The Auto Auction Group

If you select a structured settlement over a lump amount payment, you’ll find that you may be able to prevent certain taxes. If you have help in setting the payments up, you might even find that taxes can be eliminated entirely. This is something that a tax lawyer or settlement funding provider can aid you determine ahead of time so you know which situation will definitely lead to the least taxes. Why provide any of the challenging made money to the state or federal authorities if you don’t need to?

If you’re felt uneasy that you could spend a lump sum simultaneously and find yourself in economic obstacles again, a structured settlement might be the better possibility for you. The same is true if the settlement is for a slight. He or she will certainly not have the ability to handle these funds until older and you prefer ensure its is there to satisfy college prices, additional informative costs or demands they could have in adulthood. A settlement that pays over time helps to ensure this occurs.

When you are impaired as well as the settlement is designed to aid pay for foreseeable future care, a structured settlement is also the greatest selection. The funds will be disbursed over time to fulfill demands such as modified automobiles or medical equipment. When this is the circumstances, it is best to go over the selections by having an economic disability planner as a special demands trust may be a more desirable selection. No two situations are indistinguishable so yours must be considered before you select the right one. You do not wish to cause more economic difficulties than the settlement fixes. structured settlement

You are able to use a Chinese Lantern so as to honor Assumption Day for the 15th of August. The Catholic Church marks this specific calendar day. It most certainly is on this exact calendar day that the Blessed Virgin Mary passed away and therefore has been sent for everlasting life towards Heaven. Honored from the sixth century it is a exceptionally aged remembrance in the Catholic Church. It actually had been initially observed from the East and furthermore this day was often known as the Dormition, and thus as you may be able to presume it in actual fact represents “falling asleep”. The responsibility to care for Mary had been appointed to Apostle John by Jesus when he had been crucified. As a result, when Mary passed away the in the beginning indication of it arrived exactly from Apostle John. Individuals consider that this happened within Jerusalem, where Follower John was settled for the period of that moment. The Virgin Mary is in fact a sign of decency as well as martyrdom. Followers call upon to her as well as plead her safeguard. Commonly they plead to look over their kids along with people. For those who pay tribute to Assumption Day, you’ll be able to employ a wish lantern. Illuminating it when the night comes is vastly emblematic. It is really an spectacular symbol of the approach the spirit of the Blessed Mary flies in the direction of the Heavens, seeing that the radiance from the wish lantern takes to the air higher and higher within the skies.
On the whole, the Chinese Lantern is actually an great way to honor any occurrence since it really is extremely symbolic and is going to be capable to help out send off your hopes along with pleas toward the sky.

Sometimes it is hard to know where to start even if you know what your talents are. Jesus has something to say about what we can do and what he expects us to do. Until you can find the specific purpose God has for you there is still work we can do.

In Matthew 25:31-46 we find Jesus giving His disciples a discourse on what to expect when He comes back. (Also read Matthew 25: 14 – 30 Parable of the Talents). Jesus will judge us by a criteria that may be a surprise to some of us.

Jesus is giving us a preview of what the test at judgment will look like. When He returns the test will be whether we provided food, water, shelter, clothing, visited the sick and the imprisoned. These acts of ministry can be performed by anyone. Ministry to others in the name of the Lord is what a Christian’s life is all about. As Christians, we were created for goods works. Ephesians 2: 10, reads “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The purpose for which God created us is “GOOD WORKS”.

Ministering or serving others is what Jesus did while He was on earth. (Matthew 20:28). A Christian is an extension of the ministry of Jesus. You and I are created anew in Christ to continue His service so that men would see our good works and glorify God. (Matthew 5:16). It all points back to Him.

There is a joy and freedom in ministering to others! There is a fulfillment of working because we are saved and we want others to experience salvation also. Ministry is where conversion starts.

God has placed it on my heart to encourage you and admonish you that Jesus expects us to do His work. If you have not, repent and start fresh. God will forgive you. Pray for guidance and strength and courage to reach out like Jesus did. For great is your reward in heaven.

