Pastor Joel Laswell

How do we know that Jesus was who He said He was? The Bible has a few hundred prophecies that foretell the coming of “The Messiah.” We are going to take a look at a few of these prophecies right now. You can get the corresponding study tract here: http://www.3asdchurch.org/biblestudy.htm

I was talking with a church member one time and he told me about a particular encounter he had with someone who believed in the secret rapture. Now it has been my experience that many people will tell you they believe in the secret rapture without really knowing what the secret rapture is entirely or where the teaching really originated. There are now several different variations of this teaching that have popped up since its origin in Scotland many years ago, but I am not going to get into all of them. I am going to share the truth of the bible concerning this subject as well as how to rightly divide the word of truth.

God has given us an instruction book to prepare us for heaven and included in this book are lessons that teach us that we can trust Him in all things, even those that may be a surprise to the world. If we are fooled by the devil, shame on us because we have been given a heads up on what is coming. God can prepare you for the overwhelming surprise that is coming....

The three messages that come out of the mouth of the three unclean spirits spoken of in Revelation 16--the papacy, apostate Protestantism and spiritism, are competing with the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. This is the 3 on 3 contest of the ages, my friends. And if we don’t know what the three messages on each side are, it’s possible we could be sitting in church listening to messages coming out of the mouth of these three unclean spirits and not know they are messages that will lead us down the road to perdition.

If we are to have a steadfast endurance that takes us through the fiery days of temptation, we must have a confidence that God will do what He has promised to do. We must learn to trust God implicitly with all things pertaining to our life, especially when we don’t see the results that we may be expecting to see. How do we get this endurance? What does the bible say...

Human beings were created as social creatures and so every human being, every boy, every girl, every man, every woman... everyone wants some friends. People will do almost anything to get friends. And to get friends people want to fit into the social groups to which they belong. So, in order to fit into a social group, people will do what other people are doing. Have you noticed that? If people think that everybody that is part of the "in" crowd is doing something, you will be amazed at what they will do to be with them. The Bible has a lot to say about this, did you know that? Let's see what the Bible says about the majority compulsion....

A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half. It is a last chance, desperation attempt to defeat your opponent and this is what the devil is going to attempt before the end to overcome God's people. He is going to throw a Hail Mary pass, so to speak, but it will not be completed!

Today is July fourth and in our country we call it Independence Day for it was on this day that the men who helped to found this country declared independence from England. And even though this country is going through some very serious changes, thousands of people aspire to come here seeking refuge from tyranny. Many around the world see the United States as the land of freedom and liberty… a place of refuge. This is not a new concept by any means. The Bible talks about cities of hope and promise where people seeking sanctuary could realize the prospect of a completely new beginning.

Identifying the antichrist is a subject we need to understand. If we do not correctly know who the antichrist is, we will end up being joined to the antichrist. We will receive the mark of antichrist and the result of that will be receiving the plagues and losing eternal life. This is part three of the series: Identifying AntiChrist.

Identifying the antichrist is a subject we need to understand. If we do not correctly know who the antichrist is, we will end up being joined to the antichrist. We will receive the mark of antichrist and the result of that will be receiving the plagues and losing eternal life. This is part two of the series: Identifying AntiChrist.

Identifying the antichrist is a subject we need to understand. If we do not correctly know who the antichrist is, we will end up being joined to the antichrist. We will receive the mark of antichrist and the result of that will be receiving the plagues and losing eternal life.

When God says something is to be opened, nobody can shut it. If God says something is to be shut, nobody can open it. What I would like to get into happens to be one of the most controversial doctrines that the Adventist Movement has believed. This doctrine is throughout the Bible and it is important to understand this so not to be deceived!

In order to endure the trials and difficulties that we encounter here, it is necessary to keep our mind focused on this final reward of the faithful. Jesus did this, and it was this very thing that enabled him to endure the terrible anguish through which He passed. Hebrews 12:2, “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.” When Jesus was in the midnight darkness of the cross, He focused on the joy that was to come. He thought of the millions of souls who would be saved as a result of His sacrifice. We too must focus on the joy that is to come!

Did you know that the Bible talks about sifting? Did you know that before Jesus returns His people will go through a complete sifting process? We are very close to the return of our Lord and this process is something that we need to understand because it actually prepares us to be citizens of the Kingdom.

The spoils for the children of Israel after forty years of character perfecting in the wilderness was to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. This was a type of the final spoils for all those who choose to be on the Lord’s side… to enter the promised land of a new earth and eternal life with Jesus.

Were you aware that when the Lord delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt that He tested them just before they were allowed to enter the Promised Land? So too will the Lord test His people before He returns to take them to the promised land of heaven and a new earth… there will be a final exam that all have to pass to enter there!

It is not enough for me to come to church or to make a profession of religion. That is not enough. I have to overcome, if I am going to receive eternal life. If I do not overcome, I will not receive eternal life—even if I go to church or make a profession of religion or preach or teach or do any of those things. This is a theme that is recorded over and over and over again in the book of Revelation, the necessity of overcoming. To overcome means to conquer... it means to be like Jesus!

Eternal salvation is not complicated. It is simple enough that a child can understand it. All you have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. It is a free gift from God. Jesus is the gift!

There are two paths to choose from... One is a narrow path where you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus. There you will have joy and peace and the comfort of His presence on your journey and experience, and at the end of the path, everlasting life. The other path, the one that Jesus said most people would choose, is the broad path. It begins with ease and pleasure with no self-denial. But Satan is a cruel, hard, taskmaster and just around the corner, out of sight, the path gets harder and harder as you go along, and the farther you travel on that road makes it more difficult to make a U-turn. It involves sickness, heartache, despair and, in the end eternal death. Which path will you choose?

The disciples were being trained as they went about the land with Jesus. As they learned the lessons about the kingdom they were often given chances to do the work that they saw Jesus do. Like when he sent them out two by two. They went through what can be called field exercises rather often. Many times they failed but Jesus used such instances to teach a lesson that would be very important later down the road after He was gone. These experiences helped them to prepare for the time of Pentecost. The disciples were given the power of God to do His will and work and they set upon the task of growing the body.