Visitors Book
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and the future you will see,
the word is the key!
 ...The Holy Bible......Authority & Reliability......Reasons to Study Prophecy...
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In the Beginning...
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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them.
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Quote...
"It is absurd for the Evolutionist to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing, and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into anything".
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Garden City, NY: Doubleday Image, 1933, p. 174
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For more G.K.Chesterton. quotations refer to:
The American Chesterton Society |
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God...
The Holy Bible...
is the world’s number one best selling book, and sadly it can be the least read of all the best sellers. Readily available across the continents yet, often smuggled into some countries, (e.g. those with repressive governments), in the tens of thousands, to satisfy a spiritual hunger, bringing liberty to the multitudes.Revered by the faithful who accept it as the inspired Word of God, yet reviled and scoffed at by cynics, skeptics and the ignorant. Acclaimed, that while other books inform, the Bible transforms. Rejected by some as a hotchpotch of miscellaneous writings unreliably translated and open to a variety of interpretations. Yet, still considered the greatest source of comfort, hope, guidance, law & a realisation of God’s Love!
It has variously been described as not just a book, but as a library, as headings such as... law, biography, history, geography, poetry, religion, songs, wisdom, ethics, psychology, and more could appropriately cover so much of the subject matter. One heading not mentioned above yet surely deserving of note is that of prophecy.
The principal aim of this ministry is to leave the sincere seeker after
truth in no doubt that, at a time when more people than ever are asking
serious questions about mankind’s future, the Holy Bible
provides ALL the necessary answers with...
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"Yes, we have the prophetic Word made very certain", (CJB).......or......."a more sure word of prophecy!"(KJV) 2 Peter 1:19
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To begin with consider the following key scriptures which help to adopt a correct perspective on the authority and reliability of the Bible:
To be equipped, to benefit, to move toward perfection...
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works.
As an encouragement to study...
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
To realize how much God wishes to impart truth to those who love him...
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
To grow in faith, God’s Spirit speaking to you & directing you in truth...
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
To realize the potency of the Word, receiving power & discernment...
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Even professing Christians are sometimes unaware of the wealth of prophetic utterance in Holy Scripture. The following looks at the various approaches one can adopt towards this type of study:
...Reasons to study Bible prophecy...
To understand the Blessed Hope...
Both; for our own edification, and in order to explain this hope to others.
In obedience to God...
Study is an expectation God places on all His people...Study to show thyself approved...
Prophets are part of the Church five-fold ministry...
We are presently living in a time of major prophetic ministry.
To receive a specific blessing...
The Revelation of John promises a particular blessing to it's readers.
To demonstrate what we say we believe, (e.g. Nicene Creed)...
Anyone who affirms the Creed should be able to explain it to others.
To witness...
"Prophecy is the springboard of evangelism" (C.M.Ward)
Many believers already enjoy a faith in Jesus Christ due to the truth of prophecy, (myself included). This will undoubtedly continue as the world witnesses the fulfillment of all things!
.......for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
To be assurred of protection from deception, beware of wolves in sheeps clothing...
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves
Because of the various warnings given in scripture, related to false christs & false prophets, the study of these prophecies give assurance of protection from these deceptions. The Rapture in itself being a guarantee, with the believer knowing that as long as his/her feet remain on terra firma that any claim of being the messiah from any source must be false.
To receive power...
Knowledge is power / Ignorance is bliss! - This is a commonly used cliche' but in reality Ignorance can be extremely DANGEROUS!
To walk in victory, as an overcomer, by understanding these perilous times
To be forewarned is/and to be forearmed...
Checking out the weather forecast can help prepare for the next day....
Checking out the prophetic Word of God can prepare for End-times, the
Kingdom & Eternity, being filled with Hope!
To receive a Crown at the Judgment Seat...
One of the FIVE Crowns awarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ is known as the Crown of Righteousness or Watchers Crown...which is given to those who are looking for the day of his appearing.
...Reasons why Christians do not study Prophecy...
Fear -
Because the prophecies includes disasters & cataclysmic judgments coming upon the world, many Christians choose to adopt the... ostrich with head in sand posture, rather than face up to these events to come.
...but perfect love casteth out fear:
Confusion -
A little learning is a dangerous thing. Alexander Pope
Many Christians can have only a smattering of eschatology, & consequently find themselves more confused than enlightened, this can stifle enthusiasm for further study...
Remembering that...God is not the author of confusion...
Ignorance -
As already stated, ignorance is bliss, as such even many ministers within the church fail to take the prophecies seriously, obviously this apathy is in turn communicated to their respective parishioners.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
Misinterpreting the scriptures...
e.g. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
This scripture is often quoted to suggest that the Second Coming is something we need not inquire any further into, giving priority to other aspects of the faith.
Also one could consider a quote from Paul:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
This scripture should serve as a reminder to remain humble in attitude toward Bible study, yet still expectant to receive revelation of mysteries. This quote should not be used to negate the fact that it is God’s will to grant wisdom, knowledge and understanding to His Covenant People. Being information not accessible to the heathen, particularly the many false prophets who operate in complete error.
The future a taboo subject for a Christian? -
Because of the many scriptures warning against occult activity...
(e.g. divination, necromancy, fortune telling, astrology, witchcraft, observers
of times, consulting familiar spirits etc...)
Many Christians believe that this precludes any knowledge of future events, choosing alternatively, to walk by blind faith.
If this attitude was valid then...
...more than a quarter of scripture would be surplus
to requirements!
Laziness & Sloth...
The study of Bible prophecy takes time, diligence and application.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:3
...The Holy Bible
...in Prophetic Study
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| Page Title: In the Beginning... Page URL: http://www.blessedhope.ws/begin.html Page Updated: 7th August 2023 Author/Webmaster: Leslie C.Gaston  Copyright © Blessed Hope Ministries - International © MM  | 
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