R.H. Clark's Blog, page 15

Judgement Day

Prophetic Prospective Daily Devotional



Jimmy DeYoung’s Daily Devotionals

It is so important for us to remember that there is a “judgment day” ahead. It’s not for judging to see if we’re saved, that’s already been determined before we get to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
This judgment is to determine if our “works” receive “rewards” for doing good works in His power and for His glory.

Friday, August 16, 2019

I Peter 4:17

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?For further study – I Peter 4:1-19
The Apostle Peter had a very close relationship with Jesus even though Peter was often in trouble with the Lord. There are a number of examples that I could bring to your attention, let me just remind you of one.
At Caesarea Philippi, in the foothills of Mt Hermon, at the pronouncement by Peter that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, Matthew 16, is that one example. Those lips that praised the Lord, a few moments later, would be used to rebuke the Lord.
When Jesus told His disciples that He would have to go to Jerusalem and there be put to death, Peter, the text tells us, rebuked the Lord. The Lord’s response was “get behind me Satan”, Matthew 16:22-23. Peter was quite the character. As we read I Peter we see that this Apostle had matured and was able to be used of the Lord to remind the body of Christ that “judgment” is coming. The judgment of the “works of Christians.”
One of the great past-times of Christians today is judging others. Paul told the Romans to not do that,Romans 14:10. We should not judge others. We must remember that we “all” will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ one day.
Peter goes one better than Paul, he says all judgment must start at the Church, “the house of God.” Inverse 5 of I Peter 4, Peter also reminds each of us that we will all give an account of ourselves to Jesus.
It is so important for us to remember that there is a “judgment day” ahead. It’s not for judging to see if we’re saved, that’s already been determined before we get to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
This judgment is to determine if our “works” receive “rewards” for doing good works in His power and for His glory.
Bible prophecy, if studied, will reveal to each of us, every day, how close we are to the Rapture when Jesus shouts and calls us up into the heavenlies to be with Him forever. It is within this chapter of I Peter that we can find out how we can, and must live in the end times.
In fact, Peter reminds the readers of this book that the “end times are close, at hand,”verse 7. This verse means that the Rapture is an “any moment” event. The days that we are living in now seemingly are the days leading up to the Rapture.
Verse 8says we must love each other, it covers a multitude of sins. We are also to welcome people into our homes and use hospitality with those from without,verse 9. This hospitality must be done with joy, not grudgingly.
These “how-to-live tips” will prepare us for the Judgment Seat to follow right after the Rapture of the Church. This is an event that could happen at “any moment”, maybe today. Keep looking up.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, help me to remember that one day I will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ and thank You for the instruction given to us from You through Peter on how I am to live as I await Your shout to join You in the heavenlies.Thursday, August 15, 2019

I Peter 3:22

Opioid Epidemic

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In 1972 I graduated from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy in Austin, TX and at that time I never imagined that opioid medications would become such a problem in our society. Now, after forty-two years of practice, I can vouch that ‘legal opioid’ abuse is rampant through all levels of our populace.

I have witnessed Medicaid patients selling their pain pills to neighbors, forged written prescriptions, Schedule III through Schedule V narcotics being phoned into the pharmacy by bogus physicians, and doctors prescribing mass quantities for patients they barely know. In addition, pharmacists and pharmacy chain stores dispensing these drugs without due diligence.

Let us not forget the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use in about half of the states. It is patently obvious that this decision was implemented in order to increase tax revenue with no thought given to the consequences. Those states have witnessed a dramatic increase of traffic accidents and hospital admissions for overdoses. Add to this alcoholic abuse and it is a true epidemic.

As a nation, we are well on our way to becoming a drugged-out populace trying to escape the realities of everyday life.

Proverbs 23:30-35 New International Version (NIV)

30 Those who linger over wine,
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”

Does that scripture describe the situation for you? Its time to wake up and seek God as the cure for these ills. The demand for these drugs shapes the market. If the demand goes away, the market evaporates so its up to each one of us to heal our souls.

Re-release of The Prophet’s Secret

Sad to say, Tate Publishing closed it’s doors without warning and kept all of the author’s and artist’s royalties in the owner’s checking accounts. They are now being prosecuted for fraud and grand theft.

I have done major rewrites on The Prophet’s Secret and published it with Kindle Direct Publishing. It is available as ebook or paperback and can be ordered at Amazon.com a greatly reduced price I am happy to say.

