalm 91:15)  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

 

(Psalm 91:16)  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

 

Also Psalm 121 promises forms of protection and safety:

(Psalm 121:1)  A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

 

(Psalm 121:2)  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

 

(Psalm 121:3)  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

 

(Psalm 121:4)  Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

 

(Psalm 121:5)  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

 

(Psalm 121:6)  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

 

(Psalm 121:7)  The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

 

(Psalm 121:8)  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

 

The book of Isaiah contains a number of promises and blessings. Chapter 35 is filled with promises:

(Isaiah 35:1)  The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

 

(Isaiah 35:2)  it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

 

(Isaiah 35:3)  Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.

 

(Isaiah 35:4)  Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

 

(Isaiah 35:5)  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

 

(Isaiah 35:6)  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

 

(Isaiah 35:7)  the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

 

(Isaiah 35:8)  And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

 

(Isaiah 35:9)  No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.

 

(Isaiah 35:10)  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

The last 4 verses of chapter 40 promise strength:

(Isaiah 40:28)  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

 

(Isaiah 40:29)  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

 

(Isaiah 40:30)  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

 

(Isaiah 40:31)  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 

Here are promises of help and strength in Isaiah 41:

(Isaiah 41:10)  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

(Isaiah 41:11)  Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.

 

(Isaiah 41:12)  You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

 

(Isaiah 41:13)  For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

 

There are more promises in Isaiah 42

(Isaiah 42:5)  Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:

 

(Isaiah 42:6)  "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

 

(Isaiah 42:7)  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 

(Isaiah 42:8)  I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

 

(Isaiah 42:9)  Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."

 

Still more promises are in Isaiah 43 to be with us and so forth:

(Isaiah 43:4)  Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

 

(Isaiah 43:5)  Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

 

(Isaiah 43:6)  I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,

 

(Isaiah 43:7)  everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

 

(Isaiah 43:8)  Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!

 

(Isaiah 43:9)  All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true.

 

(Isaiah 43:10)  "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

 

(Isaiah 43:11)  I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.

 

(Isaiah 43:12)  I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God.

 

Here are some good verses in Isaiah 58

(Isaiah 58:6)  "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

 

(Isaiah 58:7)  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

 

(Isaiah 58:8)  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

 

(Isaiah 58:9)  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

 

(Isaiah 58:10)  if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

 

(Isaiah 58:11)  And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

 

(Isaiah 58:12)  And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

 

(Isaiah 58:13)  "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;

 

(Isaiah 58:14)  then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 

Jesus Himself made many promises of wonderful things, I am including a few here, like this in Matthew, when responding to the disciples question as to why they failed to cast out a demon:

(Matthew 17:19)  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

 

(Matthew 17:20)  He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

 

Here also is the fig tree incident with the promise there:

(Matthew 21:19)  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

 

(Matthew 21:20)  When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?"

 

(Matthew 21:21)  And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.

 

(Matthew 21:22)  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

 

Matthew 18 also has these promises to answer in prayer:

(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

Here is a similar account in Mark of the withered fig tree along with the promises that Jesus gave with it and all

(Mark 11:21)  And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."

 

(Mark 11:22)  And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.

 

(Mark 11:23)  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

 

(Mark 11:24)  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

 

(Mark 11:25)  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

 

(Mark 11:26)  [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]

 

And also in Mark 9, in response to the demon boy’s father

(Mark 9:23)  And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."

