I am spending a few lessons on the topic of gold because so much trust has been placed on it. From the governments of the world for their economic stability to the individual seeking to have a solid financial security for the future, gold has been the ch
oice of many.

The Old Testament role was quite straight forward. Gold served as money or adornment. Corruption certainly existed during Bible day. For example, people would shave gold coins, until they ended up as little more than nubs. Still gold remained and its value was not systematically destroyed nor manipulated through a financial money system. The time of King Solomon was known as the Golden Age of Israel. Solomon had lots of gold, in fact earning over 600 talents of gold per year and more.

We have seen what gold has done over the years of history since the birthing of the church. This history according to Acts chapter 2 is known as the period of “the last days”. Gold prices have climbed and fallen. However, it is the use and value of gold during the Tribulation period which should interest us. The Bible seems to suggest that gold holdings will be of little help at that time.

Ezekiel 7:19 ESV They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.

People will continue to hold on to their materialistic idolatries and corrupt financial systems despite terrible times of crisis and tribulation.

Revelation 9:20-21 ESV The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, (21) nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.  

In Rev.6:6 we that it will take a full days wage to buy some grain for bread. I would like to share a story from the internet about a grandmother in Germany telling her grandson about a time between WWI and WWII.

Revelation 6:6 ESV And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!"

ONE MAN’S STORY:

As a little boy I used to ask my grandmother to tell me stories of her life as a young girl in Germany. She was always reluctant to talk about it, but I was usually able to coax something out of her. I didn’t understand until I was much older, but her reluctance was a result of the pain those memories caused. One of the stories that she would tell took place after the First World War.

Germany lost and, in so doing, agreed to the Treaty of Versailles. In addition to the loss of geographical territory, the German Weimar Republic was forced to pay enormous sums in reparations. In essence, the Germans had to pay for all of the damage done in the war. Germany did not have the financial means to pay these damages and their solution was to just print money.

As this new money moved into circulation the impact was devastating to the German economy. The inflation rate was absolutely staggering. A few years after the end of the war the German economy had an inflation rate in excess of 300% per month! The economy had essentially collapsed and the country was experiencing a depression of enormous proportions. This set the stage for the rise of the Nazi party several years later.

Which brings us back to my grandmother’s story. She would tell me how her father and brothers, all coal miners, would get paid twice a day. The currency was devaluing so fast that it needed to be spent as fast as it was earned. My grandmother told of collecting the money and going shopping for food.

The grocers didn’t even bother counting the money. They just estimated the amount by how large the stack was. A loaf of bread could be purchased for two bags of money in the morning, by the afternoon the price might be three bags. The currency had so little value that people would burn it in their stoves for heat because wood had more value than the money.

The reason I share this is because many people everywhere will be starving, and money and gold will be worthless compared to a scrap of bread.

GOLD AND SILVER (Continued)

I am spending a few lessons on the topic of gold because so much trust has been placed on it. From the governments of the world for their economic stability to the individual seeking to have a solid financial security for the future, gold has been the choice of many.
 
The topic of gold evokes interest today just as it always has throughout the millennia. Much of mankind’s history has surely been motivated by the possession of this fascinating metal. One would think that there must be lots of gold in the world today. Not so. If all the gold presently existing above ground in the world were put into one place, it would amount to one solid cube the size of a doubles tennis court and 45 feet high.

That block would represent most of the gold ever mined in history. It is estimated that only about 15% of all gold ever produced has been either consumed or lost. The rest of it all remains accounted for and owned by some person or entity today. There is only about 160,000 tons of gold in the world today. This seems like a lot but it equates to less than one ounce per person on the earth.

Why the big attraction to gold? It is a rare and special substance and one of its most valued properties being that it does not corrode. The only other metal that rivals gold’s properties is platinum. However, platinum is very difficult to produce and is much rarer. The timelessness of gold and also the fact that it is only found in pure form in nature are qualities much admired. In the Bible, gold is used to express ideas of purity, value and wealth.

Gold also plays a significant role in prophecy. Today’s world with its corrupt monetary systems, will want to heed what the Scriptures say about gold, especially its “last day” roles. Unfortunately, there exist some serious misconceptions and false hopes about gold today.

