He Rides a Black Horse

By Ray Gano

In the last several months I have been seeing a drastic increase in the cost of food. Milk is sitting at $3.25 a gallon, Cheese has gone up $2.00 for a quarter pound block and butter is sitting at $3.65 a box.

Folks, we are coming to the end of the age. We are beginning to see the foundations that have been put in place, start to take effect.

During the tribulation we know that food will become scarce and the cost will sky rocket.

We read in Revelation 6:5-6…

Revelation 6:5 – 6 (KJV) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Christ himself stated..

Matthew 24:8 (KJV) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

In this Christ was speaking of wars, rumors of wars, false Christ’s, earthquakes, famines, pestilences. He was speaking about now, the end of the age.

Matthew 24:7 (KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

When one does a study on this verse we learn that he is using verbiage which equates to that of a woman about to give birth, or the birth pangs as it is commonly stated.

Birth pangs do not slow down, ask any mother, she will attest to the fact that they increase in strength and timing. They get harder and more painful as well as coming more frequently.

That is exactly what we are seeing today, read on…

Forget Oil, the New Global Crisis is Food

BMO strategist Donald Coxe warns credit crunch and soaring oil prices will pale in comparison to looming catastrophe.

A new crisis is emerging, a global food catastrophe that will reach further and be more crippling than anything the world has ever seen. The credit crunch and the reverberations of soaring oil prices around the world will pale in comparison to what is about to transpire, Donald Coxe, global portfolio strategist at BMO Financial Group said at the Empire Club's 14th annual investment outlook in Toronto on Thursday.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," he warned investors. "It's going to hit this year hard."

Mr. Coxe said the sharp rise in raw food prices in the past year will intensify in the next few years amid increased demand for meat and dairy products from the growing middle classes of countries such as China and India as well as heavy demand from the biofuels industry.

"The greatest challenge to the world is not US$100 oil; it's getting enough food so that the new middle class can eat the way our middle class does, and that means we've got to expand food output dramatically," he said.

The impact of tighter food supply is already evident in raw food prices, which have risen 22% in the past year.

Source - http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=213343

In this article Mr.Coxe is pointing out the production of biofuel / biodiesel is one of his primary concerns. If you do not know, biofuel / biodiesels are produced by using corn, wheat, sugar beets, ect. Many of the grains and produce used to make biofuel / biodiesel is also the same thing we use to feed the livestock thus promoting a healthy food supply.

Living here on the Gano Ranch, we have seen this directly as well as having an effect on us as these prices go up. In fact this was my main topic for this week’s Prophezine’s This Week In Bible Prophecy Show.

Watch Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbDntNOq3G0

We have noticed the cost of our chicken feed going up and even our dog food, which is also predominately made from grains.

With the continued cost of rising livestock feed going up, the products such as meat, diary, poultry and eggs are also going up.

Soon the rule of supply and demand will impact us. But which demand will win out? Will the demand to run our machinery win or will the demand to feed our livestock win.

No matter what, in the end, we learn that food will become scarce.

We read in Revelation 6:6

Rev 6:6 (KJV) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states…

“a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; "Choenix", the measure here used, signifies as much as was sufficient for a man for one day, as a penny was the usual hire of a laborer for a day as found in Mat 20:2; so a choenix of corn was allowed to each man in Xerxes's army for a day, according to Herodotus ; the same quantity for a day was given by the Romans to their shepherds and servants, and is generally said to be about two pounds; according to Agricola it was two pounds and a quarter.”

So we learn that a measure of grain is approximately 2 pounds and the cost for that grain will be an average day’s wage.

In 2006 the average hourly pay across the board was $16.31. If you add benefits the average was $19.57 per hour for non supervisory workers. To get yearly income figure you take approx 2000 hours per year per hour ($16.31 x 2000) and you come up with $32620.00 for a full time employee for a year’s worth of work.

Source - http://www.visualizingeconomics.com/2007/11/04/has-middle-americas-wages-stagnated/

We have 52 weeks in a year so if you minus 104 from 365, that gives you 261 days a person works on average. This is not counting vacation time. That comes to an average of $124.98 or $125.00 per day if you round up.

