What are the Signs of the End of this World? As a Christian, do you know? By Minister Speed

It's important to know so we can explain to others why Christians believe what we believe.

As Peter says:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 
1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Unfortunately, too many Christians are unable to explain why they believe we're in the last days when the opportunity presents itself.

One argument in particular seems to catch today's Christians off guard.

Peter forewarned us of this argument:

"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.'" 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

The particular version I hear most often is, "Sure, you think Jesus is coming, but so have previous generations."

The implication is that our generation will pass without the Second Coming just as those previous generations passed without His Coming.

Aside from being illogical, this assertion flies in the face of plain observation as well as mountains of irrefutable evidence.

A Sign of the End?

Is the prevalence of Peter's end time skeptic argument in-and-of itself a sign of the end times?

No.

But let's take a second look at what he said:

"They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.'" 2 Peter 3:4 (NLT)

Sound familiar?

How many times have you heard someone say, "It's the same now as it's always been" or at least something along those lines?

Probably a lot.

But is it?

Is it really the same?

When non-believers tell you there are no signs of the end times which are unique to our time, you need to be prepared to set the record straight.

Below are at least 7 signs of the end times.

Commit them to memory, and as Peter says, "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

Clear biblical Signs of the End Times

Below is a list of seven clear signs of the end times, which highlight the nearness of Christ's return. In fact, He's so close He's knocking on the door:

1) The Holocaust and the Re-Emergence of Israel

One of the preeminent signs of the end times is the Jewish survival of the Holocaust and the re-emergence of the nation of Israel as a Jewish state.

Over 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold these events:

"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones - all hope is gone.' Now give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 37:11-13 (NLT)

As God says, the bones in Ezekiel 37 represent the people of Israel - otherwise known as the Jews.

Following the first century Roman conquest of the Holy Land, the Jews were banished from the land of Israel. The Romans renamed the area Palestine, and exiled its people to the farthest corners of the Roman Empire.

Yet, in Ezekiel 37, God promised to bring the Jews out of exile. He promised to bring them back into the land of Israel.  For a long time bible scholars could not explain this incredible event as Israel hadn’t been in Israel for 1948 years. 

Not only did He promise to restore their nation, but God promised to do so by opening their "graves" at a time when the Jews feel that "all hope is gone."

The aftermath of Hitler's Holocaust of the Jewish people created these very conditions, nearly destroying an entire race of people and draining the hope of countless survivors.

But out of the Holocaust, God brought the Jewish people back into the land of Israel, just as He had promised.

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel reappeared in fulfillment of not just Ezekiel 37:11-13, but countless Old Testament prophecies.

Of all the signs of the end times, the re-establishment of Israel as an independent nation is the clearest and most unmistakable sign that we are in the last of the last days.

2) Jerusalem Is a Burden to the World

Another visible sign of the end times is the world diplomatic struggle over Jerusalem.

The prophet Zechariah foresaw this event centuries ago:

"I will make Jerusalem and Judah like an intoxicating drink to all the nearby nations that send their armies to besiege Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone, a burden for the world. None of the nations who try to lift it will escape unscathed." Zechariah 12:2-3 (NLT)

Since 1967 when the Israelis retook Jerusalem in the Six Day War, the division of Jerusalem and ownership of the Temple Mount in particular, have been a source of countless U.N. resolutions, diplomatic crises, and calls for war.

The struggle over the "Peace Process" in the Middle East is the stated number one priority of world diplomats, and Jerusalem resides at the center of discussions about "land for peace."

With the threat of World War III casting a shadow over every decision to rebuild Jewish settlements or expand Israeli society, the City of Jerusalem is no doubt "a burden for the world."

Is this "the way it's always been?"

No.

Until this generation, Jerusalem was not "a burden for the world." In fact, prior to 1948, world diplomatic leaders rarely mentioned it.