Many believe that in light of hyperinflation, perhaps a massive worldwide economic depression, monetary debasement by corrupt governments or any other form of economic theft, gold will hold its value. Is this really the case? No! We could cite reams of supporting economic and financial history on this point, both ancient and modern.

The history of the past century alone will dispel all such comfortable notions. Despite two world wars, a supposed massive debasement of our currencies hyperinflation, and the recent gold rally, gold has returned a total of -9% in real terms in 111 years. The supposed financial safe harbor of gold has been a myth. Yet it still stands as a stronger investment value than any currency.

Before going any further, it is therefore important to settle this point of “false hope.” In this present age of gold, as alluring and hopeful as it may appear, it does not offer a sure escape from monetary corruption nor judgment. It may be a promising investment from time to time. It may even provide protection from the ravages of inflation during certain periods. But it will not provide assurance against a world “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (See Matt.6:20). In the first place, we must remember that our Lord Jesus Christ still remains in heaven and that this world still remains thoroughly corrupted. 

This great era of human history from a commercial point of view can be called “the Age of Global Capital”. It is marked by world-wide sophisticated forms of monetary corruption and theft. Because of these conditions, many people seek a safe haven for their savings. Investors therefore value gold for what they believe is its property of “real money.”

Just what does the Bible say about gold today and its future roles, especially at the time that God restores everything? In tackling this subject, we need to consider gold’s role over five different eras of time:

1.  Old Testament times
2.  The Last Days (beginning with the revealing of the Church in the Book of Acts)
3.  The Tribulation period
4.  The Millennium
5.  The Eternal Jerusalem

To be continued...

Among many who truly profess the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, there is little disagreement concerning the doctrine of salvation.  Most would agree that salvation is a work of GRACE, which is appropriated by faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But when it comes to a personal life of holiness, personal growth and maturity, and walking daily in victory, there are many opinions to draw from. We seem to know how to “DEAL” with committed sins, we can just ask forgiveness and move on.  But, how do we deal with the daily life sins that seem to rob the believer of joy and victory?  How do we handle those “LIFE CONTROLLING” sins that always set us back? 

There are always questions concerning the “FLESH”, “SIN”, and those “NAGGING PROBLEMS” that we can’t seem to get victory over.  There seems to be the idea among some believers that there are sins that are destined to be a part of our lives forever.  Then there is the idea that we can “carry” certain issues around all our lives by calling them our “THORNS IN THE FLESH”.  This would imply that we are spiritualizing or even condoning our sins and weaknesses, and that we truly believe that God does so as well.  This belief about our sins is incorrect and against the Word of Truth.

Then there is the issue of “OLD ADAM”.  Who is he?  Is he really dead?  Do I have the power and right to raise him up to live within me?  Can I blame my sins on my “OLD ADAMIC NATURE?”

In this series we have been proclaiming Biblical promises that are ours because of our standing in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. I would like for us to look at some more of the promises that are ours because we are believers and a part of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are to defeat the sin within us we need to see ourselves the way God has called us and then act on that.

(2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV) But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

(2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV) For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

(2 Corinthians 2:16 ESV) to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

In parts 5-10 I revealed that praise is not worship and worship is not praise. Much of what we call worship in the church is praise to God or entertainment to man. I stated that worship is tied to the spirit of man, the heart of man and the physical body of man. It involves the physical act of bowing the head, bowing the body, kneeling, or laying flat before the Lord. No time is the word worship used in the Scriptures that music is involved. 

I stated in the last study that  the first time the word worship is used in the Bible it was used by Abraham when he was going to Mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac.

Genesis 22:5-6 ESV Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." (6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.

The Hebrew word used here and a total of 171 times in the Old Testament is shaw-khaw' which is H7812 in Strong's. 

TO WORSHIP MEANS: To prostrate before; to bow to pay homage to royalty or to God; To bow down, crouch down, or fall down flat in humility; To revere in the heart and with physical body; to stoop to; to adore.

