Are you ready for Christmas? Pastor Mark encourages us not to miss the signs of Jesus’ return, much like Israel missed His first coming. As we look at the world around us, we can see how the prophecy in God’s Word is lining up to prepare the way for His return.

Hannah had no children. She cried out to the LORD, "Remember your servant." She bore a son, Samuel, and took him to Eli the priest. Hannah prayed, "The LORD humbles and lifts up." Eli's sons did evil but Samuel served the LORD. A prophet condemned the house of Eli. The LORD called Samuel. Eli told Samuel to answer, "Speak, LORD." The LORD told Samuel that he was about to judge the house of Eli. The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines and Eli's sons were killed. When Eli heard that the ark had been captured, he died. The Philistines put the ark in their temple. Their god fell on his face before it. The city became cursed so they sent the ark away.

Hannah had no children. She cried out to the LORD, "Remember your servant." She bore a son, Samuel, and took him to Eli the priest. Hannah prayed, "The LORD humbles and lifts up." Eli's sons did evil but Samuel served the LORD. A prophet condemned the house of Eli. The LORD called Samuel. Eli told Samuel to answer, "Speak, LORD." The LORD told Samuel that he was about to judge the house of Eli. The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines and Eli's sons were killed. When Eli heard that the ark had been captured, he died. The Philistines put the ark in their temple. Their god fell on his face before it. The city became cursed so they sent the ark away.

Hannah had no children. She cried out to the LORD, "Remember your servant." She bore a son, Samuel, and took him to Eli the priest. Hannah prayed, "The LORD humbles and lifts up." Eli's sons did evil but Samuel served the LORD. A prophet condemned the house of Eli. The LORD called Samuel. Eli told Samuel to answer, "Speak, LORD." The LORD told Samuel that he was about to judge the house of Eli. The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines and Eli's sons were killed. When Eli heard that the ark had been captured, he died. The Philistines put the ark in their temple. Their god fell on his face before it. The city became cursed so they sent the ark away.

Naomi, an Ephraimite, lived in Moab. Her husband and two sons died so she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi had a rich relative named Boaz. Ruth went to glean in his fields. Boaz gave her food and told his men to leave grain for her. Naomi told Ruth to go and sleep at Boaz's feet. When Boaz awoke, Ruth said, "You are my kinsman." Boaz said that he would marry her. Boaz settled the inheritance with another kinsman and married Ruth. Ruth bore a son, Obed. Obed was father of Jesse, father of David.

Naomi, an Ephraimite, lived in Moab. Her husband and two sons died so she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi had a rich relative named Boaz. Ruth went to glean in his fields. Boaz gave her food and told his men to leave grain for her. Naomi told Ruth to go and sleep at Boaz's feet. When Boaz awoke, Ruth said, "You are my kinsman." Boaz said that he would marry her. Boaz settled the inheritance with another kinsman and married Ruth. Ruth bore a son, Obed. Obed was father of Jesse, father of David.

Naomi, an Ephraimite, lived in Moab. Her husband and two sons died so she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi had a rich relative named Boaz. Ruth went to glean in his fields. Boaz gave her food and told his men to leave grain for her. Naomi told Ruth to go and sleep at Boaz's feet. When Boaz awoke, Ruth said, "You are my kinsman." Boaz said that he would marry her. Boaz settled the inheritance with another kinsman and married Ruth. Ruth bore a son, Obed. Obed was father of Jesse, father of David.

The Israelites gathered to attack Gibeah. The Benjaminites defended the city but they were defeated and only 600 of them survived. The Israelites grieved that a tribe would be cut off. They destroyed Jabesh-gilead and captured wives for the remaining Benjaminites.

Can God's promises be trusted? Can He be counted on to keep His Word? God so wanted the nation of Judah to know that what He says, He will do, that He gave them a sign. It's this sign that we celebrate at Christmas and teaches us so much about the trustworthiness of our God.

There is a terrible truth in Scripture that although we would like to avoid we can’t and that is this. Although we all want to believe that until a person dies there is still hope of salvation, in some cases the Bible reveals that is simply not the truth.