The 70 Weeks of Daniel

In past entries, we have covered what the scriptures tells us about the End Times. We have looked at clear signs of the end times, such as the invention of the atom bomb, the Rebirth of Israel in 1948, the invention of Cars and Planes, an explosion of travel, the list goes on and on. See entries: The End Times (Part One, Part Two, Part Three) - For more on the Tribulation and the Signs of the End Times. (Picture credit: The Last Days Timeline)

To look at these clear signs that were predicted literally thousands of years ago, and can be proven to have been written thousands of years ago, and ignore that the Bible has 100% predicted this current age, and all that has come to pass, would be a foolish thing to do.

Daniel 9:20-27 speaks about the "Seventy 'Sevens'," or the 70 Weeks of Daniel. What are the Seventy Weeks of Daniel? Some misinterpret or don't investigate and merely assume that the 70 Weeks of Daniel are the 7 Years of Tribulation.

Let us look at what the scriptures tell us. Gabriel, Archangel and brother to Michael and Lucifer, comes to Daniel, "about the time of evening sacrifice." (Daniel 9:21) Gabriel tells Daniel that he will give him insight and understanding. He gives him a vision:

"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place." (Daniel 9:24)

In Daniel 9:25-26, Gabriel continues, "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One [Jesus], the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed."

This next part is the part of the vision that refers to The Seven Year Tribulation. "He [The Antichrist] will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' [For Seven Years] In the middle of the 'seven' [3.5 Years In] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

In other words, referring to the last part of the vision, The Antichrist will sign a 7-Year Peace Treaty with many, including Israel, and 3 and 1/2 Years in, he will desecrate the Re-Built Solomon's Temple. At the third temple he will set up an "Abomination of Desolation," a Statue of Himself that will be indwelt by a demon and thus given the power of speech.

I will tell you what the numbers mean, and how they fit into our time, but Daniel 9 is not the only Chapter to reference the Antichrist desolating the Temple. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 says, "He [The Antichrist] will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." Again, we are told that the Antichrist will desecrate the temple and will proclaim himself as God.

Understand that when he does so, it will be after his assassination - the Antichrist will be killed, and 3 and a Half Days later, will rise and be indwelt by Satan - Lucifer himself, so that Satan is truly the one who proclaims himself to be "God." Revelation 13:14-15 also gives us another glimpse into this event.

"Because of the signs it [The False Prophet] was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast [The Antichrist], it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image [statue] in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. [Assassination/Resurrection, See Rev. 13:3-7] It was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." The image, or statue, as described previously, is the "Abomination of Desolation."

Now, the Seventy Weeks of Daniel. 70 7's refers to 70 Weeks. "Seven" in Hebrew also can mean week, or years. 70 x's 7=490. So, the Seventy weeks of Daniel are equal to 490 Years. The "seven" mentioned, when the Antichrist confirms a covenant for one "seven," or Seven Years, has not happened yet. This is still to come.

But there were 483 years between the decree in 445 BC, just as Gabriel had said, and the time when the Anointed One, Jesus Christ, came incarnate, and died around 32/33 AD. Jerusalem, just as Gabriel said to Daniel, was destroyed in 70, which was 70 AD. "War will continue until the end, desolations have been decreed."

Wars have not stopped, instead, there has been an increase in wars in the last two hundred years alone: even amassing to Two World Wars, a third threatening to arise. War has continued until the end, for the signs show that end is near. Does that mean it will happen today, tomorrow, or even next year? We do not know, for "the day and the hour are unknown," one of the many reasons that December 21, 2012 cannot be the last day, for it is too widely known.

There were 483 Years in between the decree and the death/resurrection of Jesus. There remains one seven, but we are told that the renaming "seven" would hold out unto the end: The Seven Years of Tribulation. One can spend hours, days, years studying Bible prophecy and attempting to understand each term and meaning, whether something is symbolic or metaphorical.

Thankfully, most Bible Scholars agree that the "70 Weeks of Daniel" have a specific meaning, that the first 483 years have passed, and while almost two thousand years passed, the last seven still remains, and is coming quickly, so be ready, dear readers. Jesus promises a soon return when he says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Soon may not be today, it may not be tomorrow. But we are closer to his return than we were yesterday, or even 1,000 years ago.

If you have not accepted Jesus as the only one who can save you in this life, understand what he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6) That is truth. Mary cannot save you, to those who believe she can. A false god cannot save you, time and time again, everyday, God proves to me and to millions of others that he is very real. He has already paid for your gift, all you have to do is accept it.

If you confess that "Jesus is Lord," believe that he died, and is risen again, (Romans 10:9) that he is the only way to enter Heaven, for he holds the keys to Heaven, and have asked for forgiveness of your sins, you will be saved. Jesus is the Messiah who was promised to the Jews thousands of years ago, but when he came, they did not recognize him, for they believed that, based on prophecy, that he would come and reign as King.

I tell you, Jesus will come and Reign as King, after the 7 Years of Tribulation, and the true followers of Christ will be taken from the earth in the "twinkling of an eye," (1st Corinthians 15:52) so that they do not suffer the Tribulation, Jesus promised this himself. He will fulfill Bible Prophecy, and the Messiah that many Jews still do not recognize will come again.

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel are almost over, folks. Will you be ready? Troy Hillman (vexx801@yahoo.com, facebook)

God Can Bring Good out of Bad Situations

Have you ever been in a situation that's life-changing, perhaps a break-up, a divorce, news from the doctor, a move, or something else? I know that I have faced situations like that before, and I am sure many of you have as well. How can we overcome these situations in our life? John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." If Jesus has overcome the world, what have we to fear? (Picture Credit to: Bible Top Ten Heroes)

In this entry, we'll look at the life of Joseph, son of Jacob, and how God brought good out of the bad in his life. While Joseph first appears in Genesis 30:24, his life account, for the most part, spans Genesis 37-50. Joseph was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, thus making Abraham - Joseph's Great Grandfather. (See Book Overview: Genesis)

Joseph's mother was Rachel, his only full brother, younger, was Benjamin. But he had other brothers: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun - sons of Leah, Dan, Naphtali - sons of Rachel's servant Bilhah, and Gad and Asher - Sons of Leah's servant Zilpah. In Genesis 37:3-36, we are told that Jospeh's brothers (aside from Benjamin, who at this point was too young to notice) hated him.

Verses 3-4 said, "Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him." Then it all fell apart.

Joseph had two dreams, and both dreams symbolized his family bowing down to him, and he rose above them, as if he were in a high position. When he told them his dreams, they became enraged. When his brothers saw him coming to them not long after, they plotted to kill him. But Reuben intervened, "'Let's not take his life.' he said. 'Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don't lay a hand on him.' Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to their father." (Genesis 37:21-22)

But God had other plans for Joseph - BIG plans. Reuben left, and the remaining brothers waited around, threw him into the cistern, and sat down to eat. But when they "sat down to eat, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead." (Genesis 37:25) So his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites. When Reuben returned, he was outraged, and the brothers had to find a way to cover, so they took Joseph's robe, which they had torn off of him, and dipped it in goat blood, showing it to their father, who assumed Joseph was eaten.

Meanwhile, Joseph was sold to one of Pharaoh's officials in Egypt, named Potiphar. Joseph became a trusted slave, in charge of everything in Potiphar's household. But his wife continually asked Jospeh to sleep with her, and he continually refused. One time, she grabbed his cloak, and lied to Potiphar, saying that he tried to come on to her.