TRUE BIBLICAL WORSHIP IS AN EXPRESSION OF HUMILITY:

We can’t truly worship unless we humble ourselves.   The difference between worship and praise is that I can praise God to someone by boasting and shouting and singing praise, but I can’t worship God to someone. Real Biblical worship is personal. Real worship is the most intimate time with God a person can have.

Another Old Testament word for worship is H5456.

The word is saw-gad' and means to prostrate oneself (in homage): to fall down. This was used when Nebuchadnezzar decreed that at the sound of the music everyone would fall on their face and worship his golden image.

Daniel 3:4-6 ESV And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, (5) that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (6) And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."

When Nebuchadnezzar saw the deliverance of the three Hebrew servants by God from the fiery furnace he decreed that the three would bow and lay before no one except the God of Israel.

Daniel 3:28 ESV Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

Next study we will look at the New Testament words for worship.

GOLD AND SILVER (Continued)

We have been discussing the use and need for gold and silver in the end times. One of the ways to see how these will be used in the end times is to see how they were used in the Old Testament. Remember these verses in Ecclesiastes which basically tells us there is nothing new under the sun. The things that were will be again. The things that are now have been before. In other words history repeats itself. So, we can look to the use of gold three to five thousand years ago and see how it will be used in the end times when there will be a one world-wide money system.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 ESV (9) What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. (10) Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us. (11) There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 ESV (14) I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (15) That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

GOLD-SILVER-SEED-FLOUR:
We will see a return to using gold and silver along with seed and flour as a means of money for a season: If you can't afford to have gold or silver, then get seed and flour. However, don't place your trust in these. They will be a short-lived means of trade in the end times.

Gold and Silver, as is all of creation, are from God, and given to man for good use, for a useful purpose. Gold, silver, seed, and flour, were all used as money in the Old Testament, (See Lev. 27:16, 2 Kings 7:1).

SIGN OF WEALTH:
There has been a lot of false teachings concerning true Biblical prosperity in the body of Christ over the years. As a result of the teaching the only ones getting wealthy are the TV evangelists asking for your faith seed. There will be those in the end times that will be deemed the wealthy and for a season will have some clout.

The vast majority of the time that gold and silver are mentioned in the Bible, it is in reference to the wealth of the kings of Israel or to the wealth of the Temple of the Lord. Gold and silver were used in the workings and furnishings of the Ark of the Covenant, and the vessels in the temple. Therefore, gold is definitely approved by God for men to use as money and as a store of wealth.

We strongly believe that the Jewish Temple needs to be rebuilt. Everyone talks about the need for the Ark of the Covenant, the Red Heifer, and the re-establishment of the High Priest and the priesthood. However, lest we forget, it will take an incredible amount of gold to rebuild the Temple with everything that was required. This means that there are some Jews who are storing gold for such a project.

UNJUST MEASURE:
The people were to have and use "just weights and measures." The standard Hebrew units to measure the weight of things such as iron, stone, flour or anything, were the shekel or talent (or other measures), and also used to measure the weight of gold and silver. Unjust weights and measures were "an abomination to the Lord", (See Lev.19:35, Deut.25:15, Prov.20:10).

As it was in the early Old Testament days so will it be in the last days. There will be crooks looking to survive by cheating others in their weighting of gold silver and the product being purchased.

UNJUST INTEREST:
We scream a lot about certain immoral decisions coming from our law-makers, but are silent about other things. When a Jew borrowed money from a Jew it was forbidden by God to charge him interest.

However we built a nation of banks on the interest charged from loans. Just because we all have paid interest all of our adult lives does not mean that it is right. 

Charging interest when lending money was forbidden by God’s Law unless to a foreigner, (See Ex.22:25, Lev.25:36-37, Deut.23:19-20, Ps.15:5, Prov.28:8, Ez.18:12-13, Neh. 5).

Currently I have seen credit cards with interest rates from 22 to 29 percent. This is not only against God's law but it is robbery. When the last of the last days comes upon us we will see interest rates sky rocket to 100 percent or higher. Those who have will take advantage of those who need.

To be continued:

WHEN YOU ARE FEELING DEPRESSED OR DISCOURAGED:

We all at times get down, even to the place of depression, or get discouraged at the ways things are, the load we carry, or from a sense of loneliness. Many times we just need a revival of heart, (revival of the way we think, the way we feel and the way we make choices.

