Check the Condition of Your Heart -- Which Type of Soil are You?

Several years ago I attended a Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Classes were held from 8 am to noon so I had plenty of free time every afternoon to take a walk, go to the gym, or read the Bible.  During some of these afternoons I would take a nap, and while napping I would sometimes receive some amazing revelation about God's word which I had been reading, studying in class, and/or meditating upon prior to my nap. When I awoke from my nap after receiving a revelation, I would record it in a notebook.

I now share with you one of these revealed messages, which message I believe is appropriate for any Christian today as we enter these last days of ever-increasing darkness before Christ appears and renews all.  I believe that this message is instructional and helpful to give feedback to each believer regarding his/her present condition of holiness.

Many of us are familiar with the verses of Rom 12: 1-2, where the apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome, pleads with those in Rome, and by extension to us today, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice which is HOLY and acceptable to God, and that to do so is one's reasonable service to God (i.e., what is EXPECTED of us, and not something exceptional).  Verse 2 says that we are to be TRANSFORMED by RENEWING OUR MIND to be able to discern the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

So, then what is the will of God?  I had been giving that much thought.  I was looking for understanding and for practical, useful instructions on how to renew my mind.  For several days prior to my nap I had been thinking about these two verses in Romans and how they could be accomplished in a simple way that I could understand and implement.

Psalm 89: 14 describes how God's throne (i.e., His authority) is founded on righteousness (doing what is right) and justice (being perfectly fair without discrimination or favoritism), and that mercy and truth flow outward from Him.  Zephaniah 2: 3 states, "Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice.  Seek righteousness."  Proverbs 3: 3 states, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you.  So, it must be God's will for us to also live this way.

We should always do what is right and what is fair.  We should always show mercy and speak the truth in love.  In 1 Pet 1: 14-16, we are reminded that God is holy and that we are required to be holy, as obedient children.  To be holy we need to change (i.e., be transformed) from being unholy.  Sounds logical, right?  But, how?

A theological description for the transformation process might be written by a seminary professor or a bible college lecturer, as something like this:

          When a logos word of God is heard or read from the Bible, and is stored in
          the mind, and is meditated on and prayed on for understanding, it will give
          birth to a rhema word which will cause the heart to be incrementally transformed
          toward a better condition which is closer to the heart (mind) of Christ.

OK.  So what exactly does that mean?  How do I do it?  How do I know whether or not I am on track?

I believe that answers to these questions were given to me by God during a nap I took one afternoon in November 2009. The basic points to the message are numbered as Steps 1 and 2, below.  I have added scripture cites to support the message I received from God during my nap.  I did not receive the scripture cites shown herein during my nap, but I looked them up later.  Not surprisingly, the basic points of the message I received were found in God's word after I did a little searching.

Step 1.  Renew your mind - change the way you think

To accomplish this, we must line up our thinking with the word of God.  Very simple idea, but very difficult to do if we do not know the word of God.  Our mind must be "reprogrammed" with God's word.  So, the first thing we need to do is to become familiar with God's word by reading it, listening to it, and meditating on it.  In Rom 10:17 it is written that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  You cannot meditate on that of which you are ignorant.

Meditation on the word we read and/or hear must be done for its meaning to become clear, or at least more understandable and useful for our goal of renewing our mind.  The Holy Spirit helps us with this task.

King David, over 3,000 years ago, wrote the words found in Psalm 1: 1-2, which describe how one who meditates on God's word will be blessed.  I believe that at least part of the blessing such a person receives is the understanding of what God wants of us, which is revealed through His word.  So then, understanding of His word is necessary to help us renew our mind.

As a preliminary matter, we must bring into captivity every thought in obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10: 5) and stop thinking thoughts which run contrary to Christ (Christ, who is the Word of God).  But, as I said, we must know God's word before we can bring thoughts into captivity and determine whether our thoughts line up with God's word.

According to Phil 4: 8, our thoughts (meditations) should be focused on things which are:  noble, just, pure, lovely, involving good news, virtuous, and praiseworthy.  Any thought which does not fall into one of these categories is to not remain fixed in our thoughts.

OK.  How?  I've got problems with my job, my family, my wife, my husband, my kids, my mortgage.  How do I ignore these problems and think only on those lovely things described in Phil 4?

Answer --  Praise!

What?  Are you kidding?  I've got real-time life issues.  I don't have time to praise God, and how can I praise Him while things are going so wrong?

