Jesus said many would come in His name and deceive the hearts of the simple, sinful and proud. Eastern mysticism and meditation is a big thing in the gullible West. And one day a “world leader” will appear on the scene with the persuasion of a god and the heart of a devil. Jesus warns His children to know the Scriptures, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and stay alert to the signs of the times.

They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers. After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate their enemies.

God has blessed man with incredible genius. We stand in awe as we watch men and women in a room full of computers and high-tech instruments guiding and landing spacecraft on distant planets. At that moment, we appear invincible. But then a mammoth tornado comes—or a terrifying hurricane—or rains that flood whole regions and never listen to our shouts to “Stop!”—or the shake that removes from under our feet any confidence or pride we carry, and leaves us numb with hardly enough breath to even utter the paralyzing word “EARTHQUAKE!”. And man is helpless in the face of it all!

Will God again allow the city to be divided? No one knows for sure. Jesus is the only solution for “shalom”—“peace”—in the hearts of Jews and Arabs and in the land itself. But there is an amazing verse that Jesus spoke concerning Jerusalem being back in Jewish hands before His second coming to earth.

Here men will die for gold—then die and leave it all. Others place their jewels under lock and key—fearful of thieves. May you and I live simple lives where we live to give to others. Just look at what is waiting for those who love Christ—including a street of pure gold to be walked on by those with pure hearts

But how do we know if Christ is really our first love? Especially when we are tested by doubts, fears, temptations and feelings of God having abandoned us? The answer, of course, is John 14:21—we know we love our Lord when we choose to know and obey His Word, no matter our feelings; no matter the cost. That’s what will make you—and keep you—a “walking, 24/7 revival” in your personal world. The Holy Spirit’s power will light up your life and use your testimony as an example to draw others to the Lord Jesus. Just look at what God is planning for those who love Him as we look at chapters 19 and 20 in God’s “Recipe For Revival”, the Book of Revelation.