• 2014 July – Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part Two

    Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part Two

    “… give diligence to make your calling and election sure …” -2 Peter 1:10

    By Mike Wingfield

    Are you a true follower of Christ? In this newsletter, we will continue our examination of the most important ques­tion a person must answer while here on earth. Last month, we examined the first of nine tests on assurance of salvation that are found in the little New Testament book of 1 John. The theme of this book is found in chapter 5 and verse 13: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that [you] may know that [you] have eternal life…”

    In this issue we will look at the next four tests. The re­maining four tests will be given in our August newsletter. I highly recommend that you carefully read these newslet­ters and look up the Scriptures referenced. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, when you look at the lifestyles of professing Christians, it seems that most of them are not saved. You do not want to be deceived and miss the Rapture, or more importantly, heaven. I urge you to study these Biblical tests and make sure you will not be left be­hind. This could make the difference in where you will spend eternity.

    Test #2-Do you keep God’s Commandments?

    1 John 2:3-6 Verse 3 declares: “And hereby we do know that we know [have a relationship] him, if we keep his commandments.”

    If you are God’s child, then you will obey the Lord’s commands.

    Obedience to the Lord is a very clear indication that God is our Father and friend. Jesus continually repeated this on the night he was betrayed by one of His own disciples.

    “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings …” (John 14:23-24) “If ye keep my command­ments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)

    From a Biblical standpoint, there are two vital issues at stake in this second test: (1) Is Jesus really the Lord of your life? (2) Are you the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? A study of the entire New Testament gives testi­mony to these two core issues.

    Issue #1: Is Jesus really the Lord of your life? A few years back, there was a great debate in Christian circles about this subject. Some people believe that they can be a Christian if Jesus is just their Savior, but not their Lord. They believe that at some point later in their life, they reach a greater spiritual maturity level and Jesus then becomes their Lord. This debate and kind of thinking quickly reveals the lack of understanding many people have concerning what the New Testament teaches about true salvation. I urge all of us to not formulate what we believe on the basis of personal experience, or how we feel about Jesus and salvation. Our doctrine (what we believe) must be based totally upon the written Word of God – the Bible! The Bible must be our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! It does not matter what someone else says or believes. It does not matter what your church or pastor believes. If it does not conform to the literal interpretation of the Bible, they are wrong and God is right! Jesus declared that He and His Word are “truth.” (John 14:6) When we arrive at a different con­clusion than what Scripture teaches, “we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10) Certainly, true believers would never call Jesus and His Word lies!

    The Bible declares: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

    (Romans 10:9) There it is! You must confess that Jesus Christ is your Lord to be saved. When a person becomes a Christian, they become a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ. When you follow Him, you spiritually mimic Him. Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

    The word “Lord” also means “Master.” (See John 13:14­15.) This means that Jesus, not self, is in control of your life. This is at the heart of repentance. The Bible de­mands that a person must repent in order to be saved. (Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:10) Repentance is a change in mind that leads to a change in action. At the moment of true conversion, the sinner recognizes that he must com­pletely surrender his will and life to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples: “If any man will come after [follow] me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Therefore, from the moment of a person’s genuine conversion, he must view Jesus as his Lord.

    Issue #2-Are you the servant of Lord Jesus Christ? Throughout the New Testament, Christians are viewed as bond-slaves of Jesus Christ. The apostles viewed them­selves as “a servant [bond-slave] of Jesus Christ.” (Ro­mans 1:1; James 1:1) The apostles frequently called New Testament believers “servants” of Jesus Christ. (Revela­tion 1:1) The Bible illustrates the salvation of the believ­er in the cultural terms of the slave market of ancient days. When a master purchased a slave at an auction, that slave immediately became his property. In 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers, who were living in a sensual and immoral culture, that they were not to give their bodies over to sexual immorality because their body belonged to their Master, Jesus Christ. (1 Co­rinthians 6:19-20) Therefore, in the truest Biblical image­ry, the New Testament believer must see himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He is no longer in control of himself. His master is Jesus Christ. He is a purchased possession of the Lord Jesus. If he does not agree to this, then he is still in the slave market of sin, serving his sin-nature and under the sentence of condemnation. (Romans 6:16-22)

    However, as described in 1 John 1, there are no believers who can say they do not sin. This is the struggle of the Christian life. (Romans 7:7-25) When we are victorious over sin, Jesus is Lord of our life at that moment. But, when we sin, self is back on the throne. However, as we grow and mature in our love commitment to the Lord Je­sus, we will mature in our battle over our sin nature and Jesus will more consistently be Lord of our lives. (1 John 5:1-5) The true believer is not marked by sinless perfec­tion, but as growing in their victory over sin.

    Test #3-Do you love other believers?

    1 John 2:7-11 As the Apostle John penned these words near the end of the first century, he reminded his readers that this was not a new commandment, but one which goes back to the life and witness of the incarnate Lord Jesus. Jesus said: “By this shall all men know that [you] are my disciples, if [you] have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

    The believer in Jesus Christ will be marked by a genuine love for all people. All people have been equally created in the image of God, and Christ died for all. We have been commissioned to take the gospel to all people. This commission is driven by the love of God through us to the world. It is “the love of Christ [that constrains] us” to be witnesses of the love of God displayed at the cross of Cal­vary. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20) Jesus loved sinners. Do you?

    However, for those who walk in the light of God’s revela­tion and are related to Him and each other, there is a common bond of love through the divine work of the Holy Spirit in all believers to love God and one another. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” (1 John 3:14)

    This love for fellow believers is not the nature of the world. (1 John 3:11-19) The world hates the true believ­ers in Jesus Christ. (John 15:18-16:2; 1 John 3:13) In contrast, Christians love one another because it is the na­ture of God. (1 John 4:7-21) Therefore, when we love other believers, we are behaving like God. “If a man say, I love God, and [hates] his brother, he is a liar: for he that [loves] not his brother whom he [has] seen, how can he love God whom he [has] not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

    This love that we have in the family of God will be mani­fested by two actions: (1) We will forgive one another, and (2) We will give to one another. Christ’s love for us was demonstrated when He gave His life for us when were sinners. (Romans 5:8) And now, it is continually mani­fested in that He is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” (1 John 1:9) Consequently, we are to demonstrate our love to the family of God by freely and frequently for­giving fellow believers when they sin against us. (Ephe­sians 4:20-32) Furthermore, when our brother or sister is in need, we are to demonstrate the love of God by sacrifi­cially giving of ourselves, just as Christ sacrificed for us. (1 John 3:16-18) The greatest act of love is to lay down our life for another person’s life. (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16) This kind of giving and forgiving is not an act of convenience, but a demonstration of sacrifice.