Answer -- Praise!

Re-read Phil 4:4.  It says, "rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. Again I will say, REJOICE!" Paul wrote that instruction.  If you don't think that he had many real-life issues then look at the short list of what he went through, which is recorded in 2 Cor 11: 25-28.

Paul was beaten with rods (sharp blows with a metal or wooden pole in the back and behind the legs); he was stoned to the point of death, he was shipwrecked three times and on one of those occasions spent a day and a half floating and drifting in the sea; he had long journeys by foot covering long distances; he was in danger during his journeys of drowning, of being robbed, of being persecuted by Greeks, Jews and Gentiles;  he was in danger in the cities to which he traveled and in the countryside he traversed to get to the cities;  he was often bone-tired and weary;  and he was often without much sleep, hungry, thirsty and without warm or comfortable clothing.  These things are but a short compilation of his problems.

Yet, in spite of all these things he endured.  Many of us do not come close to having to endure any one of these things, yet Paul, who endured all these things tells us to rejoice ALWAYS.  Paul lived the life of which he preached.  He lived and breathed the word of God.

It is recorded in the Book of Acts at 16: 24-26 how Paul, and Silas his traveling companion, were put in stocks and chains in a dark prison in Philippi after being unjustly beaten by a local magistrate.  At midnight, they were not complaining, but were singing hymns and rejoicing to God.  An earthquake followed which caused their chains to be broken.  I believe that the earthquake was God's reward to them for their praise in the face of their adversity.  I believe that He will also get us through our real-life issues and give us a means of escape from them, if we remember Him and go into praise mode in the midst of the adversity.  Praise Him for who He is and for what He has given us -- not the problems.


Step 2.  Transform your heart - be aware of the condition of your heart

The message I received during my nap included the thought that the condition of your heart can be represented by the 4 types of soil described by Jesus in the parable of the sower and the seed.  Slightly different versions of this parable are recorded in Mat 13: 3-9, 18-23; Mark 4: 3-8, 14-20; and Luke 8: 5-8, 11-15.  Each version gives additional information on the meaning of the parable which is not found in the other versions.  Taken together, they give the complete description of the 4 soil types, which is a real-time snapshot of the condition of one's heart.

Your heart can be thought of as your "thought/belief system."  This is evidenced in Prov 23: 7, where it says, "as he thinks in his heart, so is he."  Also, Mat 12: 34 states that, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sower told by Jesus to the crowd gathered to Him on a large level area on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee.  The parable was given as a part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" when He gave to those listening the "beatitudes" concerning required behavior, such as "love you enemy", etc.  The parable of the sower can be summarized using the three versions found in the Gospels, as follows:

 A sower went out to sow seed and some fell on the wayside and the birds came to devour it.  Some fell on stony ground and immediately it sprouted, but because there was not much depth of soil it had no root and it withered away in the sun's heat.  Other seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the seed and it yielded no crop.  Lastly, some seed fell upon good ground which yielded a crop, some of which had a 30-fold increase, some a 60-fold and some a 100-fold.

Jesus later told his disciples privately that the seed sown was the word of God, that the soil is the heart, that the first type of soil - the wayside (a hard packed path upon which travelers walked) represents those who do not understand the word and do not keep it in their heart.  They allow the devil come and take it from their heart immediately after they hear the word.  This represents those who are unsaved. (See Luke 8: 12)

The second type of soil - the stony ground represents those who hear the word of God but then fail to have faith in it or rely on it when difficult circumstances or temptations arise.  In the modern vernacular, these are "powerless Christians" who are believers who perhaps received the word with joy but who spend not much time in church, or in reading the Bible, or in Bible study, or in any other activity which would increase their understanding of the word and thereby their faith.  They do not have personal "depth of soil" which would give them "root in themselves."  Therefore, their understanding of the word of God, and thus their faith in the word of God, is quite limited.