3) The Dramatic Increase in Travel and Knowledge

One of the signs of the end times that anyone can easily recognize is the recent explosive increase in travel and knowledge.

In a vision, God revealed to Daniel that in "the time of the end," travel and knowledge will increase:

"But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." Daniel 12:4 (NLT)

According to the book of Daniel, two things will increase in "the time of the end" - travel and knowledge.

Is this the case now?

Yes.

At the time the Book of Daniel was written, horses were the world's the fastest mode of transportation.

In fact, horses remained the world's fastest mode of transportation for over 2,000 years until the Industrial Revolution spawned such innovations as the steam boat, the locomotive, and the horseless carriage.

Prior to the 20th Century, most people rarely traveled more than 30 miles from where they were born. Today, people routinely travel from one continent to another within the same day.

Today's world is definitely not "the way it's always been."

Frequency and speed of travel have markedly increased!

What about knowledge?

In Daniel's time, few people received a formal education. In fact, basic literacy was a foreign concept to all but an elite minority of the world until the past 100 to 150 years.

Yet, in the past century alone, human knowledge of science, biology, technology, and countless fields of endeavor has exploded. And the advent of the Internet has created a worldwide archive of human knowledge that far exceeds even the wildest dreams of the great ancient civilizations.

Is humanity's knowledge base today "the same as previous generations?"

Absolutely not. Human knowledge has also markedly increased.

Given that all this can be ascertained from mere observation, how can anyone say with a straight face that "things today are the same as they've always been?"

4) Exponential Growth Marks the Times

If a marked increase in travel and knowledge constitute one of the most clearly observable signs of the end times, then the two are merely components of a much larger sign of the end times -exponential growth.

Jesus pointed to exponential growth as a sign of His Coming:

"Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, 'When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?' Jesus told them, 'Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning (they will grow or increase in frequency) of the horrors to come.'" 
Matthew 24:3-8 (NLT)

This translation fails to communicate an important revelation from Jesus - that the end times will be analogous to the birthing process.

According to Strong's Concordance, the word "horrors" as translated above comes from the word "odin" which is best translated as "the pain of childbirth" or "birth pangs."

This means that, much like birth pangs, signs of the end times will appear with greater frequency and intensity as Christ's return draws near. This is why Jesus mentioned this sign first when answering his disciples' questions "When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?"

According to Jesus, three things in particular will increase in frequency and intensity as the world draws closer to His return:

Wars

Famines

Earthquakes

Have we seen these three things increase in frequency and intensity in the recent past?

Yes.

Let's take a brief look at wars, famines, and earthquakes over the past 500 years.

Wars - A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of wars, the past 500 years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of wars:

15th Century - 29 wars

16th Century - 59 wars

17th Century - 75 wars

18th Century - 69 wars

19th Century - 294 wars

20th Century - 278 wars

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 55 wars, putting humanity on course for 550 wars over the next one hundred year period.

Have these wars increased in intensity?

Yes.

For most of human history, wars were fought through individual hand-to-hand combat. But the past few hundred years have witnessed the ascension of more accurate guns, machine guns, and aerial bombing. Today, a single weapon of mass destruction can kill hundreds of thousands of people.

Famines - A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of famines, the past 500 years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency of famines:

15th Century - 6 famines

16th Century - 10 famines

17th Century - 24 famines

18th Century - 28 famines

19th Century - 30 famines

20th Century - 44 famines

The first decade of the 21st Century alone has already witnessed 12 famines, putting humanity on course for 120 famines over the next one hundred year period.

Have these famines increased in intensity and severity?

Yes.

As the population of the world has grown, famines have caused more and more death and destruction in their wake.