 

(Mark 9:24)  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

 

Here is a powerful string of promises in John 14:

(John 14:12)  "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

 

(John 14:13)  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

(John 14:14)  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

 

(John 14:15)  "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

 

(John 14:16)  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

 

(John 14:17)  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

 

(John 14:18)  "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

 

Now to start on the most valuable promise and blessing Salvation and the Holy Spirit, first from Acts:

(Acts 2:38)  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

(Acts 2:39)  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

 

Acts 3 then also urges repentance with promises

(Acts 3:19)  Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

 

(Acts 3:20)  that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

 

Here are some verses in Titus which further explain this blessed promise:

(Titus 2:11)  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

 

(Titus 2:12)  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

 

(Titus 2:13)  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 

(Titus 2:14)  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

 

In Ephesians Paul reminds us of the gift- a blessing a promise of salvation it that, and not earned in any way

(Ephesians 2:4)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

 

(Ephesians 2:5)  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--

 

(Ephesians 2:6)  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

 

(Ephesians 2:7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

 

(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

Here are the verses in Romans 10 which explain the promise  of salvation and tell us how to obtain it:

(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

 

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

 

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

 

(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

 

(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 

(Romans 10:14)  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

 

(Romans 10:15)  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

 

(Romans 10:16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

 

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

Now on to the last promise which God has yet to fulfill, but I am led strongly to believe He will fulfill it very soon. I first cite the scripture in 2 Peter 3:

(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

 

(2 Peter 3:10)  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

 

(2 Peter 3:11)  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

 

(2 Peter 3:12)  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

 

(2 Peter 3:13)  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

 

(2 Peter 3:14)  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

 

(2 Peter 3:15)  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

 

(2 Peter 3:16)  as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

 

(2 Peter 3:17)  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

 

(2 Peter 3:18)  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

 

The promise of the new Heaven and a New earth is also further strengthened in Revelation chapter 21

(Revelation 21:1)  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

 

(Revelation 21:2)  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

(Revelation 21:3)  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

 

(Revelation 21:4)  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

 

(Revelation 21:5)  And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

 

(Revelation 21:6)  And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

 

(Revelation 21:7)  The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

 

Chapter 21 and then the first verses of chapter  then go on to describe in fairly good detail the aspects of the New Jerusalem, which John saw come down to the new earth.

Here also is the promise given in the first three verses of John 14, of a place built for us by Jesus, who will then receive us to Him(rapture):

(John 14:1)  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

 

(John 14:2)  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

 

(John 14:3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

 

These verses, the one in Peter, and especially the one in John’s gospel point towards the rapture, and(in the case of 2 Peter the end times tribulation afterward), with this promise, I point out the following presentation:

Rapture

I will conclude and wrap this study up by saying that the way people are now(not unlike the way they were at Noah’s time and also Sodom, things which Jesus prophesied about in scriptures in Matthew, Mark and Luke)and all the many other end times signs which are occurring currently(animals dying, food prices rising, wars, rumors of wars, crazy weather and so on) are birth pangs of the coming tribulation period and  sure signs the rapture is not far way, indeed, I still believe that the rapture could be any day at any time, of which the Heavenly Father only knows). So cheer up, your redemption is drawing closer and closer every day that passes. Also please remember that  Jesus loves you more than You know, and also by posting this about the rapture, too, which does duplicate some of the scriptures, but that is for emphasis for the rapture is too important and you absolutely DO NOT want to miss it:

 

                                  THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT!!! ARE YOU READY????

 

            I am very strongly led to believe the rapture is very imminent, and could happen any day at anytime at all. Nobody knows the exact time for the rapture but the Father God Himself. I cannot strongly enough advise all of you to get your hearts right with Jesus by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any Sin /iniquity/ uncleanness in your heart, mind etc and repenting of any and all items brought to your mind right away, asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and your garments so that they are spotless, being washed by the blood of Jesus. I am a man, needing the blood of Jesus for cleansing as much as everyone else, and believe me I am doing the same thing. This repenting is a continuous process, not just a one time thing; I have found that I myself have been repenting several times throughout the day. I know that it will be God's grace and mercy ONLY that I make the rapture, not anything I do, I am well aware of the fact that grace alone being what saves, and not works lest any should boast, but also faith without works is dead so I am sharing this with everyone, in the hopes that a few, even just one person, would wake up in time, and repent, for the remaining time here is very short.