Joseph was thrown in jail. But not long after, Joseph became overseer of many of the prisoners. Some time later, Pharaoh's cup bearer and chief baker were thrown in jail. They had dreams one night, and Joseph noticed they were sad, so he inquired about their dreams - and interpreted them, saying that in three days time, the cup-bearer would be restored to his position, but the baker would be impaled. Joseph asked the cup bearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh, and the cup bearer said that he would.

Two years passed. Pharaoh had not been told of Joseph. Pharaoh had troubling dreams, and it seemed that none of his magicians or wise men could figure out what they meant. It was then when the Chief Cup Bearer remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh what he had done, and Joseph was called to speak with Pharaoh.

So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream, and God through Joseph gave the interpretation: 7 Years of Plentiful food were coming to Egypt, followed by 7 Years of Terrible Famine. He told Pharaoh how to plan for this coming famine, and Pharaoh made Joseph was put in charge of all of Egypt. He was given a ring, and named Zaphenath-Paneah, and given Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, to be his wife. "Joseph was thirty years old when he entered into the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Genesis 41:46)

So over the next several years, Joseph led Egypt in stock-piling food for the coming famine. The famine was severe all over the world, so many people came to Egypt. It was then that Jacob sent ten of Joseph's brothers, besides Benjamin, to purchase grain in Egypt. When they came, Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him, for they had not seen him in many years.

Through a series of several tests Joseph initiated, the end result was the brothers bringing Benjamin back with them, for Simeon was taken. When they returned, they feasted at Zaphenath-Paneah's table, and when he got back, he merely asked how their father was. Then, one more test: he placed a silver cup of his in Benjamin's bag.

As the brothers went to leave Egypt, with all the grain they could carry, Joseph and his servants caught up and accused the brothers of stealing from him. They slashed each sack, and found the cup in Benjamin's bag, and, testing them, Joseph said that he would take Benjamin as his prisoner.

The response was too overwhelming for Joseph. The brothers told him to take them instead, they could not stand to see their father in such misery. It was then that Joseph revealed who he was. He told his brothers to go get Jacob, the entire family, the flocks, everything, and move to Egypt to be with him - for God delivered them, bringing good out of a bad situation - because Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, in the end, he was the one who saved many, including his brothers.

You can read the account of Joseph's life, in much more detail, in Genesis 37-50. Joseph was about 17 when he was sold into slavery, 30 when he entered into Pharaoh's service, and at least 37 by the time he reunited with his brothers. But 20 Years of Hardship paid off - not just for Joseph, when he reunited with his father and brothers, but for all of Egypt and throughout the world.

God can bring good out of any situation. Life is never promised to be easy. But if you don't have Jesus in your life, what have you to look forward to after death, what have you to live for? Some say money, some say sexual immorality, some say friends, the list goes on and on. The fact of the matter is, if you have not turned to Jesus, accepted him as your Savior, the only way to get to Heaven, and asked for forgiveness of your sins, life may be harder than it could be.

Yes, even Christians go through hard times. But hard times are foretold. "I never said it was easy." If you are going through a hard time, or have gone through hard times, and believe that God has abandoned you, he has not.We will face trials and tribulations in this world, but it pays off in the next. God brings good out of bad situations, I can tell you that from experience. I hope this entry has been insightful, educational, and helpful in some way. If you have any questions, email vexx801, or visit facebook. God Bless You, and Take Care. Troy Hillman

Who is "The Angel of the Lord?"

The exact identity of "The Angel of the Lord" is not given unto us. The Bible does however, provide important clues to his identity. While there are Old Testament and New Testament references of "angels of the Lord," or "an angel of the Lord," and "THE Angel of the Lord," it appears that when "the" is used, it specifies a certain being, who is separate from all other Angels. (Picture credit to Visual Bible International, Inc. - The Gospel of John, starring Henry Ian Cusick)

Bear in mind, the word "angel" also means "messenger," so some could take it as "The Messenger of the Lord." That would not lower his importance by being a messenger, on the contrary, his divinity is shown with all the miracles and wonders The Angel of the Lord performs and speaks of.

The Angel of the Lord speaks as God, also identifying himself as God, (Exodus 3:2-6) and shows that he has divine abilities, exercising the responsibility and power of The Lord. In Genesis 16:7-12, The Angel of the Lord visits Hagar, mother of Ishmael to tell her that she would give birth to a son and that her descendants would be great in number.

In Genesis 21:17-18, he speaks again with Hagar. He appears again not long after in Genesis 22:11-18, where Abraham is tested - and proves faithful. (See entry: The Faithfulness of Abraham) There are several other appearances made by the Angel of the Lord, found in: Exodus 3:2, where he tells Moses that he is God, appearing as a Burning Bush but identifying himself first as the Angel of the Lord then as God, and in Numbers 22:21-41, in which he appears to Balaam and his donkey. (See Book Overview: Numbers)

He also appears in Judges 2:1-4;5:23;6:11-24;13:3-22, in which he appears to Gideon, Manoah - to speak of his son, Samson, both Judges of Israel, 2nd Samuel 24:16, where The Angel of the Lord appears and speaks with King David, and in Zechariah 1:12;3:1;12:8. (See entry: The Faithfulness of Gideon)

Those are only 13 distinct accounts of the Angel of the Lord. In most of these appearances, those who had seen the Angel of the Lord were said to fear for their lives, for they had "seen the Lord." That said, in most instances, it is clearly shown that the Angel of the Lord is God in physical form.

Appearances from the Angel of the Lord end after the birth of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Son of God. Yes, angels are still mentioned in the New Testament. However, there are no references to the "Angel of the Lord" after the incarnation of Christ.

It is highly plausible and accepted by many Bible Scholars that "The Angel of the Lord" is Jesus, and that these appearances were manifestations of Jesus before his incarnation on the Earth. John 8:58 says, "'Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'"

This greatly angered the Jews, but on several occasions Jesus mentioned that he existed even before creation - John the Baptist also alluded to this fact. Knowing that Jesus is part of the Trinity along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, each is a part of God - but God the Father is generally accepted as God, with Jesus as the Son of God, and The Holy Spirit as God's Spirit.

The Trinity is a difficult thing to understand, but one day, perhaps we will. The Trinity itself appears to Abraham, Sarah, and Lot in Genesis 18-19. It makes sense that Jesus would appear to man in manifestations before his incarnation.

Whatever the case, whether The Angel of the Lord was pre-incarnate appearances from Jesus Christ (referred to as Christophany) or appearances from God the Father (referred to as Theophany), when we read about "THE Angel of the Lord," we are reading about a physical appearance from part of the Trinity - from God.

There are several other instances in the Old Testament that many point to as appearances of Jesus, such as in Daniel 3:24-25, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the Fiery Furnace. Nebuchadnezzar notices a fourth man, whom he describes as a "son of gods." Most assume the fourth man to be Jesus.

Based on what we can tell from scriptures, most conclude that "The Angel of the Lord," or rather, "The Messenger of the Lord," is Jesus, pre-incarnate. Verily I tell you, Jesus did appear before his incarnation on Earth. But whether or not he appeared as the Angel of the Lord, we will not know until we arrive in Heaven.

There are many curiosities in the Bible, and the mystery of the identity of The Angel of the Lord remains so. However, most signs point to the Angel of the Lord being Jesus. But we do not know for sure, all we do know is that when Jesus was incarnate, he died to pay the fine, to pay in blood for all of the past, present, and future sins that you and I have and will commit.

