ODE to WARRIORS

 

2 Corinthians 5:8

King James Version

8 We are confident, I say, 

and willing rather to be absent from the body, 

and to be present with the Lord.

He nary had a complaint.

Through all the years of his suffering.

He made sure no one knew.

He didn't want to bother anyone.

He just showed up at work, rain or shine.

And always kept a gleeful, agreeable face.

Being generous of heart, always.

Calling no attention to himself.

Until such time it was too late.

The infection had spread.

Of course, I saw the limp.

I heard the pain.

I saw the struggle.

I did what I could, given what he would allow.

But the rest of the time, he suffered quietly on.

My brother had not lost the fight.

He had won life with JESUS.

Warriors can be found at home, and in the workplace.

Not just in battlefields.

They, who brave everyday storms, lashes, and crashes.

Even the bullying, criticisms, and mockery.

Again, this watchman was made witness to it all.

I had walked alongside members of my family who have gone on.

As I'm sure you have with yours, too.

Do you have such warriors in your lives?

The one who would keep on, no matter what?

Whether they were in pain, or not?

Uncomplainingly.

And then one day, GOD takes them home.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

King James Version

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: 

and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Again, we grieve.

But the born again knows the future, as GOD declared it.

Ezekiel 18:4

King James Version

4 Behold, 

all souls are mine; 

as the soul of the father, 

so also the soul of the son is mine: 

the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

John 3:16

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him

 should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

John 5:24

King James Version

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

He that heareth my word, 

and believeth on him that sent me, 

hath everlasting life, 

and shall not come into condemnation; 

but is passed from death unto life.

We pray for our loved ones.

But our prayers are always subject to GOD's will.

Something the world struggles against.

1 John 5:14

King James Version

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, 

that, if we ask any thing according to his will, 

he heareth us:

Only GOD sees right, knows right, will do right.

His ways are different from ours.

Acceptance is key to healing.

Isaiah 55:8-9

King James Version

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, saith 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.

Let us all honor these sturdy warriors who fought the good fight.

1 Timothy 6:12

King James Version

12 Fight the good fight of faith, 

lay hold on eternal life, 

whereunto thou art also called, 

and hast professed a good profession 

before many witnesses.

And those who bravely ran the race.

Hebrews 12:1-2

King James Version

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about 

with so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, 

and the sin which doth so easily beset us, 

and let us run with patience 

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus 

the author and finisher of our faith; 

who for the joy that was set before him 

endured the cross, 

despising the shame, 

and is set down at the right hand 

of the throne of God.

These warriors are with JESUS now.

Especially those who believe He is Savior, and Son of GOD.

Satan can never have believers.

The LORD JESUS has already conquered death, and the devil.

Hebrews 2:14 

King James Version

14 Forasmuch then as the children 

are partakers of flesh and blood, 

he also himself likewise took part of the same; 

that through death he might destroy him 

that had the power of death, 

that is, the devil;

For all who grieve, please find help, healing, and comfort from this blog.

SPIRIT, and Scripture are your best friends in your most trying times.

GOD be with us all.

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What happens when WE die?

Ecclesiastes 9:5

King James Version

5 For the living know that they shall die: 

but the dead know not any thing, 

neither have they any more a reward; 

for the memory of them is forgotten.

For the longest time, I put off thoughts about death.

But GOD led me to Bible prophecy in September 2019.

Then JESUS alerted me to the RAPTURE in January 2020.

My beloved baby sister dies in my arms in October 2021.

There was no more evading the issue of death.

If not for the GRACE of GOD, I'd have fallen apart.

This blog is for my healing, and for Scripture's revealing.

Here are verses to help us all, in our moments of grief.

Genesis 3:19

King James Version

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 

till thou return unto the ground; 

for out of it wast thou taken: 

for dust thou art, 

and unto dust shalt thou return.

Psalm 6:5

King James Version

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: 

in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalm 146:3-4

King James Version

3 Put not your trust in princes, 

nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; 

in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

King James Version

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men 

befalleth beasts; 

even one thing befalleth them: 

as the one dieth, so dieth the other; 

yea, they have all one breath; 

so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: 

for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place; 

all are of the dust, 

and all turn to dust again.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

King James Version

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: 

and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaiah 26:19

King James Version

19 Thy dead men shall live, 

together with my dead body shall they arise. 

Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: 

for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, 

and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel 12:2

King James Version

2 And many of them that sleep 

in the dust of the earth shall awake, 

some to everlasting life, 

and some to shame 

and everlasting contempt.