    Test #4-Do you love God?

    1 John 2:15-17 It should seem obvious that if a person claims to be a Christian, he should also love God. In essence, this is the greatest of all the commandments given to us. And yet, it is one of the most misunderstood. When Jesus was asked to identify the greatest commandment, He responded: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) So, the real question is not: “Do you love God?” The real ques­tion is: “Do you love the Lord more than anyone or any­thing else?” Jesus demands this kind of love from all of His children.

    How can a person realistically measure their love for the Lord? In 1 John 2:15-17, the Bible gives us the answer to this question. This text basically asks two questions: “Do you love God or do you love the world system in which you live? You must make a choice. You cannot love and serve both. (Matthew 6:24) The word translated love in this text is not a feeling kind of friendship love. It is a kind of love that sacrifices everything for the object that is loved. What the Bible is asking us in this text is: “Are you sacrificing everything in your life to gain the treasures of a godless world system that is only temporary? Or, are you sacrificing everything in this world system to know Christ and demonstrate your sacrificial devotion to Him as the highest level of priority in your life?”

    A person’s pursuit of this world system is described as

    “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” (1 John 2:16) The lust of the flesh is an obsession to gratify the cravings of the sin nature within all of us. The lust of the eyes is an obsession to see won­derful things (both good and sinful) for the sake of pleas­ing self. The pride of life is the personal devotion and focus upon what the world system promotes as the pur­pose and meaning in life.

    One must understand that the world system, controlled by Satan, is designed to promote a lifestyle that is independ­ent of God and dependent upon self. In essence, it is what Satan offered Eve when he tempted her to reject God and have what she wanted. Genesis 3:6 says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food [the lust of the flesh], and that is was pleasant to the eyes [the lust of the eyes], and a tree to be desired to make one wise [the pride of life], she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Nothing has changed! Satan is still using the same world system to promote a lifestyle that is independent of God and de­pendent upon self.

    So, if you really love God as a child of God, you will sac­rificially seek to place Him first in all of your desires, feel­ing, plans, and ambitions in life. Do you sacrificially give God your time, talents, and treasures that He has entrusted to you? I fear that very few believers understand that this is what is expected and demanded by their LORD! The Lord has promised that if we put Him first, He will give us what we need to equip us to worship and serve Him. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)

    Here is the real test: “For where your treasure is, there will be your heart [mind] be also.” (Matthew 6:21) What do you think about the most? What or whom you constantly think about is your treasure! How often do you think about God, His Word, His will, and His plan? Is it your greatest desire to know Him and please Him? Are you sacrificing whatever it takes to move toward these godly desires? This is not what super Christians do; it is what all true believers do!

    I discovered long ago that the greatest measuring stick of one’s love for their Savior is their love for and commit­ment to the Word of God. Real believers cannot live without the Word of God. It is a consuming passion to read, study, memorize and mediate upon the Bible. This is the theme of the longest chapter in the Bible – Psalm 119. Someone has said: “Two natures beat within my breast.

    The one will damn, the other will bless. The one I love, the other I hate. The one that I feed will dominate.”

    Test #5-Do you regularly fellowship with other believers in a local church?

    1 John 2:19 The professing churches in the United States and the American culture are moving further away from God and His Word. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly dif­ficult for some believers to find a local church where the Word of God is being faithfully proclaimed and the lead­ership of the church is a faithful model of godliness.

    The word church comes from the Greek word which means “called out ones.” The church is made up of those born-again believers who have been redeemed by receiv­ing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and are set apart from the world system by the Holy Spirit.

    The ministry of the church is the work of the Holy Spirit. He brings individual believers to salvation. (1 Corinthians 12:3) He equips each believer to serve within the church. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) It is His work to immerse each one into the body of Christ and direct them to become a vital part of a local church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14) It is the design and desire of the Holy Spirit who lives in every true believer to unite each believer with an assembly of believers. (Ephesians 4:1-6, 25; 1 Corinthians 10:17)

    According to the Bible, in this Age of Grace, God’s work is primarily orchestrated through the local church. 1 John 2:19 describes the kind of attitude that is prevalent among many professing Christians today. They do not think they need the church. They believe they can worship and serve God on their own. According to this text, when a person rejects the church and attempts to experience the Christian life on their own, it is an indication that they are not saved.

    Most people think they can get what they need from tele­vision pastors and evangelists. However, the ministry of the local church is not a place to just receive instruction from God. It is the body of Christ. It is a community of believers who regularly meet together for worship, fellow­ship, and Biblical instruction. It is God’s design that the body of Christ serves Him and each other. All believers need to be loved, taught, encouraged, rebuked, and coun­seled. (2 Timothy 4:2-4; Hebrews 10:24-25) Believers need other believers in the local church, who have been called and gifted by God, to help them mature in the faith.

    (Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12)

    Notice that when the apostles obeyed the Lord’s great commission to go out into the world and make disciples and baptize them, they always planted churches where the converts lived. (Acts 14:21-23) They trained the leader­ship to proclaim the Word of God and to disciple the be­lievers.

    There is no real Biblical excuse to give up on the church. Even with all of its problems, the Apostle Paul exhorted the believers in the church at Corinth toward unity and service within the local assembly of believers. There are no perfect churches, pastors, or believers. God has de­signed the church to be an assembly of believers who are united by the Holy Spirit and their commitment to the Word of God. (Ephesians 4:1-6) They are bound together to equip each other to worship and serve their Lord, and to evangelize the world with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. They help each other mature in their faith and build each other up in their faith until they are called into Jesus’ presence. (Ephesians 4:11-16) They recognize that they will not be perfect until they are presented to Christ as His perfect bride on their wedding day – the Rapture. (Ephesians 5:25-32) Real believers need and love the body of Christ.

    I will conclude this three-part article on the assurance of salvation in the next newsletter. We will examine the last four of the nine tests for making sure you will not be left behind.

     

    Israel Turns 66

    In May, Israel celebrated its 66th birthday as a resurrected modern nation. This nation, like no other, is the product of divine calling and intervention in the history of the world. Long ago, the Lord declared: “For I will take you from among the heathen [Gentile nations], and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own

    land.” (Ezekiel 36:24) When the nation of Israel was founded in 1948, there were only 806,000 Israelis. Only 35 percent of them were na­tive-born. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Sta­tistics, the estimated population of Israel now stands at 8.18 million. Jewish people, 6.135 million, make up about 75 percent of Israel’s current population. The Arab popu­lation in Israel is reported to be 1.694 million, or about 20 percent of the total population.

    Within the last year, Israel’s population grew by 157,000. About 24,000 of these were new immigrants. Now about 75 percent of the Jewish population are native-born Israe­lis.

