Author: Jerry Blount

Christian Author, Father, Grandfather, builder and lifetime outdoorsman. Find more of my work at www.jerryblount.com

Are YOU going to heaven?

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Everyone wants to go to heaven. The joy and peace that we will have when in heaven will be far greater than anything we can imagine. Being with family and friends who have gone before us and spending eternity with them. Living in a place of perfect love. 

But if we miss heaven — well, it’s not something we want to think about — an eternity in hell.

Thankfully, God has made it easy for us to go to heaven. He sent His Son to die on the cross and redeem our sins with His blood (John 3:16). Jesus paid the price for our sins and redeemed us from the death that we deserve. He made it possible to someday stand before God.

Life’s most important question should be, “Are you going to heaven when you die?” If Jesus returns tomorrow, will you be ready?

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Noah and the Great Flood

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What was the world like before the flood; the climate, plants, animals, and the geology of the earth? What were the effects on the Earth from the flood? Was the flood worldwide? Where is the Ark? Do we really know how old the world is? Jerry uses the research and findings of geologists, biologists, microbiologists, paleontologists, paleobotanists, astronomers, physicists, astrophysicists, biophysicists, geochronologists, biochemists, and many other experts to answer these questions and many more.

Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

Why is There so Much Evil in the World?

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We live in a troubled and chaotic world. There are shootings, bombings, terrorist attacks, countries fighting countries, and religions fighting religions. There are more famines now than ever. Natural disasters are happening all over the world. Depending on where you live, it can be unsafe to say you are a Christian. You may live in a country where having peace in one’s life seems impossible. What is going on?

Take heart! God is still in control!

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalms 24:1-2)

In Matthew, chapter 24, the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”

“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24: 4-13)

We can see all these things happening at an unprecedented rate. Earthquakes and natural disasters have greatly increased in number and severity. Famines are more common now than they have ever been in the history of this planet. Wars and attacks are an everyday occurrence. Many religions claim they are the way to heaven, while the attacks on Christianity have dramatically increased. 

Jesus tells us all these things will come to pass as we near the end of time. God gives us prophecy, not to scare us, but so that we can have hope. We can know that these things are temporary.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) 

This passage of Scripture assures us that God knows what He’s doing; His thinking is different from ours, and it is so much higher than ours. We may not understand the mind of God when it comes to what is best for us and His ways and everything He allows. However, despite what we see around us, we can take heart in knowing that it is nothing that God can’t handle. Nothing surprises God. Let the “big things” become little in the hands of God.

The evil in this world will continue to increase as we near the end. However, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we need not fear. God assures us that we will not be here to endure the wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9) (Revelations 3:10) All the Christians will be raptured away before then. The Rapture is the next prophetic event to take place. Personally, I can’t wait.

As a child of God, our peace is based on who God is, not on what is happening in the world.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (Psalms 46:1-3 NLT)

Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

  1. Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church
  2. Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
  3. The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
  4. Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
  5. Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
  6. The Rapture: Coming Soon
  7. Delighting in the Lord: Enjoying a Close Walk with Jesus  

Major prophecies fulfilled by Jesus

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The most notable prophecies in the Old Testament are those documenting the life of Christ. There are 60 major messianic prophecies and 270 minor prophecies regarding the coming messiah. In the New Testament, all these prophecies are fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.

Below are sixty of the most common prophecies from the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus.

  • He is the Son of God, Psalms 2:7
    • Fulfillment, Luke 1:31
  • The seed of the woman, Genesis 3:15
    • Fulfillment, Galatians 4:4
  • The seed of Abraham,  Genesis 17:7, 22:18
    • Fulfillment Galatians 3:16
  • The seed of Isaac, Genesis 21:12
    • Fulfillment, Hebrews 11:17-19
  • The seed of David, Psalms 132:11, Jeremiah 23:5
    • Fulfillment, Acts 13:23, Romans 1:3
  • His coming at a set time, Genesis 49:10, Daniel 9:24-25
    • Fulfillment, Luke 2:1
  • His being born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 2:7
  • His being called Immanuel, Isaiah 7:14,
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 1:22
  • His being born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-6
  • Great people paying Him tribute, Psalms 72:10
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:1
  • The killing of the children of Bethlehem, Jeremiah 31:15
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:16-18
  • His being called out of Egypt, Hosea 11:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:15
  • His being preceded by John the Baptist, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 3:1-3, Luke 1:7
  • His being anointed with the Spirit, Psalms 45:7, Isaiah 11:2, 61:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 3:16, John 3:34, Acts 10:38
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Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church

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Many subjects, because of content or length, simply do not lend themselves to a 20-minute Sunday morning sermon. This book offers an in-depth study of many of these. Subjects such as Heaven, Angels, Satan and demons, End Times, Prophecy, and many more. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

Knowing Peace in Troubled Times

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Throughout the Bible, it speaks of having peace in our lives over and over again. God wants us to have peace in our lives. The last thing He wants is for us to live in fear.