The revival we need is not a church meeting but a renewed meeting with the Father and His Word about what is going on within us. Because typically when we are down and feel this way we are not so ready to take advice from anyone, even those close to us and love us the most, and we typically take on a victim mindset. It is common even for a Christian, yet for a believer it is not common and very dangerous to stay in this down, lonely, discouraged, or depressed stage.

Therefore, here are some Scriptures to think on, be revived on and to pray on to be encouraged by and hopefully break the cycle and restore the soul to a place of God's joy and peace. Many are Scriptures we know well, but don't let the familiarity of the Scripture rob you of the true impact of the Scripture. Take your time with these Scriptures, don't rush through them. Life is not a 100 yard dash but a marathon. Enjoy the journey as much as we believe we will enjoy the destination.

Philippians 4:4-7 ESV  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  (5)  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  (6)  do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 ESV  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV  It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

Psalms 34:17-19 ESV  When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  (18)  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  (19)  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalms 40:1-3 ESV  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  (2)  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  (3)  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 3:2-5 ESV  many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah.  (3)  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.  (4)  I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah.  (5)  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalms 42:11 ESV  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  (7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

John 16:33 ESV  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV  (3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  (13)  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Many believe that prior to the return of Christ Israel will become very rich in gold and silver. I will pose some statements and questions and then offer some Scriptures. Although I have extensive teachings on each question I have intentionally left it out so that you can formulate your own opinion based on Scriptures.

I want to continue on the topic of GOLD & SILVER from part 7 to help us understand the role of these precious metals during the last days. In part 7 I listed Scriptures concerning Gold and Silver. In this part I will share what I believe will happen to lead us to the one world money system.

1.  SHOULD I INVEST IN THE STOCKMARKET, STOCKPILE MONEY, GOLD, SILVER, LAND, OR HOUSES? (Continued from part 7)

SILVER AND GOLD:

These precious metals must rise in value enough so to move other nations to envy so that Russia and the Arab nations will be led to invade Israel at the start of the tribulation period, (See Ezekiel 38 & 39). This is because Israel will possess a lot of the world's gold.

Many believe that gold and silver at the start of the tribulation will become extremely valuable, even much more so than today.  This is especially true after all major currencies suffer devaluations and there is severe economic collapse. This devaluation and economic collapse is a planned event to bring about the chaos necessary to humble the nations into accepting world rule by the antichrist.

The world rule by the antichrist in the tribulation will involve a world currency, which might include an electronic tracking system of gold credits, (See Dan 11:38, 11:43).  All of this will bring about the mark of the beast which is needed to buy and sell anything, (See Rev.13:16-18).

It is believed that during this tribulation period, many (not all) of those possessing gold and silver, who refuse to accept the mark of the beast, will be hunted down and beheaded, (See Rev. 20:4).

This may lead to a law which will make it illegal to possess gold and silver in physical form as an unauthorized individual, (without the mark or number or authority of the beast). I believe that this would be a worldwide ban, (See Ez.7:19). This will probably just be the final 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period, (See Dan 7:25, 9:27, Rev 13:5).

Finally, for the survivors of the tribulation, gold and silver will be restored as money worldwide, in accordance with the economic laws and principles as outlined in the Hebrew law, (See Zech. 14:16, Is.2:2-5).

A key set of verses in the Bible in Ecclesiastes reveals that the things that were will be again. This means that we can look into the way certain things were used in the Old Testament and determine how the end times will repeat the same usage. The next study in the series will cover this.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 ESV (9) What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. (10) Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us. (11) There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 ESV (14) I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (15) That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

Today we start with what true Biblical worship is. We have spent a number of lessons discussing what it is not. We spoke about different words for praise and how each word gives a different way to praise the King of Glory. In no way did we exhaust the ways the Word gives us to praise and I highly recommend a personal deep study into the many different aspects of praise. To review some of words for praise.