Now this is US Dollars, but you can take your countries currency and basically do the same rough math and come out with a figure that meets to your countries’ currency.

So what does this tell us?

For approximately two pounds of wheat, it will cost the US consumer approximately $125.00. The cost for 6 pounds of barley will also cost approximately a days wage or $125.00. Now this is during the tribulation. What prevents the price making a climb up as we draw closer to the end of this age? Here is an interesting side note about barley; it is what beer is made from. Pay attention later in the article discussing alcohol.

One other point to make, we also know that the population of man is also going up thus making the current supply and demand even greater.

In reading the second part of Rev 6:6 is says “see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”

The oil spoken of here was olive oil which was used in their lamps, to bath in, cook with but primarily it was used as an energy source. As for wine it was and still is a luxury.

In past articles I have pointed to Isaiah 5, the judgment of nations, as what will befall the United States as well as other nations that turn their backs upon God. But take note of what is spoken about here; we see greed, the cost of food going up and extreme drunkenness.

Isaiah 5:8-10 (KJV) Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah.

Isaiah 5:11 (KJV) Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

In reading these verses, we see that man driven by his greed will work to possess all that he can. He will displace all others not caring for his fellow man. He will drive off from their lands all others, and take possession of all they can and all for themselves. We see also that the land will not yield properly. Here ten acres only yields one bath or approximately seven gallons of wine. It does not tell us why, but I bet it is through the continued overworking of the land to the point that the good earth no longer produces. Again greed and the worship of self are to blame.

We continue in Isaiah and see that man will rise up and begin his day early with strong drink and do this until the night.

These things are taking place today. We are sittng at the edge of the end of the age. In Revelation 6:5-6 God’s judgment befalls man. It will be worse than today, but today we are already seeing the foundations begin to stir.

Folks, time is at hand and Jesus is returning very soon for his bride. If you do not know the Lord, you will be left behind to face the tribulation. If you are left behind, the odds are against you and you will most likely die a horrible death. If you choose to come to Christ during the tribulation, you will see persecution by the antichrist who despises all man, but especially those who love God. In that case scripture says that you will give your head and be a martyr.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:21(KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22(KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23(KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. .

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

visit their new daughter ministry Wisdom Farms at http://www.wisdomfarms.com

Rampant Apathy Proven in the US

By Ray Gano

Annise Danette Parker was elected mayor of Houston on Saturday, winning her seventh consecutive city election and becoming the first openly gay person to lead a major U.S. city. Houston being the fourth largest city in the US.

Unofficial returns show that Parker led with a comfortable victory of about 52.8 percent of the vote to 47.2 percent for Locke, her election rival. Out of the 2.2 million citizens of Houston, the turnout was just 16.5 percent or roughly 152,000 people showed up to the polls to vote. Of Houston's 2.2 million people, an estimated 60,000 of its residents identify themselves as gay or lesbian. In fact a recent poll by the Houston Chronicle found that 77 percent of respondents didn’t care about Parker’s sexuality.

To win the mayor seat, Parker or Locke, her opponent, had to earn the support of 70,000 voters — slightly more than 40 percent of those who cast their ballots in the general election. Parker won with approximately 81,000 votes.

Folks, this mayoral election paints a very sad picture of the rampant apathy that grips this nation of ours.

Only 16% of Houston's population decided to go vote.

As an American and a Christian, this sickens me to my core. I think of the blood that has been spilt for this nation and basically 84% of Houston's population mocks those fallen heroes who paid for their freedom to cast a vote.

Locke, who was running against Parker won approximately 52,000 votes.

Do you realize that is just a difference of 29,000 votes?

Do you know that the nation's largest church is located in Houston Texas, pastored by none other than by Joel Osteen. Lakewood Church has approximately 30,000 members according to Forbes. In 2005 the church was renamed Lakewood International Center, and moved into the newly renovated 18,000-seat worship complex at Houston's Compaq Center in order to facilitate its rapid growth. Joel's #1 rated inspirational television program by Nielson Media Research is seen worldwide in 100 million households on ABC Family, BET, PAX, and CNBC Europe and Australia, among others.

What I have to ask is if Joel Osteen alone would have come out and called sin a sin and stood for what God's Word clearly states, would Houston have elected a lesbian mayor?

