The first day of the week, Sunday, is the day of worship for Christians in churches around the world. The reason for this is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. It is now called the Lord’s day. Through the book of Acts and into Romans and Corinthians, we find the church of Paul’s day worshipping on the first day of the week, the Lord’s day (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 16:2).

The Bible does not directly justify nor condemn cremation. It is obvious from the many illustrations in Scripture that the body of the deceased was treated with a great deal of respect.

The method of burial should take into consideration the feelings and grief of loved ones left behind who may not see the body if it is to be cremated without a memorial service where it may be viewed, or if there is to be no graveside service.

Regardless of the method of burial, the Lord will miraculously pull together all the molecules which composed the body in the Resurrection – whether it be to eternal life or to eternal damnation (I Corinthians 15:51-55, Revelation 20:12-15).

Great question. Again, as mentioned many times on our program, Catholic sources such as St. Francis of Assisi, Bishop Sheen and others have said that there is going to be a final pope who will defect from the faith. In 1139, in Tuam, Ireland, there was an archbishop by the name of Malachy O’Morgair. Later because he was canonized, he was known as St. Malachy. He had just been to Rome and said that God showed him the future and that there would only be 112 more popes from that hour onward. The first pope began with Celestine II. Pope 111 is believed to be the retired Pope Benedict XVI.

What about the new Pope Francis? His life reveals a treasure trove of information. We’re just getting started!

Stay tuned to our television program Jack Van Impe Presents as we will share further prophetic insight regarding this latest set of events.

The Millennial reign of Jesus Christ is a period of 1,000 years upon the earth. The definition of the Millennium is as follows:

“Following the defeat of the opposing armies, the Lord Jesus Christ begins His judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46). First of all, the rebels are purged to go into judgment and punishment (Matthew 25:41,46). Then, those who have been converted by accepting the message that the 144,000 Jews preached during the Tribulation Hour go into the Millennial (1,000 year) reign of Christ. It is important to note that those who rejected the message are lost just as any sinner in any dispensation is lost because he rejected the Saviour. Those who heeded the message including the Gentile multitudes of Revelation 7:14 and Acts 2:21 are allowed to enter the Millennium. Included in the hosts which go into this great hour are the Jews of Old Testament times. They were resurrected at the conclusion of the Tribulation so that they, along with the raised Tribulation saints mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6, might be participants in the Millennium on earth (Daniel 12:2).”

Good question.Primarily because it demands so much study and research. Many do not want to spend the time necessary to study the prophetic scriptures and dig into God’s Word as they should. The Bible says, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Secondly, many men do not teach from the prophetic scriptures because they are afraid of being branded as “sensationalists.” This is sad, because the message of Christ’s return is a blessed hope (Titus 2:13), a purifying hope (1 John 3:2, 3), and a hope that earns one a special crown (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).

But Jesus was a sensationalist! And much of what He said was also sensational. For instance: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:27); Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven (Matthew 24:29). Jesus made these shocking statements! So we are branded as sensationalists, like Jesus, when we preach the Word of God.

We can already see the dawning of the day of drugs in the spread of drug use throughout all levels of society. Such a widespread use of drugs cannot help but bring its own destruction. Even amid all the trips in mind expansion propaganda, not one user has ever been able to actually do more or be more efficient than he was before experimenting with drugs. This steady downward retrogression will be climaxed at the close of the Great Tribulation, when the full cup of its own judgment is measured.

The closing chapters of the Book of Revelation graphically portray the terrible consequences of mankind’s enchantment with drugs. What we are presently witnessing is only the beginning of the coming disintegration of society during the Tribulation period. Revelation 18:23 states: For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. The Greek word for sorceries is pharmakeia. Thus, “by their enchantment with drugs, or getting high on drugs, were all nations deceived.” This is the result of mankind’s first mass usage of drugs.

Now there is a change in the next occurrence of the word translated sorcerers. This change reveals a class of people who are doomed and is found in chapter 21, verse 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. The Greek word for sorcerers in this text is pharmakeus. Whereas the word pharmakeia meant “enchantment with drugs,” pharmakeus means “the enchanter with drugs”—the pusher or the seller of drugs. This text plainly declares that eight distinct groups of people will never get into heaven but will rather be assigned to the lake of fire (a description of a literal hell). One of these groups is composed of those who are en¬chanters, or pushers of drugs. What a solemn warn¬ing against having anything to do with the soul-damning drug traffic of the present hour!