So praise the Lord for rescuing you from the pit, and if you have not turned to Christ, I urge you to do so. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that he is risen from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Pray for forgiveness of your sins, and follow God.

The Angel of the Lord is a prominent figure, usually not-noted, in the Old Testament. I tell you, he is as important as Abraham, Moses, or King David are. He is called the LORD on many occasions, and therefore, is the Lord.


I hope this entry has been helpful and educational, that was the intention was to inform and educate, to help those like myself who formerly were uncertain of this "angel's" identity. If you have never heard of the Angel of the Lord or have not picked up on his importance, I am sure that you now have.


Take Care, and God Bless. Troy Hillman

The Faithfulness of Gideon

Not too long ago, I wrote an entry, The Faithfulness of Abraham. I decided to write another lesson based on the theme of faithfulness, so I would recommend reading that entry first, if you have not already. When I reached the internal debate as to whether to talk about the faithfulness of Joshua shown in the fall of Jericho or the faithfulness of Gideon shown in the Midianite attack, I chose Gideon. (Picture credit to Lavista Church of Christ)

Why did I chose to write about Gideon? Joshua had been a trained leader. He had served alongside Moses during the forty years he led Israel. Joshua was his successor. So while many can relate to Joshua, I felt that most can relate better to a man who, previously, had no leadership experience - Gideon.

Judges 6-7 give the account of Gideon. Gideon, son of Joash the Abiezrite, lived in the land of the Amorites. Keep in mind these things happened after Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, Canaan. (See Book Overview: Joshua)

The Book of Judges shows how, time and time again, Israel turned away from God, God sent a Judge to save Israel, they entered a time of "peace" again, growing in their relationship with God, only to turn their backs on him again. Gideon was one of the Judges.

The Angel of the Lord was sent to Gideon while he sat under an oak tree and told him, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." (Judges 6:12) Gideon questioned the Angel of the LORD, asking that if God was with him, why had all these things happened, why had God given Israel into the hands of Midian?

God replied to Gideon, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Gideon continued to question God, and he asked, "If I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me." So God waited until Gideon returned with an offering. The Angel of the Lord touched the offering with the tip of his staff, and fire consumed the meat and unleavened bread.

Gideon exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!" Who is THE Angel of the Lord? I will talk more about the identity of the Angel of the Lord in the next entry, but THE angel of the Lord, as he is many times also called God, (and scripture many times over shows the deity of the "angel of the Lord,") was Jesus before he was incarnate. That is why Gideon, Nebuchadnezzar, Abraham, and many others say they had seen the Lord.

There is a difference between when the Old Testament says "an" angel of the Lord and "THE" Angel of the LORD, for when it speaks of THE Angel of the Lord, it also calls him God - a title which no other angel has. Keep in mind that the word angel can also mean messenger - so when you read THE Angel of the Lord, It could mean, The Messenger of the Lord - his son, Jesus. Back to Gideon.

Gideon also asked God to give him another sign. He would lay out fleece and if the ground was covered in dew in the morning, and the fleece dry, he would take that as a divine sign from God. Judges 6:40 says, "That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered in dew."

What does all this have to be with being faithful to God? Continue on. God sent Gideon to the camp of Midian. But God said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me.' Now announce to the army, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" (Judges 7:2-3) 20,000 men left, 10,000 men remained.

God said to Gideon, "There are still too many men." So Gideon told the men to drink water. Then God said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go, each to his own place." So 9,700 men left... and only 300 men remained. Against an army of thousands. (Judges 7:4-8)

But Gideon remained faithful, he did not question God this time. So what did God have Gideon do? They didn't need to have a surprise attack. God gave them into Israel's hands - to show HIS faithfulness to his people, to those who turn to him.

Gideon and his 300 Men surrounded the camp, and they sounded trumpets and smashed clay jars - and the Midianites, in their confusion, since they were surrounded, turned on each other, and killed each others, while others fled. The remaining Midianites were caught. (Judges 7:19-25)

What can we learn from all this? Even in times of trial and tribulation, God is faithful, even when we are not. God's people were "captives in a foreign land," as they had been so many times before. Yet he delivered them. As Christians, we need to trust God, obey his commands, and put out faith in him, be faithful to him unto the end, no matter what crosses our path, even though that can be hard at times.

That's why God sent his son, Jesus. To save us from our sins, to pay our penalty, to bring us out of slavery to the evil one, Lucifer. This is no myth, folks. This is as real as you and I, and it is a decision we all must make in life, at one point or another: Will you follow God or will you reject him? If you claim to believe in God but do not follow him, that's still rejecting him. The only way to truly follow him is through Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, no one can be saved unless they turn to him and ask for forgiveness of their sins.

John 3:16-18 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

So I urge you, fellow believers in Christ - be faithful to God. Obey his commands, and follow him in all you do. To those who are not followers of Christ, or you may claim to be but know in your heart you do not, I urge you, accept his free gift of salvation, because it is not a fairy tale, it is very real, and whether you accept him or not, you will have to face him one day, and I don't want anyone to reject him.

I hope you have taken something away from this, that is has been helpful. If you have questions or comments, please comment below, email vexx801@yahoo.com, or visit the facebook. Take Care, and May God Bless You, Dear Reader. Troy Hillman

Book Overview: Joshua

The Book of Joshua is a 24-Chapter account of Israel's history, from the time of Moses death, to the death of Joshua. The infamous account of Jericho and the collapse of the walls and the taking of the city are found in this book. By the end of Joshua, Israel has finally reached the Promised Land that was promised to Abraham 600 Years before. (Genesis 17:8)

*The picture in this entry is a wall of Jericho, the Bible tells us that the wall near Rahab did not fall down, but the rest of the walls fell. God did this to spare Rahab and her family, which indicates that Rahab lived near the Northern Wall. Archaeology proves the fall of Jericho. (Picture Credit to Oxford Bible Church.)

This is the sixth Book Overview in a series of 66 Books. These overviews are written so that it may provide readers with details about the book, things that they may have missed, and will hopefully peak your interest so that you will read the book, the entire Bible in fact, as God wants us to do. Now, onto the Book of Joshua.

(Click to Enlarge)

Title: Joshua (English), יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshua (Hebrew), Ἰησοῦς (Greek), يوشع بن نون‎ - Yusha‘ ibn Nūn (Arabic)

Authorship: Evidence indicates that the authors of Joshua are Joshua, Eleazar, and Phineas. Joshua 24:26 tells us, "And Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law," before his death. the usage of "we" in Joshua 5:1,6 seems to indicate that the earlier chapters were written by Joshua, with later additions, speaking of the death and burial of Joshua, were written by Eleazar and Phineas. All evidence points to Joshua as the "basic composer" of the book that bears his name. There are allusions in the later chapters to events that occurred after the death of Joshua, found in Judges, such as Othniel's capture of Kirjath-sepher. (Joshua 15:13-17, Judges 1:9-13)

Written: Joshua was written between 1400-1370 BC. Moses died in 1405 BC, and Joshua became the leader of Israel, along with Caleb. Joshua died around 1379 BC. The later material, therefore, was probably written between 1379-1370 BC.