Lakewood is not the only large church in Houston either. There is First Baptist with a large congregation pastored by Pastor David Self, and then there is Second Baptist Church out on highway 10 Pastored by Ed Young. You may have even heard these guys on the radio. The interesting thing about Second Baptist is that they have many church campus' all over Houston. That means they have numbers.

Just think about it, together these two churches could have turned the tide of allowing a lesbian in Houston's highest office. That is if they preached God's true word from the pulpit instead of sugar coated "purpose driven life" sermons that they preach. If you don’t believe me, Google their websites and see for yourself. Both present your typical "psycho-babble Christianity" preaching "self and service" over the proper Biblical Christian walk God's Word calls for.

Were there any churches in Houston that took a stand on God's Word and come out against this grievous event? If so I would really love to hear from any pastor that was willing to stand on the pulpit and call a spade a spade, proclaiming the truth of God. If you are a pastor and voiced the error that took place, please contact me. I would love to interview you and the next time I am in Houston, I would be honored to attend your church if I am there on a Sunday.

The problem is that most pastors today will not preach on hellfire and brimstone from the pulpit today. No longer is sin a popular sermon topic because pastors want to keep happy fannies in seats that have deep pockets that tithe and give lots of dollars, and that is a fact.

Sin is running rampant and the church is oblivious to it. One of the reasons they are oblivious to it is that no one knows God's word anymore. I mean why not; when we have a bible version for just about every pet sin there is out there. Just look, there is the Gay bible, The Feminist bible, the Green bible, there is the gender neutral bible and a one hundred and one other different bibles that water down God's Word. Folks, it is Satan's oldest ploy in the book, "Hath God Said." He did this with Eve in the Garden and both Adam and Eve fell for it when they fell from grace. That serpent the devil has had close to 5000 years to perfect his art and he is doing a great job causing people to doubt God's Word more and more each day.

Want Proof? Just look at Houston.

But what I am interested in knowing is how many Bible believing Christians who love the Lord and are looking for his soon return did not take an interest in this election? Because they did not "occupy till He returned," they now have a lesbian in Houston's highest office.

Yea, I am now pointing at some of you, what excuse can you give? Why didn’t you occupy?

There is a complacent attitude going on out there that I have been rather surprised about. I have written about this before, but there seems to be a complacency in Christians who basically have given up the fight. These are good bible believing Christians too, but instead of occupying till Christ returns, they have just given up.

I hear excuses like "Christ is returning soon so why should I care?" Or "the rapture is coming and we will all be gone." It is like people have just rolled over and "since we are living in the last days, there is nothing they can do about it. So why try to fight the good fight when God says that the end of the world is coming?"

Folks, we have to fight the good fight because that is what Christ told us to do. Be good stewards over what He has blessed us with and stand firm on His Word.

But are people doing it?

When the fourth largest city in America, which happens to be located in what many view as the "bible belt" and elect a open lesbian, I clearly see apathy and complacency taken to a whole new level. In fact, what we are witnessing goes beyond that. What we are witnessing is out and out rebellion from God's own people, who in fact love the world more than they love God.

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

1 John 2:4-5(KJV) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Right now some of you are saying "how dare you judge…"

Well, to be honest, yes I am judging the people of Houston, but also the mere numbers speak the truth.

When you have 2.2 million people which only 152,000 showed up to vote; knowing that 60,000 of those are from the gay community, one can clearly see the picture that is being painted.

Most of Houston and her Christians don’t care anymore and the numbers prove it.

It is apathy like this as to why we have a man in the white house who clearly sides with the enemies of Israel and profess more of a relationship with Islam instead of Christianity.

It is apathy like this why we have leaders more bent on corruption and greed instead of having the fortitude to do the right thing in the eyes of God.

It is apathy like this why this nation is going down in flames just like the Hindenburg and no one is doing anything but standing around watching her burn.

The 80's rock band Def Leopard said it best in their song "Rock of Ages" when the lead singer said "it is better to burn out than fade away."

The worlds wisdom at its best and we as Christians have bought into that warped sense of wisdom.

What Others Are Saying.. Is It Too Late?