In fact, while the Roman Empire's entire population at the time of Jesus is estimated to have been approximately 55 million people, the first half of the 20th Century alone witnessed these famine:

The 1921 famine in Russia (5 million+ dead)

The 1928-1929 famine in China (3 million+ dead)

The 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine (2.6 and 10 million+ dead)

The 1932-1933 famine in Kazakhstan (1.2 and 1.5 million+ dead)

The 1936 famine in China (5 million+ dead)

The 1942-1943 famine in China (1 million+ dead)

The 1946-1947 famine in the Soviet Union (1 million+ dead)

That's an estimated 18.8 to 26.5 million who perished from famine just from these seven famines alone!

And from 1959 to 1961, the Great Chinese Famine is estimated to have killed more than 36 million people.

Famines have dramatically increased in both frequency and intensity since Jesus first answered His disciples' questions.

Earthquakes - Another Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of earthquakes, the past 500 years have witnessed the following number of earthquakes described as a magnitude 7.0 or greater:

15th Century - 2 earthquakes

16th Century - 3 earthquakes

17th Century - 7 earthquakes

18th Century - 13 earthquakes

19th Century - 29 earthquakes

20th Century - 123 earthquakes

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 144 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater, putting humanity on course for 1,440 such earthquakes over the next one hundred year period!

The dramatic increase in devastating wars, famines, and earthquakes from the time of Jesus until today is one of clearest signs of the end times.

5) Rise of the Gog/Magog Alliance

Yet another sign of the end times is the current rise of the Gog/Magog Alliance.

The details of this future military alliance against Israel are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:

"This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 'Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.'" Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)

The nations cited in the verses above are associated with their Old Testament predecessors, but they all represent nations that exist today.

Below is a list of those nations, each followed by its modern day equivalent:

Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia

Persia = Iran

Cush = Ethiopia

Put = Libya

Gomer = Turkey

Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor

According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in the last days.

Throughout human history, there's never been a cooperative military alliance between the nations of Russia and Iran - at least until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Since then, a cooperative diplomatic and military alliance between Iran and Russia has formed and slowly expanded, ultimately leading to Russia's assistance in providing Iran with the necessary support to make the Bushehr nuclear power plant operational in 2010.

So when does the Bible tell us this alliance will form?

It definitely says, "in the last days":

"Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies - a vast and awesome horde - will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud." Ezekiel 38:7-9 (NLT)

According to Strong's Concordance, "in the distant future" is better translated as "achariyth shaneh" which means "end years."

6) The Rise of Global Government

Another sign of the end times is the current trend toward globalization.

According to the Book of Revelation, globalization involves more than just multinational corporations and global commerce. One day, a single man will rule all the people and nations on the earth:

"And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation." Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

With each passing day more and more nations are ceding their sovereignty to larger institutions such as the European Union, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Court.

Given the current global financial crisis and the potential catastrophe of a global war, more and more diplomatic leaders and world politicians are calling for global government.

And as human technology continues to advance and mature, we're quickly reaching a point where global totalitarian rule will be possible.

7) The Good News Preached Throughout the World

Jesus revealed the following sign of the end times to His disciples in response to their questions about the end of the age and the sign of His coming:

"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 (NLT)

According to Christ, His Coming is preceded by the preaching of the Gospel "throughout the whole world."

This idea is reiterated in the Book of Revelation.

"And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 'Fear God,' he shouted. 'Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.'" Revelation 14:6-7 (NLT)

In the time of Jesus, the Gospel was confined to a relatively small number of people in and around Israel. And much of the earth's land mass was completely unknown to the disciples of Jesus, so the odds of the disciples preaching the Gospel of Christ "throughout the whole world" in their own time was quite remote.

Yet, 2,000 years later, the Gospel is preached in every nation, the Bible is translated in hundreds of languages, and the Gospel of Christ is delivered through thousands of ministries via radio, cable TV, satellite, and the Internet.

Is this "the way it's always been?"

Nope.

The truth is our generation is closer to preaching the Gospel "throughout the whole world" than any preceding generation.

Signs of the End Times

These are just seven signs of the end times, but they aren't the only signs.