            I post and share this document for I deeply care for people and DO NOT want anyone to miss the rapture and find themselves left behind to face the 7 year tribulations which will follow the rapture which will be pure a horrific time on earth, the most horrific ever, in fact, where you will have to hide in caves or in mountains, away from all the evil and very selfish people, be an absolute survival expert, which many are not and absolutely refuse at all costs to take the mark of the beast(666).As a result of your refusal to take this mark, you won’t be able to buy or sell anything, work, eat, live in a normal way, and so on, and most likely you’ll be killed for it, but that is far better than taking the mark and ending up in the lake of fire for eternity, as each and every man and woman  who take the mark of the beast will end up in the lake of fire, where there will be absolutely no rest from their torment night or day(Revelation 14).  Even doing all the precautions, hiding by getting away from all population centers and into the mountains, and so on may not be enough because many if not most people, in fact will not survive the judgments that God will pour out on the world in this time period, in the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments as well as the judgment and destruction of the daughter of Babylon. All these events are described in good detail in the book of Revelation in chapters 6 through 18, which I strongly advise all to read. Here is a link an excellent animated video of the entire book of revelation for you to watch

 

 

 The tribulation period of seven years absolutely will make today's evil world seem like life in paradise by comparison. I very strongly suggest reading the book of Revelation chapters 6 through 18 which tell you specifically what sort of events and judgments the world will see during this tribulation period.

Here are some rapture related scriptures:

 (1 Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

(1Thessolonians 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:

 

(1Thessolonians 4:17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

God wants to keep us from this tribulation by His love and mercy Because thou has 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."  The implication of this verse is obvious:  If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR Revelation 3 verse 10, so it is IMPERATIVE to stay close to the Lord in these last days. 

Now I have a very special warning message to all those who are lukewarm Christians to repent of this condition and to be on fire for Jesus or Jesus will surely spit you out of the rapture(see verse 16, below) and you will go through the seven year tribulation as it says in Revelation 3 14-22. There are FAR TOO MANY are in this condition the Holy Spirit warned me this AM. There are FAR TOO MANY LAODICEANS today. Please REPENT NOW of your lukewarmness and be on fire for the Lord before it is too late and you miss the rapture as a result of your being lukewarm!! Here are the verses in Revelation chapter 3 concerning the Laodicean church:

(Revelation 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 

(Revelation 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

 

(Revelation 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

(Revelation 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 

(Revelation 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

(Revelation 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

(Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

(Revelation 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

(Revelation 3:22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

Summarizing, you MUST all be ready for this coming rapture, AND be on FIRE for Jesus, and not be at all lukewarm but loving Jesus with ALL Your heart, mind and soul as commanded in the bible, in several places in both the old and new testaments. If in case you need to receive the Lord please pray the following prayer (backsliders can also use this prayer to repent of their sin and lukewarmness and recommit their lives, and return to their first love, Jesus. Please do so NOW before it is too late)

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

 

Here are 10 steps that can be of help to be ready for the soon to come rapture:

1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).

 

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

 

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

 

4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, other places but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

 

5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

 

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

 

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

 

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

 

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

 

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

If, by an unfortunate chance, you are finding yourself reading this testimony after the rapture has happened, and you find that you have missed it, everything is not lost by any means, just please pray immediately to accept the Lord Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, repenting of anything  and everything that you have done that has caused you to miss the rapture, especially such things as being lukewarm and whatever else you may do during that time absolutely DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beast means you are essentially married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet,  ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- so again you must avoid taking this mark AT ALL COSTS you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, you will have to hide, living in the forest and away from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed for refusing the mark. If you do die for refusing to take the mark of the beast, if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint and martyr spoken of in the book of revelation. I cannot strongly stress the point enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what!!!! It will be well worth it to lose everything and everyone in this world, including your life so as  to not have to spend all eternity in hell and the lake of fire, where again there will be never any rest on your torment day or night.

 

Here is a video link for after the rapture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be

 

And a link to another facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/good-book-on-tribulations-and-end-times-please-share-aslo-video-link/10200133756520233

 

God bless you and yours