    “In 1948, Israel had only one city in which the population exceeded 100,000, Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Today, 14 cities have populations of more than 100,000, of which six have more than 200,000 residents: Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa, Rishon, Lezion, Ashdod, and Petah Tikva, according to the report.” (The International Jerusalem Post, May 9­May 15, 2014, p. 9)

    Palestinians Hate Israel and Jews

    Throughout the last few decades, there has been a game of deceitful chess being played in the name of peace in the Middle East. Several U.S. administrations have made many attempts to bring the Israelis and Palestinians to a successful peace agreement. Many Israelis truly desire peace with their Palestinian neighbors. During these ne­gotiations for peace, the Israelis have made numerous painful concessions and given up land that has made them more vulnerable to attack from their Arab/Islamic ene­mies. At the same time, the Palestinians have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Jewish state of Israel. Fur­thermore, the Palestinians have not departed from the in­citement of hatred and violence they express against all Israelis.

    Two recent developments have clearly revealed the hy­pocrisy of the Palestinians and their falsehood of working toward achieving peace with their Jewish neighbors. First, the Anti-Defamation League recently announced the re­sults of a very comprehensive global survey on anti-Semitism. They report: “The most anti-Semitic regions were found to be the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Pal­estinian anti-Semitism is ‘pervasive throughout society.’ … with 93 percent of respondents affirming anti-Jewish stereotypes.” (The International Jerusalem Post, May 16­22, 2014, p. 09) Many other sources confirm these find­ings. It is obvious that real peace of any kind is impossi­ble where such hatred and violence toward Jews is openly promoted in all aspects of that culture. How can you real­istically promote peace with a people you hate and want to kill?

    All of this has been openly confirmed with the recent de­cision by the so-called “moderate” Palestinian leadership on the West Bank in its attempt to form a unity govern­ment with the radical Islamic terrorist government of Ha-mas in the Gaza Strip. The charter of Hamas calls for the compete annihilation of the Jewish state of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. Since 2005, Ha-mas has launched more than 11,000 rockets and mortars against southern Israel. Hamas has made it clear that it will not moderate its harsh stance against Israel to ac­commodate a political marriage with Fatah, the Palestinian leadership on the West Bank.

    The refusal of Western governments to condemn the Pal­estinians for their decision to form a unified government with an Islamic terrorist organization bent on the destruc­tion of Israel reveals the outright moral collapse of West­ern societies. When people support criminal governments that promote the murder of innocent civilians, and at the same time, condemn democratic governments that uphold the premise that all people are created in the image of God and deserve to be free and respected, then that culture has reached the spiritual point of no return. Such a culture is ripe for divine judgment.

    ISIS and the Antichrist’s Kingdom

    In recent months, a very powerful radical Islamic terrorist group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has taken control of Iraq and some territories in Syria. ISIS now controls Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq and the entire Iraqi western border with Syria. There is great con­cern that ISIS may attempt to take control of Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

    According to Joel Rosenberg, an American communica­tions strategist and author who closely monitors develop­ments in the Middle East, “The objective of the ISIS lead­ers is to topple the Iraqi government, seize control of all of Iraq, establish a jihadist state under Sharia law, and use Iraq to begin a regional –and eventually global –Islamic caliphate, or kingdom.” (Blog by Joel Rosenberg) For those of us who study the prophetic Word, we recognize that this is a very significant development. According to the Bible, during the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will control the world from his headquarters in Iraq. (Isai­ah 14:4) Iraq, the central area of the former ancient Bab­ylonian Empire, will be the hub of global economic con­trol (Zechariah 5:5-11), and political -religious control of the Antichrist’s empire. (Isaiah 13; Revelation 17-18) These developments and many other current events are setting the stage for the end-time events as outlined in the Bible. In light of this, we may be on the verge of a major war in the Middle East that will pave the way for the com­ing of the Islamic Messiah – the Madhi. I am convinced the Islamic Messiah will be the one described in the Bible as the Antichrist. Consequently, it would be wise to be listening for the shout that will take us out.

    Download in .pdf format

  • 2014 June – Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part One

    Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part One

    “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own yourselves.” -2 Corinthians 13:5

    By Mike Wingfield

    My 17 years of preaching and teaching the Word of God in churches across America have aroused great concern in my heart for the people sitting in the pews. More specifi­cally, when I speak on the Second Coming of Christ, I sense that deplorable spiritual conditions exist in some of our churches. And my concerns are heightened when I consider the fact that I am only invited to speak in church­es that consider themselves to be conservative and evan­gelical.

    It is very apparent to me that most church members’ lives are no different than those who are lost or not attending church. Several decades ago, Dr. Billy Graham said he estimated that 85 percent of American church members are not saved. I agree with his observation.

    This means that a great number of professing Christians in America are living under the deception that they are saved, when they are not. When the rapture of the church takes place, a majority of church members will be left be­hind. This will be utterly shocking for those who thought they were ready for the coming of the Lord, only to be left behind to face the horrors of the Tribulation Period.

    Many wonder about the mass chaos that will erupt throughout the world when millions disappear during the Rapture. The sad reality is that fewer will be raptured that we think. Jesus asked the following rhetorical question: “…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) The obvious reply is: “The state of the church at the end of the age will be such that very few will accept the faith and be truly born again.”

    We have arrived at that point of self-deception and aposta­sy within the professing church.

    Part of the problem is the gospel has been watered down to a few chosen promises of the Lord that make it easy to “make a decision.” Most professing Christians and churches hurry a person through a few verses and then ask the person if they are ready to “invite Jesus into their heart.” They do not really present the core truths of the gospel. Does the person know and believe that Jesus Christ is God? Do they believe that He died as God’s sin­less, perfect sacrifice as their substitute on the cross, pay­ing for their sin? Do they believe that Jesus bodily arose from the grave? Do they believe that Jesus’ payment for their sin on the cross is the full payment for their salva­tion? Do they understand that the Bible demands them to repent (turn from) their sinful lifestyle? Do they know they are a sinner and are living under the sentence of the wrath of God, having already been condemned to hell? Do they understand God is holy and their sin is an offense to the holiness of God? Do they understand salvation is a work of grace on God’s part, accompanied by their re­sponse of faith in all that He has done? Are they willing to count the cost of surrendering their life to the Lord and serve Him for the rest of their life?

    Jesus never lowered His standards or demands so He could attract a larger number of followers. Instead, He repeatedly demanded that those who were considering following Him count the cost. For example, He said: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoev­er doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27) How many times have people been warned or instructed that if they want to be saved (become a disciple of Jesus Christ) they must con­sider the sacrifices they must make to follow Him?