The Bible has much to say about the last days and the time of the end, and as followers of Christ, we are warned to recognize the signs of the times.

"Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near." Matthew 24:28 (NLT)  Here Jesus is saying that when you see vultures flying overhead there is a 100% certainty that there is a dead body below, well when you see these signs I have mentioned then you know the end is near. 

Why?

Because if we acknowledge the signs of the end times as well as our Lord's command to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live Godly lives. Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:

"Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11 (NLT)

Remember, all prophecy exists to give a clear witness for Christ:

"For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." 
Revelation 19:10 (NLT)

And prophecy is telling us that Christ is coming.

"In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door." Matthew 24:33 (NLT)

Remember that the end of the world will not be the end of the planet.  While the planet gets a complete makeover, the bible when speaking of the end of the world refers to the end of a rule, of a system of wicked governing.  Of course there will be catastrophic events happening all during this time but for the true christian we shall overcome.  WATCH AND PREPARE!!!

Get a Free copy of "A Declaration to the Spiritual Soldier" By Minister Speed

Starting right now I will be sending out 5 of my new books to the first 5 individuals (Shipping free) who correctly answer the 3 questions below. 

Hint: the answers have been posted on my site throughout my blogs.  Answer through the comment section of this post.  God bless!!!

1. What is the difference between NewVival and Revival?

2. What does it mean to have a Renewed mind?
3. What do each of the items on the front book cover of my new book represent?

Could you use an Increase of Faith? By Minister Speed

Phil:4:6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Brother and Sisters If God said it then why are you worried about it.  Stand on His word and have faith.  Thank God that it's already done and let the negative sayers and dis- believers go.  It's time to have some FAITH...

The bible says without faith it is impossible to please God.  I say without faith it is impossible to "Hear" God.  Now faith comes b hearing and hearing by the word of God.  Pick up that rusty sword which is the Word of God and know that Faith IS!

When the disciples asked "The Master" to increase their faith in Luke 17:5, and the Lord replied, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

See to ask for more faith is an indication of hardly any faith.  Faith is not to be increased; rather faith is to be put into practical application.  It takes a kind of faith to turn on the lights when you walk into your house on a dark night.  But know if you haven’t paid the bill then there will be much doubt when you’re ready to click that switch. 

For the Christian that bill has already been paid but the stipulation to living life to an abundance (advantage) is ( and I will now paraphrase Roman 10:17) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by “DOING” the word of God.

You see in the eyes of Jesus “DOING” is equated to “ BELIEVING.” Not “DOING” is equated to “UNBELIEF.” 

In Matthew 17:19-21 The disciples could not cast out a demon that had a stronghold in a small boy.  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

So we see even the disciples had a problem believing that they could do something they were already given the power to do.  Once Jesus explained to them the principles of faith they begin to understand and walk in their Power, Authority, and Dominion.  Listen I’m not talking about speeches, or repetitive word.  I’m talking about POWER.  It’s already there.  Brothers and Sisters, We lack nothing!!!

The problem is many of us are RESTING our faith, believing that his past accomplishments were somehow enough.  The Big Book calls that “Resting on our Laurels.”  The bible speaks on this in Luke 17:7*8*9.  It reads;

7 Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?  8Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”  

In this parable God has revealed to me that the Servant is your faith.

The Servant coming from the field indicates a previous work or harvest in your life.  Many of us have recovered from addictions, been delivered from sickness, have received Salvation, but now we are RESTING the SERVANT as if he needed rest.  That deliverance wasn't too big for Faith. Stop acting as if it was too big for you.

It’s time to tell your Servant to get up and go out there and get to work.  Don’t stop and take care of yourself faith.  Get in here and wait on me and take care of my needs.  Then you can go and rest.  Stop thanking the Servant (faith) for doing what he is supposed to be doing and put him to work as this is his only duty.  Thank God for the faith which exists in full power already for you.

Now walk in it.

Now talk in it

Now move in it.

Now pick up the Word of God and Do it. 