1.  "Towdah" and means to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. 
2.  "Yadah" which means to lift our hands. 
3.  "Baruch" which means to bless.
4.  "Shabach" and means to shout.
5.  "Zamar" and means to play a musical instrument or to sing before the Lord.
6.  "Halal" and means to rave or boast about the Lord.

Did you notice #5 "Zamar"? This is the word for playing a musical instrument or singing. This is a form of praise and is not worship. In fact, there is NO Scripture about worship in which there is music or singing involved. This is not to say that praise cannot lead us into worship. This is not to say that worship cannot lead us into praise. It is to say that when we are singing or listening to a "Christian" song it is either a form of praise or entertainment but not to be confused with worshipping God. Praising God is not worshipping, and worshipping God is not praising.

WORSHIP:
It is amazing that the first time the word worship is used in the Bible it was used by Abraham. The situation in which he used it was incredible.

Genesis 22:5-6 ESV Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." (6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.

Abraham was headed up to Mount Moriah to offer Isaac, his son of promise. He turned to his servants who had come on the journey with them and told them to stay while he and Isaac go and worship the Lord.

The Hebrew word used here and a total of 171 times in the Word of God is shaw-khaw'

TO WORSHIP MEANS: To prostrate before; to bow to pay homage to royalty or to God; To bow down, crouch down, or fall down flat in humility; To revere in the heart and with physical body; to stoop to; to adore.

TRUE BIBLICAL WORSHIP IS AN INWARD AND OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF HUMILITY:

We can’t truly worship unless we humble ourselves.  Being prostrate is good because we are as low as we can be to see how big God is. Fear the Lord God = awe, reverence, (who am I in comparison to God). Think of a speck of dust in air, a pebble at foot of the mountains, or one of our tears compared to the size of the ocean. YET GOD LOVES ME AND KNOWS HOW MANY HAIRS ARE ON MY HEAD. 

I can praise God to someone by boasting and shouting and singing praise, but I can’t worship God to someone. Real Biblical worship is personal. Real worship is the most intimate time with God a person can have.

To be continued:

This part of the preparation is for the believer. It will not answer every question, and although I have some strong opinions about some areas of end times preparation I will leave the final conclusion to the reader.

Let me make some statements about the preparation of items for the “End Times” before getting into a list. First I want to say that we cannot store enough stuff to overcome what is about to happen.

We are saved BY FAITH and KEPT BY FAITH. So even though we should be prepared and store up some items, our trust is not in what we store. The storage of items are meant to be for ministering in the “End Times” and not meant for us to solely move into a survivalist mentality. At the time of this writing we in the United States and most of the world are on lockdown because of the pandemic Coronavirus. Over the last 20 years I have been a quasi-prepper. I have a lot of things stored up, but certainly not enough. As an example, when the virus hit and people cleaned the shelves of necessary items, such as alcohol, I already had a supply stored back.

Question: Would we feed ourselves and our family and watch our neighbors starve to death? If we are survivalists we really need to rethink our motivation for stockpiling. We believe that the Old Testament is a shadow of New Testament substance. Much of the “End Times” theology is taken from Old Testament Scriptures.

But why is it that we pick and choose which Scriptures and which shadows we should borrow from? How about the story of the Israelites coming out of Egypt and God cared for them for 40 years? They were fed each morning with Manna from heaven, and they were not to stockpile from day to day but trust the Lord each day for provision. I see this happening again for believing believers. Therefore, the stockpiling of food is mainly for use to feed those who have no faith and are coming to know the Lord in the crisis of the events.

I will pose some statements and questions and then offer some Scriptures. Although I have extensive teachings on each question I have intentionally left it out so that you can formulate your own opinion based on Scriptures.

1.  SHOULD I INVEST IN THE STOCKMARKET, STOCKPILE MONEY, GOLD, SILVER, LAND, OR HOUSES?

SILVER AND GOLD:

The topic of gold evokes interest today just as it always has throughout the millennia. Much of mankind’s history has surely been motivated by the possession of this fascinating metal. One would think that there must be lots of gold in the world today. Not so. If all the gold presently existing above ground in the world were put into one place, it would amount to one solid cube the size of a doubles tennis court and 45 feet high. That block would represent most of the gold ever mined in history. It is estimated that only about 15% of all gold ever produced has been either consumed or lost. The rest of it all remains accounted for and owned by some person or entity today. There is only about 160,000 tons of gold in the world today. This seems like a lot but it equates to less than one ounce per person on the earth.