    Many people have been left with the impression that if they say a certain prayer that they possess eternal life and never need to question the probability that they may not really be born again. Jesus warned His followers that there would be many people who would go through life thinking they have received the gift of eternal life, only to find out after death and final judgment that they were nev­er saved. Jesus gave the following sober warning: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out [demons]? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work in­iquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) Notice that in this context, Jesus is speaking about those who are deceived and de­ceiving others. He makes it clear that real issue is not what people say or claim. Jesus said: “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20) This simply means that the real examination of one’s claim to faith must not focus on his words or claims, but on his lifestyle or works for the glory of God.

    It is my experience that when most people are faced with this truth, they become angry and feel threatened that any­one would question their salvation. From their perspec­tive, their salvation experience is confirmed in their mind and they are frightened to consider the possibility that they are deceived and may not really be saved. How sad! It is better for a person to deal with his pride now and be sure where he really stands with God, than to rely on a mean­ingless confession that is not substantiated by what the Bible demands – a changed life. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    Some people do not believe that a person can know for sure they are saved. However, the Bible says: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life …” (1 John 5:13) As a person examines his salvation experience in light of his lifestyle, he must never question God’s promise of salvation. God will always honor His Word and promises. However, the Bible demands that we question our genuine reception of God’s offer of salvation.

    2 Corinthians 13:5 gives us the following command and question: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

    Once again, in 2 Peter 1:10, the believer is commanded to examine himself to make sure he is saved: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…”

    One might ask “How can a person examine himself to make sure he is saved?” The Bible provides the means to do so. First, we must recognize that our assurance of sal­vation is not based upon what we have said, think, or feel. Our thinking and feelings can be deceptive because they come out of our sinful way of reasoning. (See Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 16:25) The assurance of our salvation comes from a Biblical evaluation of our works and changed lifestyle. The Bible declares: “What doth it prof­it, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can [that] faith save him? … Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14, 17)

    It is has been my observation for many years, that the Lord has given us a wonderful book in the Bible to help us examine ourselves to make sure we are saved. That book is 1 John. The theme of this book is given in 1 John 5:13:

    “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I would like to share with you nine tests in this short epistle that deal with the assurance of the believ­er’s salvation. I highly recommend that you thoughtfully and prayerfully consider these nine tests. It could make a difference in where you will spend eternity.

    Test #1: Do you have fellowship with God?

    (1 John 1:3-2:2) When a person is born again, he becomes a child of God. At that moment, he enters into a personal and intimate relationship with God. He begins to develop a personal relationship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. This relationship is demonstrated in the believer’s life by his daily fellowship with the Lord. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3) The word “fellowship” means sharing. To have fellowship with God means that God is sharing eternal life (a deep and meaningful life of purpose) with us. We will commune with Him in prayer and read His Word. We will worship Him. We acknowledge the reality of His presence and desire to walk with Him, know Him and please Him.

    The spiritual basis of this fellowship with God is holiness. Above all considerations about the nature and person of God is the fact that He is holy. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light [holy], and in him is no darkness [sin] at all.”

    (1 John 1:5) When a person claims to walk with God, he is claiming to walk in holiness, because he is fellowshipping with a holy God. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness [sin], we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:6)

    When a person becomes a child of God, he is justified, or declared righteous, at the moment of conversion. (Ro­mans 4-5) His position or standing with God is based up­on his holy position through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:9) The daily demonstration of the reality of this standing will be seen in his victory over sin. It is im­possible for a person to be sinless. The believer will sin every day! “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth [God’s Word] is not in us. … If we say that we have not sinned, we make him [God] a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8, 10) When he does sin, he will be convicted and confess his sin because he has offended the holy God he loves and who lives in him. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for­give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous­ness.” (1 John 1:9)

    The message of the Bible is clear. A person who walks with a holy God on a daily basis cannot live a lifestyle of sin. (1 John 3:6-10) A real believer cannot ignore sin in his life. He cannot say he does not sin, or that sin doesn’t matter! What we think about sin and how we deal with it in our daily lives, is at the heart of our daily walk with God. The Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer from the moment of conversion (Romans 8:9), will not allow the true believer to continue in a lifestyle of sin without a work of conviction and discipline. (Hebrews 12:7-13)

    This work of the Holy Spirit to convict the believer of his sin is connected to the impact of the Word of God upon the conscience of the believer. The conscience of the be­liever is strengthened as he meditates upon the Word of God. (Psalm 119:11) The true believer will meditate up­on the Word of God and be daily cleansed by it. (John 15:3; 17:17; Ephesians 5:26) Having a strong conscience that is strengthened by God’s truth is at the heart of the practical goal of all those who walk with a holy God. (1 Timothy 1:5) Please notice that God says that if we ig­nore our sin, it is evidence of the reality that God’s “truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

    The believer will experience the joy of the Lord when he is walking with his holy God in God’s truth, and confess­ing his sin. “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:4) In John 15, Jesus spoke of the believer abiding in Him and His Word, bearing much fruit. He said that the result of all of this is real joy.

    “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) Real joy in life can only be found in a personal, dynamic relationship with God as we walk in His pres­ence. Long ago, the Psalmist declared: “Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11) It has been my observation that the joy of the Lord is really absent in the lives of most people who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ. The joy of the Lord is not impacted by all of the trials and tribulations of life. (Acts 16:20-25) The joy of the Lord is anchored in His pres­ence, blessings, and the forgiveness of our sins. And, nothing can take that away from us.

    While I was a pastor, I learned that the people who always caused division in a church are those who probably could not pass this test. People who are always judging people and focusing on other peoples’ sins or failures usually are filled with religious arrogance and pride. They seem to think they have spiritually arrived at a state of perfection, and it is their calling to rebuke others about their sin. I believe that when a person has a lifestyle of being broken over his own sins, there will be a spirit of humility and godly patience as they deal with other believers. A true believer is filled with the Spirit, the Word of God, and the joy of the Lord. There is a time and place for rebuking others. However, when it is needed, it should come from one who is patient and filled with the Word of God. (2 Timothy 4:2)

    Before we move on to the next test to examine our salva­tion, let us focus on the great measuring stick of our rela­tionship and fellowship with God. At the core of all of this is the believer’s daily hunger for the Word of God. This alone sets him apart from the ungodly. (Psalm 1) Our time in the Word is essential to our walk with God. As you reflect upon the first chapter of 1 John, please con­sider this: If a person is not in the Word, he will not con­fess his sins. If he does not confess his sins, he will not have forgiveness of his sin. If he does not have for­giveness for his sins, he does not have fellowship with God. If he does not have fellowship with God, he does not have any power to live the Christian life. If he does not have the power of God, he will not experience victory in his life. If he is defeated in his Christian life, he will not have any joy. All of this goes back to the believer’s time in the Bible.