Glenda M. Thomas, Editor of Sister 2 Sister Newsletter

http://www.glendathomas.com

Since the September 9/11 event, everything is happening so quickly that one can just look at them in harassments. The Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Attacks in Pakistan, London and Madrid. Everything seems devastating when you look at them. Every new day arrives with the news of new killings and bombings.

These events are also raising another concern to us i.e. the gaps between Islam and other religions, the gap between Eastern and Western societies. These gaps are increasing and increasing day by day. I am afraid this is long term loss which we are going to have in the near future. So there is a need of the time to overcome the shadows that are occupying among us and creating just the differences. We must realize that no religion or nation is going to kill each other. Every religion is basically originated for the betterment of human beings. No religion forces to wipe out other human beings from the face of earth. We have to live in this earth and if don’t realize this; the end could be devastating in future.

One of the most important factors in this regard is to understand the natures and problems of each side. We must need to solve the major issues along with the poverty and illiteracy, because these are two major sources of terrorism. We must realize that every human being had a right to live with liberty and basic necessaries. This can be accomplished by only providing a standard status co from all around the world.

Although it seems a dream to get multiple world now, but I can see few growing nations that can put the world again on a stable note. Actually we have to realize that every nation has two fold scenarios of their political face, one is for the international and other for national problems. So we just need to work with international face and let him to solve its internal matters. Because the government is from the will of people of that nation so no nation has a right to put his thinking over them. Therefore we should need to setup the boundaries and rules to protect the integrity of the nations.

I should say that this is the time for us to think about this because if the gaps are start widening, we have no way left to fill it again.
The prosperity of the world depends upon the integration of each community into one. We can’t merge ourselves unless we can have broad and open minds for the others. We have to realize this and if we can do this, then we can expect that world is becoming peaceful again.

The author is working as IT administrator for Aarajura limited (http://www.edinburghaccommodation.biz) and I really appreciate this dialogue here which forces me to write this article.

I am working as an IT administrator at Aarajura Limited.

(http://www.aarajura.co.uk)
(http://www.edinburghaccommodation.biz)

In part 2, of our Bible Prophecy series, we will look at earthquakes, War and their effect, not only on mankind, but of how they are effecting prophecy. Earthquakes have always occurred from the foundation of the earth. Why then are earthquakes so important now? The number and locations are the devideing factor between the earthquakes of the past and the ones that we are experience today.

What is a earthquake, trembling or shaking movement of the earth’s surface. Most earthquakes are minor tremors. Larger earthquakes usually begin with slight tremors but rapidly take the form of one or more violent shocks, and end in vibrations of gradually diminishing force called aftershocks. On average about 1,000 earthquakes with intensities of 5.0 or greater are recorded each year. Great earthquakes (intensity 8.0 or higher) occur once a year, major earthquakes (intensity 7.0-7.9) occur 18 times a year, strong earthquakes (intensity 6.0-6.9) 10 times a month, and moderate earthquakes (intensity 5.0-5.9) more than twice a day.

God has built in a natural safety valve into the earth for expansion and contraction. This safety valve is called an earthquake. The number, magnitude and location is important in understanding the Scriptures that deal with the end days. The first scripture that we will deal with is Matthew 24:7.

1.For nation shall rise against nation, ( The number of wars are continuing to grow each year.

In just my life time, I have seen, Wars in Viet-Nam, Granada, The cold war with the Soviet Union, Iraq 1, Iraq 2 , Afghanistan, Israel and all their wars with Egypt, Iran, Syria, East Bank, and the Gaza Strip, ect and The unseen war with the extreme elements of Alqaeda and The Nation of Muslim fanatics The Soviet Union and Afghanistan) and

2. kingdom against kingdom: The Muslim Nation is divided concerning Jehad and the way to convert all men to Mohmmad-ism. The United Nations are split into pieces barely holding on, because of the division among all nations.) and

3.there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ( This section is easy to understand and relate to, India, Pakistan, Africa, Bird Flue, ect. The fear of another pandemic is growing among not only the people of earth but also the medical community.) (In recent years, and especially in 2005, we have seen earthquakes occur in China, Pakistan, America, South America, Japan, China, Philippens, The Soviet Union, ect.)

Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. (“these are the beginnings of sorrows.”) The Bible tells us in the end days, there will be a significant change in the nature of the earth and the attitude of man. Why is all this happening?

The will of man, his pride, arrogance, lust for power, possessions and fame, have over ridden the will of God and man kinds love for one another. Hate, distrust, fear, suspicion, prejudice, have all become the catalyst for many a disaster in the world and will be the down fall of man. To prove what I have already said, lets look at two sections of Scripture from the Book of Revelations.

1.Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen( This is past occurrence and future prophecy.), that great city ( The habitation of the Babylonian People and the Spirit of Babylon that has changed man-kinds attitude.), because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

(“Fornication.” Extramarital sex)(Sex here means a departure from the Truth of the Bible to in-joining of false doctrine and a criminal conversion from The Truth of scripture to follow after all manner of cult activities.) (that willfully and maliciously inter-fears with marriage relations. Criminal conversion.)(People that try to worship God on one hand and embrace false doctrine on the other.)

2. Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils (Devils in this instance means, People of Hatred, confusion, Cruel and inhuman people, haters of God and haters of man, demonic), and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

(The word “Bird” in Rev. 18:2 means, A cry or noise to display contempt or displeasure, an out cry of hate and prejudice.) If you’ve noticed in Rev.14:8 and 18:2, the phrase, “is fallen, is fallen” is repeated. Why? In Hebrew when a subject or word is mentioned twice, it signifies that the event mentioned will occur twice. Babylon the City was destroyed, The spirit of Babylon will also be destroyed.

This is what is starting to occur today. The Nations of the world have become what God has already destroyed once, Babylon. Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers (Many) places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights (tsunamis) and great signs shall there be from heaven. ( Meteorites, Meteors, Comets.)

Rev 11:13. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell (Jerusalem ), and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand:(a tenth part of the city’s population)(This signifies a population at the time of this earthquake at 700,000 people)

(The population of Jerusalem, as censored at the end of 2003, was 693,200 people.) and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.(References; Isa 22:5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

Zec 14:3-7; Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.)

Rev 16:18-19 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city (Jerusalem) was divided into three parts,(EU Wants Israel to Divide Jerusalem. 15:51 Nov 27, ‘05 / 25 Cheshvan 5766 By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu)

(For the past three years we have been reporting that the time is coming when the world will force Israel into dividing Jerusalem with the PA. Well that time is here. Watch over the coming years for a “political move ” to use the estab-lishment of the next Jewish temple as a bargaining chip for Israel to divide its capital.

The division of Jerusalem would fit into Bible Prophecy. We must keep in mind that the Lord declared that once the Jews took possession of Israel again (1947) it would never again go back into gentile hands. Hence, half of Jerusalem does not constitute a full surrender of it. I believe this issue could be the spring board that Satan will use to bring forth his false Messiah, the Anti-christ.

God’s plan for the end of the ages and the beginning of Messiah’s reign is moving forward with pin-point accuracy!) and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ars. end pt. 2.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Jesus in the desert. Guess what? Satan tempts you and I everyday too. Satan is nothing but a fallen angel gone bad. Satan is an evil spirit who disguises him self to us in deceiving ways. He tempts us into doing immoral things that make us want to live his way instead of God’s way.

1.)Satan likes to tempt people when they are at their most vulnerable, or when they are physically and emotionally overstressed.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:2-4

Satan tempted Jesus after fasting for forty days, and He was hungry and tired. This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, because he overcame the temptations of the devil.

God will test all Christian’s sometime in their lives. Our convictions are only strong if they will hold up under the pressures of temptation.

Are you ready to be tested by Satan?