Summary: "Joshua record the events of Israel's entrance into Canaan-The Promised Land." (NIV)

Overview: Joshua 1-12 - Conquest of Canaan
Joshua 13-22 - The dividing of the land among the tribes
Joshua 23-24 - Joshua's Call to the Nation (Probably written by Phineas and Eleazar.)
Joshua 5:13-6 - The Account of the Fall of Jericho.
Joshua 10:12-14 - Joshua's "Long Day," when the Sun stood still. (See entry: Curiosities in the Bible, Part One)

The first 12 chapters of Joshua tell of the conquest of Canaan, which occurred between 1406-1400 BC. Chapters 13-24 talk about the division of the land among each of the tribes. Joshua lies apart from Numbers and Judges in that it emphasizes that God blesses his people, his true followers, when they obey him.

Disobedience of God's commands leads to decline in spiritual life. Several books in the Bible evidence this - when Israel would continually disobey God, time and time again, they would be given over to hands of their enemies - even being captives in Babylon. (See Ezra, Nehemiah)

As you read the Book of Joshua, specifically Chapters 22-24, which show us a concept of commitment and love for God, examine your heart to see which areas still need to be "conquered" to make your love and commitment to God whole-hearted.

*Points: The Fall of Jericho found in Joshua 5:13-6 is a interesting account. The commander of the Lord's Army, probably Michael the Archangel, comes to Joshua and tells him to give this command to the Israelites: "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of ram's horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in." This came to pass. Joshua sent spies to the city to see if any could be saved, but only a woman and her family who harbored the spies was saved, because of her faithfulness - her name was Rahab.

Joshua 3:1-17 tells of the Crossing of the Jordan. Much like the crossing of the Red Sea, (See entry: The Parting of the Red Sea) the leader, Joshua, gave the Israelites a command: those who carry the Ark of the Covenant, "When you reach the edge of Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river." (Joshua 3:8) The priests did so. They walked into the river, and the river - on one side, piled up. The other side, stopped flowing - it was "completely cut off." (Joshua 3:16) Verse 17 tells us, "The priests who carried the ark of the covenant stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed crossing on dry ground." What a wondrous account.

In Genesis 50:25, we are told, "And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, 'God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." So, after more than four hundred years, the bones of Joseph were buried in Canaan, as per his request. Moses and the Israelites took his bones with them when the Exodus occurred, and his request is fulfilled in Joshua 24:32, which says, "And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites ha brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob brought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants." Jacob bought the land in Genesis 34.

After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, 40 Years of Walking in the Desert, and several more with Joshua, the Israelites finally came to the Promised Land: Canaan. Joshua was the last ruler of the Israelites in the same way that Moses was. However, the Israelites again rejected God. Dark times were ahead for Israel. Even though they continued to reject God, God still had plans to save them. These were the people who would rescue Israel from their enemies. "This was the day of the JUDGES."

Next Book Overview: Book of Judges
Previous Book Overview: Book of Deuteronomy

The Parting of the Red Sea

Since the crossing of the Red Sea around 1446 BC, there has been much criticism and skepticism about this event. In this entry, the intention is to inform and give evidence, yes, partially apologetics, and the rest, the account found in the Book of Exodus. (Picture Credit to BBC and ArkDiscovery.com [Ron Wyatt])

Exodus 13:17-21;14:1-31 gives the account of the Crossing and Parting of the Red Sea. Perhaps you will be relieved to know I will not give the entire account of this event. For those who don't know what the Crossing is, around 1446 BC, Moses was sent by God back to Egypt to save his people, The Israelites, from slavery.

After several plagues, Pharaoh finally let them go. Moses, Aaron (his brother), Miriam (his sister), his sons and wife, as well as the entire nation of Israel, left Egypt. While many people think the crossing occurred near the Sinai Peninsula, but scripture does not support this. There has been no evidence in that area found to support that claim.

The reason for that claim, and for the claim that they crossed the Sinai Peninsula, comes from this: (credit to Ron Wyatt) "After crossing the Red Sea, the Bible says they encountered the mountain of God or Mount Sinai which is in Midian. Midian is not in the area we call today the Sinai Peninsula. It is instead in Saudi Arabia and can be found on most maps in that location. The traditional Mt. Sinai was 'found' by Constantine's 'psychic' mother who in the fourth century went around the Holy Land pointing out various sites as the 'authentic' biblical sites, such as the birthplace of Christ, the church of the Holy sepulcher (which was a pagan temple during her time), etc."

That is the reason many believe in that area. However, the archaeologist Ron Wyatt and his team did much research, much searching, and discovered the crossing happened in Nuweiba, Egypt. Here, his team found chariot parts, horse and human bones, and a pillar that was erected by King Solomon 400 years later in memory of the site. This also indicates that Mt. Sinai is in Saudi Arabia. Does this mean that Ron Wyatt's discoveries are truth, are pure fact? No, but there is a possibility, and the saying goes, "great claims require great evidence."

I recently spoke with a scientist who said that he's seen, heard, and read much on Wyatt's findings. The odd thing about this branch of the Red Sea? There is not one sunken boat. No masts, no boat parts - ONLY Egyptian chariots pieces, human remains, and horse hooves.

What exactly does the Bible tell us about the Parting of the Red Sea? In Exodus 14:16, God tells Moses, "Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." Before this, Pharaoh decided against letting the slaves go, and went with the Egyptian Army to go and get them back.

Well, they had been following a "cloud" of God. When the Egyptians came, God sent a Pillar of Fire to block the Egyptians. So during all of this, the Egyptians were blocked, and Moses was being asked by thousands of people what they are going to do.

Verses 21-22 tell us, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." That said, all night long God blocked the Egyptians from advancing any further, all the while parting the Red Sea. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Then we see Verses 23-24, which tell us that after the Israelites had crossed, the Pillar of Fire ended, and the Egyptians, on their chariots with horses, began to pursue them, crossing the Red Sea. Verses 25-26 go on to say, "He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, 'Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.' Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

Verses 27-28 concludes, "Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen - the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived." After this, the Israelites sang songs of praise and worship, thanking God for their deliverance from Egypt. God showed the Israelites that he could take care of those who turn to him.

How can we know this happened? Well, if Wyatt's findings are real, then we have all the evidence we need. Ron Wyatt is not the only one to conduct searches in the Red Sea, but his account and pictures are the ones used in this entry. Wyatt and his team found most of their "artifacts" by using a molecular frequency generator from his boat, setting the equipment to search for gold.

The Bible tells us that all of the chariots of Egypt (at the time), as well as 600 choice chariots, (gold models) were in the army pursuing God's people. Many speculate that there were around 20,000 chariots destroyed that day. Four, six and eight spoke wheels were found, and they were all tested - all used at the same time during the 18th dynasty, or 1446 BC, when the exodus took place.

Also, while there have been many chariot wheels found at the site, there are numerous human and horse bones too. Several of the human bones covered by coral, were tested at Stockholm University. It was mineralized by resting in the Red Sea for such a long time. As aforementioned, there are horse bones - hooves were also found. The issue?

There are no horses in the Sinai Peninsula today. That would indicate that these horses came across the other side - from Egypt. All evidence in that area support the parting and crossing of the Red Sea. What a spectacle that must have been to witness!

In the same way that God used Moses to deliver the Israelites, God used his son, Jesus, to deliver all of humanity from Satan. All he calls us to do is accept his sacrifice, accept him as the only one that can save us, and ask for forgiveness for our sins, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

All of this said, you have read the account given by the Bible. You have seen and heard the evidence by trusted scientists and archaeologists yourself. God is very real, and the only way to be saved from condemnation is by accepting Jesus as the one who saves. Before I close out, I need to make a point: while I have highlighted Ron Wyatt's supposed discoveries, there are a number of credible scientists, namely those at Answers in Genesis, who dispute Wyatt's claims.