    Sadly, statistics show that an overwhelming number of church members never look at their Bible throughout the week. If that is your habit, and you think that everything in your life is spiritually fine, you are living in spiritual deception. If you are not in the Word of God on a regular basis, you are living with unconfessed sin in your life. You are not walking with God, and maybe, you are one of those who think they are saved and are not. Think back to your conversion experience. Since that time, if you have never had the lifestyle of being in the Bible and really be­ing sensitive to your sin, then you are not saved!

    In the next two newsletters, we will look at the remaining eight tests in 1 John to help you examine your claim to salvation. You really need to do this, so that you can made sure you are saved and not be left behind when the rapture takes place. And, that could happen any day now!

    Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

    They will Never Forget

    Each time I have gone to Israel, I have concluded my tour with a visit to Yad Vashem – the memorial to the Holo­caust – in Jerusalem. This memorial is an attempt to maintain a lingering memory in Israel of the 6 million Jews who were brutally murdered by the Nazis during World War II. Each time I view the records and remains of these victims I am moved to tears to think of the sheer hatred that was heaped upon these Jewish people and oth­er minorities.

    The Jewish people know all too well that what happened during the Holocaust was not an isolated incident. The nation of Israel and the Jewish people have suffered great­ly from the time of their beginning. Psalm 129:1-2 de­clares: “Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflict­ed me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” All of this has happened because the nations “hate Zion.” (Psalm 129:5) In an earlier Psalm, the Psalmist helps us to understand why so many people hate Israel.

    “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederated against

    thee.” (Psalm 83:1-5) Then in verse 6-8, the Psalmist lists these enemies of God and Israel. They are the Ar­ab/Islamic nations of the Middle East.

    Each year, Israel has a day dedicated to the memory of the 6 million victims of the Holocaust. At 10:00 a.m., sirens wail over Israel and for a few minutes everyone stands in complete silence. During this solemn time, traffic stops, people get out of their cars and stand in silence. During that day, there are special ceremonies held at Yad Vashem. This year, the day of memorializing the Holo­caust victims was Monday, April 28. I was deeply moved by the speech given by the Israeli president, Shimon Per­es, who is 90 years old. He remembers the Holocaust and lost many of his own family members who were murdered by the Nazis. Here are some of his remarks:

    “My brothers and sisters, at this very moment I see before my eyes a heartbreaking image.”

    Tens of thousands of people; young and old, male and fe­male, all concentrated on the banks of the Danube River. They are all under orders to face the river, each one tied to the next. Behind them stand Nazi storm troopers, Germans and locals, who cut them down with bullets to the back. To save bullets they tied weights and stones to them so that the dead will drag the living down with them. Chil­dren were tied to their mothers, the young to the elderly. The bodies of the victims are pushed into the chilling, foaming waters of the Danube. Their cries rise to the heavens and are left without an echo. The perpetrators stand with smiles on their faces, as if they carried an act of heroism and won a brave battle. The blue Danube is paint­ed red, in a single moment it became a floating grave, in­nocent victims, innocent people. Itamar Yaoz-Kest, a Jew­ish poet born in Hungary and sent to Bergen-Belsen, screams in one of his poems, “What is there to drink? They tell me people. Water with blood?” It happened in Hungary.

    But then another image comes to my mind, a photo of the town where I was born and spent the first decade of my life, Vishneva. In Vishneva the Nazis used a different technique. They didn’t shoot the Jews. They burnt them alive. The Nazis, Germans and locals, gathered up all the Jews left in Vishneva, (half had already immigrated to Israel) and forced them to march to the synagogue which was made of wood. My grandfather, wrapped in a Jewish prayer shawl, stood at the head of the march, Rabbi Zvi Meltzer may peace be upon his soul. The same prayer shawl that I huddled under every Yom Kippur to listen to him recite the Kol Nidre prayer in his beautiful voice. They locked the doors of the synagogue and set it on fire with all the Jews still inside. No-one survived. Nothing was left of the synagogue. I can still hear the Kol Nidre prayer, which my grandfather would recite, in my heart. I visited Vishneva when I was Foreign Minister of Israel and I was accompanied by the Foreign Minister of Bela­rus, a delegation of senior government officials, and a honor motorcade. On the way to Vishneva we passed the train station at Bogdanov. The station still operates but during the war years the rails were heaving with carriages packed with Jews on the way to Auschwitz-Birkenau. I imagined hearing the trains. The contradiction between the noise of the motorcade and the screams of help from the trains was ghastly. This station, from which we travelled to Israel, is the station that took my people to the death camps. What happened to them could have happened to me. It could have happened to many of us here tonight. …

    The State of Israel of today is not only the only possible memorial standing for our perished brothers and sisters. Israel is a deterrence against any attempt at another Holo­caust. A strong Israel is our response to the horrors of anti-Semitism but it does not excuse the rest of the world from its responsibility to prevent this disease from returning to their own homes. Allow me to say, based on 90 years of experience, that without a state of our own we would con­tinue to live on our weakness rather than, as we do today, live on our historic and contemporary abilities. The State of Israel is not a passing event; it is based upon 4000 years of life. The history of the Jewish people contains no lack of anguish but it is filled with hope – the eternity of Israel will not die. Israel seeks peace. Between people and be­tween nations. Peace with nations near and far. We pursue peace because we pursue justice for all regardless of origin, regardless of faith. The right to peace is the right to life. I say with confidence – we are strong enough to repel dangers, we should not be scared of threats and we must not give up on peace.

    As a member of the Jewish people I may not and I cannot forget the horrors of the Holocaust. As a citizen of Israel I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Nazis will not rise again. As a human being I will do everything in my power to bring peace between peoples. Between races. Between religions. Between nations.

    We lost the best of our parents and the best of our chil­dren. But our faith that victories are temporary and values are eternal never erred. We will forever be a people who believe in values of man and values of heaven. In the name of the six million, among them one and a half mil­lion children, we will carry the torch of Jewish independ­ence. The torch of freedom. The light of man. The belief that we will know an enlightened world in which every person treats the other as a fellow human being. And in which we are all born in the image of the Lord. May their memories be blessed.” (E-mail from Joel Rosenberg, April 28, 2014)

    A Legacy of Hate

    The founding prophet of Islam, Mohammed, hated all who opposed him. Therefore, it was his custom to murder them. This included Jews, Christians, and even Muslim apostates. Therefore, when Muslims kill non-Muslims, they are following the legacy of Mohammed.