2.)Satan offered Jesus the whole world because he wanted Jesus to obey him.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor.

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Matthew 4:8-11

Satan tempts you and I today in the same way by enticing us through the love of money (materialism) and power in the world, and by our desires and wants (physical).

What temptations have enticed you?

3.)Sin comes in alluring and persuasive forms.

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “Throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike a foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him and said, “It is also written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Matthew 4:6-7

Satan used scripture to try and get Jesus to do what he wanted, but Jesus did not falter. Satan made it sound so persuasive, and still Jesus did not sin!

When we are tempted, Satan will focus on 3 areas that he knows we are at our most vulnerable.

1.)Wants, desires (physical) having sex before marriage, immoral and lustful acts, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, perverted acts, etc.

2.)Materialism, money, power (mental) greed, striving for more money and power makes us not want to get to know God. Striving for status in life makes us rebellious to the ways of God.

3.)Pride! Pride stands in the way of humbling down to tempting situations. Pride is the root of number two!

Have you ever been persuaded or convinced to sin? How has Satan persuaded you?

4.)God will never lead us into temptation, but He will TEST us.

…”And Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13

All Christians struggle with temptations. Sometimes these tempting situations are so subtle that we don’t even know we are sinning. But God has PROMISED us that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can bear.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

5.)Married couples can resist temptation! (Sexual sin)

If we have faith enough, God will give us the strength and desire to want to overcome sin.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to the husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone, but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Spiritually we belong to God, but physically we belong to our spouse!

Angie Lewis, author of new release, Journey on the Roads Less Traveled

http://www.spiritual.journeybooks.4t.com

ISBN 1413788904
Available Amazon and any online bookstore.

http://www.heavenministries.com

We sometimes accept a core believe as the truth without questioning it. As core beliefs accumulate over the years they eventually make up a system that functions in much the same way as a computer’s operating system. Running in the background at such a discreet level, we are usually not even aware it is there.

Our core belief has been developed since we were a child. This is due to the result of a great many factors, including but not limited to, the way we were influenced by our parents, siblings and other significant people in our lives. By the time we reach adulthood we have some pretty fixed opinions of ourselves and the world around us. And once installed, these beliefs are rarely updated unless the whole system crashes!

If our core beliefs are for the most part positive and empowering it is reflected in our attitudes, behavior and performance. Of course the reverse is also true. If we run predominantly negative beliefs our attitudes and behaviors are severely compromised, crippling our potential for success and happiness.

The question is that can we change our core belief? If there is a repeating problem in some area of your life, it is usually a good indication that you are entertaining a false or limiting belief. Before a belief system can be changed or improved, however, it is important to first understand a little about how a belief system works.

Belief systems are nothing more than repetitive thoughts that have come to be so automatic; you don’t even notice them anymore. The subconscious mind tends to use a fixed, automatic pattern put in place at a very early age. Once in place, our belief system will unconsciously attract the people and circumstances that validate it. As negative beliefs accumulate over the years and become part of the system, it gets easier to collect ‘evidence’ that appears to support those beliefs and harder to see any evidence to the contrary!

Before trying to change an unwanted belief it is helpful to acknowledge the positive intention behind it when it was first installed. After all, most negative beliefs were originally installed to protect us and were relevant to what was going on at the time.

The problem arises when we hold onto these beliefs even though they may not hold true for the same situations today. If you are serious about updating your belief system, avoid getting sidetracked by the temptation to blame someone else for inserting false beliefs into your system. It’s not important where the beliefs come from, what is important is that we get rid of or transform these beliefs into something useful today.

You should therefore build a belief system that will send out the right vibrations which will attract the people and circumstances necessary to create the experiences we desire.

When it comes time to do your taxes, isn’t it nice that you can
write off a portion of your auto expenses for your home
business!

Would you like to know how you can write off ALL of your vehicle
expenses? Would you like to know how to do that while, at the
same time, advertising your home business?