Has anyone given any thought that our founding fathers un...

Has anyone given any thought that our founding fathers understood that the biggest threats to our ‘democratic republic’ comes from within. Consider, Antifa, violent BLM gangs and those willing to resort to violence against anyone willing to wear a MAGA cap. It’s this sort of behavior that has caused the retaliation from the ‘Right”. Sadly, we face violence from Jihadist Muslims and three such opinionated female have been elected to Congress.

Do not let us look back and ask ourselves, “What have we wrought.”

Political Hatred

At one time, the United States was the picture of the peaceful transition of power as a president was re-elected or replaced by a newly elected president. The losing party demonstrated its dissatisfaction in the mid-term elections as it attempted to replace sitting opponents in Congress so new policies as proposed laws would be placed on the president’s desk for approval or veto.

Beginning with the disgraceful and well deserved end of Richard Nixon’s administration, the left began to radicalize its opposition to any elected Republican conservative to the highest office in the land. Ronald Reagan suffered continual criticism in the press, as did George H.W. Bush. Bush’s VP was disparaged by the press for misspelling potato even though the word had two acceptable spellings proving the press was once again wrong.

We suffered through eight years of Bill Clinton’s tenure with constant revelations about “Bimbo-Gate” and “White Water” and the mainstream media down-playing these events as inconsequential. One would think that his successor, George H. Bush, received the ultimate in abuse by the MSM and political opponents with several “Talking Heads” on news shows being caught in the act of lying and political opponents pounding away at accusations that totally unfounded.

Admittedly, President Obama was bombarded with questions about his legitimacy to hold the office but they were questions that could have been put to rest with complete openness and the production of the pertinent documents. The MSM often celebrated and teared up in joy over his election with one pundit claiming to get a chill down his leg every time he heard Obama speak. (Wow! That was a new one.) The sad fact was that Obama was woefully unprepared for the task and had ties with violent, radical terrorists and made some statements about middle-of-the country citizens during the election campaign, creating a great deal of hatred by his base toward these people. Worst of all, he showed great favoritism toward Islam, homosexuality, and abortion while claiming that Christians needed to let go of their deepest held beliefs.

With the election of Donald Trump the hatred by the left has reached a whole new level, a level that is dangerous and violent. The photo above was taken at a Trump rally showing one of his supporters being accosted by liberals. Numerous injuries of conservatives have been reported where liberals actually attacked them in large groups. Large groups protest and turn to destroying businesses and private property all the while claiming it’s their right of “Free Speech.” I for one say the Supreme Court got it wrong, an action is not a form of speech, especially violent action.

President Trump has ordered that existing laws be enforced and tried to exercise executive authority only to have the MSM turn up the heat with unwarranted lies and miss-interpretations in order to stir up more dessintion and turmoil along our borders and on our streets. Screaming rhetoric of “he’s not my president” resound amongst liberals on a daily basis and Democratic leaders foment even more violent behavior.

The left has completely given up any claim to a moral high-ground and has sold its soul to lead the establishment of a secular society in which there is no fundamental right or wrong, only the opinion they hold dear to their sinful hearts.

We may enjoy a brief respite of biblical morality during President Trump’s tenure in office, but without a complete national turning to Jesus Christ and biblical morality, our society will seek its lowest level where everyone chooses their own sexual identity, abort babies for convenience, and worship of false idols is commonplace and even a matter of law.

Perhaps is sounds as if I have no hope, but that is not true. I have hope and faith in the Rapture of Christians before the judgement comes upon us and I know that the Holy Spirit is still working to save souls from eventual judgement. I simply have no hope in society or in liberal programs for a cure for our ills. If you subscribe to the liberal philosophy and claim Christ as your savior, I suggest that you open your Bible and compare your opinions to those expressed in the scriptures. If they don’t match up then you had better give the matter some careful consideration. If the Bible is wrong on any one issue then it is wrong about everything and that would include Jesus.

The Palestinian Issue?

Listening to Mike Huckabee on Fox News this morning I was pleased to hear him say that considering any claims by the Palestinians upon any land within the borders of Israel was not a political, social or even an economic issue. One can look at all of he political decisions such the Balfour Letter, UN decisions or even Harry Truman officially recognizing Israel as a nation stateon behalf of the United States without understanding the truth of the issue. One must realize that this is a theological question that can only be resolved based upon acceptance or rejection of a 3,000 year old land awarded to the Jews through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by God, or was the land grant given to Ishmael (the half brother of Isaac).