Is there no hope or escape from the clutches of this binding habit? Praise God, there is a source of liberation it is the Lord Jesus Christ: For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Beloved, it is by the way of the cross of Calvary that Jesus has broken Satan’s grip. Now, when any guilty sinner calls upon Him for salvation, Jesus Christ immediately frees that person from the shackles of sin and death which bind him. Try Him. There is no limit to the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:19-31 gives an accurate testimony to the fact that existence after death is a very conscious one. This fundamental truth is taught in many other places in the Word of God. II Corinthians 5, written by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is also very helpful. Paul declares emphatically that his absence from his body means his presence with the Lord (vs. 8). There does not seem to be any indication whatsoever that he is looking forward to a cessation of consciousness or an intermediate period between death and the time of being with the Lord. In Philippians 1:23-24, the Apostle Paul again emphasized this same truth. He points out two distinct existences. There is no indication of an intermediate state or a “sleeping.”

Revelation 6:9-12 testifies to the fact that those who have died and gone before are in a conscious presence with the Lord. We must always be careful to remember the words of Jesus to the thief who was crucified with Him. John 19:31-37 makes it abundantly clear that this thief died at the same approximate time as Christ. In Luke 23:43, we have the

authoritative words of Christ that give a promise of hope to a dying man that upon his death he would be taken into the conscious joy of the Lord's presence.

In I Thessalonians 4:14 Christ brings “those who sleep” or the spirits of the dead “with him”, to recover their bodies. The spirit of the believer left the body at death to be with Christ and at the Rapture returns for one’s covering. This is necessary if the redeemed are to rule and reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4; 22:5). In order to do so, one must have a body because a spirit alone cannot be seen.

It will certainly be a tough decision not to take the mark of the beast (666) during the tribulation period since the result will be loss of physical life. However, all is not lost. The tribulation martyr will one day be resurrected to everlasting life. Amen!

There are three separate times that people will be raised from the dead.

The first time is at the Rapture. This is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. This will include all of those that have died during the Church age that believed on Christ and accepted Him as their Savior. This happens just before the Tribulation.

The next event is called the First Resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6. This includes the Old Testament saints as well as those who accepted Christ during the Tribulation and were killed by the antichrist for their faith.

The Second Resurrection is spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. This will encompass all of the people who rejected Christ throughout all the ages. They will be resurrected to face the judgement for their sins.

The Seal of Judgments occur after the rapture of the Church. This is the beginning of the program of God to pour out judgment upon the earth.

1. The world’s greatest dictator (Revelation 6:1,2)

2. The world’s greatest war (Revelation 6:3,4)

3. The world’s greatest famine (Revelation 6:5,6)

4. The world’s greatest death blow (Revelation 6:7,8)

5. The world’s greatest persecution (Revelation 6:9,10)

6. The world’s greatest ecological disaster (Revelation 6:11,12)

7. The world’s greatest hour of fear…actually the lull before the storm (Revelation 8:1)

Jesus Christ will return someday soon to judge both, the living and the dead.

The requirement for going to Heaven is that each person must receive Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour (John 1:12). John 3:3 says: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Although it does not have to be a public confession, the church service is often the most convenient time for a person to be saved. There is a definite request in evangelical services for anyone who wants to be saved to do so during the altar call. God receives a person solely because he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

The Bible teaches that when we receive Jesus Christ, He gives us the gift of everlasting life (John 3:16, Romans 6:23). At this time we become a child of God (I John 3:1-3). When a child misbehaves, he is punished or chastised but not disowned from the family. Also study I John chapter 5 with regard to eternal life.

There are many who believe in Heaven but reject God's Word concerning a place called Hell. However, it is all or nothing with God's Word. One cannot take the parts of the Bible that are pleasing to his limited mind and reject that which is unsuitable to him.

Jesus said in Luke 16:22, “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom…” That is Heaven. Christ goes on with the other side of the subject: “…the rich man also died and was buried; And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” There are two places. Again Jesus said in John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Jesus said in John 6:47: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

We see nothing wrong with displaying a Christmas tree. Some believe that Jeremiah 10:3-10 is referring to making or possessing a Christmas tree.

The Christmas tree is not mentioned in the Scriptures. Jeremiah 10 does not refer to the modern Christmas tree, but instead to a piece of wood similar to a totem pole, an idol, and overlaid with silver and gold. Notice particularly Jeremiah 10:9-11.