    In recent months, we have been reminded of this legacy of hate. In April, a radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, in Nigeria kidnapped 300 teenage Christian girls and are holding them for ransom. This militant Islamic group has been on a killing spree for almost four years in Nigeria and no one seems to care, or made an attempt to stop them. To make matters worse, the U.S. State Department and media fail to publicly disclose Boko Haram as an Is­lamic group. At the same time, they blame Israel for the failure of the “peace talks.” This demonstrates moral col­lapse at the highest levels of our society.

    In Sudan during the month of May, a Christian mother who is eight months pregnant, was jailed, along with her two-year-old so. This woman has been sentenced to be hanged because she is considered an Islamic apostate. The Sudanese authorities view the young Christian mother as having had illegitimate sex with a Christian man, be­cause they do not recognize her marriage to him. The au­thorities say she is to be flogged and allowed to give birth to her child. She and her two children will remain in pris­on for two years after the birth of her second child. If she does not repent from her Christian faith, she will be killed.

    According to the command of Mohammed, all apostates of Islam must be killed. In recent years, several Muslim clerics have openly declared that if they did not have this to exist, parents are prisoners of Islam.

    Download in .pdf format

  • 2014 May – Five Minutes After You Die

    Five Minutes After You Die

    “… it is appointed unto men once to die …” – Hebrews 9:27

    By Mike Wingfield

    Most people live their entire lives without thinking about death and eternity. They know they will die someday, however, in their foolish thinking, they never consider the moment they will step out of the physical realms of this earth into the spirit world. Little do they realize that they will spend eternity in this spirit world.

    Obviously, it is very important for a person to think about his death and where he will spend eternity. In reality, there is no subject more worthy of contemplation and dis­cussion. Jesus asked the following thought-provoking questions: “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

    The most important question of all is: “Where will you spend eternity?”

    It is very wise for a person to consider his own death. Ec­clesiastes 7:2-4 teaches us that it is more beneficial to at­tend a funeral than to go to a party. While going to a party may be pleasant, it does not teach us anything meaningful about eternity and life. When a person attends a funeral, he is forced him to think about death, time, and eternity. That is wise.

    Most people are so afraid of death they refuse to think about it. Death is one of our major enemies. Death en­tered the world when man ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Consequently, every person who has ever been conceived has died (except Enoch and Elijah). Romans 5:12 declares: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” This great enemy will continue to reign in this fallen world until it passes away at the end of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

    “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)

    As believers in Jesus Christ, we do not need to be afraid of death. Our blessed Lord has resurrected from the dead, claiming victory over the devil, hell, the grave, and death!

    (1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Hebrews 2:9, 14-15) In Revela­tion 1:17-18, Jesus boldly declared: “Fear not; I am the first and the last. 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.” Our lives are anchored in our living Savior. His resurrection from the dead guarantees our future resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:16-23) We do not need to fear death because it is only a momentary transi­tion into the spirit world where we will live forever in the presence of Jesus.

    The greatest test of a person’s faith comes at the time of his death. Is he confident in a faith that is anchored in his Savior? If so, he will not fear death, but will be anxious to step into the presence of the Lord Jesus. The Apostle Paul faced death on many occasions. While he was in prison for the gospel’s sake, He wrote: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) In essence, this great apostle of the faith was saying that he would be victorious if he lived or died. If he lived, he would con­tinue to serve his Lord. However, if he died, he would be with his Savior in eternity. It is important to observe that all of the apostles, except the Apostle John, willingly gave their lives as martyrs for Christ. When you compare the spiritual demeanor of the apostles in the gospels after the death of Christ and before His resurrection, with their boldness in the book of Acts, it demonstrates a drastic change. What made the difference? They watched Jesus die and were eye-witnesses of His resurrection. This gave them great boldness and confidence to know that they did not need to fear death. They were confident that they too would be resurrected.

    In recent years, I was privileged to speak with my dad and father-in-law only days before they passed into the pres­ence of the Lord. Both of these men were anxious to step into His presence. With a smile on his face, only three days before his death, my dad said to me: “I have lived my entire life for this moment and I am now going to see Je­sus.” That is real confidence.

    In this brief article, I would like to examine three Biblical considerations about what happens to a person in the first five minutes of their death experience. I would encour­age you to read a real historical account in Luke 16:19-31. In this report, Jesus tells about two people who died. One was a believer and the other was not. From this account, supported by additional Scriptures, we will observe three considerations about death

    The Entrance into the Spirit World

    As physical beings, we move about in a physical world. As far as our depraved and finite minds are concerned, the physical world is all that is real. However, those of us who study and believe the Bible know this is not true.

    All of us move through our lives without being constantly aware of the spirit world. The spirit world may not be tangible to the physical human eye, but it is real. We cannot see them, but, according to the Bible, there are spirit beings [good angels and evil angels called demons] all around us at all times. For example, read 2 Kings 6:15­-17.

    In our text, Luke 16, notice that both the saved and un­saved persons entered into the spirit world immediately upon death. The saved beggar was met by the angels of God. (verse 22) When the unsaved rich man died, he en­tered into hell. (verse 23)

    We need to remember the Bible teaches that all humans are equally created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26) This means we, unlike all the other creatures in God’s cre­ation, are a spiritual and physical being. Only mankind has an invisible part we call soul, spirit, intellect, con­science, etc. This is a very complex issue that has been debated by theologians for centuries. However, for the sake of this article, we will focus on the truth that man is a physical and spiritual creature. We, like God, are a moral and intellectual being that have been created to live and act with purpose and will. We also have been created to live forever. Unlike God, man has a beginning – at con­ception. However, like God, man will live for the remain­der of eternity. The reality of man’s existence beyond the grave is a thread of truth that consistently stretches from Genesis to Revelation. The physical and bodily resurrec­tion of our Lord is the most powerful evidence of this real­ity. Anyone who rejects this truth is calling into question the very foundational truths of the Word of God and the powerful testimony of Jesus and His resurrection as the Son of God! “If we receive the witness of men, the wit­ness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar: because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:9-10)

    When we speak about death, according to the Bible, we should think of one word – “separation.” Physical death is the separation of the body and soul (spirit, conscience, etc.). At the very moment of physical death, the invisible part of man departs from the body. We have a perfect pic­ture of this reality with the death of Christ on the cross. When the end of six long hours of suffering had come to an end on the cross, Jesus spoke to His spirit and gave it permission to leave His body. Luke, a physical physician, wrote in his gospel: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the [spirit]. (Luke 23:46) The power of life and death is in the hands of God. (John 1:4; 11:25; 14:6) While speaking of His approaching sacrificial death, Jesus said: “… I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command­ment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18)

    Therefore, when it came time for Jesus to voluntarily die on the cross, He did something that only God can do. He spoke to His spirit (the invisible part of man) and gave it permission to leave His body. That was the moment of physical death for Jesus. So, physical death should be understood as that moment the invisible part of man (soul or spirit) departs from the body.