The third type of soil includes thorns which choke the seed, preventing it from bearing fruit.  This represents those who are perhaps "spirit-filled believers", but who allow the cares, concerns and pressures of the world, and the pursuit of riches/material things, to prevent any fruit from fully developing and maturing in them.  I believe that this is the most common type of condition of soil found in the true body of Christ today.  We need to put aside worldly pursuits to be able to transform our heart (belief system) to the condition represented by the fourth type of soil.  As stated in Col 3: 2, "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

The fourth type of soil represents those who hear the word of God, accept it, understand it, and bear fruit.  It is "those who hear the Word and and keep it (hold fast to it) in an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15)  They will bear fruit with patience (in time).   Some a 30-fold increase, some a 60-fold and some a 100-fold.  As James 1: 22 tells us, "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

A perfect model of holy living, representing the fourth type of soil, is described by Paul very succinctly in Titus 1: 11-14 and 3: 2.  Paul lays out in his letter to his student Titus, who is going to head up a church of believers, how those believers in Jesus Christ whom Titus is to shepherd should conduct themselves.  He reminds Titus that the grace of God has appeared (through Jesus) to the world, and that through this grace all people have access to God's salvation.  He says that because of this grace, we are:

• being trained to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (selfish desires and covetness)
• to live self-controlled, upright (doing what is right), and Godly lives
• to wait patiently (while living Godly lives) for the return of Jesus in His glory
• to be zealous for good works (to evidence that we are true believers)
• to speak evil of no person
• to show perfect courtesy toward all people

Each of these items requires effort under any circumstance to act in a Godly manner.  It also requires much practice.  The Christian life is not easy.  That is why Jesus said that not many would be able to endure to the end to be saved.  But when we stumble and ask for His forgiveness, with repentance in our heart, He will cleanse us of our unrighteousness (doing the wrong thing, i.e., sin).

In summary -- how you think and what you believe reveals the condition of your heart (the type of soil) at any given time.  How you think and what you believe cause you to act a certain way and to do and/or say certain things.

Thoughts control action.  That is why Step #1 above is a necessary fist step in the process to change the condition of the heart (the soil-type) and to bring it into alignment with the heart of God.  To do so, we must know the word of God, which is God's heart.  Every thought we have, in regard to an action we intend, should line up with God's word.  We must seek its meaning if we do not understand.  Then, we must do God's word.  If you do these things you will change (transform) your heart in time, and with patience.

The condition of your heart (how you think and what you believe) determines whether you are saved, and if you are saved, whether you will produce any fruit of the Spirit in your life.  The 12 fruits of the Spirit are given in Gal 5: 22-23.  That list includes:  love, joy, peace, patience, etc.

We must remember to praise God for who He is and not be consumed by our worldly troubles.  Do so and watch the results.

For me personally, I try to give praise and remind myself to "weed my garden" often to keep the weeds and thorns from choking out fruit from being produced in my life.  I also need to confess what I do wrong and ask for forgiveness.  It humbles you, but it's necessary.  Nobody said it was easy.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

2012  - True Believer

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Significant Mid-East Event Likely in 2014 -- The Moon is Giving a Sign

While watching Christian TV the other night, I switched channels and caught part of a teaching on blood moons.  The TV preacher said that there have been only three times during the past 500 years where a group of four blood moons had occurred on Biblical (Jewish) feast days.  I did some research of my own and discovered that NASA calls a collection of four blood moons which occur during a two-year period a tetrad of blood moons.

A blood moon is commonly known as a lunar eclipse.  This occurs when the earth moves along a path in space between the sun and the moon.  The moon passes through the shadow created by the earth blocking the light from the sun, and the moon appears to get darker and darker until it glows an eery red color similar to the color of blood.

So, why is it always a tetrad of blood moons which corresponds with Biblical feast days?  Four blood moons comprise a tetrad.  God's name has four letters.  In Hebrew it is represented as:

These are the four Hebrew letters which spell God's name.  They are read right-to-left, and are phonetically pronounced:  Yode, Hey, Vav, Hey.  Could these tetrads be God's way of signing His name?  Similar to saying, "Hey, it's Me."  Just a thought.

So then, the most recent three tetrads of blood moons which fell on Biblical feasts occurred in the period from:

• 1493-94 (shortly after Jews persecuted and evicted from Spain in 1492 and Columbus (a Jew) sailed to New World to find them a new home.  Columbus returned to America in 1493 with 1,500 men and 17 ships);
• 1949-50 (after state of Israel for repatriating Jews was created in May 1948 in one day); and
• 1967-68 (Jews capture Jerusalem in June 1967, the City of God, in a supernatural victory during the "Six Day War").

According to NASA, the next tetrad of four blood moons will occur between April 2014 and September 2015.