I’ve got a wonderful secret to share with you! If you advertise
on your vehicle, you can write off all of its expenses!

Firstly, think about the reach of your advertising. Even when
your car is parked, people are reading your ad. While you’re
doing your grocery shopping, at your kids’ sports games, running
to the bank – whenever you’re driving or parked somewhere,
people are reading about your home business! That’s better than
any other paid advertising!

Best of all, it’s easy and inexpensive to do. The hardest part
is choosing a good tag line. Here are a few
suggestions:

• Work from home!
• Working from
  home and loving it!
• It doesn’t take a fortune to make a
  fortune!
• I’m a work at home Mom – ask me how you can do
  the same.
• I’m financially free – ask me how you can be
  too.
• Do you have the time? I do. I work from
  home!
• I fired my boss! I work from home.
• Fire
  your boss and work from home!
• I work from home with my
  child on my lap!
• I’m working where I’m needed most – at
  home!
• Lose the job stress – work from home!

Those are just a few to help get your mind going. Use one of
those or think of your own. Just make sure you try to address a
need in others that your home business can fulfill. Once you get
going with it, it’s really not all that difficult to come up
with something catchy.

Now that you understand the huge reach of this type of
advertising, let’s look at the financial benefits. Aside from
the ability to write off the cost of the sign, you can claim all
of your automobile expenses while your sign is displayed. Think
about that financial benefit – gas, fluid, service, insurance,
depreciation, loan interest, lease interest! This is huge! And
how much does it cost to advertise on your car? Next to
nothing!

Take a look at webdecal.com.
They have some unbeatable prices on static clings, adhesive
vinyl lettering, and bumper stickers! And their quick service is
impeccable! It’s really as easy as typing in your tag line, URL,
and phone number (if you wish) and your sign will be mailed to
you right away! Oh! I almost forgot – they take PayPal, too!

And for those of you that don’t want a permanent sign or a
magnet on your car, static clings are the way to go. They adhere
with simple static electricity, which means you can take them
off and re-apply whenever you like. But remember, you can only
take deductions for the time you are actively advertising on
your car.

Look, for a mere thirty dollars, you’ll receive thousands of
dollars worth of legitimate tax deductions and some great
advertising, to boot! You’d be crazy not to advertise on your
car!

The other day at choir practice, our director was trying to decide if she would prefer a certain hymn in our Christmas program to be sung in parts or in unison. In a sort of offhanded way, she asked, “I wonder if the heavenly choirs will be sung in parts or in unison?”

I responded to the effect that I didn’t dare open that particular can of philosophical worms in a choir practice…

I mean, there’s all kinds of levels here. On the musical side of it, there’s plenty of fodder for both sides. Parts bring lush and rich harmonies, counterpoint, and fullness to a piece. There’s a depth to it that you simply don’t get with one single melody line.

But there’s a power to unity, too. For example, when I was in high school, as a cellist in our orchestra, we played a piece, an arrangement of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. I don’t even remember who did the arrangement. After the exposition, it went into so polyphonic explorations, typical of a good development section, but the recap was absolutely amazing. The entire orchestra, including the winds, all played the entire thing. Loud, slow, and in unison. Maybe it was the contrast that made it feel so big and powerful.

Another example. Many years ago, when I was still living in Indiana, my friends and I took a roadtrip to see Yes in concert in Champaign, Illinois. It was a great show, but one part stuck with me as a monumental moment in my life’s ongoing musical experience. That was Chris Squire’s bass solo. Now, typical bass solos are a time when the bassist really gets to show off his chops. Hands are dizzy and notes fly like snowflakes in a blizzard. And Chris Squire was certainly no slouch. He could match fury with the best of them.

But he comes out, and with a single light on him from above, plays “Amazing Grace”. He plays it easily, slowly, and I might add, very loud and low. The house shook. No flashy embellishments. Nothing but the song.

And it was INCREDIBLE.