    When a person dies and his soul departs from his body, he is instantly aware of a world that he has not seen or expe­rienced before. His body and the tangible world on this earth are left behind.

    The Transport to our Destination in the Spirit World

    According to our text, Luke 16, when a person dies he immediately begins a journey in the spirit world that has been travelled by billions of people before us. When that person leaves his body and enters the spiritual realm, he ceases to be a creature that is bound by time, space, and matter. While his experience will be considerably differ­ent, it will be real.

    Depending upon his spiritual standing while on this earth, he will immediately begin a brief journey to his residence in the spirit world. According to the Bible, there are only two possible destinations – heaven or hell.

    Notice in our text that the believer, the beggar, was trans­ported to Paradise. Prior to the death of Jesus, all believ­ers were gathered into a special temporary place of com­fort, called Paradise (located in the earth), until their sins were paid for by Jesus on the cross. The place of the de­parted spirits of the dead in Old Testament days was called “Sheol.” As described in Luke 16, Sheol was made up of two compartments. One was a place of torment for the wicked, while the other was a place of comfort for the saved. These two places were separated by a great “gulf” or space. (verse 26) Remember what Jesus said to the dy­ing thief who expressed saving faith to Jesus while on the cross. He said to him: “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Three days later, when Jesus arose from the grave and ascended back to heaven, He emptied Paradise and took all of the souls of the Old Testament saints to heaven with Him. (Ephesians 4:8-10) Therefore, when all believers die today, they im­mediately are transported into the presence of God in heaven. The New Testament is filled with the truth that when the believer departs from his body in death, he is in the presence of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippi­ans 1:20-24)

    Our text, Luke 16, informs us that when the beggar died, he was immediately carried to Paradise “by the angels.” (verse 22) Hebrews 1:14 declares that God’s angels are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” Perhaps the last assignment for the angels who are caring for God’s children on earth is to meet their spirit when they leave the body. With great care and comfort, they transport the spirits of the saints of God to their heavenly home. It is my opinion that this angelic transport of the spirit of the saints who have just died is rather quick. It is not instant, but also is not a lengthy process. 2 Corinthians 5:8 declares: “…to be absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.”

    Let us examine two related questions in this consideration. First, where is heaven? We do not know the exact loca­tion of the spiritual heavenly dwelling place of God. We know that is in the heavens. In 2 Corinthians 12:2, the Apostle Paul reported that at one time he was “caught up to the third heaven.” The first heaven is where the clouds are located. The second heaven is where the planets and stars exist. The third heaven is not visible to the physical human eye. The spiritual heaven is real and tangible to those who have spiritual vision in the spirit world. It does have an exact location in relationship to earth. However, it is unknown. Perhaps it is only a few million miles from earth.

    The second related question is: How fast can angels fly? Ezekiel 1:14 indicates that angels can move like “a flash of lightning.” This would mean that angels can at least travel at the speed of lightning, which is about 93,000 miles per second. Perhaps we have another hint in Daniel 9 concerning how fast angels can travel. According to Daniel 9:21, the angel Gabriel was commanded to fly from the presence of the Lord to the prophet Daniel in Babylon when he began to pray his prayer recorded in Daniel 9:4-19. Before Daniel was finished praying, Ga­briel interrupted him and informed him that the Lord had sent him with an answer to his prayer. In the processes of communicating this message to Daniel, Gabriel reported to Daniel that he had been “caused to fly swiftly.” (Daniel 9:21) The Hebrew words from which this phrase is trans­lated, suggest that Gabriel was flying a great speed, even for angels, and that he was exhausted from his exertion in traveling such a distance in such a short period of time. In another comparison, we have been told that the entire process of the supernatural resurrection of the dead saints at the rapture will take place in “the twinkling of an eye.”(1 Corinthians 15:52)

    Therefore, while we cannot be dogmatic about this, it would appear that the angelical escort of the spirit of the dead saints into the presence of the Lord is perhaps only a brief flight of no more than a few seconds or minutes. One can only image the sheer joy of the saints of God who have been escorted to heaven by the angels of God. What a trip!

    When my dad went home to be with the Lord several years ago, I was in Indiana for a speaking engagement. He was hospitalized in Virginia, when he made his heav­enly journey. My family was at the hospital when dad passed. When my little precious granddaughter, who was six at the time, was told that her great grandfather Wingfield had gone to be with Jesus, she asked: “How did he get out of the building?” I laughed when they told me about her question. However, it was a powerful testimony to her little, but growing, spiritual mind. The angel, a spirit being, and the spirit of my dad, made their way in a fraction of a second through the roof of that hospital and disappeared out of earth’s atmosphere on their flight to heaven. I had to fly home from Indianapolis, Indiana on a much slower flight. There are three approaches to the runways at the airport in Roanoke, Virginia. One of the approaches takes you almost directly over the hospital where my dad took his flight to heaven. However, in all of my flights back home for many years, I had noted that it was very rare to fly over the hospital. As our plane was in flight to Roanoke that night, I asked the Lord, if was His will, if I could fly over the hospital and see my dad’s launching pad to heaven. My assigned seat, the last one available on the full flight, put me at a window seat on the left side of the aircraft – the only possible view I could have of the hospital. As we made the approach in dark­ness at around 11 p.m. that night, I was still praying that my desire would be granted. As we made our final ap­proach, the tears began to flow when I looked out of that window and saw the roof of the hospital. In my glorified imagination, I could see the angel with his arm around the spirit of my dad, flying up toward heaven. No one can convince me that the Lord had not ordered my steps that night and was so gracious as to answer my prayer.

    Now, let us consider the transportation of the spirit of the dead sinners to hell. Our text, Luke 16, does not mention that the spirit of the dead sinner was supernaturally escort­ed to hell. However, there seems to be some Biblical evi­dence that demons –those fallen, evil angels who are in league with Satan – are present to escort the spirits of the unsaved down into hell. It appears that the Lord allows Satan and his demons to play some role in the death of the wicked. Notice in Psalm 78:49 that the first-born of the Egyptians that died as a part of the final divine plague against Egypt in the days of Moses were killed “by send­ing evil angels among them.” It appears that the Lord allows Satan and his demons to kill sinners and escort them to hell. This only seems natural for the one that is described as “a murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44) Please notice that the demons who aid the one who is called the destroyer (Apollyon) in Revelation 9 will be forbidden to kill those who have the seal of God in their foreheads (probably the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:1-8) at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period. The fact that they are forbidden to kill indicates they would have acted as murderers if the Lord had not restrained them. In 1 John 3:12, we are told that Cain was acting like “that wicked one” when he murdered his brother, Abel. There­fore, it seems obvious to me that at death, the spirits of the sinners will be escorted to hell by demons.