I found some internet articles which discuss the coming tetrad of blood moons.  Those articles mostly described the coming tetrad to be possible evidence of the timing of the return of Jesus.  But, I have found that the Bible does not predict a "pre-trib" rapture of the church.  (Please visit my blog: April 2012, which gives the scriptural basis for this assertion.)  Also, since Daniel's last week of 7 years has not yet begun, which is commonly called the "7-year tribulation", since no peace treaty with Israel has yet been affirmed as required by Dan 9: 27, then Jesus' return must be more than 7 years in the future, and thus occurring some time after the years 2014-15.

The exact dates predicted by NASA for the approaching 2014-2015 tetrad of blood moons are:

•      April 15, 2014
•      October 8, 2014
•      April 4, 2015
•      September 28, 2015

I compared these dates from the NASA website with a website which lists a calendar of Biblical feasts.  To my amazement, the dates of the coming tetrad of lunar eclipses (blood moons) forecast for 2014-15 COINCIDE with certain Biblical feasts, as follows: 

•      April 15, 2014 - 1st day of Passover

•      October 8, 2014 - Feast of Tabernacles

•      April 4, 2015 - 1st day of Passover

•      September 28, 2015 - Feast of Tabernacles

Check out these sites for yourself:

     http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html

     http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0002072.html

The next tetrad of blood moons which coincides with Biblical feasts will not occur for hundreds of years.  So, I believe that something very significant which involves Israel is going to occur on the world stage just prior to, or between, April 2014 - September 2015.
 

UPDATE VI: As of today (October 1, 2015) no war has yet broken out in the Middle East which involves Israel; however, Russian troops and advisers are now in Syria.  Chinese ships, and perhaps troops, are on the way.  Iran is sending troops.  Russia is bombing ISIS.  The United States and Israel are both a bit nervous over this development.  The war drums are pounding, but it is too early to tell what the US (and Israel) is going to do.

One common feature involved with each of the three prior tetrads described above is LAND ACQUISITION by Israel (the Jewish people).  The discovery of America initiated the founding of America as a nation which has served as a safe-haven for Jews over the past several hundred years.  Jews have been able to escape persecution by living in America.  The 1948 creation of the state of Israel gave them a homeland, once again.  The 1967 war gave them Jerusalem, which had been lost to them for almost 2,000 years.  So, land acquisition is key.

Perhaps the Psalm 83 war will occur (prophetic psalm describing how Israel will defeat the nations/groups of peoples immediately surrounding Israel, based on their historic biblical tribe names, now known as Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza, and Hezbollah in S. Lebanon, etc.) and Israel may expand its borders to occupy these troubled areas.  In Zeph 2: 8-9, the prophet describes how after the people of Israel are gathered together, which occurred in 1948 and continues today, God hears the reproach (blame, revilings) of Moab (today's Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank) and the insults/taunts of the people of Ammon toward His people Israel and the borders of Israel.  Is this kind of noise not in today's news?  The prophet also describes how the "residue/remnant" of Israel shall plunder them and how the "remnant/remainder" of Israel shall possess them.

UPDATE II:  I recently found a few verses in Jer 49 (vv. 1-2) that give additional support for Israel to soon occupy more land.  These verses call for a "judgment against Ammon" and for Israel to take possession of the land which God gave them -- the land of the Ammonites (modern Jordon).  (Jer 49: 1-2) This action may or may not be part of the coming conflict, but will certainly be a future event prophetically predicted by Jeremiah, a 6th century B.C. prophet of God.

UPDATE III:  Also in Jer 49 (vv. 34-38) it describes an event where Elam (a western province of modern Iran) will be attacked and its "bow" broken -- the "foremost of their might."  Could this be a preemptive attack by Israel, alone or with help, against the nuclear research and storage facilities located in western Iran?  This action also may or may not be part of the coming conflict.