Could he have found where the Crossing of the Red Sea occurred? It's highly possible, yes, and evidence would seem to support this claim. But should we regard it as full truth? Not necessarily, although what we see is compelling, what is in this branch of the Red Sea may be from something else, but if it truly is from the Crossing, it would make perfect sense.

Again, I say this so that you do not think I side with this person or that, merely highlighting what I find to be fascinating, and yes, I do agree with Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis that we cannot fully prove it, but nevertheless, it is still fascinating and compelling. The findings of Ron Wyatt are intriguing, be that as it may, but until proven, should not be taken as fact, or used to lead others to salvation, but they are very fascinating. I hope that this has been interesting, educational, and helpful. If you wish to contact me, email vexx801@yahoo.com, visit the facebook, or comment below. Take Care, and God Bless You. Troy Hillman

Restoration for the Soul

The phrase, "restoration," which is only used in the Psalms, in the Bible. It is found in Psalm 23:3, which says, "He restores my soul." The word restore means "to repair, renovate, or return to former condition."

Psalm 100:3 refers to the Shepherd (Jesus) who leads his sheep (His Saved) to "green pastures,” “quiet waters” and “paths of righteousness." God is the only one who can restore our soul. God is the one who created us, therefore, he can restore us.

Only God knows what our souls need for restoration. Let me clarify but telling you that I am not referring to restoration, as in, redemption - salvation, but restoration as in, say there is a car that has been saved from the compacter, and it is restored.

The Psalms give an insight into restoration, since King David, who wrote many Psalms, faced many dark times in his life. These Psalms can be a source of encouragement when we are depressed, discouraged, tired, weary, whatever the dark time may be. The men and women of Bible times give us many examples of restoration.

Times of trial and tribulation are not uncommon, as is the same with times of discouragement. King David prayed, "restore unto me the joy of my salvation," which is why the 23rd Psalm tells us, "He restores my soul." So, how can God restore your soul?

For those struggling Christians, I would recommend praying for restoration. If your soul is not restored immediately, it may not be God's Will at that moment: God knows our lives, he knows everything about us, so he knows if restoration will help us at that particular moment, because he's our Father, he wants what is best for us in the long-run.

How can we know how to restore our soul? God has given us the answers in the Word of God - The Bible. (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) While there are all many different kinds of books, written by men offering worldly wisdom, only God’s Word is truly capable of restoring our soul and giving us hope in times of distress.

Restoring the soul is ONLY possible for those whose souls have been redeemed - saved, through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:11, Jesus promises this: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Many take this promise to mean that there will never be trouble in life.

But Jesus did not say it would bu full rest in this life. He wants us to turn as many people as we can to him, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should turn to Jesus and be saved. What Jesus promises is rest after we "die." The moment you die, if you have accepted Jesus as the only one who can save you, you will blink, and your next conscious thought will be in Heaven.

However. If you have not accepted him as your savior, since he is the only way to get to heaven, you will not be going there. Thankfully, God provides for us when we face discouragement, trials and tribulation, as well as temptations. God has given us three primary sources of strength and encouragement.

First off, God has given us the Bible to guide us, to lead us, to encourage us and help us grow in faith. As Christians, we need to spend time reading the Bible, hearing it preached, and above all, obeying the word. "Blessed are those who keep his statues and seek him with all their heart." (Psalms 119:2)

In Proverbs 3:1-2, he tells us, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity." In other words, follow his Commandments - the Commandments of Jesus and the 10 Commandments. Second, God gives us the power of prayer. (See Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:24-25; John 15:7; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:14).

Our problems, our weariness, our discouragement, we need to take these things and pray about them, keeping in mind that God loves us and that he cares for us. Lastly, we have brothers and sisters in Christ (Other Christians) to support, encourage, and build us up. (See Ecclesiastes 4:9-19; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 3:13).

As I talked on in the previous entry, it is very important to belong and regularly attend a well-balanced Church, and take part in fellowship with other believers - but it should be a church that teaches that Jesus is the only WAY, TRUTH, and the LIFE. There are many other Christians who have gone through similar things, whether it be divorce, matters of the heart (regarding relationships), work, school, evangelizing, the list goes on.

So, 1) Read God's Word, and pray that he "opens [your] eyes that [you] may see the wonderful things in [his] law." (Psalm 199:18) 2) Pray for the things in your life. Pray for rest, for help, for restoration. 3) Consult and talk with fellow Christians. I hope this entry has helped you in some way, I realize that several of these recent entries are more "direct," then others have been, but these are needed, just as apologetics are as well, as it helps some more than others.

There is an artist, Jeremy Camp, who was shown to me several years ago. He recorded a song called "Restored," based on the difficulties he's had in life. Here are a few lyrics from the song, which I feel compelled to share with you, "All this time I've wandered around, Searching for the things I'll never know, I've been searching for this answer that only will be found in Your love, and I feel it my heart is being mended by Your touch, and I hear it Your voice that's shown my purpose in this world - You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul, You have restored me."

God restores, and it is evident in my life that even in the darkest times in our lives, God is still there, and he continues to restore me whenever I need restoration. For those who feel this was written to and for them, while I may not know you personally, I pray that you come to know the wonders and grace of God.

If you have a question or topic you would like covered, feel free to comment below, email vexx801@yahoo.com, or visit the facebook. The intention of this blog is not to "hate" on anybody, but to spread the Truth of God's Word, to help people across the globe, to educate, and to be an interesting read - I hope that it is. God Bless, and Take Care Folks. Troy Hillman

Should Christians Go to Church?

Yes, Christians should go to church. I will give you the reasons, and I will give a small list of where some denominations go wrong in the eyes of God, or what they misunderstand. Now, I understand that God gave everyone free will. I understand that some people, due to work, cannot go to Church. (Photo Credit to Jennifer Barham Ministries)

But before I go any further, allow me to show you the faith of the withered man.Let us take a look at three accounts of the same event that occurred during the time Jesus was on the Earth. This is the account of the man whose hand becomes whole again.

Matthew 12:13 says, "Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other." Luke 6:8-10 tells us, "But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, 'Arise and stand here.' And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, 'I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?' And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."

Mark 3:3-5 says, "And He said to the man who had the withered hand, 'Step forward.' Then He said to them, 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."


So what is the pattern, between these three accounts of the same event? Jesus asks the man to do what previously seemed impossible. After this, he asks the man to step in front of the entire crowd, so that they may see. Jesus heals the man without touching him. This is merely one example of the power of God.


This man is an example of how all Christians should be. Some have work, some have other matters they cannot shirk from. However, even if that is so, you ought to at least be listening to a Pastor's Message or watching a Pastor's Message. God did not tell us to start churches for no reason. Despite the fact that this man had a "withered" hand, he still attended the synagogue.

He placed God before his own health, his own discomfort - his own shame. Folks, we should not use physical ailments as excuses for not going to church. Now, if you have a disease that can spread, that is another story entirely - if that is the case, you should still somehow get ahold of a message, we should all attend services when able.

In the words of Martin G. Collins, "The downside of missing services is that, eventually, spiritual problems with far more serious consequences will develop. No one can do much in service to God if he allows physical problems or handicaps to impede his worship and service of his Creator. In a sense, many of us suffer from withered hands. Sin so paralyzes us that we cannot serve God as we would like. Yet, anyone in God's church can be empowered to do the needed things for our Healer."

Put simply, it is a matter of faith. By answering the call of Jesus, the man steps forward and is healed. That alone was a test of courage in front of all these people, and it shows obedience to God. This man fully trusted God, as we should, and was healed.