The Jews, of course, claim the land through Isaac but the Palestinians claim the same land through Ishmael. The Bible states, unequivocally, that Isaac was the recipient of the land covenant, and I accept that as the absolute truth. The Palestinians, however, claim that their prophet, Mohammed, tells them that the covenant was given to Ishmael, Mohammed’s direct ancestor. I believe that his claims to be highly unlikely. Historically, Ishmael is the ancestral origin of the Arab nations while Jacob’s brother Essau is the ancestor of the Edomites, the tribal origin of todays Palestinians.

The Edomites established their own nation of Edom, a mountain area southeast of Israel, the site of the city of Petra that was carved out of the valley walls. Incidentally, the city was used a a backdrop for the third Indian Jones movie. It’s an impressive sight.

Based upon the Bible, you can no more separate the Jews from Israel or allow another nation to live within this holy covenant, than you can live without breathing. The Bible says it can’t happen. If anyone disagrees with the Jew’s claim upon Israel then they are trying to alter God’s word. History will prove them wrong, it’s that simple.

There no acceptable solutions that can be imposed by man. Only the second coming of Jesus Christ can bring peace to the Middle East. The Jews will not surrender their land and the Palestinians and the Arab nations will accept nothing less.

All that said, here is the question I would like to ask each individual. Do you look forward to the coming of Christ or do you disbelieve in His second coming. Belief in Jesus Christ as your savior is the most important personal question in all of history. Scripture says that at an unexpected moment, Christ will call all believers up to Heaven leaving all non-believers behind to go through seven years of tribulation before He returns to earth to set up His thousand kingdom. Where will you be when after that call?

New Civil War

The photo posted above is a 3/4 replica of the Oval Office in the LBJ Library on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. I chose this photo as a reminder that for over 240 years this office has been filled by the man who won, not the popular vote, but the electoral vote that is based upon the population in each state. In this manner, more populous states would have greater influence upon the election but could never the sole elector of the new president.

American citizens, not non-citizens, determined the election and then accepted that result no matter accusations of a lack of experience of the candidate and in general supported their nation while waiting for the next opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice. The one exception would be the Civil War when thirteen states seceded from the Union and a horrible because Abraham Lincoln was seen as the candidate of the Republican Party and its’ abolition platform. Some historians simplify the issue as right against wrong. I, however, view that war as retribution from God for the fact that the United States every allowed slavery to exist.

Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, “This war will not be over until the last drop required by God as punishment for the sin of slavery is shed by the nation.” Too many people use the history of that sin to gain political power in our time and sadly it works. Liberal democrats have successfully taken credit for the Civil Rights movement under a false flag by simply repeating the same lie ad nauseam. Today, we see ourselves rapidly approaching a time of civil unrest because of lie and counter-lie by Democrats and Republicans alike. We have seen riots, disruptive demonstrations, and shut-downs of government operations by opposing factions for the sole purpose of forcing their desires on the rest of society in spite of the results of our age old method of election.

Today, opposing opinions are spread throughout each and every state and it appears as if the physical altercations will take place in local communities.  Mostly liberal mobs try to intimidate those of conservative values to give in and turn over the reigns of power into violent hands. Argue if you like but you cannot change the facts by ignoring them. Who will win this new civil war, or more aptly the civility war, is a fore gone conclusion in my opinion. Liberal mobs and their icons using hate speech as a weapon are sure to eventually win.

Don’t be discouraged conservatives, especially Christian conservatives, because we will lose the battle but Jesus will win the war when He comes back. He is coming back and you can take that to the bank.[image error]

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America and Ancient Ninevah

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Like a great many Americans, and probably the world, I am watching the inauguration in Washington, D.C. in total awe that the President Elect is Donald Trump. By any human standard, Hillary Clinton should be the center of all this attention but I believe that God inspired the results of this election. Scripture tells us that God installs leaders and this event is no different.