UPDATE IV:  There are additional verses in Jer 49 (vv. 23-27) that discuss the total destruction of the city of Damascus, Syria such that it ceases from being a city and is made a "ruinous heap."  Likewise, most of Is 17 prophesies this destruction of Damascus which is to occur in one night.  Since the Jeremiah prophecy was written in the 7th century B.C. and the Isaiah prophecy was written in the 8th century B.C., Damascus has never ceased from being a city.  Nothing short of a nuclear attack could conceivably accomplish such a thing.  For various reasons, including the reference in Jer 49: 23 of there being "trouble on the sea", which I understood to mean a foreign power (not Israel) having ships at sea which could launch nuclear missiles for such an attack, I did not initially mention these verses in this blog.  Israel would most likely use land-based or air-based platforms to launch such an attack against Damascus, and would not use ships at sea.  For this reason, I did not believe the prophesied destruction of Damascus would occur during the imminent mid-east conflict being announced by the coming blood moon tetrad.  It is speculation, but Israel may have submarines equipped with nuclear missiles.  Also, nations friendly to Israel could have ships or submarines at sea equipped with nuclear missiles.  But, Syria would have to be aware of such a threat and be frightened of the threat at sea, according to Jer 49: 23-24.  With conditions in Syria rapidly deteriorating, and angst between the United States, Israel, Syria, Iran and Russia escalating, I feel impressed to include these verses in Jer 49 and Is 17 as a possible event connected with the coming mid-east conflict.

Perhaps the coming action by Israel against the peoples surrounding Israel will initiate events which cause the affirmation of the peace agreement which commences Daniels 70th week.  Who knows?  Best to keep your eyes on the headlines.

UPDATE IA:  Here are recent HEADLINES involving Israel and Syria.

I believe there will be some sort of major conflict which is going to ultimately effect Israel in a major positive way.  God will protect Israel from being destroyed.

Luke 21:25 states:

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring ...

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner.  It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble.  (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

UPDATE IB:  For more celestial harbingers of God's coming judgment, please visit my March 2013 blog entitled, "The Heavens are Signaling an Economic Collapse in 2015 -- Make Ready"

UPDATE V:  In my blog from August 2013 regarding that it is time for repentance by God's church, I discuss how God is now judging America, and will judge EVERY NATION that turns from God.  If a nation turns from God, it implies that such a nation, as was ancient Israel, was previously a God-fearing nation which has abandoned God as evidenced by its immoral activities.

For an interesting and informative May 2012 video featuring Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries which explains in more detail the coming blood moons and other celestial signs for 2014-15 which evidence the soon coming of Jesus, please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71CGGfBj5I0

2012 - True Believer
 
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Repentance is Necessary to be Saved -- Jesus said so

Over the past year or so, on TV and the internet, I have heard and read many "Christian" teachings stating that you do not need to repent to be saved, but simply must believe in Jesus to be saved.  Many cite Rom 10: 9-10 (if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God the father raised Him from the dead, you will be saved), or John 3: 16 (for God so loved the world... ).  You may have heard similar lessons preached.  However, it is always appropriate to compare scripture to scripture and not take a verse here or there out of context with which to create a "doctrine".

Some of these teachings give the example of the "good thief" on the cross next to Jesus, who the Bible, they say, does not record as having repented, yet Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in paradise after the thief acknowledged Jesus and told Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom.  Thus, they say, aha - repentance is not required for salvation.

This verbal exchange is recorded in Luke 23: 42-43, where the "good thief" says to Jesus, after first mocking Him, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  Jesus then says to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

I have never felt comfortable with that teaching on salvation without repentance.  Throughout the Old Testament in the Bible, there is much about repentance, or turning, from evil.  God frequently told the nation of Israel, through the prophets, to repent from their evil idolatry, and other abominations, or risk His wrath.

The New Testament gives the example of John the Baptist preaching the baptism of repentance to turn the hearts of the Jews to prepare them for Jesus.  Luke 23: 40-41 does indeed describe that the "good thief" repented in his heart.  After mocking Jesus, he said to the other thief on the cross, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  I believe that was repentance.

The other day I was listening to the Gospel of Luke on my iBible.  When it came to Luke 11: 9, I heard the words "seek and you will find."  I stopped the playback at this point and thought about those words.  I decided to believe those words on the spot.  I knew right then in my heart that God WILL teach me His word and give me understanding regarding the end times, which I have been desiring and praying for, but I think He showed me something else that day in just a few chapters in Luke.

In Luke 11: 29 Jesus said, and I'm paraphrasing, that you Jews seek a sign but no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.  Remember that Jonah preached repentance to the dreadful ancient Assyrians in their capital city of Nineveh.  By the way, every time I've ever read this scripture in Luke 11: 29 about the sign of Jonah, or heard it preached, it was said that this means (which it also does, I believe) that Jesus (as Jonah was in the fish) would be in the earth for 3 days and nights after He was crucified and died.  But this scripture where Jesus is speaking about the prophet Jonah also gives a message of repentance (which lesson I have never heard preached with regard to this verse in Luke 11).