Everyone wants to have a piece of gold, or they are trying to sell you gold for your financial security. Now that we have established some facts about gold. Let's look at some Scriptures.

(Zephaniah 1:15 ESV) A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

(Zephaniah 1:16 ESV) a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.

(Zephaniah 1:17 ESV) I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.

(Zephaniah 1:18 ESV) Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

(Daniel 11:38 ESV) He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.

(Daniel 11:39 ESV) He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

(Revelation 13:16 ESV) Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

(Revelation 13:17 ESV) so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

(Ezekiel 7:19 ESV) They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.

Preparing for the end times is like politics, everyone has a different opinion about what we need to do to fix everything. Mindsets about preparing for the end times really differ based on the spiritual condition of the person. Actually, knowing how the world thinks about the end of the world is helpful. One of the ways for us as believers to prepare is to know how the lost man thinks about the End times.

Knowing that a lost man thinks in the flesh of the old Adamic nature and thinks in the terms of self-survival gives us an idea of what not to do. This will help us not get caught in the trap of worldly thinking and it will help in our approach of witnessing in these last days.

Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 8:7 ESV For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are basically two mindsets of the lost person concerning End Times: PARTY HARD before the coming storm or PREPARE HARD for the coming storm.

PARTY HARD: In the first option of PARTY HARD, they would say, “Make love, party hard, and go out with a bang.” This group of people really do not believe that the end of the world is upon us. However to be safe they would typically say "If the world ends" when addressing the topic. This way of thinking about the End Times says that if the whole world is going to end, then you should enjoy the last few days or hours with everything you can. In this scenario, stocking up with guns and food is stupid since we'll all be dead anyway. So make love, enjoy some good food and wine, and call your family to say goodbye. Or just put together a wild party and celebrate the end of life as we know it! If you know anything about the Bible, does this not sound like the people in the days of Noah, when their plan was to eat, drink and marry.

PREPARE HARD: The second option of the lost person is to prepare, survive, and thrive to live another day. This lost person acknowledges that the end of the world as we know it is coming. This line of PREPARE HARD reasoning concerning End Times says that by proper preparing now you can survive almost any catastrophe that "mother nature" can throw at us.  If you stock up now with the right supplies; like weapons, ammunition, survival gear, toiletries, water, food and energy generators then you'll be able to protect yourself and your family in the event there happens to be a "Day After." The mindset that drives these survivalists is that those who properly prepare will not only be ready for a major world-wide crisis but will rule in the “day after”. It is amazing the number of TV series that have come out of Hollywood over the last 6 years with this type of scenario. However, it is a misinformed attitude that the end of world will really be nothing more than surviving a bad hurricane.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 ESV (12) Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. (13) But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

John 4:24 ESV  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In study 5-7 we have been addressing difference between praise and worship. There are over 20 words in Scriptures about how to praise the Father. We are continuing here with that thought.

Before we get into the word for worship we have been identifying what worship is not. To do this I have been giving some Hebrew and Greek words for praise. The reason is that what the church has been calling worship for years is in reality Biblical praise.

There are over 20 different words in the Scriptures identifying different ways to praise God. We won't cover them all but just a few to show what is called praise and not worship in the Bible. In part 7 we looked at the first word which is "Towdah" and means to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. In part 8 we looked at "Yadah" which means to lift our hands. In part 8 we also looked at "Baruch" which means to bless.

The fourth word for praise is "Shabach" and means to shout.

#4 Shabach - See Strong's #7623

Shabach is a simple Hebrew word which literally means "to shout." In the context of praise, it's giving a shout of praise for the Lord!

The fifth word for praise is "Zamar" and means to play a musical instrument or to sing before the Lord.

#5 Zamar - See Strong's #2167

Zamar is a cool word which means basically the playing of an instrument, or "making music" to glorify the Lord, accompanied with singing. Personally, this is one of my favorite ways to praise!