But then look how often a pop singer sings without accompaniment, or how often true unison orchestral performances happen. Look at great inspired works like “The Messiah”, which expertly flips from monophony to homophony and polyphony at the drop of a baton.

So, the big philosophical question that is the extension of all this is: Does God want us lockstepping together or does he want us individually adding to the whole?

Personally, I feel that if he wanted us lockstepped, he would have backed Lucifer’s plan in the first place. I like the thought of many different voices combining together harmoniously to add to the whole. But it seems that there are a lot of us Mormons who don’t take to kindly to differences. To our credit, there are a lot of us who do, too.

And I also admit that, in music, there are times when a single melody can communicate very strongly.

Just a thought… or two…

Mark Hansen has been making LDS/Mormon/Christian rock music for over 10 years. His latest CD “One United Generation” is available at http://markhansenmusic.com

The Pope it is said condemned the use of the cross bow when it was first introduced. He apparently thought it could be the demise of the whole world because it was so deadly. When cannons were first invented some thought that marked the end of the world. Now we have a weapon that could bring an end to all life on the planet, the hydrogen bomb, and certainly there are people who still believe that it might yet bring about the end of civilization. Adding to this there has always been someone or some group insisting that their generation would surely be the last.

Who hasn’t seen the person wearing or carrying the sign that reads something like, Repent for the end of the world is near? Hollywood makes sure to show such people in the movies and usually they are depicted as neurotic and mentally deranged weirdoes who only need to be avoided and ignored. By now it is easy to understand why some Christians may he a little embarrassed to bring up the subject of the second coming of Christ. Add to this the fact that Jesus said that no one would know the day or the hour of his return and you have the right mix to produce the wholesale indifference that emerges among more and more of today’s believers.

The enemy certainly has been able to capitalize on these eccentric second coming enthusiasts with their spurious interpretations of scripture. But we would be foolish and remiss to allow him this victory because of the excess of a few, or our fear of embarrassment. The misinterpretation of a sign is possible with any theological position. One of the safest ways to be surer about the signs is to be patient and wait for them to unfold.

It is alright to speculate and watch as things begin to materialize but hold back on some conclusions and give God space to show us what he is doing. We must always keep in mind that some of the Jews missed the coming of their messiah because they had nailed down an exact path for his appearance without allowing that some of their speculation may not have been exactly on the mark. For example, it was well known that messiah was to come from Bethlehem but Jesus was from Nazareth. A little research, questioning and openness could have resulted in finding the rest of the story. The birth of Christ was never meant to be a secret, and anyone making even cursory inquiries could have found out that he was actually born in Bethlehem. But many were clinging hard to their pet beliefs and would not allow themselves this knowledge. One might say that they missed salvation itself, not because they were so sinful but because they were so stubborn. They had created a formula, a viewpoint or a theory that by sheer force of time and repetition had become like an immutable law.

A lack of pliability in second coming doctrine is far more serious than rigidity in any other area of scripture. Much of eschatology is yet to unfold; being rigid about an unknown is foolishness on the level of finding moral guidance from the stories of ancient mythology. No one should think that guidance comes from make believe characters and events, unfortunately, they do! Many second coming buffs are also deriving some sort of guidance from events that haven’t occurred yet. The best answer to this dilemma is found in a single saying of the Lord Jesus concerning signs. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mt 24:34

This verse could he called, the sign of signs. It is a capstone or the key to all the events preceding the second coming of Christ. Jesus knew the second coming would not take place in his generation so it had to be some future and seemingly unspecified generation. Yet, it is specified. That generation, is the generation in which all the other signs happen together. They cannot be spread out over millennia, centuries or even more than one single generation. This sign is what qualifies all the other signs. Simply put, if all the signs are happening concurrently, that is the sign that it is the last generation, and it will culminate with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here we are given a failsafe or a perfect way to keep from falling into error in today’s second coming doctrinal maze. If you haven’t checked lately, you might want to look again, because no generation in over twenty centuries has had all the signs happening at once, except this one.