So why should we go to church? Without church, we have a strong capability to fall away from God. Now, while you do not need church to be saved, it is a good idea to find a local church that teaches The Truth, and not false doctrine. Do not assume that you alone can learn everything about God by not going to Church, we should all go to church to grow in Christ and learn more that we can use to save souls.

Now, I realize that some of these entries are more "entertaining" than others, as some have said. That said, it is also necessary to touch on these things at times, for the betterment of our walk with God. Earlier, I mentioned that I would briefly list a few denominations and some of the issues with them.

Catholics. While this obviously does not apply to all Catholics, the basic belief is that Mary, mother of Jesus, is holy. I tell you the truth, she is no more holy than you or I - merely that God chose her to be his mother. So the Catholic church has developed traditions, such as mass, confession, that are not taught in the True Scripture. They add books to the Bible that are not of God.

To the Bible-Believing Catholics, I tell you this: Jesus himself says, "I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. NO ONE can come to the Father but through ME." (John 14:6) Another Catholic belief is that Jesus is the only son of Mary. Dear readers, this is not supported by Scripture. Mary and Jospeh went on to have Joses, Simon, James, Jude, and several other children. Jesus was called the FIRSTBORN son many times.

There are several verses that show that Jesus had brothers, but none of them were holy as he. Matthew 13:55 says, "'Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, [Also translated as Joses] Simon, and Judas? [Also translated as Jude]" Other references include Matthew 27:56, Mark 3:31, Mark 6:3, Mark 15:40, Mark 16:1, Matthew 12:46, John 2:12, John 7:3-5, Acts 1:14. Galatians 1:19, and several others.

As aforementioned, there are many other Catholic Beliefs that are not supported by the Bible. I will give one more example. They confess their sins to a priest, who in turn confesses their sins to God. God can only accept a confession of sins from that person. You can confess your sins to someone, but only you can confess your sins to God and be forgiven - if a priest confesses your sins, you are not forgiven. Only you can confess your sins to God.

Lutherans. Not all, but many, do not believe in the End Times. They do not recognize the signs given (see entry: The End Times, Part One) for the End Times, they do not believe in the Revelation given to John on Patmos, they do not believe in the Rapture or Tribulation. The signs are evident that these things will come to pass, which the Lutherans do not support. As I said, not all Lutherans share this belief, I know several who believe in the End Times.

Baptists. They believe that you must be baptized to get to Heaven. Aside from tradition, I see nothing else wrong with their beliefs. However, when Jesus said we must be baptized to get to Heaven, he clarified later on, that he was referring to the Holy Spirit. Once you accept Jesus, you are baptized in the spirit, and the Holy Spirit dwells within you until the moment you die. That is all Jesus meant when he said we must be baptized to get to Heaven.

If someone is baptized, it should be a choice of their own - as a sign of commitment to God. Many babies are baptized, and while there is nothing wrong with that, they should be allowed a second baptism when they are old enough to chose for themselves - you cannot get to Heaven merely by being baptized.

I need to point out one more thing. Yes, every denomination has their own beliefs. The only belief that completely sticks to The Truth is Christian. If you belong to a separate Denomination and believe that Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven and believe what he said, then you are saved. All I merely pointed out was misunderstandings and doctrine not taught in the Bible. What a Christian is is a follower of Christ - you don't need tradition or mass, or anything like that, to be saved or forgiven for your sins.

Now, the last point. Many Churches drink from a chalice for Communion. There are churches that use wine, particularly red wine, for Communion. Others use Grape Juice or something similar. What I want to point out is this. Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20) When Jesus said this, he was signifying the wine as his pure blood.

Now, Jesus blood was pure. So I ask this: if Jesus blood was pure, why would he use fermented wine, which is wine in decay? He would not. Jesus probably used freshly crushed/squeezed grapes from the vine. Pure wine, that was not in decay. I say this not to harp on anyone, but to answer skeptics who say that Jesus drank alcohol. He did not. Jesus would not use wine in decay to represent his blood.

So was any of this an attack on personal beliefs, as some may think? No. It was an attempt to point of things that are often overlooked due to tradition. There is nothing in the Bible that says we need to use pews. Nothing that says we need to sign only hymns, and cannot sign "modern Christian songs." Should we be careful? Yes.

It is not mandatory for your salvation to go to Church. But it will help you grow in God and learn more, most of the time allowing what you learn to be applied to your own life and the lives around you. I tell you this, however: be careful which local church you chose, be sure that they teach the truth, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, that no one can come to the Father [God] but through him. Is it acceptable to be traditional, to use organs, sit in pews, sign from Hymn books? Yes. Is it acceptable to sit in fold-up chairs, sing along to modern Christian music (acceptable in the eyes of God), and have a band play instead of an organ? Yes.

So stop allowing the division among the churches to divide you. If you see false doctrine in a church, go to the heads of the church, and point out the wrong - but be sure to back up your claims with the Word of God. Again, the intention was not to "dog on" your beliefs or traditions, merely to point out inconsistencies, of which there are plenty more in many other denominations.

I would like to point out one more verse. Hebrew 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The point that is made here is that by gathering, Church, Christians can grow together and grow in God. God himself is telling us that we should go to church.

If you believe that Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven, and he is, and you believe that he is risen from the dead, you will be saved. Confess your sins to God, not to a priest. Ask God for forgiveness, and ask him to become Lord and Savior of your life. I hope that this has helped in some way, whether if was educating, enlightening, or interesting. Feel free to comment below, email at vexx801@yahoo.com, or visit our facebook. God Bless You, and Take Care. Troy Hillman

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Prophesied by Ezekiel, Micah, Isaiah, and later Jesus himself, and all of the New Testament, the Reign of Christ has been talked about for centuries. However, the Jews did not understand that the Reign of Christ would come later, which is why there is much confusion about this topic.

That is why many Jews did not and still do not believe that Jesus is The Promised Messiah. The Jews at the time of Jesus believed that the Messiah would come to free them from the rule of the Romans. The Jews believed that Jesus was coming to be Israel's next King.

Why did they believe this? They believed this because of the prophecies of Micah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, that told of the Messiah one day coming and setting up his kingdom. The Rapture, which is soon to come, followed by the Seven Year Tribulation, followed by the Second Coming of Christ (The Glorious Appearing), and Jesus will set up his Kingdom on the Earth.

The Jews interpreted these prophecies to mean that Jesus would come and bring peace to Israel, that he would come to free them, and set up his Kingdom, and they would crown him as king. But Jesus knew that this was not his purpose for being here. If this is hard to follow up till this point, let me clarify something. The Jews thought he would come and reign as King.

Yes, Jesus came. But he came to free us, so that if we turned to him, that we would be saved. That we would be able to turn to him, and in turn, through him come to the Father. So does that make these prophecies false? No. The Jews merely did not understand them. Jesus himself clarified the meaning of these prophecies. The book of Revelation talks about the Reign of Christ. Jesus will come and Reign as King. But that was not the intention of his first coming.

Many believe that the Reign mentioned in Revelation 20 is an event not talked about anywhere else in scripture up to that point. On the contrary. The Reign of Christ was prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born, before John wrote Revelation. The only thing that the Book of Revelation adds about the Reign of Christ is a timeframe: 1,000 Years.

In Isaiah 11-12, he tells us of the descendant of King David (Jesus) that will one day come and Reign as King. Jesus is that King. After the Tribulation, he will Reign on Earth for 1,000 Years. This is what we refer to as the Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah 11:1-2 says, "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jess [father of King David]; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD."

