Biblical Resources

What is the time line of events in the last days?

jon klubnik — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:15:08 +0000

No, you didn’t miss the rapture. Although times are rough, we are not in the tribulation. Earthquakes abound. Wars erupt. Disease and hunger are rampant. But what does the Bible say? Is the rapture yet future?

Interestingly, Matthew 24 is not about the rapture, which was yet to be announced (1 Thes. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52). It is those “in Christ” who will be raptured. This refers to the church, which began on the Day of Pentecost. The events in Matthew 24 take place during the Great Tribulation. The phrase in verses 40 and 41, “one will be taken and one will be left” is compared to the days of Noah. The context is judgment, not rapture.

We hope the Time Line of the Bible, as well as the prophecy Charts and Diagrams, will help in distinguishing these events. Or, are you still confused? What questions do you have?

Is it okay to gamble?

Jim Klubnik — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:43:32 +0000

Have you ever been struck by lightning? Have you ever been in a plane crash? No? The odds are even greater that you’ve never won the lottery either.

You have about a 14 million to 1 chance of winning the Texas lottery, regardless of how many tickets you buy. Games of chance are just that–games of chance. Feeling lucky? Want to win some easy money? The temptation can be great, but the addiction is real. The odds are poor. The results are often devastating.

What do the Scriptures say about gambling? Is it always wrong? Read more …

Can I lose my salvation?

Jim Klubnik — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:33:32 +0000

Do you feel lost even though you once were saved? Do you feel abandoned by God because of something you have done? Do you feel like God cancelled your salvation? Do you need a spiritual GPS to help you find your way once again?

We were on vacation driving along a mountain road in Colorado in a rented car–with no GPS. We were totally, completely lost. Finding our way back seemed hopeless. Then we saw a car stopped at a row of mailboxes. So we pulled up next to the car and asked the driver for directions.

We not only found our way, but we met someone who knew who we were, even though we had never met. This man had actually stayed with a friend in our Moscow apartment earlier that summer. We were amazed at God’s provision of such an incredible human GPS for us that day.

The Word of God is our spiritual GPS. God promises eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). God keeps His word. There is nothing you could do to obtain salvation. There is nothing you can do to lose it (Rom. 8:1). Jesus’ last words on the cross were, “It is finished.” This one-word phrase in the Greek is an accounting term, meaning “paid in full.” Read more about this in our article on Eternal Security.

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Jim Klubnik — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:31:43 +0000

The Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17)

As Jesus neared the gate to the city of Nain, a funeral procession was making its way out of the city. A dead man was being carried through the city gate, accompanied by his widowed mother and a sizeable crowd of mourners. He was her only son. Now he was dead. The Greek word, μονογενής, translated here only son, is the same word used in John 3:16, in reference to Jesus being the only begotten son of God.

The widow’s grief was obvious to all, but especially to our Lord, whose own mother was probably a widow at this time in His life. Jesus’ great capacity for love is revealed in this passage. “He felt compassion for her.” His heart went out to her in sympathy. Perhaps her grief foreshadowed that of his own mother in the near future as she would watch her son die on the cross.

“Stop weeping,” He told her. She may have wondered why anyone could be so insensitive, not even permitting her to cry over her lost son. But then he walked over to the coffin and touched it. The funeral procession abruptly stopped. Jesus spoke to the dead son, saying, “Young man, I say to you arise!” As the creator-God of the universe, Jesus told the young man, “be raised.” At His command, the soul and spirit of this young man were reunited with his lifeless body. To the amazement of the onlookers, the corpse sat up. His mother‘s tears of mourning turned to tears of joy. She saw her son sit up; then he began to talk. He probably said, “Hi, mom.” Then, seeing her tears, perhaps he spoke compassionately to her, saying, “Please stop crying, mom. I’m okay now. I’m not even sick any more.” All because the Savior of the world happened to come across a funeral procession in the city of Nain.

How do you think God shows His love to us today?

Knowing God’s Will

Jim Klubnik — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:28:36 +0000

A missionary once challenged students at a high school retreat, “If you want to be in the will of God more than anything else, then you are in the will of God.” Wow! Really?

These kids were at a stage of life when they were about to make some life-changing decisions. They were deciding where to go to college? They needed to select a major which would lead to a desired career. Many would soon be selecting a mate. Each of us has times in our lives when major decisions need to be made. But to a lesser degree, we need to determine God’s will in the everyday matters of life.

The implication is that if we sincerely desire to know God’s will, He will lead us in the way He wants us to go. What are some evidences that a believer is in the will of God? Some say that it is easier to know the will of God than it is to do the will of God. Read more about how to know God’s Will.

“Sir, we would see Jesus”

Jim Klubnik — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:14:01 +0000

At the Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, a plaque was attached to the pulpit, visible only to the speaker, which read, “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). Everyone who spoke from the grand pulpit of that historic church was challenged by that verse. The response to their message was not due to their eloquent words, but because of lifting up Jesus Christ and making him known.

Perhaps it was this plaque that challenged Dr. J. Vernon McGee, as pastor of the church for twenty-one years. I have seldom heard anyone who lifted up Jesus Christ in a sermon more than he did. His desire was to cause his congregation to draw closer to Jesus. He had a definite impact on my life as Minister of Youth at Church of the Open Door.

A Delicate Strength

Peggi Klubnik — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:50:58 +0000

Do you know someone that you would consider to be a godly woman? What are her characteristics? Have you ever wondered how you could become a godly woman? What verses would you use to define what you should be like? What biblical characters would you use as examples? Is a spiritual woman always to be gentle or meek? Why is a wife called a ”weaker vessel” in 1 Peter 3:7? In what way is she said to be weaker? A Christian woman must be strong in her faith, trusting God for her future–fulling her role with a delicate feminine strength.

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