Ezekiel 18:4

King James Version

4 Behold, 

all souls are mine; 

as the soul of the father, 

so also the soul of the son is mine: 

the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Matthew 10:28

King James Version

28 And fear not them which kill the body, 

but are not able to kill the soul: 

but rather fear him which is able to destroy 

both soul and body in hell.

John 3:16

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

John 5:24

King James Version

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

He that heareth my word, 

and believeth on him that sent me, 

hath everlasting life, 

and shall not come into condemnation; 

but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:25-27

King James Version

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

The hour is coming, 

and now is, 

when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: 

and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; 

so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority 

to execute judgment also, 

because he is the Son of man.

John 5:28-29

King James Version

28 Marvel not at this: 

for the hour is coming, 

in the which all that are in the graves 

shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; 

they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;

 and they that have done evil, 

unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 11:25

King James Version

25 Jesus said unto her, 

I am the resurrection, 

and the life: 

he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, 

yet shall he live:

John 14:1-4

King James Version

14 Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions:

 if it were not so, I would have told you. 

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 

I will come again, and receive you unto myself; 

that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, 

and the way ye know.

Romans 2:5-11

King James Version

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart 

treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath 

and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing 

seek for glory and honour and immortality, 

eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, 

and do not obey the truth, 

but obey unrighteousness, 

indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, 

upon every soul of man that doeth evil, 

of the Jew first, 

and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, 

to every man that worketh good, 

to the Jew first, 

and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans 14:10-12

King James Version

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? 

or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? 

for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, 

As I live, saith the Lord, 

every knee shall bow to me, 

and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us 

shall give account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 15:51

King James Version

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; 

We shall not all sleep, 

but we shall all be changed,

2 Corinthians 5:8

King James Version

8 We are confident, I say, 

and willing rather to be absent from the body, 

and to be present with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

King James Version

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, 

concerning them which are asleep, 

that ye sorrow not,

 even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 

even so them also which sleep in Jesus 

will God bring with him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

King James Version

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 

with a shout, 

with the voice of the archangel, 

and with the trump of God: 

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Hebrews 9:27

King James Version

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, 

but after this the judgment:

James 4:14

King James Version

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 

For what is your life? 

It is even a vapour,

that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away.

1 Peter 1:3

King James Version

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

which according to his abundant mercy 

hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Revelation 20:4-5

King James Version

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, 

and judgment was given unto them: 

and I saw the souls of them 

that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, 

and for the word of God, 

and which had not worshipped the beast, 

neither his image, 

neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, 

or in their hands; 

and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again 

until the thousand years were finished. 

This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6

King James Version

6 Blessed and holy is he 

that hath part in the first resurrection: 

on such the second death hath no power, 

but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, 

and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:11-12

King James Version

11 And I saw a great white throne, 

and him that sat on it, 

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; 

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, 

small and great, 

stand before God; 

and the books were opened: 

and another book was opened, 

which is the book of life: 

and the dead were judged out of those things 

which were written in the books, 

according to their works.

Revelation 20:13

King James Version

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;

 and death and hell delivered up the dead 

which were in them: 

and they were judged every man 

according to their works.

Revelation 20:15

King James Version

15 And whosoever was not found written 

in the book of life 

was cast into the lake of fire.

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SAVED from evil

 Isaiah 57:1

King James Version

57 The righteous perisheth, 

and no man layeth it to heart: 

and merciful men are taken away, 

none considering that the righteous is taken away 

from the evil to come.

When my baby sister went home to JESUS in October of 2021, I felt she was being "spared" from something "still to come".

As if GOD secured this precious soul in His perfect time.

Now, I know for sure, my feelings were correct.

Only because the Bible confirms it.

Here's what I found, through other Bible versions, that "the righteous is taken away from the evil to come".

Isaiah 57:1

Amplified Bible

Evil Leaders Rebuked

57 The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart;

Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands

That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.

Isaiah 57:1

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

57 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness].

Isaiah 57:1

Complete Jewish Bible

57 The righteous person perishes,

and nobody gives it a thought.

Godly men are taken away,

and no one understands

that the righteous person is taken away

from the evil yet to come.

Isaiah 57:1

Darby Translation

57 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from before the evil.

Isaiah 57:1

Easy-to-Read Version

Israel Does Not Follow God

57 All the good people are gone,

    and no one even noticed.

The loyal followers were gathered up,

    but no one knows why.

The reason they were gathered up

    is that trouble is coming.

Isaiah 57:1

Evangelical Heritage Version

There Will Be Peace for the Righteous Even in Death

The righteous one perishes,

but no one takes it to heart.