This last week I had the chance to interview many of those in bible prophecy at the Pre-Trib Conference in Dallas. One of the things I asked these men…"is it too late for this nation?" I mean have we as a nation strayed so far from God that it will basically take harsh judgment to bring us back to Him? Everyone I asked agreed that we as a nation have gone past the point of no return. I can hear some of you "nay sayers" right now saying… "Nothing is too great for God." I agree with that, but what needs to happen first is a changing and repentance of the heart of America's Christians and in fact her people over all.

But will that happen on its own? Based upon our sin nature, I really doubt it.

Today's Christian population no longer care and if we did care, most are to ignorant of scripture to do anything about it. All the Bible Prophecy teachers I spoke agreed that there are still pockets of righteousness spread here and there across this nation, but is that enough to make a difference?

All agreed that our numbers have dwindled to a point that this nation will most likely see God's hand of Judgment come down over this nation. Many believe that It is through chastisement that will get America's Christians attention again where it belongs, that being on Our Father in Heaven.

In fact several people I spoke to already believe that the judgment is beginning due to the leadership this nation now has in her highest offices.

We as Christians have allowed greedy, crooked, sexually deviant, heathens in about 98% of all our government offices from our local cities all the way up to the white house. The very fact that now the fourth largest city in our nation has a lesbian cements that fact too.

But even looking at this, does that mean we as Christians just roll over and give up?

NO!

So what can we do? We need to start in the home and start holding ourselves accountable to God's Word. Then we need to move that accountability to local churches and start holding our pastors accountable to God's Word. If they do not want to change their spineless ways, then we need to find new pastors who have the moral and spiritual fortitude to do the right thing and preach God's Word once again from America's pulpits. We need to be willing to walk away from the 501c3 status that has just about ever pastor out there shaking in their boots, afraid to say anything in fear of rocking the boat. If you are not willing to preach that we are all sinners in need of a savior and if we do not turn our lives over to the Lord, we will burn in Hell; then you do not need to be occupying the pulpit. We need to kick these hirelings out on the streets and replace them with pastors who will preach the conviction of God's Word. We want pastors who will preach that Jesus Christ is THE WAY… THE TRUTH...and THE LIFE and no man comes to the Father but by Him. AND… if one fails to accept this 100% fact, then they will burn in Hell….just as God's Word clearly states in Revelation 20:11-15.

But since we have become apathetic Christians, we now have pastors refuse to preach the conviction of sin and hell for fear of losing those happy fannies in seats with deep pockets.

So that is where we stand today. Basically a bunch of spineless, lack of conviction people who claim the title Christian, who play by our own rules just like Cain did and refuse to follow God's Word and His commandments.

Christ said in John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.

Looking at the state of the union today, not many love God anymore.

So when that day to cast our vote comes what do we do? It is one of two things, one, we do nothing or we elect Bible haters, gays and lesbians, lovers of money, crooks, thieves, legal hair splitters and the list goes on instead of filling those positions with Godly men who will stand for God.

But what is worse is now that we have made our bed, we are now complaining about sleeping in it.

So what can we do?

We need to get back to God and His Word and reject the ways of the world.

We need to choose who we are going to serve and then get off this fence we are sitting on and stand for who we have chosen to serve.

Joshua said it best…

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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About the Author

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000 (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “TEOTWAWKI - The DVD focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon, learning how to live simply in God’s abundance and other useful bits of knowledge.

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

The Fine Line

By Ray Gano

I recently presented an article where I presented the story, "Dying Without God." For those of you who have not read it, I include here.

Dying Without God

A youth at one of the large iron works in Sheffield was some time ago accidentally thrown on to a red hot amour plate. When he was rolled off by his fellow workmen, it was doubtful if he could live, as nearly all one side of him was burned to the bone. His workmates cried, “Send for the doctor,” but the poor suffering youth cried, “Never mind sending for the doctor; is there anyone here can tell me how to get saved? My soul has been neglected, and I’m dying without God. Who can help me?”

Although there were three hundred men around him, there was no one who could tell him the way of salvation. After twenty minutes of untold agony he died as he had lived.

The man who saw this accident, and heard the cries of the dying youth, was a wretched backslider, and when I asked him how he felt about the matter, he said, “I have heard his cries ever since, and wished I could have stooped down and pointed him to Jesus, but my life closed my lips.”

