There is little doubt that the “signs of the times” are occurring all around us. To see them, you only need to pay attention to the news and know what the Bible says about prophecy.

We are having earthquakes, droughts and famines, and a lot of talk about “wars and rumors of wars.” Talk of World War III is openly being heard often and some foreign leaders seem to want it. We are also seeing sin practiced openly and unashamedly.

In the text verse above, Jesus criticized the Jewish leaders because, although they knew what was happening (or could happen) politically, they failed to see that the promised Messiah had come and was standing before them.

In a similar way, many Christians see what is happening around the world and know that the Bible says that these things will occur in the last days, but they completely fail to get ready for Christ’s taking us home. It could not be any plainer that our time on this planet is about over.

We should be walking very circumspectly (carefully) to please God in all we do and to tell others so they can be saved before it is too late. While Christians freely discuss the “signs of the times,” it is time to do something about it.

God’s will for every believer is “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10). Are you?

When God wrote His Bible through about 40 men, He wrote it with the intent that it continues forever. This was necessary because it is the only word God gave to mankind, and it is the only message that shows how people can be saved and live forever with God.

If the message would ever become corrupted – other than through the deliberate attempts of some to force it to teach their false and wicked views, the hope of salvation and the standard of truth would be lost. When God wrote the above verses, and many others like it, He staked His own power and reputation on His ability to do what He said.

Note the extent of its purity. In Bible times, when silver went through the purifying process seven times, it was considered to be as pure as possible. God used that illustration to reveal how pure His Word is. When recorded, it contained no mistakes of any kind, not in history, geography, science, mathematics, or any other matter – including creation, prophesy, the Rapture, and the future literal Kingdom of Christ, the judgments, etc.

It should also be noted that the future judgment of believers and of the unsaved (two separate judgments) will be based on the Bible. If the Bible is not relevant today, that would be like saying that God will not judge the world. That, of course, is false.

Jesus is the One Who will judge the world and He will judge based on the Word of God. He told us, in John 12:48: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Finally, the Word cannot change because God cannot change. He is eternal and knows all things. Christians must be guided by the Bible because it is the only way we can know what God wants us to be and to do. Without that guidance, we can be sure we are not pleasing Him. Also, His rewards are for faithfulness to His Word.

Christ will deal very harshly with those who think little of His Word. His Word is relevant through all of time. There is also a severe penalty given at the end of the Book for tampering with or altering it. Here is the warning, from Revelation 22:18,19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

The first two times that sacrifices were offered (Numbers 23) and Balaam seeks God’s will in what to tell Balak – the king of Moab, God meets with Balaam. In chapter 23, verses 4 and 16, the Bible – in that order – says that “God met Balaam,” and “the Lord met Balaam.”

Although the text verse is difficult to understand, it reveals that Balaam decided to take a new approach to the matter. This is the third time that sacrifices have been offered (seven bullocks and seven rams – one of each on seven altars). He knew that God would not let him curse Israel, but he had already decided that he wanted Balak’s promised riches. It seems that his previous encounter with the death angel did not deter him from seeking his own way now.

Since there is no mention of Balaam using any “enchantments” previously, it seems to imply that he did not directly seek God this time. Instead, the Bible says in the next verse that the “spirit of God came upon him.” So far, in his previous occasions of seeking God about blessing or cursing Israel, this is the only time that the “spirit of God” is mentioned.

The fact that Balaam goes again and again to see what God will say, it reveals once again that he did not like what God was telling him because he knew it stood in the way of his pleasing Balak. It also would prevent him from getting rich.

It very well may be that God overrode Balaam’s planned message. The result is that he once again blesses Israel – to Balak’s chagrin and severe disappointment. The fact that the Spirit came and interceded may have even surprised Balaam, even though he said that: “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?” (Numbers 24:13).

Numbers chapter 24 reveals Balaam’s final recorded words to Balak. In it, there is an incredible prophecy of Christ. Verse 17 tells us that “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall arise out of Israel.” This is likely the prophecy that brought the wise men to Israel to seek the “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2) many years later.

In addition to the prophecy of Christ, Balaam goes on and tells Balak what God revealed to him that Israel will do to the Moabite people in the future. Even though the end of this chapter says that Balaam returned to his home after this, he apparently had at least one more conversation with Balak that is not recorded here. It will prove to be his final fatal mistake.

Next: Balaam’s Last Fatal Mistake

Avoiding Balaam’s Fatal Mistakes

Avoiding Balaam’s Fatal Mistakes (Pt. II)

Yesterday, we looked at how the Christmas story actually began in the Garden of Eden. This promise was never forgotten and was protected by God Himself to be perpetuated through the ages. Moses – the human writer of Genesis, recorded it.

About 700 years before Jesus was born, God gave the prophet Isaiah more information about the coming Savior. This time, God would reveal that the Savior would not come in the usual way, but the mother would become pregnant miraculously. God said that the unusual pregnancy would be proof – a sign from Heaven that the Child would be the One promised at the beginning of the world.

In the text verse, God promised to reveal His Son by making an unmarried lady have a child without the help of a man. This had never happened since time began! It was something that only God could do!

Because the One that would be born would be the Son of God, He would have a Name that only God could have. He would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” This does not merely mean that God has blessed us, but it means much more. It actually means that Jesus Christ is God and God Himself is with us!

Since the birth of Christ – the Promised One – must be the One that would deliver from the curse and the work of Satan, He must be much more than just a human. Because all humans are under the curse that God passed upon all people, no ordinary human could ever pay for the sins of someone else. Sin meant death to every human because “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Ro. 3:23). Our sins will be punished by God in Hell because “the wages of sin is death” (Ro. 6:23).

Jesus, being the Son of God and without sin (II Corinthians 5:21), could die for us so that we do not need to go to Hell. He came into this world through the virgin Mary – like God promised – to pay the debt we owed.

After He suffered and paid what we owed on the Cross and rose again, anyone can be redeemed by Christ and set free from eternal death in Hell. Once we turn from sin in our hearts and receive Christ as our only Savior, God forgives us and we become God’s children.

Have you met the One sent from Heaven to die for your sins? He wants to save you today. If you have not yet been saved, He only waits for you to ask Him to forgive you of your sin and trust Him today.

You may also want to see:

Where the Christmas Story Begins

The Angel’s Incredible Message to Mary

Learn about Bible Prophecy in The Revelation

A World Out of Time & A New One Coming: The Revelation, looks at every verse in The Revelation and provides clear explanations. Other Scriptures are also presented to help you understand how many Biblical prophecies fit together, covering the whole realm of prophecy.

Many people find The Revelation to have many difficult passages in it. Although not all of The Revelation can yet be understood, the author examines many of the difficult passages and makes the meaning clear.

This book is a must-have for people looking to understand what is happening in our world today – and why it is happening. Revelation reveals that the events taking place in our world today are not mere happenstance. There is a clear direction taking place and the Bible reveals that things will not get better before they get much worse. The whole world is heading toward a terrible period in the very near future that will be known as The Tribulation, and a coming world-leader – the antichrist – will be brought to power.

If you, or if you know of a friend that is interested in learning more about Bible prophecy and The Revelation, get a copy for yourself and one to give away for Christmas. Follow this link to get your copy.