This message here is coming from the Word of God.

Somebody’s going to open up and receive this like it the number one music/video track this year.

In the meantime I’m going to be walking by faith and not by sight….Peace

Halloween Party Theme 7 Deadly Sins By Minister Speed

I was recently sent this picture about a Halloween costume and dance party. It was being presented by BLACK ENTERTAINMENT. The photo stated the theme of the party was The 7 Deadly SINS. It went on to state that you had to dress in a costume to gain entrance and that you should come dressed in your sin of choice. 

 It’s amazing to me how most lose the ability to mentally understand the devastating effects of Satan in the world and even when he EXPOSES HIS PLAN COMPLETELY most will laugh it off and participate as if all is well. 

 In looking at the photograph we get a clear understanding of what’s being perpetrated upon this world by Satan. 

 At the top of the picture it reads “Indulge all your senses as you enter a world of comfort, class, and fantasy". Here we see Satan as he plays upon His prey by offering them the desires of the flesh. His play upon words is amazing. How can a person willingly participate in DEADLY SINS and be in a world of comfort, class, or even fantasy? 

 How is it that a person could be so BLIND and IGNORANT that they could not see the TRUTH about this obviously and blatant EVIL and WICKED STRATEGY?

 Underneath the caption you see a woman who has a HALO over her head with HORNS sticking out of her head obviously as a reference to “FALLING ANGEL” with “BLACK WINGS.” The audacity of Satan is amazing. 

 The bible says no man can serve two masters. He must choose . To not make a decision is to make a choice for SATAN. The strategy between good and evil has taken on new heights and I know that many will participate in this affair who call themselves Christians and will shrink off the truth and worship Satan to fulfill the lust of their flesh. 

 There will also be many who blindly will follow their master to the pit of hell. The sad truth is the people who created this event must have some background with what’s going on. Satan’s lieutenants are very skilled in deception and have mastery in SIN. Most people have no idea of the seriousness of the 7 SEVEN DEADLY SIN.

 THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS 

1. Lust- or lechery (carnal "luxuria") is an intense desire. It is usually thought of as excessive sexual wants, however the word was originally a general term for desire. Therefore lust could involve the intense desire of money, fame, or power as well. 

2. Gluttony - Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony (Latin, gula) is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In Christianity, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, and its withholding from the needy. Because of these scripts, gluttony can be interpreted as selfishness; essentially placing concern with one's own interests above the well-being or interests of others. 

3. Greed - Greed (Latin, avaritia), also known as avarice or covetousness, is, like lust and gluttony, a sin of excess. However, greed (as seen by the church) is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that greed was "a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things." "Avarice" is more of a blanket term that can describe many other examples of greedy behavior. These include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason especially for personal gain, for example through bribery. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed. 

4. Sloth - (Latin, Socordia) can entail different vices. While sloth is sometimes defined as physical laziness, spiritual laziness is emphasized. Failing to develop spiritually is key to becoming guilty of sloth. In Christian faith, sloth rejects grace and God. Sloth has also been defined as a failure to do things that one should do. By this definition, evil exists when good men fail to act. 

5. Wrath - (Latin, ira), also known as "rage", may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Wrath, in its purest form, presents with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Wrath may persist long after the person who did another a grievous wrong is dead. Feelings of anger can manifest in different ways, including impatience, revenge, and vigilantism. 

6. Envy - Like greed and lust, Envy (Latin, invidia) is characterized by an insatiable desire. Envy is similar to jealousy in that they both feel discontent towards someone’s traits, status, abilities, or rewards. The difference is the envious also desire that entity and covet it. Envy can be directly related to the Ten Commandments, specifically "Neither shall you desire... anything that belongs to your neighbor". 

7. Pride.  In almost every list, pride (Latin, superbia), or hubris (Greek), is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the source of the others. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). In perhaps the best-known example, the story of Lucifer, pride (his desire to compete with God) was what caused his fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan. 

