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THE CHECK LISTS, PART 1

      Let me say up front that I appreciate each and every one who has taken the time to read and pass on this series of columns. The hour IS getting late, and, as The Temptations said in one of their songs from a past era, we are living in a Ball of Confusion.

      The best road map through uncertain times? Bible Prophecy. Amen.

      During my days as a Book Reviewer a few years back, the business world was abuzz with the ‘new’ innovation of check lists. Several best-selling business books surfaced which tightly kept to the uses of check lists for new and veteran employees on their jobs. Further, there were check lists in these publications aimed at new and veteran managers.

      Here’s an interesting tidbit. The KJV Bible has a variety of check lists which function as study helps and time stamps to make the study of Bible Prophecy easier—instead of harder. Of course, the check lists are imbedded in various bible chapters in a variety of parts of the Scriptures.

      Your job? Find them, study and follow the connections, and make their wisdom your own.

      Sometimes, the biblical check lists are contained in a few verses. Sometimes they may run on for several chapters. Rest assured…once you find a prophetic check list, the best advice is to mark it for future reference. You are going to need it as you attempt to understand the times you are in, and where God may be in those times, as the skies (and the people) grow darker.

      The check list may be in the Old Testament or the New Testament. For those who are just starting out in the arena of Bible Prophecy, I would recommend following the New Testament check lists as Jesus Christ has risen and is on His way back for those who are true believers in him, as his Second Coming is imminent.

      When I have been blessed to write and teach on the subject of Bible Prophecy, I have chosen to focus upon the prophecies contained in the New Testament. Yes, I have respect for what has gone before in the Old Testament. However—we have had a variety of Old Testament prophecies come to pass. What Jesus has to say about the Old Testament prophets as well as what lay ahead for the New Testament saints needs to be carefully examined. Remember, Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, so the Old Testament prophecies don’t have as much ‘weight’ as they once did, as the Lord has come to earth in the flesh, born of a virgin, died by being nailed to a cross, resurrected by God on the third day, and has ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father some 2,000 years ago. Those who believe in and accepted Him (Jesus) have passed from being a sinner or wicked and into eternal life as a Christian and saint of God.

      That, in a nutshell, is the gospel.

      How does one spot the check lists of which I am referring to? First, spotting them comes about by daily study of the KJV Bible. In the words of the late Pastor Adrian Rogers: “God does business with those who mean business!” Daily study of the Word of God will have the Holy Spirit working with the believer (Christian) and help them to grow in grace and in wisdom and understanding of what God, through Jesus Christ, expects of them.

      Second, there are three types of check lists which are laid out in the KJV Bible:

      *There are check lists meant for the conduct of the righteous (saints).

      *There are check lists meant to highlight the marks of the wicked (sinners).

      *Lastly, there are prophetic check lists for the last days putting forth warnings to protect or ‘wise up’ the saints and to warn the sinner specifically as to what is meant for the end times.

      For example, if you wanted to find the righteous qualities of a wife, a young man would turn to Proverbs 31:10-31 KJV. In those verses, you would find—in list fashion—the godly qualities in the sight of the Lord which compose the type of wife a young man should seek. Brothers, if a woman whom you are dating does NOT have these qualities (among others) she is NOT worth marrying. To add to this another check list point: A Christian man should NOT marry a non-Christian woman (II Corinthians 6:14 KJV). Sometimes, check list points may be built from other individual verses along the same subject lines in other portions of the Bible.

      What are the enemies of the Christian? A small check list may be found in I John 2:16: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are laid out in that verse, and these are marks of the world system against which the Christian struggles against. What about the spiritual battles a believer (Christian) may face? I John 4:1-6 lays out a list. What about the love of the saints one for the other? I John 4:7-21. What about the concept of agape love? I Corinthians 13 is considered the love chapter of the Scriptures.

      There are also check lists concerning the wicked. I Corinthians 6:9-10 lays out who will NOT be going to heaven based upon the sins that they are actively committing. Galatians 5:19-21 lays out the works of the flesh that are practiced by wicked/unrighteous. Romans 1:18-32 (KJV) also contains a check list of those things that are not pleasing to the Lord and some who actively practice these sins have disregarded God’s commands and have been ‘frozen’ in their sins by being given over to a reprobate mind.

      In our next episode, we will look at some of the prophetic check lists of the end times.

      More to come.

      Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a Circuit rider of the Funky Electronic Frontier. “Street Level Bible Prophecy” is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996. Catch Mike Ramey’s columns on X (Twitter), Substack, Faithwriters.com, LinkedIn and in fine publications like this one! To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: mgmikeramey@yahoo.com. ©2025 Barnstorm Communications International.