Does your life tell sinners that you are saved, or does it close your lips, when those around hear your talk and witness your actions?

- “Dying Testimonies of Saved and Unsaved Compiled By Solomon Benjamin Shaw – page 301 published in 1898

I received many emails regarding my article on how to share the gospel by using the scripture. But I got one email where the person asked for clarification.

While I generally enjoy your site and I do read the articles posted there often, I found your article "Dying without God" a bit troubling. The main issue I take with it is that in your example, a young man was "dying without God" and realized it in the last moments of his life. It was also in that moment that he confessed his sin (stated he didn't know God and that he had neglected his own soul by not knowing God), asked for forgiveness (when he asked who could help him, he was crying out to God, not just the bystanders) and was repentant. In other words, he asked, sought and knocked. Our God, a just God, would have accepted him into salvation at that point just as Christ had accepted the thief on the cross. If one were to take your article at face value, the young man asked, but was not given; sought but could not find; and knocked but the door went unanswered. Since God, nor His word, can be contradictory, how can you continue on with the article after making such a declaration? I understand the point you are trying to make in the article, but using an example that is totally contradictory to the word of God distracts from the credibility of your attempt.

The reader brings up some interesting ideas, but I have to say that what this person is presenting is a form of "easy beliefism." This is an ever growing error in today's church and why it is so important that we know the difference from scripture.

There is a fine line between the person in the iron mill and the thief on the cross. Even though it is a fine line, there is a huge separation between the two once we understand what God's Word says.

Let's look at the two for a moment. First the man in the iron works.

"but the poor suffering youth cried, “Never mind sending for the doctor; is there anyone here can tell me how to get saved? My soul has been neglected, and I’m dying without God. Who can help me?”

The best way to address this is by going to see what scripture says. In Romans we find the prerequisite to the Gospel.

Romans 10:13-14 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

First we see that whoever calls upon the Name if the Lord shall be saved.

We also see Paul making the statement "How then can they call on Him whom they have not believed?"

So we know from this, that a person has to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ in order to call upon Him.

And finally we see that faith comes from hearing the gospel out of the Word of God.

By his own admission the man in the iron mill realized he was a sinner, but he did not know Christ, nor did he know the way to Christ. He did not have the knowledge to call upon the name of the Lord.

Now, let's look at the thief on the cross, this is found in Luke 23:39-43

Luke 23:39 (KJV) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The thief on the cross realized he was a sinner, and we can clearly see that he had the knowledge to call upon the name of the Lord asking Jesus to remember him.

So even when these two different stories seem to be the same, sad to say, there is a difference.

The thief knew who he was talking to and about. He realized he was addressing the very Son of God. He knew Christ and called out to Him. The man in the iron mill did not know Christ, nor did he call out to Him.

The sad point is that the man in the iron mill did not know The Way. No one ever shared the knowledge of the Gospel with him. If someone in his life might have shared, he may have had the knowledge to call upon Christ.

On the other hand the thief on the cross was saved because he knew and heard of Christ. We clearly see that in scripture.

We know from John that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.

John14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

One must call on the name of Jesus. There is no other name above the name of Jesus.

One cannot call on Buddha, Allah, Krishna, Joseph Smith, ect, ect, ect.

It is Jesus and Jesus alone. The thief called upon Jesus because he knew of Him and heard of Him. Faith cometh by hearing.

The iron mill worker knew neither because he never heard the Word of God nor of the saving grace of Jesus Christ our Savior. All he knew is that his soul was neglected.

This is why it is so important that anyone who claims to be a bible believing Christian, we must clearly know and understand how to share the gospel according to the scriptures.

It is also important that we dig deeper into the Word of God so that we can differentiate between the fine lines, because when we know the word of God, we realize that the fine lines are truly gaping chasms that separate us from God. But if we do not have the knowledge of God's Word, we only see fine lines. And in that, there is a danger that are easily crossed.

Here is the best guideline that I can give you...

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

It is for this reason why we are to always lean upon His Word as the final authority and never our own understanding.

Because with knowledge of God's Word, we can clearly see the fine lines and great chasms, thus avoiding both.