WINNING WITH THE WORD
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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, October 11, 2021, and this is Episode #36 of Series 2021. This episode is titled “Don’t Despair! Prepare!”
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Despair may be covering the earth, but it doesn’t have to cover your life. This week, I want to encourage you by saying, “Don’t despair! Prepare!”
Prepare for what?
Prepare for the return of Jesus Christ to remove His followers from the earth!
We are living in those “perilous times” predicted by Jesus in the Bible. While it may be a very difficult time to be alive, it is also a very exciting time to be alive. We are the generation that, according to Scripture, will witness the return of the Lord.
What does this mean?
It means that the Bible is true. Jesus came to earth the first time 2000 years ago as the Savior of the world. He died on a Cross, rose from the dead, and returned to Heaven. Before He returned, He promised that He would prepare a place for His followers in Heaven and then come back for those who choose to follow Him. We find His promise in John 14: 3: “And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.”
Jesus cannot lie because He is God. In fact, every prediction He has ever made has come true up to this point. There are still prophecies He made that have not yet come to pass, but they will come to pass just as surely as His other prophecies have come to pass.
One of those prophecies is that Jesus will come back to remove from the earth all those who believe in Him and follow Him. When will this happen? We do not know for sure, but Jesus gave us some warning signs and some clues. They are found in Matthew 24. These warning signs and clues are happening right now as I speak.
So, what does all of this mean for you?
It means that if you are not yet ready to meet Jesus, you had better get ready. Otherwise, when He removes His followers from the earth, you will be left behind.
And it won’t be a pretty situation.
You see, after Jesus removes His followers from the earth, the world will come under the tyranny of the AntiChrist. Yes, tyranny. The AntiChrist’s ascension to power will usher in what the Bible calls the Great Tribulation, a seven-year period of horrendous suffering on the earth. At first, the AntiChrist will seem to be a wonderful, charismatic leader who will bring peace to the earth. But in the middle of his reign, he will reveal his true colors.
During the Tribulation, people will not be permitted to buy or sell unless they take a mark on their hands or their foreheads. The Bible calls this mark “the mark of the beast.” The Beast is the AntiChrist, and he will be a beast. This mark may be a computer chip of some sort or a tattoo engraved in the skin. Already, we are seeing a precursor of the mark of the beast in the current Covid vaccine. In some parts of the world, people cannot enter certain business establishments without a vaccine passport. In other words, they cannot purchase certain services–like attending concerts, sports events, or eating at certain restaurants–without a proof of vaccination.
While the vaccine is not the mark of the beast, it is programming people to receive the mark of the beast. It is getting people accustomed to complying with irrational mandates out of fear. Moreover, the vaccine mandate is limiting freedom by allowing privileges to vaccinated people that are not allowed to unvaccinated people. So it will be with the mark of the beast.
To take the mark of the beast will involve pledging allegiance to the AntiChrist to the point of worshipping him as God. Anyone who refuses to worship him will be killed, most likely by being beheaded.
It’s not a pretty picture, is it? So how can you avoid it?
There’s only one way: by becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. As His follower, you will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation sets in.
Now is the time to prepare for Christ’s return. How? Here are key steps you need to take:
1. Repent of your sin! Accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. This is called being born again. Jesus said that unless a person is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
2. Study and get grounded in God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. God’s Word is Truth. As you nourish yourself on it, your faith will be strengthened, and you will be able to withstand the persecution that is already beginning.
3. Stay connected to fellow Christ-followers. Jesus warned us that, as the days grow darker, we will need to assemble together more than ever in order to encourage and support one another.
4. Pray like never before. Prayer changes things. Prayer keeps us strong. Prayer keeps us dependent on God.
5. Love everyone while hating sin. Christians are called to love people but not to condone sin. Do not compromise your walk with Christ through political correctness. Love the sinner, but hate the sin.
As we await our Lord’s glorious appearing in the sky, we are to fulfill His Great Commission, given to us in Mark 16.: 15-18:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
And, finally, Jesus said this in Luke 21: 28: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
So, I ask you: Are you born again? Are you grounded in God’s Word? Are you in fellowship with other Christ-Followers? Are you praying as though it’s going out of style? Are you loving people while hating sin? Are you busy doing the Lord’s work? Are you looking up for His soon return?
If you are doing all of these things, you are prepared to meet the Lord in the air, as the Bible predicts in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17: ” . . . we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
Do you want to be with the Lord forever? If you know Him, You will be. But if you do not know Him, you won’t. Why not accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord right now? Pray this simple prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I want to be removed from this earth before the Great Tribulation. But I know that I need to be born again. So I receive You now as my Savior and my Lord. Come into my life. Thank you for forgiving me and for bringing me into Your family. Thank You for saving me. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.
If you sincerely prayed this prayer, please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet that will help you get started in your walk with Christ.
I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.
Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.
If you are not yet a subscriber to the Winning with the Word blog and podcast, I urge you to click on the link below to subscribe now so that you will not miss a single weekly episode:
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Now it’s your turn: Please comment below. Thank you.
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For those of you who may not know, I write fiction for both children and adults. Please check out my latest children’s book, Penelope Pumpernickel: Dynamic Detective, Book 2 in the popular Penelope Pumpernickel Series of Chapter Books for Children. This series, written for early and reluctant readers, is designed to build Christian character in the young children in your life. To order, just click on the book cover image below. You may also purchase your copy on my website at https://maryanndiorio.com/book-table.
My latest novel, Miracle in Milan, has been released in both print and ebook formats and deals with the issue of unforgiveness. It is the story of a young, female auditor who discovers convincing evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler. You will find Miracle in Milan to be a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. To order your copy, go to Amazon or to my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table. You will also find Miracle in Milan on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
This podcast is funded by listeners like you. If you have been blessed by Winning with the Word, please consider becoming one of my special patrons on Patreon.com. For only $1.00, $3.00, or $5.00 a month, you can help me proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world and share in the rewards of all those who come to Christ through this ministry.
Winning with the Word now reaches 64 countries on six continents, by God’s grace, because of the faithful support of my patrons. So please help me to keep Winning with the Word on the air by becoming one of my valued patrons. Your patronage helps to cover the costs of producing, hosting, and distributing Winning with the Word to the four corners of the earth. Patrons receive special benefits, including free books, short stories, podcasts, and videos. So, join my wonderful team of Patrons and become a part of something great!
To become a patron, go to https://www.patreon.com/winningwiththeword
I would like to thank all of my patrons who are making this podcast possible. I could not do this without you!
Finally, be sure to check out my latest non-fiction book, The Iron Saint. This book, modeled after The Iron Man triathlon, talks about the coming persecution of the Church in America and how you can prepare for it. The Iron Saint is available on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other major book purchasing venues. You may also find it on my website at maryanndiorio.com/book-table. Get a copy for your pastor as well.
Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Copyright 2000-2021 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.
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New Release! Dr. MaryAnn’s latest children’s book: Penelope Pumpernickel: Dynamic Detective
Are you looking for character-building books for your elementary school children? Books that are written from a Biblical worldview and that honor God’s Word? Then get your children a copy of each of the two books in my Penelope Pumpernickel Series of Chapter Books for Children. Click on the book cover to order below:
In this delightful series, your child will follow the adventures of eight-year-old Penelope Pumpernickel as she faces and overcomes the crazy problems caused by her homeschooling classmate, Grandville Ungerleider. Together with her sidekick and BFF, Tilly Mendoza, Penelope unravels mystery after mystery through humorous situations that will keep your child laughing on the edge of her seat and wanting more.
To order your copies of Books 1 and 2, click on the images to the left.
Now Available for Purchase: Dr. MaryAnn’s latest novel, Miracle in Milan.
When a young, female auditor discovers evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler, she must choose between ruining him or ruining herself.
Amy Torelli, Chief Auditor for New York City-based Enson Pharmaceuticals, is assigned to audit the books of Enson’s Italian branch in the enchanting city of Milan, Italy. Having made an inner vow never to trust a man again because of her father’s betrayal, Amy finds herself falling in love with Enson Italia’s American-born Vice-President, Ted Masters. Will Ted be the one to cause her to break her inner vow?
Ted McMasters is on the run. A run from rejection. From himself. From God. Having been wounded by a father who made him feel worthless, and having been dumped by the woman he wanted to marry, Ted is determined to keep all women at bay. But will Amy Torelli be the reason he changes his mind?
Miracle in Milan
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THE IRON SAINT by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD
The Church in America is on the verge of a tremendous spiritual awakening, an awakening that will first be fueled by persecution unlike anything we have ever seen before in this land. Indeed, a prophetic word given in my home church during the month of November gave this warning to the Church: “Prepare for the fire of persecution!”
But the Church is not ready for this persecution. For the most part, the Church in America has been weak and lukewarm. Flabby and lazy. Consumed with the world and not with the things of God. As a result, the Church has been deceived and has subverted the divine order of things.
In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio seeks to help equip the saints for the work of true, integritous, and effective ministry. As a teacher in the Body of Christ, it is her burning desire to help correct this devastating error.
In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. Diorio has outlined a plan of action for strengthening the Church through uncompromising obedience to the Word of God. This plan of action is based on her own 50 years of walking with the Lord and being led by His Holy Spirit.
If you are a born-again believer and member of the Body of Christ, make this book a top reading priority.
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“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that helps you to deal with the daily problems of life by using the Bible as your guide to solving them. The Word of God will make you a success in life!
AN INVITATION TO YOU: To subscribe to Winning with the Word, click here.
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Copyright 2000-2021 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.
Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.