Jesus told His disciples before He left, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

If you know Jesus as your personal redeemer, you can have peace in your life regardless of the circumstances. It is a spiritual peace deep within our souls that the world can never know without knowing Jesus.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

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When God Says No

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When God says no to our prayers. When it seems He doesn’t hear our petitions, it can really hurt, especially if we are praying for something really big, such as for a loved one..

When we pray and pray for something that seems so important to us, it may even seem like a matter of life and death to us and yet, God doesn’t answer our prayers. It can throw us off guard. We may even have our doubts about God. It may hurt so much that we turn our back on Him.

But that is never the answer.

Consider why God may say no. If you are a parent, then you have certainly said no to your children, yet you want the very best for them. Maybe you said no in order to teach them values, patience, or to set priorities. Maybe the timing wasn’t right, or because you know something they don’t. You can see the bigger picture. 

Those are all good reasons for saying no. Those could all be reasons God is saying no to you. I have used the illustration before that living our lives is like putting a puzzle together without the box top. We have no idea what the finished puzzle will look like until we are near the end. We begin by just putting the pieces of our life together, the best we can. 

Thankfully, God has the boxtop. He knows what our life will look like when the end comes. He can see the big picture that we can’t. This is where faith and trust come in. As hard as it may be, when He says no, we must trust that He knows best. One thing we can be assured of and that God has our best interests at heart. We may not understand why we don’t get the things we ask for. But our heavenly Father promises to always look after us and to provide for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We live in a broken and sinful world. Even as Christians, we are not going to get everything we want. God is much more concerned about the eternal aspects of our lives than He is with the temporary physical things in our lives.

When we go through difficult times and heartache in our lives, and God doesn’t answer our prayers as we think He should. We can still be assured that He is with us, helping us, and will work everything out in the end for our good.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

When God says no, we need to say yes, God, Thy will be done.

The Shroud of Turin

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Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin, or Turin Shroud, is a length of linen cloth bearing the image of a man who is alleged to be Jesus of Nazareth. The cloth itself is believed by some to be the burial shroud he was wrapped in when he was buried after the crucifixion. The shroud is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy.

The origins of the shroud and its images are the subject of intense debate among theologians, historians, and other researchers. Diverse arguments have been made in scientific and popular publications claiming to prove that the cloth is the authentic burial shroud of Jesus, based on disciplines ranging from chemistry to biology and medical forensics to optical image analysis. In 1988, radiocarbon dating tests dated a corner piece of the shroud from the Middle Ages. Certain shroud researchers have challenged the dating, arguing the results were skewed by the introduction of material from the Middle Ages to the portion of the shroud used for radiocarbon dating.


The image of the “Man of the Shroud” has a beard, mustache, and shoulder-length hair parted in the middle. He is muscular and tall (various experts have measured him as from 1.70 to 1.88 m or 5 ft 7 in. to 6 ft 2 in). Reddish-brown stains are found on the cloth, showing various wounds that, according to proponents, correlate with the yellowish image, the pathophysiology of crucifixion, and the Biblical description of the death of Jesus.

Forensic doctors have interpreted markings on the cloth as follows:

1. One wrist bears a large, round wound, apparently from piercing (the second wrist is hidden by the folding of the hands)
2. Upward gouge in the side penetrating into the thoracic cavity.
3. Small punctures around the forehead and scalp
4. Scores of linear wounds on the torso and legs.
5. Swelling of the face
6. Streams of blood down both arms

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The Hierarchy of Angels

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Angels seem to be organized according to rank and authority, which include archangels, angels, seraphim, cherubim, principalities, authorities, powers, thrones, might, and dominion (Colossians 1:16). Medieval theologians divided angels into ten different grades. We may not know for sure how angels are ranked; however, we can be sure that they have different jobs and duties and vary in power and authority. 

Archangel  

Only Michael is mentioned in scripture as an archangel (Jude 1:9). Some Bible scholars believe Lucifer was an archangel before his fall. We can not know for sure whether he was or not, but we do know that the scriptures refer to Michael as “the” archangel, so obviously, he is the only one now. Daniel 10:21 refers to Michael as our prince. He is the angel above all angels, the prince of heaven. He leads the fight against the devil and his demons (Daniel 10:13).  Michael will be the primary angel during the end times. He is a warrior without equal, except the Godhead. Whether this is his main job or not, we do not know. But as we see in the Scriptures, Satan is no match for him.

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Prayer – Our Lifeline to God Part 4

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Forgiveness and Prayer

The lack of forgiveness among Christians is, without doubt, the biggest reason that so many Christians are living a life of ineffectiveness. This is certainly true in their prayer lives.

D. L. Moody said: “I believe this (forgiveness) keeps more people from having power with God than any other thing; they are not willing to cultivate a spirit of forgiveness. If we allow the root of bitterness to spring up in our hearts against someone, our prayers will not be answered. It may not be an easy thing to live in sweet fellowship with all those with whom we come in contact, but that is why the grace of God is given to us.”

The “Lord’s Prayer” says that God will not forgive us if we don’t forgive others. This is the only part of the Lord’s prayer that Jesus explained.

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