The sixth word for praise is "Halal" and means to rave or boast about the Lord.

#6 Halal - See Strong's #1984

This is one of the most active words I came across as a form of praise. Halal means "to make a show, rave, or boast." When used in the Bible in reference to the praise of the Lord, it is said that the sun, moon, stars, heavens, waters, and all creation "boast" of the Lord most High, proclaiming His Name and His glory to all the earth. Likewise we too, as humans, are called to boast of the Lord and His mighty works. Isaiah the prophet referenced this form of praise as being called for during times of festivals to the Lord. This method of praise might also incorporate dancing, leaping, and twirling (making a show!) before the Lord too, because of the tremendous excitement of love to God that it conveys. It is the root of the expression "Hallelujah!"

Imagine this: The news is broadcasting frightening images of a world gone crazy. The world wide governments have ordered martial law. Still, the streets are littered with rioters, gangs and innocent men and women just looking for some gas to put into their vehicles are beaten or killed.

This is not hard to imagine because we have already seen this happen in our streets.

People are stealing and hoarding supplies, food and water. They're killing each other trying to prepare for an impending doomsday. A flood of Biblical magnitude sweeps upon major coastal cities.

This is not hard to imagine because we have already seen this happen in our cities. We have seen rioting in our cities that resulted in innocent bystanders beaten and killed. We have seen parts of major cities turned into war zones as people crash into stores and take what they want and then burn the stores. We have seen attacks on our police force and police cars destroyed and burned.

Just when we thought that we have seen the worse of times and the worse of the depravity of mankind, unfortunately things will get worse. Things in our world are not going to get better or return to "NORMAL."

We will experience power outages. It may be more than just a temporary power outage. It could be the actual end of the normal life as we know it on earth. Imagine: No air conditioning in the summer of extreme heat. No heat in the winter of extreme cold. Where will you be? What will you do? Will you be stressing out trying to survive the chaos as you look for supplies, power, food and water? You think this is just hype. I watched on social media a couple days ago three grown women fight it out in the middle of a store over toilet paper. This is not people fighting to survive for something that can be the difference between life or death. This is a fight over toilet paper. 

Will you be a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Will you be stressed out in worry wondering what you will do or will you be at peace, already prepared to stand in faith at the inevitable end of the world as we know it? If you've ever thought about becoming a "prepper" and preparing for or surviving the "End of the World" foretold in Matthew 24, there are some things that you need to know.

No one will survive the end.

I know this sounds doomsday in the message however we need to read and reread Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation. We cannot pray enough, fast enough, witness enough, be revived enough to stop what is going to happen. We are in the birth pains now. 

The world as we know it will be destroyed and God the Father will bring about a New Heaven and New Earth and a New City. We are not called to be survivalists but overcomers. 

This does not mean that we are not to be prepared but it should change our thought process. If we are surviving as believers, tell me, how long do we need to survive? The end of the ages will not be like a major Hurricane or flood hitting an area and we try to “hold on” until things get back to normal.

Oh, but we are Americans. We have weathered every storm, pulled ourselves up by our shoestrings and moved on. We know how to outlast anything thrown against us, and rebuild anything that has been destroyed. Why, because we are Americans and it is what we do. That is a great national attitude, however, it will not stand against what God said He would pour out on the world. When God starts, there will be NO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL! The “End Times” message is just that…the end times. We cannot fast, pray, or store enough stuff to outlast or stop the end that is coming. The reason I say this is because there are those among both Christian and lost people who acknowledge that an “End Times” event will happen but that if we are “prepared enough” we will weather the storm and things will eventually get back to some state of normal with whatever and whoever is left behind.

More on this later. Rejoice the Lord is coming.

SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL PREPARATION FOR THE END TIMES:

In part 3 of the series we said that we needed to...
1.  PRAY!  PRAY!  PRAY!
2.  TAKE ACTION SPIRITUALLY:
3.  SEARCH OUR HEARTS:

The next thing to do is...