Men of mercy[a] are being taken away,

but no one understands

    that the righteous one is being spared from evil.

Isaiah 57:1

English Standard Version

Israel's Futile Idolatry

57 The righteous man perishes,

    and no one lays it to heart;

devout men are taken away,

    while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;

Isaiah 57:1

Good News Translation

Israel's Idolatry Is Condemned

57 Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.

Isaiah 57:1

International Children’s Bible

Israel Does Not Follow God

57 Those right with God may die,

    but no one pays attention.

Good people are taken away,

    but no one understands.

The people who do right are being taken away because of evil.

Isaiah 57:1

Lexham English Bible

Idolatry is Adultery

57 The righteous one perishes, and there is no one who takes[a] it to heart.

    And men of faithfulness are gathered, while there is no one who understands,

for the righteous is gathered from the presence of wickedness.

Isaiah 57:1

Living Bible

57 The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead.

Isaiah 57:1

New International Version

57 The righteous perish,

    and no one takes it to heart;

the devout are taken away,

    and no one understands

that the righteous are taken away

    to be spared from evil.

Isaiah 57:1

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

57 The righteous perish,

    and no one takes it to heart;

the devout are taken away,

    while no one understands.

For the righteous are taken away from calamity,

Yeshayah 57:1

Orthodox Jewish Bible

57 The tzaddik perisheth, and no ish layeth it to lev; and anshei chesed are taken away, none considering that the tzaddik is taken away from the ra’ah (evil, calamity) to come.

Isaiah 57:1

The Voice

57 Eternal One: The person who does what is right dies, and no one cares.

        Good people are carted off, and no one understands why.

    For those who are in the right are taken away

        and spared a face-to-face encounter with evil.

Isaiah 57:1

Wycliffe Bible

57 A just man perisheth, and none is that thinketh in his heart; and men of mercy be gathered together, for none there is that understandeth; for why a just man is gathered from the face of malice. (The just, or the righteous, perish, and no one thinketh about it in their hearts, or in their minds; and people of mercy be taken away, and no one understandeth, that the just, or the righteous, have been taken away, before that malice, or the evil, come.)

In SUMMARY, "the righteous is taken away from the evil to come" means:

the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil

the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]

the righteous person is taken away from the evil yet to come

the righteous is taken away from before the evil

The reason they were gathered up is that trouble is coming.

the righteous one is being spared from evil

the righteous man is taken away from calamity

when they die, no calamity can hurt them

The people who do right are being taken away because of evil.

the righteous is gathered from the presence of wickedness

God is taking them away from evil days ahead

the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil

the righteous are taken away from calamity

the tzaddik is taken away from the ra’ah (evil, calamity) to come

those who are in the right are taken away and spared a face-to-face encounter with evil

a just man is gathered from the face of malice; the just, or the righteous, have been taken away, before that malice, or the evil, come

What evil is expected to come?

We are in the latter times, so this is expected:

2 Timothy 3:1-7

King James Version

3 This know also, 

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, 

covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, 

disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, 

incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, 

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, 

but denying the power thereof: 

from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, 

and lead captive silly women laden with sins, 

led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, 

and never able to come 

to the knowledge of the truth.

1 John 2:18

King James Version

18 Little children, 

it is the last time: 

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, 

even now are there many antichrists; 

whereby we know that it is the last time.

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Whether LIFE be long or short

 

Proverbs 4:10

King James Version

10 Hear, O my son, 

and receive my sayings; 

and the years of thy life shall be many.

What an unusual find today.

Without really meaning to.

But SPIRIT had other ideas.

He led me to two videos on the following:

1. The country with the highest suicide rate.

2. The country with the longest life span.

And this was not by my design.

It was by SPIRIT's design that I could share with you these two videos:

"I Visited the Most Suicidal Town in the World"

"The Island Where People Refuse to Die"

Now, how about eternal life?

Would you like that?

With JESUS?

I already signed up.

Rather, GOD signed me up.

He made me born again, that I may have eternal life with JESUS.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

John 3:16

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

John 10:27-28

King James Version

27 My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, 

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

I have no idea the length of my life.

All that matters is my eyes are focused on JESUS, and that I share the gospel with you.

Colossians 3:1-2

King James Version

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

Life is best lived, with JESUS in our hearts.

Our lives are transformed, when we live by His WORD.

A life lived for JESUS has purpose.

It has meaning.

It has direction.

It has a sense of purpose.

You become grateful for the life given.

And your focus is on serving your fellow man.

All the while, giving all GLORY to GOD.

James 1:17

King James Version

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

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