True or False--UPDATE

"And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Matthew 24:11

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons," 1 Timothy 4:1

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

I don't think there's a whole lot of doubt that there are a lot of false religions floating around. But what about when a professing "Christian" is teaching heresy and leading believers astray? Jesus warned us that, in the later times, these false teachers would be even more abundant. Be discerning, test their teachings against God's Word. But even moreso, don't be content to allow others to blindly follow these people. Be the watchman and warn them, so that they don't end up spending eternity with their heretical leader in the lake of fire. Take a stand, open your mouth, and don't let these "goat herders" get away with staining the name and message of Christ.

One of the biggest dangers to the church today is the Emergent Church Movement. Beware of these teachings--they preach heresy wrapped in a box tagged "Christian"!

A great editorial that mirrors my feelings about the Emergent Church and false prophets like "pastor" Rick Warren...

Are You Ready?

Let's imagine for a moment that the Bible wasn't lying to us about the Rapture and the return of Christ. Let's imagine that Paul, Peter, and most importantly, Jesus Christ, actually knew what they were talking about. Let's imagine that Christ could return at any moment. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next month. NOW. It will happen. We don't have to imagine it, because it's TRUTH and it's NEAR. As we watch prophecy unfold, we know that we're near, for God promised that His church would not endure the wrath of the Tribulation (Revelation 3:10). No, we cannot know the hour, but we can know the signs that His return is near and the signs are all around us. "Behold, I am coming soon." (Revelation 22:7, 22:12).

The question is, ARE YOU READY?

What's Russia Got to do With it?

Ezekiel 38:2,4,8 "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them."

If you can look beyond the convenient distraction of AIG and the daily blunders of the government (in other words, look beyond your American bubble, because it's about to burst), you'll notice that Russia has become increasingly stronger--both figuratively and literally. Even more disturbing--they're quite eager to partner with Iran. In short, we will soon be watching Ezekiel 38-39 begin to unfold before our eyes as the Gog-Magog war becomes a reality.

Russia, Iran Could Build Joint N-Plants

Russia Test Fires Cruise Missiles

Russian Planes Again Fly Over U.S. Navy Ships

A Little Explanation

Strangely, it took me quite awhile to determine what I wanted to call this blog and what the URL should be. I know, I know, it doesn't really matter, but it did to me. But then it all just sort of came to me. Not Surprised actually has a dual purpose. Of course, it seemed a natural title considering everything that's happening in the world. Yes, I'm frustrated and saddened by so much of it, but at the same time, we had ample warning that this was all coming, so why should I be surprised? Then as I was flipping through my Bible, two passages stuck out to me: 1 Peter 4:12 "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." and 1 John 3:13 "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." The words "do not be surprised" really stood out to me as I was literally simply flipping through the Word and I thought, "duh, Erin, everyone thinks you're crazy anyway, why are you surprised? God promised you they would!"

So then came the task of the URL. Revelation 22:20 is quite possibly my favorite promise in all of Scripture "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" This also explains why I am so filled with hope! Hope for this world in its fallen state? Nope. Hate to break it to ya, but we're not recovering from this one! But hope for Christ's return and His eternal reign on a renewed Earth? Hope that He will rapture His church out of this place before the great hour of tribulation? You bet. And that's all the hope I need. That's the only promise I need. All I need to know...yes, know...is that Christ has promised that He will return.

So that's my explanation. Not that any of you were actually wondering, but there it is regardless. This blog will be filled with lots of links to articles, and I hope you take the time to read them. I'm going to try to show how prophecy is being fulfilled daily before our eyes. It's very easy for us to be only concerned with America when, in the end, America will slip into obscurity. This country is mentioned nowhere in Bible prophecy so don't plan on us recovering our great world power status. Of course, that's not to say that in the meantime, America won't become even more rampant with immorality than it already is! But instead, turn your attention to world events. Turn your attention to Israel and to Russia. Open your eyes to the very near New World Order, the one-world currency, the one-world religion. It's all coming. Soon. And if you're one of those scoffers who thinks it won't happen in your lifetime because "Jesus said all of that 2000 years ago and He still hasn't come back." Guess what--the time wasn't right for Him to come back before. Prophecies hadn't been fulfilled yet. Now the time is right--and ripe--for His return. And I believe He will rapture His church before the 7 years of tribulation. So scoff all you want right now, but if millions of us disappear one day, well, feel free to raid my fridge!

I'm no scholar. I'm no pastor. I'm just someone who loves Jesus. Someone who's made a lot of mistakes along the way and is bursting with thankfulness at the gift of His grace and salvation. And I'm someone who can't wait for Him to return! He tells us to be excited and eager for His return and that is one command that I have no problem obeying! So feel free to comment whether you agree or disagree. I only ask that you be respectful. Ask me questions. If I allude to Scripture without quoting the passage, feel free to ask me where it is! If I say something that is totally off the wall (which is bound to happen if it hasn't already), then ask me why I believe it. I'm just here to share with you what God is sharing with me. He's put it on my heart to anxiously await His return and to be mightily aware of the signs exploding all around us. I guess I consider myself to be one of His watchmen. If I don't sound the trumpet and warn you, then I have to explain myself to Him later. And quite honestly, I'd rather not have to do that!

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand." Ezekiel 33:6

Capital Pestilence

"There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." Luke 21:11

Report: AIDS epidemic hits nation's capital

Associated Press - 3/16/2009 8:55:00 AM

WASHINGTON - A new report by D.C. health officials says that at least 3 percent of residents in the nation's capital are living with HIV or AIDS and every mode of transmission is on the rise.

The findings in the 2008 epidemiology report by the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration point to a severe epidemic that's impacting every race and sex across the population and neighborhoods.

Scheduled to be released Monday, the report says that the number of HIV and AIDS cases jumped 22 percent from the nearly 12,500 reported in 2006.

Almost 1 in 10 residents between ages 40 and 49 are living with HIV, and black men had the highest infection rate at almost 7 percent.

The report says that the virus is most often transmitted by men having sex with men, followed by heterosexual transmission and injection drug use.

Back with what Matters

Oh, come on...surely those of you who read my last blog knew that you hadn't heard the last from me! But this blog will be very different. This isn't about me (hey, I heard that collective sigh of relief!) This is about Matthew 24 unfolding before our eyes. This is about watching the Bible come to life as prophecy is fulfilled almost daily in our headlines. This is about countless people, both believers and nonbelievers alike, being utterly oblivious to the fact that God's wrath is about to be poured out on this world. This is about the naivete´ of the American people as we refuse to acknowledge that our personal choices and the choices of our government have led God to remove His blessing from what we once could call a great nation. This is about the Great Deception that we should live to please ourselves and seek our own happiness in this world, never realizing that it is a fruitless search, yet not admitting that we never feel we have enough. This is about THE Truth. And there is a definite Truth. It is not relative and it is not elusive. It is, in fact, very tangible, very real, and very obtainable. This is about Jesus.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." --Jesus (John 14:6)