4.  WORK TO SAVE OTHERS:

Proverbs 11:30 ESV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

Luke 5:8-10 ESV But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (9) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, (10) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

The time for excuses needs to end. We have everything to gain by witnessing to the lost. The lost have everything to lose if we don't tell them about Christ. We have to get over ourselves with feelings of inadequacy. Many of us have been in church listening to the Word for years. If we say that we don't know enough to witness, then I would ask what have we been listening to in church and what has the Pastor been preaching?

5.  GUARD YOUR SOUL:

There is so much false teachings and mindsets within the church and in the world. If the Christian is not guarded he/she will inadvertently assimilate mindsets that go against the Word of God and the Spirit of God. 

1 Timothy 6:20-21 ESV O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," (21) for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

2 Timothy 1:12-14 ESV which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (13) Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (14) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Isaiah 33:14-16 ESV The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?" (15) He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, (16) he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

This is the last study in this series on the blood atonement. It is a doctrine under great attack by the world and by false teaching within the church.

We have already looked at the blood atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ bringing about...
1. ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL; 
2. REMISSION OF SINS;
3. LIFE AND PEACE;
4. REDEMPTION;
5. JUSTIFICATION. 
6. WE ARE MADE CLOSE;

The seventh thing concerning the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is "A PURE CONSCIENCE" by the blood. In the Old Testament the priests continually day after day received the sin offerings from the people which were sacrifices that their sins would be covered. Then once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest would go behind the veil and bring the blood sacrifice for the entire nation. However, it says that they did not have a pure conscience even though their sins were covered by the blood of the sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:14 ESV how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Even now in the age which we live, I can't believe the number of believers that I have counseled that still carry guilt from their past. They don't seem to be able to come to a pure conscience. They have asked forgivness but continue in a mental and emotional state of guilt and condemnation.

Our sins were nailed to the cross of our Lord and covered with the blood. Our Lord Jesus Christ offered His blood so that we could have forgiveness of sins. Our sins were not just covered like in the Old Testament sacrifices but our sins were removed because of the work of our Lord on the cross.

Hebrews 10:21-22 ESV and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Timothy 1:3 ESV I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

1 Peter 3:16 ESV having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Live with NO REGRETS and NO CONDEMNATION.

SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL PREPARATION FOR THE END TIMES:

1. PRAY!  PRAY!  PRAY!

It goes without saying that we need serious wisdom in these last days. There is a lot of good knowledge on the world wide media now that we can draw from. However there is also some serious junk that is nothing more than conspiracy theories that can lead us into an action that will be self destruction. Therefore we need the wisdom of God to be able to judge the truth from the lies and then how to act on them.

James 1:5-6 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Pray for Wisdom, Strength, and Endurance. You don't always need to pray on your knees or in your prayer closet. You can ask God for help or leadership anywhere you are. You can praise Him while you go about your day. Tell Him of your sorrows, trials, and concerns for He cares for you. Ask Him to help you be ready for what is coming upon the earth.

Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears, before God. You cannot burden Him and you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants and needs of His children. Take to Him everything that bothers your mind and keeps you from inner peace. Nothing is too great for Him to bear for He holds up worlds and He rules over all the affairs of the universe. There is nothing that concerns our peace too small for Him to notice. The relationship between God and each person is as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon earth to share His watch care.

Psalms 147:3-6 ESV He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (4) He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. (5) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (6) The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

2.  TAKE ACTION SPIRITUALLY:

The things that are going to take place are unparalleled in history and we need to be ready. The first area that we need to ensure that we have settled is in the spiritual. People arm themselves with guns and store food for the end times thinking that these things will sustain them. We need first and foremost understand that our Lord is going to return with judgment in His hands and we need to be ready to stand with Him and not against Him.

Matthew 24:44 ESV Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Don't let the cares of this life be so consuming that you have no time for spiritual things. Remember that one of the thorns that crowded out and chocked the Word of God in the parable of the four soils was the cares of the world.

Matthew 13:22 ESV As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 6:31-34 ESV Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 
3.  SEARCH YOUR HEART:

Psalms 139:23-24 ESV Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (24) And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

God not only wants our obedience, He wants our hearts. He wants us to obey Him because we love Him. Many times we can deceive ourselves as to our true condition before God. We should ask Him to help us in this matter.

John 14:15 ESV "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV (28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!