My brothers and sisters it is time to awaken to the raging warfare around us. God is not to be mocked. You have a choice and that choice must be evident. Please understand that your choice will affect the lives of everyone around you including your children. These traditions are not harmless playthings. They are precursors to destruction. 

 I will close with several Bible verses which will help you understand what God has to say. 

 1 Corinthians 10:21 ESV You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 

Ephesians 5:6-12 ESV Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 

 Hosea 4:6 ESV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 

 Ephesians 5:7-12 ESV Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 

 Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

He Whom The Son Sets Free Is Free Indeed ! By Minister Speed

It is a very common and human desire to want people to accept you and to be popular among them. What I've learned is that people have their own antics or hang-up but because I'm a very direct or non-politically correct individual, and I live my life carefree, many people really don't know how to handle me. I speak my mind frankly, and I'm convinced from experience that the majority of people can't handle that. When it comes to love, there is only one whose love is unconditional and that is God Himself and even that comes with some things you must do.

Some people strive to be that way, but often fall short of it. As a result, they form opinions and attitudes’ that aren't correct. Because I'm examining myself and in spiritual inventory, it is liberating me! It is liberating me from caring about what people say and do; especially when it comes to me! I am a divine creation, made in God's image and likeness. 

Every flaw that I have, God knew about it when He made me. Every success and failure that I experience, He knew as well. The only popularity contest that I care to be in, is the one for God. Because ONLY He has the best rewards and incentive programs! 


I have accepted the fact that my life was predestined for greatness and that I am truly unique. So unique, that the eloquence and regalness that is etched in my soul is far too rich for others to fathom. Many look upon me, some come to know me, and they all just scratch their heads. Why? Because they don’t get me or the processes in which God is walking me through.


I am no longer subjected to, ruled by, nor influenced, or impacted mentally and emotionally today by the need to be accepted! Today is the day that I choose to be who and what I am, at all cost! If I never get invited into the upper echelon of society and organizations, I am at peace with knowing that I held onto the truth.


The truth of the Father! The one He gave me, when he formed and shaped me. Some reading this may wonder why it sounds like I'm just speaking of self, but it's not! Look a little deeper and you will realize what has been have sacrificed and what has been lost. Most of the time I spend giving and caring for others. I don’t regret doing any of those things, nor do I boast in them. Because ALL good things are a direct result of God.


The Father loves me. I am His vessel, chosen and specially designed. There is no need for affirmation from anybody walking and breathing. God is maturing me in this area through these experiences. I'm learning to carefully elect that which I allow to occupy the corridors of my mind, will, and emotions. God is my filter, He is my EVERYTHING and I have everything I could ever need or want...in Yahshua (Jesus)! I can speak His truth and not fear reprisal or retribution from anyone or anything.  I am Gods agent!!!

For those who read this and are offended, perhaps it’s time to try on new focus lenses. Take the time to re-evaluate yourself, so that no one else has to! Be blessed in Yahshua Hamaschia who is Jesus the Christ.

Christians Financially Supporting Satan? By Minister Speed

Here at The Christian Restoration Ministry we believe that when Christians shop they should do so at companies dedicated to Renewing the Mind and Transforming Lives through Jesus Christ. We feel strongly that the products we buy and the ministries we support should reflect the same goal. 

We believe in the life changing power of the Bible and it’s Savor Jesus Christ, and support ministries like The Christian Renaissance Inreach Ministries, as well as Ex Ministries in their endeavor to reach the world with God’s Word.

Our mission is to be a resource center that provides for spiritual and intellectual needs. We feel the music we listen to should glorify God and encourages others to grow in their faith. 

We believe the books we read should teach Godly principles and challenge readers to understand God in a more intimate way. The gifts and framed art pieces in the stores we buy from should carry reminders of God’s love, strength, power, and holiness. They should remind us of the wonder of the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

The educational resources materials we offer help build up and enable future generations to be prepared for the plans God has for them.