I have just finished reading a daily devotion from Jimmy DeYoung involving the ministry of the prophet Jonah to the wicked city of Ninevah that is in current day Iraq and it seems appropriate to me for the events unfolding on this momentous day. Ninevah was an ancient city with a history of wickedness such as slavery, homosexuality and debauchery. As an evangelical Christian I believe that many things supported by President Obama and a large number of Americans are sinful and are deserving of God’s wrath. For His own reasons he has spared us, possibly so that we can repent as a nation and turn again to seeking God above all things.

The current belief is that there is no absolute right or wrong, only shades of gray and public opinion is the determining factor. How wrong we are concerning this matter. God created this universe that defines our existence so it is His opinion that matters above all human opinion. His law is spelled out in the Bible. As Chuck Missler says, the Bible is a message from God coming from a different time dimension.

In a prayer this morning with my wife we asked for forgiveness for the past eight years of the nation rejecting God’s law and a revival of seeking God first. That act alone is the beginning of wisdom as stated in scripture. May we take advantage of the opportunity, as the people of Ninevah, to repent and turn back to God. If we do that God will be gracious and will bless us again.

Jonah 3 New International Version (NIV)

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

The Day of the Hippie

In 1968 I enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin during the most heated anti-war protest movement on campus. I remember the hippies as being smelly and generally entitled, expecting to utilize services at no cost that the rest of us paid to use. Their mantra was “God is dead so do your own thing” and “Everything is free.”  At the time most serious college students tried to ignore them and sometimes had to confront them to get past one of their protests on our way to class. On occasion we had to fight them off when they insisted they be given our spare change, paper only please.

I don’t believe that any students with conservative beliefs gave much thought to what this segment of college society would become in the future. Now, much to our dismay, they grew up to be liberal politicians and their advisors who have successfully taken over the halls of higher education in order to pollute our kids minds with socialist propaganda. Sadly, we didn’t see it coming until it was too late. Neither Christian or conservative values have any place on the majority of today’s campuses and moral restraint is almost a forgotten virtue.

By God’s grace, one of the most corrupt politicians to come out of this era was defeated in this last presidential election.  Conservatives are paying a price for her voters’ anger with protests, boycotts, hatred and in some cases violence. The question I pose today is, can we reverse this trend?  I believe the answer is a resounding no! As a Christian conservative I am firmly convinced that we do not have enough time left to be successful in this endeavor because Jesus’ return cannot be too far in the offing. We can make a dent for a short while but ultimately we will lose the battle. However, Jesus will win the war and it’s my prayer that many non-Christian liberals will come to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Do I believe that liberals are evil?  Absolutely not! I do believe that the platform so many rally around is evil with abortion on demand, transgenderism and homosexuality being at the forefront as well as the seeming promotion of Islam and a desire to take Israel away from the Jews. (Yes, I believe that the land of Israel was given to the Jews by God, as the ‘apple of His Eye)  Let me emphasize, love the sinner and hate the sin.

What’s the solution? I am convinced that the apostle Paul said it best “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” In the mean time, pray for those who do not agree with you and abuse you. Pray that their eyes and ears will be opened that they will hear the Holy Spirit and be saved through the blood of Christ Jesus.  Until then, keep looking up with absolute conviction for the day of the Rapture.

God bless you.

 

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“The Jewish Solution”

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Please excuse my using a catch phrase from Nazi Germany, but it seems that the UN and our current president seem to think that the problem actually exists. The fundamental issue is people believing that Israel, and the Jews, can live in peace and safety with neighbors who frequently announce their desire to destroy every living Jew. It sounds absurd but it’s very true.

As history approaches the time of God’s solution for the Middle East, we are seeing and will continue to see more calls for Israel to give up territory for the sake of peace. That may actually happen but it won’t last. Speculation is a favorite pastime for End Times authors and I am no exception.

In The Prophet’s Secret a scenario is presented about geo-political maneuvering and the attempts of certain world leaders to grab ultimate power which means these people are trying to oppose God and His plans for the world. The story depicts one man standing up and telling the truth of God for His people and supporting the rights of the Jews as owners of Israel. That ownership was granted by God in history past.

If you do me the kindness of buying and reading The Prophet’s Secret, compare the story with currents events in the news and with Bible prophecy. If you look back at the history of Israel you will see how some of that prophecy has been fulfilled and how the last prophecy to come is the Rapture and the Tribulation. All we see today are forces mustering for the completion of God’s plan and the Jewish people. Let me know what you think about all of it.

Thanks again and God bless you.