Tag: Rapture

Week 50: Worship God because He is Holy.

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” –Revelations 15:4 

So, what does it mean that God is holy? What does holy mean? The Strong’s dictionary lists many connotations of the word holy, but the one that refers to a holy God is “purity from defilement.” God is perfect, and no sin exists in His presence. Because God is holy, He deserves our devotion and is worthy of glory.

Why should you fear a holy God? Because your sin separates you from God, and you don’t want to be separated from Him. Isaiah 59:2 states, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” You must repent of your sinful nature by first asking Jesus, the Son of God, to forgive you because of the blood He shed as the perfect sacrificial lamb. Second, do what is right by obeying God’s commands, namely that you love Him and love others with all your heart (Luke 10:27-28).

King David tells us in Psalm 99:9, “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!” And Psalm 99:5 states, “Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he.”

Here is something interesting I researched. The scene of Heaven in Revelations 15 falls between the seven trumpets of judgment and the six bowls of wrath during the seven-year tribulation period. Because God is Holy, He will pour out His wrath on the wicked (sinners) who do not fear or worship Him, like in the days of Noah (1Peter 3:20). Also read 2 Peter 2:4-10.

Remember, 1Thesselonians 5:9-10 states, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” If you were made righteous by your faith in Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and walk in faith (Gal. 3:11), you will not experience the wrath of God. Hebrews 10:38 states, “But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Matthew 24:36-42 explains what the rapture will look like. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Also read Luke 17:26-37.

Revelations 7:9-10 states, “After this (sixth seal opened) I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” It appears that the multitude are those who were raptured before the seven-year tribulation. Many who know about Jesus Christ but do not fear and obey God nor love Him and others with their whole heart will be left to go through the tribulation. I believe these and others will repent of their sins at the time of the rapture and are the saints in Revelations 13:7 and 14:12, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” I understand everyone does not share this view.

If you want to learn more read my series of posts about the end of times.

The following posts explain the other aspects of worship mentioned in this post.

WEEK 27- Worship Gives God Glory.

WEEK 28: Worship reveals the fear of God. 

Week 34: Worship God at His footstool.

365 Days of Worship – Week 8 – Exult

As you worship the Holy God this week, ask Him to show you where you are not obeying Him or loving Him and others wholeheartedly. I pray God blesses you this week.

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WEEK 50–December 10-December 16

Day 344-Dec. 10—Worship God for revealing Himself to all mankind.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. –Romans 1:19-20

Day 345-Dec. 11—Worship God because He is kind, forbearing, and patient toward you.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? –Romans 2:4

Day 346-Dec. 12—Worship God because He is not partial.

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11For God shows no partiality. –Romans 2:9-11

Day 347-Dec. 13—Worship God, who blesses you for your faith and with forgiveness.

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” –Romans 4:5-8

Day 348-Dec. 14—Worship God, who justifies you by your faith, so you can have peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. –Romans 5:1

Day 349-Dec. 15—Worship God for pouring His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit.

Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. –Romans 5:5

Day 350-Dec. 16—Worship God for removing the control of sin over you.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. –Romans 6:6

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. –Romans 6:11

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Verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, visit the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

How Not To Be Left Behind In The Last Days

Do you want to be left behind to go through the tribulation and deal with the beast (Rev. 13)? Are you tired of hearing people say, “The end is near” and thinking you have time to get right with God later? In Luke 21:34–36, Jesus tells us, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35) For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36) But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” The rapture will happen suddenly, and you do not know when it will be, so we must be ready at all times. I did a series of posts on what the Christian should be doing to prepare for that sudden moment. We learn the following from Luke 21:34-36:

  • We are to watch for Christ to appear in the clouds and not get distracted by worldly indulgences, drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Worldliness will look different for each person. I did a series of posts explaining the destructiveness of being worldly. Are You a Sheep or a Goat? or How You May Be an Enemy of God.
  • Calamity and destruction will appear suddenly on the whole earth. 1Thessalonians 5:2–3 states, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
  • We are to stay awake spiritually and pray continually for the strength to escape and do what is required of us. See my post called What Is Required to Stand Before God?
  • We will stand before the Son of Man. 2Corinthians 5:10 states, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

In the post called The End is Coming: Part Three, I explain why we are to stay alert and sober-minded for the purpose of prayer until Christ’s return. We know that Matthew 24:44 states, “Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Jesus warns us not to be caught up in the wickedness and cares of this world but to keep watch over our hearts through prayer because we will stand before His judgment seat. I hear worldly Christians say that people have been saying the day of the Lord is coming for hundreds of years, and it hasn’t come yet. This fact is correct. The Apostles and Jesus were warning people in their day of the coming end of the age. I explain this in ― Is the End Close? Part One―What does the Bible Say?

Since we don’t know when the rapture of the real followers of Christ will be, we need to warn the worldly Christians to fear God and be ready by turning from their sin and making Him Lord of their lives. True Christians are those who fear God, have submitted their hearts to Him, and love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength, and love their neighbor as themselves.

I was a worldly Christian for many years, and I knew I was not right with God, but I loved the sinful life more than God. At night, as my bed was spinning, I knew in my heart that I would go to hell if I died at that moment. Ironically, I partied Saturday night and went to church Sunday morning. Then, at a Christian concert, God spoke to me very clearly to stop walking the fence and doing the things of the world and having a form of godliness. He called me to follow Him with all my heart. I gave up my worldly lifestyle and totally submitted to Him, and I have had no regrets. He is calling everyone to follow Him with all their hearts and be totally committed to Him. Many Christians are like I was. 2Timothy 3:1-8 describes the worldly Christian.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

6) For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.”

Does this sound like some of our politicians who say they are religious, but their actions speak otherwise? Do you know “Christians” who are always learning but never practice the truth of God’s Word? I hope you do not relate to any part of Timothy’s description of the worldly Christian. If you are convicted of complacency, please turn to God, and ask Him to forgive your sins and take your sinful desires from you and to give you righteous desires to please Him. Without godliness we don’t have God’s divine power to overcome our sins and temptations. My short book will help you resolve the issues that keep you from being godly.

All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website. 

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.  

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts. 

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.  

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.