Listen my brothers and sisters; it is time to stop supporting the retailers of this world who don’t support the Christian Agenda. It is clear that they are against our God and they make every effort to eradicate God from this Country. 

I see numerous Christians especially the sisters who sport expensive handbags, shoes and clothing made by homosexual designers, or retailers who support or mentor those who have made it clear that Christianity is a cause they want to bring down. I liken this to sleeping with the enemy.

The bible states in Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. There should be a Transfer of Wealth in the USA but we as Christians are still serving the world and our children and their children are being assured no earthly inheritance by their parents. 

The average Christian is hypocritical, ignorant, and a microorganism of the world itself.

It’s time to stop being led by the enemy with his subtle marketing ploys and subliminal suggestion which seduces Christians to buy and shop according to the dictates of this world.

Now, regarding the media (Multi*Ethnic*Destruction*In*America) industry.

We know that Hollywood clearly doesn’t respect or honor Christianity, and in fact, goes out of its way to abuse and mock Christians. They have turned a deaf ear to Christians for decades, and as a consequence, have taken a huge financial hit at the box office the last several years. Christian Americans have voted “no more” to Hollywood abuse.

Money is the only thing they understand, so an uncompromising financial message needs to be sent to big corporations that whenever they abuse or support the abuse of Christians, they will pay a very dear price. It’s time to come out of her (the world) so that you receive not of her judgements and her rewards. 

Stop supporting the world and start supporting Jesus!!!!

The Decline of Christianity In America. By Minister Speed

Are we witnessing the decline of Christianity in America? When you examine all of the most recent poll numbers, the answer is inescapable. Christian churches in America are losing members rapidly, and this trend is especially dramatic among young Americans. According to a stunning new survey by America's Research Group, 95 percent of 20 to 29 year old evangelicals attended church regularly during their elementary and middle school years. However, only 55 percent of them attended church regularly during high school, and only 11 percent of them were still regularly attending church when in college.


Those numbers have got to be incredibly sobering to the evangelical Christian leadership in the United States. The reality is that young Americans are deserting the Church in America in droves. The other day we came across an article in Advertising Age that blew us away.

The article was discussing marketing and religion, but what impacted us so profoundly were some figures from the American Religious Identification Survey by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society & Culture at Trinity College. According to that survey, 15% of Americans now say they have "no religion" which is up from 8% in 1990.

That would be bad enough news for evangelical Christianity. But there is some more news from that survey that is much worse. In that same survey, 46% of Americans between the ages of 18 to 34 indicated that they had no religion. Forty. Six. Percent.


It is important to realize that not all of those 46 percent are unbelievers. According to a survey by Bohan Advertising/Marketing, the Barna Group and the United Methodist Church, 62 percent of Americans in that age group consider themselves to be "spiritual" (see my note entitled "what is spirituality), and 43 percent of them have prayed to some higher power in the last 2 months. But what it does mean is that almost half of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 do not identify themselves with any particular religion.


Remember in my new book entitled "A Declaration to the Spiritual Soldier" I wrote: "Many do not understand that millions under the age of thirty have no God consciousness. They have not accepted the tenants of Christianity and live a pagan lifestyle reflecting an if it feels good, then it must be good mindset. They are technologically advanced, politically astute, educationally empowered, but lack the necessary moral compass derived from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

In a way, they are a reflection of our brothers and sisters within the church who gives them credence to remain ignorant in God because they see no value or difference between Christianity and this world. To them the average Christian is hypocritical, ignorant, and a microorganism of the world itself".


When you look at more recent poll numbers for Christianity in particular, the numbers become even more staggering. Another new survey by the Barna group reveals that less than "1" percent of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 23 hold a Biblical worldview. This new poll data clearly demonstrates that the youngest adults in America are clearly rejecting traditional evangelical Christian teaching.