In other words, Jesus, who is wise, understanding, mighty, knowledgeable, and powerful, will come to reign. Isaiah 35 also talks about the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ. Even Jesus himself says, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." (Revelation 22:16) The deserts will bloom (verse 1), no one will be blind or deaf (verse 5), those who are paralyzed and mute will not be any longer, (verse 6), and burning sand will "become a pool." (verse 7) So this chapter gives us a glimpse of things to come for God's People.

Isaiah 65:17-25 talks about not only the New Heaven and the New Earth, but also about the 1,000 Year Reign. Verse 20 says, "Never again will there be in it infants who live but a few days, or older people who do not live out their years; those who die at a hundred will be thought mere youths; those who fail to reach a hundred will be considered cursed." Now, allow me to clarify something.

What this means, as expounded on in Revelation, is that no one will die any longer (who is saved). During these 1,000 Years, some saved will be still alive at the end of the Tribulation, and when Jesus comes, they will go with him. But they have the ability to have Children. If these Children, who are born into sin, do not grow up and accept Jesus as their savior by the age of 100, the people who have not accepted him will die the moment their bodies turn 100 years old.

There is no reason for them not to accept him as their savior, since they will live among him. However, the Bible tells us that even then, some do not believe and will turn from him. Isaiah 65 goes on to say in Verse 25, "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's [Satan] food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain."

So Isaiah 65:25 gives us am picture of animals living peacefully again, as they once did at the beginning of Creation before the Fall. Ezekiel 36 also speaks of his Reign, as does Micah 4:1-7. Mount Zion is an actual Location on the Earth. It is also a location in Heaven. It is the name of God's Mountain, probably where his Throne Room is, since in Ezekiel 28, Lucifer is cast out from Mount Zion.

Micah 4:3 tells us that no one will "train for war anymore." What a great thing that will be! God promises in Micah 4:6-7, "'In that day,' declares the Lord, 'I will gather the lame, I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever."

So exactly what does Revelation say about the Reign of Christ? Revelation 20:1-6 tells what will happen. Satan will be bound by his brother, Michael, [Daniel speaks of Michael binding him]. Verse 4 tells us, "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

Those who are unsaved are not brought back to life until the end of 1,000 Years. Verse 6 continues, "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death [Hell] has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (See entries: New Jerusalem: A New Beginning Part One, Part Two)

If you take away anything from this, know this: Jesus is Coming Soon. Revelation 22:20-21 says, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." Take Care, Folks. Troy Hillman

What Did Jesus Say About the End Times?

In modern times, we hear a lot about the End Times. Of course, talk of the end time and of the return of Christ has been around for centuries. A lot of it is false teaching: 2012, Y2K, etc. But there are also a lot of truths. Such as: The Rapture, the Tribulation. What are all these events that will come to pass? (Picture credit to ExploringTheMatrix)

In previous entries, I've covered the End Times. I've covered the Rapture and the Tribulation. The word rapture is not actually in The Bible, but it is the word used to describe the vanishing of true followers of Christ (and children unable to decide for themselves) across the world in the "twinkling of an eye." (See entry: The End Times Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Jesus gave us a few Signposts for the End Times, so that we know what is coming. The signs given to us by Jesus - most have come to pass. If this were not so, he would not have told us. Since these things are coming into play, we can see that the End Times are near.

However, does that give us a date? No. Jesus himself said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) So, Let us look at what Jesus tells us about the End Times in the Gospels.

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 all tell of the End Times. Each chapter parallels the other, for each account gives a varied view of this instance when Jesus was asked. In Matthew 24:2, Jesus tells the disciples that the Temple in Jerusalem will be torn down. This came to pass in 70 AD. So his disciples asked him, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus replied, telling them to beware of false messiahs, people claiming to be divine, to be Jesus, to be the Messiah. We have many people across the Globe who, even today, claim to be the Promised Messiah. He continues, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:5-7, Mark 13:5-8)

Now, these things have also come to pass. In the last two hundred years alone, we have faced more wars than ever: War of 1812, The Civil War, The Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Iraq War, War on Terrorism, Cold War, etc. Rumors of war continue to sprout across the globe on a regular basis. Many Wars are at this current moment still ongoing. So yes, wars have occurred, and nation has risen against nation.

Mass famines have also become widespread in recent years, as has earthquakes. Many times I have given the statistics for the increase in Earthquakes. (See entry: Warning: Sign of the End Times) Luke 21:11 gives a varied version of what Jesus told them. This does not disregard either accounts, but it shows that Jesus told more, and each account recorded what was said, though Luke recorded another thing said that was not previously recorded.

Luke 21:11 says, "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Now, this has all come to pass. Pestilences - think of the recent swine flu that we believed would wipe out much of the nation. Jesus goes on in all three versions to tell us that we will be persecuted, mocked for our beliefs. Am I mocked for my belief? Yes. But we must press on in the service and furtherance of the Kingdom of our Creator. These have all come to pass.

Jesus goes on to say, in Luke 21:20, "When you see [the reborn] Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near." Since that time, many armies have tried to take down the nation. Even before that, in WWII, the Jewish people were persecuted, and have been for centuries. Especially with the rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948. This too has come to pass.

He continues, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." (Luke 21:25) Jesus tells other things, but he concludes by telling of his Second Coming, which will happen at the end of the 7-Year Tribulation. "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:27-28)

Mark 13:26 tells of the same event, the Second Coming, or Glorious Appearing, of Jesus. This is not the same as the Rapture, which occurs before the Tribulation. Verse 27 says, "And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."

Jesus gives us a story of the Rapture, so that we may know what it will be like: (Matthew 24:40-41) "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." In this way, Jesus will take his "elect," his true followers. Those who are Left Behind will have the opportunity, even directly after this occurs, to turn to Christ and repent.

Do many of these "signs" being fulfilled mean the end is near? Yes. Does that mean that it is near, as in within the year, or within the decade? No. But it is closer than it was 2,000 Years Ago. The End Times are closer today than they were yesterday. Jesus tells us not to give a date or time for these events, because while we can see that they are closer now than ever before, it could still be a while before we are taken.

Therefore, as we see that the End Times are rapidly approaching, more so now than ever before, we must be ready. Jesus tells the saved that those who follow him should not fear these end times. For when he raptures his people, and then 7 Years later, comes to Reign and set up his Kingdom for 1,000 Years, we will be with him.

Many people criticize the teaching of The Rapture. Do we know for a fact that it will happen? While some scripture can be interpreted differently, there are several verses that speak of the Lord taking his people to be with him BEFORE the Seven Year Tribulation, and then the Return of Christ and His People - the Glorious Appearing. Regardless, I would ask that you look at the facts. Many of these things have already occurred. Jesus is the ONLY way, the truth, and the light. NO ONE can come to the Father, to Heaven, but through him, but by accepting his sacrifice and following him. So I ask you, do you follow him?

Many people believe in God but will not accept Jesus as their Savior. Verily tell you, Jesus is the only way to be saved. Put bluntly, unless we accept his free gift of salvation, by confessing that he is Lord, turning from your ways and asking God for forgiveness of your says, we will not be saved. Some people believe God is a being created in the minds of people who want hope. That he is some guy watching every little thing we do up in the clouds.

I tell you: God exists. He created you, he made everyone and everything in the Universe. Do not mock God, do not mock Christ, who died for your sins. If you do, judgment will surely follow. My intention is to not scare or coerce you into some cult. The intention is to lead and guide you to The Truth.