    What a shocking chill it will be when people like the rich man in Luke 16 have lived their lives seeking the pleas­ures of this world, while totally rejecting Jesus Christ, on­ly to be confronted by a demon at the moment of death. What a shock for their spirit when they are met by demons that immediately escort them down into the heart of the earth to hell. In light of the changed attitude of the rich man in hell, one can only image the immediate sense of foolishness and desperation that will overcome the soul of the sinner as he descends into hell.

    The Initial Experience of Those Who Arrive at their Final Destination in the Spirit World

    According to Luke 16 there are only two possible final destinations for the spirit of the departed dead – heaven or hell. The Catholic Church teaches that the spirits of the dead go to an intermediate place called “Purgatory.” It is believed that those who need to attain more holiness be­fore they can enter into heaven are held in Purgatory. Therefore, according to this doctrine, living saints on earth must intercede in their behalf until they acquire such puri­fication and can enter into heaven. This entire concept has no Biblical foundation. The Bible declares that upon death a person’s spiritual state is fixed. Hebrews 9:27 clearly states: “… it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

    When a believer in Jesus Christ enters into heaven he will be once and for all in the presence of his Lord. (2 Corin­thians 5:8; Philippians 1:23) Heaven is a place of “com­fort” (Luke 16:25) and “fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11) It is a place of worship (Revelation 4:10; 5:8-13) and ser­vice to our Lord. (Revelation 7:15) The Lord will care for our every need with intimate attention. (Revelation 7:16-17)

    The Bible declares that it is the delight of our Lord to have His children join Him in His heaven. In John 14:3, Jesus said: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed to His Father: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me for thou [loved] me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24) The entire process of welcoming a child of God home is precious to the Lord. He has declared: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

    The saints of God cannot begin to imagine the sheer joy and thrill it will be to finally be in the presence of their Savior and all of the other saints in glory. The ecstasy of worship around the throne of God will create a perfect spirit of thanksgiving and praise that will fill our minds with thoughts of awe and wonder as we witness the infi­nite attributes of our awesome God. Our tongues shall never cease to join the angels and saints in glory to give our Lord the glory that is due unto His Name. The wor­ship and service of our Lord in heaven, even in its initial moments, will confirm that we were created to for His pleasure. (Revelation 4:11) We will never tire of gazing upon His face and prostrating ourselves before His throne. We will know down deep in our souls that we are finally “home.”

    In sharp contrast to the final destination of the saints in glory is the final place of torment that awaits the wicked. Luke 16:23 pictures the rich man in his initial moments in hell with the following words: “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…” His initial response was: “I am tormented in this flame.” (verse 24)

    The sinful, finite mind of man cannot begin to image the horrors of hell. The thought of this is so painful that most people refuse to give it any thought. Some even try to rationalize that God is so merciful and loving that He would certainly not allow anyone to suffer in hell forever. However, we all need to remember that our blessed Lord continually spoke about the reality of hell as a place of fire and great torment. He spoke more about hell than heaven. Why? The answer is found in Ezekiel 33:11: “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…”

    Please notice that in the immediate context of Ezekiel 33, the Lord commanded His prophet, Ezekiel, to remind the children of God that they must warn the wicked to turn from their sinful ways. If we do not warn them, their blood will be on our hands on the judgment day. (Ezekiel 33:8-9)

    My friend, you do not know when you will die. However, unless you are saved through the blood of Jesus and rap­tured to heaven, (1 Corinthians 15:51) you will experience death. When you die, who will meet you – the angels of God or the demons of hell? Five minutes after you die you will either be in heaven or hell. If you make no prep­arations in this life, you will join the majority of mankind in hell. (Matthew 7:13) You cannot go to heaven unless you have been redeemed by the blood of God’s sacrificial lamb – Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, only the blood of Jesus can satisfy the wrath of God against your sin. Your sin is an offence to the Holy Lord God! I urge you to cry out to Him today and ask Him to save you. (Read Romans 10:9-10, 13.) Turn from your sins and give Him your life. Read the gospel of John and believe eve­rything you read about Jesus. Do not delay in making this commitment. Hell is filled with millions who had good intentions of receiving Christ. They did not know they would die so soon. Do not let that happen to you.

    Is Israel Preparing to Strike Iran?

    Those of you who have been receiving this newsletter for several years know I have been following the developing Iranian nuclear threat against Israel. I believe that if Israel attacks Iran militarily to eliminate this threat, it will prob­ably set in motion the eventual response of the Gog and Magog nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. In March, Israel Today released the following report:

    “The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly maintained massive military funding for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities despite ongoing negotiations between Western powers and the Islamic Re­public.

    Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported that Knesset members taking part in committee hearings in January and February were informed that the 2014 national budget still includes 10 billion shekels ($2.89 billions USD) for preparations for a long-range strike on Iran.

    A number of Knesset members who spoke to the newspa­per on condition of anonymity said army officials were asked if the large expenditure was justified in light of ne­gotiations taking place between Iran and the West to re­solve the nuclear issue. The [Israeli Defense Force] repre­sentatives simply answered that these were their orders.” (e-mail from Israel Today, March 19, 2014)

    Ukrainian Jews and Russia

    In light of the Russian involvement in the Ezekiel 38-39 future invasion of Israel, it is not an accident that Russia is once again testing the response of the U.S. and U.N. by threatening to take over Ukraine. This is a move that many conservative analysts are saying demonstrates that Russian president Putin is working toward rebuilding the former Soviet Union. Of great concern is the following USA Today report on April 17th:

    “World leaders and Jewish groups condemned a leaflet handed out in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk in which Jews were told to “register” with the pro-Russian militants who have taken over a government office in an attempt to make Ukraine part of Russia, according to Ukrainian and Israeli media.

    Jews emerging from a synagogue say they were handed leaflets that ordered the city’s Jews to provide a list of property they own and pay a registration fee “or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated,” reported Ynet News, Israel’s largest news website, and Ukraine’s Donbass news agency.

    Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, the oldest pro-Israel group in the USA, said the leaflets should be seen in the context of a rising tide of anti-Semitism across Europe.

    ‘This is a frightening new development in the anti-Jewish movement that is gaining traction around the world,’ Klein said.” (www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014 /04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/) link from usatoday.com no longer working we now send you to the front page.

    Download in .pdf format