Ecclesiastes 7:5

7:5
It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
than to listen to the song of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4

7:3-4
Sorrow is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

7:2
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:1

7:1
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

6:12
In the few days of our empty lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? And who can tell what will happen in the future after we are gone?

Ecclesiastes 6:11

6:11
The more words you speak, the less they mean. So why overdo it?

Ecclesiastes 6:10

6:10
Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

6:9
Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8

6:8
Considering this, do wise people really have any advantage over fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?

Ecclesiastes 6:7

6:7
All man's efforts are for his mouth,
yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:6

6:6
even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

Ecclesiastes 6:4-5

6:4-5
It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man-

Ecclesiastes 6:3

6:3
A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

6:1-2
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

OUCH!

So my friend sends me a link to a website about the "very elect being deceived." My first reaction was to think: "Well, I'm already part of the elect, so I COULDN"T be deceived." After all, Matthew 24:24 says:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

As much as the words in bold above suggest to me that it's not possible for a believer to get deceived, the question did lead me to my favorite forum to do a search for "elect deceived." I found a great post, which, ironically, suggested the best way to obtain "deception insurance" is to continually read the Word (not search a forum). So, it's back to the Bible for me, but first I felt complelled to share this person's thoughts. Whaddya all think readers?

Here's her posting:

I believe Christians are more easily deceived these days because they have not kept up with their studies of scripture and/or they rely too heavily on others to tell them what the Word of God says rather than finding out themselves.

Quote:

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. ~ Hebrews 5:11-14

Every one of us at one time or another have been lazy in our study of scripture and can identify with the above. I know I can. After first becoming saved, I was hungry for His Word and I dove into it like you wouldn't believe. Then I turned on the radio and started listening to some preachers (who were/are very Biblically sound) and somewhere along the line, I got it into my head that I could substitute my own reading and studying for these guys. I became spiritually lazy and unable to answer anyone's questions directly from the scriptures. I found myself saying, "Well, [insert preacher's name] says 'blah blah blah,'" which may have been correct and probably was, but that's not a good way to give a scriptural answer.

Nobody can put on your Full Armour of God for you. You have to do that yourself as you will also be required at some point to do spiritual battle yourself, without any help from someone from TV or the radio. That is when Christians get into trouble because satan masquerades as an angel of light, and while he cannot steal our souls, he can cause us to become ineffective for the furthering of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ecclesiastes 5:20

5:20
He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

5:19
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

5:18
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.

Ecclesiastes 5:17

5:17
All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

5:16
This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:15

5:15
Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.

Ecclesiastes 5:14

5:14
or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

5:13
I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

Ecclesiastes 5:12

5:12
The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

5:11
As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?

Ecclesiastes 5:10

5:10
Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 5:9

5:9
The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

5:8
If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

Ecclesiastes 5:7

5:7
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:6

5:6
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Ecclesiastes 5:5

5:5
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

5:4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

5:3
As a dream comes when there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.

JOEL C. ROSENBERG: BABYLON RISING, THEME PARK AND ALL

A few months ago, my friend Ray and I were talking about how all the end-times puzzle pieces were clicking in to place. While we both know that the rapture is imminent (meaning it could happen at ANY time - there are no further prophecies that must precede it), there ARE certain things that must be in place during the 7-year tribulation period. Examples include:
- A third temple where the antichrist will put a stop to sacrifices, and declare himself to be God
- technology to institute a one-world currency
- technology to institute a 666 mark of the beast ID
- a reformed Israel in enough trouble to sign a peace agreement

All of these things (and many more) are either already in place, or ready to go in very short order. However, one thing missing from today's headlines that would fit with a literal interpretation of the book of Revelation is a rebuilt, vibrant Babylon. Although Sadam wanted to build that chunk of geography up again, he did not succeed. Babylon's continued state of neglect has been a fact that made me wonder if, perhaps, despite all the other signs, the end-times could still be many years or decades away.
Now, however, comes this news, courtesy of Joel Rosenberg:
JOEL C. ROSENBERG: BABYLON RISING, THEME PARK AND ALL

Ecclesiastes 5:1

5:1
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Top 10 Excuses for Rejecting Christ

As compiled by Hal Lindsey, with simple apologetic responses to each objection:
Click here for the list.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

4:13
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiates 4:12

4:12
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.