So dear friends, I urge you to acceot his free gift of salvation - the Master himself spoke of the End Times. They are coming, whether we want them to or not, and one day, will be be gone, whether we like it or not. If you do not accept Jesus as your savior, he cannot help you. So please, turn to him. Feel free to comment below or email me at vexx801@yahoo.com if you have any questions. Take Care, and May God Bless You. Troy Hillman

Why Did Jesus Die for our Sins?

You have heard it said "Jesus died for our sins." This is true. However, I do not know that the reason he died for our sins, rather, reasons, and what he saved us from, are stressed enough in churches across the globe. The intention of this entry is to show: 1) Why Jesus Died for our Sins 2) How we can accept his sacrifice and be saved.

This is a bit of a "behind the scenes" look at why Jesus died. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. On the sixth day (six literal days), God created Man. From Man, God created Woman. Adam and Eve, the first humans. God made a covenant with Man, that would be broken if they rebelled against God.

Simple enough, right? Lucifer, the Head Angel, Lead Musician and Overseer of the Heavenly Host, fell. He lied to Angels, telling them untrue things about God. Since the Angels had never before heard lies, they believed Lucifer. So when he had amassed an army of angels, Lucifer took to God's Throne Room. Lucifer, brother of Archangels Michael and Gabriel. would not serve Man. He was jealous that God loved Adam and Eve, and thought that he could become greater than God. So he attempted to seize the Great White Throne, and was cast out of The Third Heaven to the Earth.

When Lucifer was cast out, he was not restricted from the Throne. Satan could come and go to the Throne Room, but nowhere else in Heaven. 3 and 1/2 years into the Tribulation, he will finally be totally cut off from Heaven. (See Revelation 12:7-9) Lucifer was angry. He wanted revenge. So he went into the Garden of Eden, and he tempted Adam and Eve - in that moment, when they ate fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, they rebelled against God. They SINNED. The covenant was broken, and Lucifer took the Title Deeds to The Earth and the Souls of Men. (This is literal, not metaphorical)

Eternal Law stated that if a man of pure blood were to die for Humanity's Sins, they would be saved. Till then, the saved only went to Sheol. (See entry: Harrowing of Hell.) The point being, while God always truly had the claim, Lucifer now had the power over the Earth that he had wanted.

However. Genesis 6:1-4 tells of the Fallen Angels, who mated with human woman, and the woman bore hybrid children: Giants, or Nephilim. (See entry: Who were the Giants of the Bible?) When Lucifer [Satan] told his fallen angels to do this, all hope of a man of pure blood dying for our sins was lost. Even if there was a human of pure blood, there was no supernatural sacrifice that was known, there was no human who would be able to pay for the past, present, and future sins of humanity. Then, God sent his son, Jesus. Jesus died on the cross, as he had predicted several times before his death.

Jesus, on the cross, suffered all of our sins. That sin that you committed yesterday? He suffered through that. The sins that you will commit today, tomorrow, and until the day you are gone from the Earth, Jesus died for that. When he was being beaten, you can imagine that the face of every human being who has ever lived and ever will live flashed through his head. "I'm doing this for them."

When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" Which means, "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) Many have said that this shows a lack of love for his Father, a lack of "faith." This is not so. Jesus said this because in that moment, according to what Jesus knew he had to do, God turned his face from Jesus, much to God's sadness.

In that moment, every sin of humanity, the sins leading up to that point in time, the sins being committed at that moment, and every sin until the last sin, was placed on Jesus. The sky went dark, many say it was as dark as it was before God had created the Universe.

Notice the scriptures say that Jesus "gave up his spirit." (Matthew 27:50) Jesus was not killed. He was not murdered. Yes, he was badly beaten, he was to the point of death. But that alone did not kill him, he gave up his soul on his free will. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) Jesus paid the fine.

Lucifer suffered a defeat. He handed over the covenant, as he is bound by Eternal Law, back to Heaven. He no longer has the title deeds to man's souls. Jesus does. Meaning what, exactly? Meaning, Jesus is the "key to heaven." He is the ONLY way to get to heaven, there is no other.

Many have said that Mary, Mother of Jesus, was divine. I tell you, Mary weeps in Heaven as she is worshiped, for she too knows that she is not holy. Those who worship false gods, other things than God, or have their own view of him [i.e. my God is not a judgmental God, my God is... etc.] are not only breaking the second commandment by conforming their own image of what God is like to them, they are disbelieving.


For example. I have had Catholics who have asked me, where does Jesus say he is the only way? I point out John 14:6, which says, "I am THE WAY the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me." That sounds clear enough. Jesus is THE WAY. NO ONE goes to Heaven to be with God EXCEPT by accepting Jesus as their savior, by accepting his sacrifice.

The pure-blood - when Jesus had given up his spirit, the Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear, to make sure he was dead. John 19:34 says, "Instead, one of the soldier's pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." Pure blood. Holy blood. With his blood, he paid our penalty. All we have to do is accept that, and not reject him.

Is there a Hell? Most assuredly I tell you, there is. Many places in the Bible speak of a literal, burning fire. They also point to the current location as the heart, or core, of the Earth. Since we have lava that flows on the surface of the Earth, Magma underground, it is quite easy to believe this. Is it necessary for our salvation? No.

From the day that Adam and Eve sinned and ate the apple, as tempted by Satan, King of Perdition, (Lucifer) Man had to make a sacrifice. A burnt offering. That very day, Jesus came down to the Garden and showed them how to offer a lamb, to pay for their sins. He told them to ask for forgiveness as well.

This was carried on for centuries afterwards. The Bible, several times, compares Jesus to a lamb. When Jesus died, he paid the blood sacrifice in FULL, so that we never again had to have burnt offerings. Jesus died for our sins to: 1) pay the penalty, so that none of us had to go to Hell 2) Restore the Covenant between God and Man, and 3) Open the Way to Heaven.

How can you be saved? Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that he is risen from the dead, you will be saved." When Jesus died, he replaced the Fall that occurred. Meaning, Romans 5:12. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."

Romans 5:19 continues, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous." In other words, through Adam, sin entered the world. Through Jesus, we can be made righteous. If we ignore God, and reject him and his sacrifice to protect us from Satan and Hell, that will be our destination the moment we die.

So I urge you, do not ignore the gift of God. It is not a costly gift - meaning, it does not cost money. It does cost anything at all. It merely costs repentance. God asks us to repent of our sins, to confess our sins to him, and ask for forgiveness. Does this mean, list every sin you have ever done? Of course not. But we must pray everyday for our sins to be forgiven, for even if we are saved, we will be chastised in Heaven, and can lose rewards.

How do you pray for your sins to be forgiven? Pray from the heart. For those who do not know how, pray something along the lines of, "Dear God, please forgive me for sinning against you. I confess my sins to you, and repent of my sins. Amen." Now, that is a simple prayer. But there are those who pray differently, but regardless, you still need to ask for forgiveness.

If you repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to become your savior and Lord of your life, you will be saved. The well known verse John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Verse 17 continues, "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God."

I pray that this entry has been educational, understandable, and that you can take something away from this. If you are not saved, I would ask of you to read over other entries, and the Page, "Questions for the Non-Believer." Feel free to comment below, or email me at vexx801@yahoo.com if you have any questions - any at all. I would be delighted to answer. Thank You for taking the time to read, may God Bless You. Take Care. Troy Hillman