The Barna survey defined "a Biblical worldview" as holding all of the following six key beliefs: 1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists. 2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches. 3) Believing that Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic. 4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works. 5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth. 6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.


So what do all of these poll numbers mean? They mean that evangelical Christianity has totally lost almost an entire generation of American young people. Meanwhile, the Christian Science Monitor recently published an article about the "coming evangelical collapse" that they believe is coming. They openly predict that "within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants." Ouch!

The reality is that nearly all Christian denominations are rapidly losing members at this point. The most recent American Religious Identification Survey demonstrates this fact very clearly. According to that survey, the percentage of Americans who call themselves Christians has dropped more than 11% since 1990.

The survey also reports that Catholics, Baptists and other mainline Protestant churches have seen very large drops in numbers. However, Islam, Wicca and eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism showed large gains in the survey. The long-term trends look even more frightening for the churches in America. According to LifeWay Research, membership in Southern Baptist churches will fall nearly 50 percent to around 8.7 million Americans by the year 2050 if current trends continue.

But even more bad news for evangelical Christianity in America is that those who still call themselves Christians do not necessarily hold to traditional Christian beliefs any longer. Two other recent surveys reveal that the majority of American Christians believe that accepting Jesus Christ as savior is NOT the only way to eternal life. USAToday recently reported on an almost unbelievable new survey that found that 52 percent of American Christians believe that eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior.


A different survey that was taken last year by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 57 percent of evangelical Christians in America believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life". That shocking study revealed what many evangelical leaders have known for a long time - large number of "Christians" in the United States are throwing traditional Christian doctrines into the dumpster. Evangelical Christians have traditionally been those who follow the teachings of the Bible most literally.

But these new surveys indicate that even a majority of them do not believe in the most fundamental precepts of the Christians faith any longer. For example, in John 14:6 Jesus says the following: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If there was another way for our sins to be forgiven, then why did Jesus need to die on the cross? If there were other ways to salvation, then Jesus could have come down to earth, pointed out a bunch of other ways to get to heaven, and then could have gone back up to heaven without having to deal with the cross.

But the reality is that there was no other way for our sins to be paid for. And yet these new surveys reveal that a majority of American Christians now believe that there are plenty of other ways to get to heaven.


The Pew survey referenced above also revealed that 45% of Americans say that they seldom or never read their religion's holy books. Perhaps if more American Christians were actually reading the Bible they would know what is truth and what is error. Instead, American Christians have surrounded themselves with preachers and self-help coaches and "feel-good" ministers who tell them what they want to hear, who always make them feel comfortable and who never, ever tell them about sin, holiness or the judgment of God.

The current situation in the churches of America reminds us of 2 Timothy 4:3..... For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.


The reality is that past generations of America faithfully filled up churches across the nation that were preaching the Word of God, but today the vast majority of Americans stay home from church each week, and many of the churches that are still drawing crowds are watering down their messages as much as they can in a desperate attempt to hold on to the people who are still there. Dave Olson, the director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church, has done some really interesting research into the church attendance patterns of Americans.

Olson's research found that the percentage of Americans that regularly attend church is only 18.7%. In addition, his research shows that if current trends continue, the percentage of the U.S. population that attends church each week in 2050 will be about half of what it is today. All of these polls and surveys tell us the same thing: Christianity in America is in a serious state of decline - especially among young people.


Many Christian leaders who read this article will try to deny it or will try to make excuses. But all of these polls are not lying. The truth is that we need to examine ourselves. Is God moving where you worship? Do our churches look like the authentic Christian movement that we read about in the book of Acts? Are our lives significantly different from what we see in the world? Are our services lifeless, joyless exercises in futility? Do we truly have great love for one another and a passion to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

If we want any chance to win back the next generation, then we are going to have to get back to the real thing. If you do not have "the real thing" in your church, then it is time to start asking yourself some really hard questions.