First Baptist Church Zephyrhills

06/01/2026

Generous Giving

05/31/2026

Communion today, so I picked this for you to share in.

For details about this sermon and for related resources, click here...

06/10/2024

10/15/2023

Prophecy Time Line

1. The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens.

2. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20).

3. The tribulation. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).

4. The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)

5. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).

6. The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

7. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell.

8. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).

9. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).

10. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.

11. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.

12. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him (Revelation 21–22).

06/14/2023

From RightNow Media a Max Lucado video course streamed right to your computer or smart phone. Check it out!

RightNow Media

05/26/2023

We have a new website! Click on the website link here on our page. The website should open up in a new window. Take a look. We are featuring RightNow media which we are officially rolling out on June 11th. We will also have our own page on that program that allows you to see the content I have reviewed and placed in "channels" to help you navigate this video library. Many of the authors have included free study guides with the programs that you can print off. I will be announcing more information this Sunday and getting email addresses for personal invites to be sent to our church members. See you soon.

06/29/2020

We find ourselves in time of terrible leadership in our Nation. It seems that a immature, violent, atheistic mob has decided it will dictate what we do in the country and who is "accepted". This same group is tearing down statues, with no idea what they stand for. They shout, bully, and intimidate store owners, citizens, and politicians. All while some run to pander to them as they break the law and act like street thugs.

Many of this group have begun to say that Christianity and Jesus is racist. They have shown their ignorance in so many ways, but this one takes the cake. Jesus' teaching is to love others and not let race, nationality, or any other differences divide us. I admit that as humans we have not always acted the way God teaches us to. That is what is called sin and the very reason Jesus had to die for each us on the cross.

This mob and our leaders need to be reminded that we do not give in to violence, we stand against it. There is a democratic process that is followed to change laws or policies.

Additionally, no one needs to apologize for how much pigmentation their skin has or does not have. This mob is doing the very same things to others that they claim has been done to them. Violence or discrimination against someone for their color, religion, or ethnicity is a hate crime and should be charged as such.

Assaulting people, vandalizing property, committing arson, and stealing are wrong period. There is absolutely no justification for such actions and those committing them should be arrested and charged.

I call on all Christians to pray and set godly examples before others. I call on all our leaders to be leaders and denounce crime and violence, while taking the appropriate action to stop it. Hate and arrogance always leads to division and tragedy. Love and humbleness always leads to kindness and understanding. The question is which do you want?

09/25/2019

Evangelism
Sep 25, 2019

I delight to do thy will, O my God…I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth – Psalm 40:8,10

In this messianic psalm, Jesus speaks by prophecy thousands of years before his birth in Bethlehem. And he declares, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.”

But what should be striking to us is what God’s will consists of. As Jesus goes on to enumerate the various aspects of God’s will which he delights to perform, notice how clearly he speaks of evangelism.

Jesus says, as part of joyfully fulfilling the will of God, that he has declared his faithfulness and salvation. It is evident, then, that it is impossible to do the will of God without exalting his attributes, without proclaiming his perfections, without speaking of his accomplishments.

It is the will of God, we must understand, not only to save his people from their sins, but to have them then publicly exult in his wonderful grace. When we do not make much of God in our conversation, Jesus implies, we are in effect concealing God’s love and truth, keeping it all to ourselves and diminishing his glory in front of others.

Believer, do you wish to obey God, to please him with your words and actions? If so, then take this signal from Jesus and make a conscious effort to display your delight in God, to make public the Person who is precious to your heart.