Just after that, in Luke 11: 31 Jesus continues by saying that the Queen of the South will rise with this generation (those unbelieving Jews to which Jesus was speaking) at the Judgment to accuse this generation, because she came to seek the WISDOM of Solomon, and that a greater than Solomon (Jesus) was here.  In this context, Jesus is saying that it is WISDOM to repent.  I have never understood the use of this verse regarding the Queen of the South, but with God's revelation to me, this verse is simply reinforcing Jesus' statement that repentance is needed and therefore it is WISDOM (for eternal life) to repent.

Also, right after that, in Luke 11: 32, Jesus says that those of Nineveh who repented from Jonah's preaching (of the need to repent from their evil) will rise at the Judgment to accuse this generation (those unbelieving Jews to which Jesus was speaking), since those of Nineveh had repented of their deeds.

So, it's clear from these three almost consecutive verses in Luke 11 that Jesus is saying something quite simple, yet something which is necessary for salvation:  that one must repent and obey God to be saved, and to do so is wisdom.

This lines up perfectly with what Jesus says earlier in Luke 8: 21.  He said, "who are my mother and my brothers but those that hear the word of God and do it."  This requires turning from anything that does not line up with God's word.  It is also consistent with James 1: 22 which says to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

This also lines up with what Paul tells us in 2 Cor 7: 10, that "godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted.  But the sorrow of the world produces death." (Emphasis added)  Sorrow of the world means simply that one is sorry only after they have been caught, which produces not much true repentance.

In Luke 13 Jesus discusses how men from Galilee had been killed by Herod, and that their blood had been was mingled by Herod with the Jewish sacrifice so that it became an abomination.  Also in Luke 13 Jesus discusses how men of Jerusalem had been killed by the falling of the tower of Siloam.  Jesus makes the point that all of these men who were killed were sinners, but were no worse sinners than others in Israel at the time.  Jesus then stated that one MUST repent or die like those men, i.e. in their sins with no hope of salvation.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus spoke to His disciples and told them, as it recorded in Luke 24: 47, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to ALL NATIONS.

So, from only these few select verses found in the Gospel of Luke, it is quite readily apparent that for the purpose of salvation, repentance is required.  This is a very awesome and compact message from our awesome God.

REPENT TO BE SAVED.  His mercy is given simply by asking.  God loves mercy and will grant it freely to a repentant sinner.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner.  It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble.  (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)


2012 - True Believer

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"Come Out Of Her My People" – Utter Destruction is in the Forecast for New York City, and for America -- Babylon the Great

In this article I will explain this warning given by God in the Book of Revelation, and what it means.  Hopefully, those who read this will warn someone they know who does not know the Lord so they may escape the coming complete and utter destruction of this very populous city, and of America.

In the Book of Revelation (Rev 18:4) God gives a command.  He admonishes “His people” to come out of Babylon.  So, where or what is Babylon, who are “His people”, and why must they come out?

To understand the context of God’s command, we must back up to Rev Chapter 17, where in verses 1-6, it describes a woman, a great harlot (seen by John, a disciple of Jesus, while he is brought up to heaven by Jesus during John's interment on the Isle of Patmos) who appears to John riding on a scarlet beast having 7 heads and 10 horns (v. 7).  Verse 5 describes the woman as having a name written on her forehead:

“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.  THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”.

The remainder of Chapter 17 describes further characteristics of the 7-headed beast.  In verse 18, it states that “the woman who you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” 

So where is this great city Babylon?  Is it the ancient city of Babylon in what is now the nation of Iraq?  No, that city, which was the principal city of the kingdom of Babylon, was destroyed by Cyrus of the Median/Persian empire in approximately 539 B.C.  You can look it up.  In fact, Saddam Hussein started to rebuild it, to no avail.

Is it, as some TV evangelists and others say, the ancient city of Babylon rebuilt in the 21^st century?  No.  Isaiah prophesied in approximately 740 B.C., in his “burden against Babylon” (Is 13: 1, 17-22) that the actual kingdom of Babylon would be destroyed forever and never would again be inhabited.  In Jeremiah Chapter 25, it is also prophesied that Babylon shall never be rebuilt.  This was written in about 625 B.C.  So, this “Babylon the Great” referred to in the Book of Revelation cannot be a rebuilt actual city of Babylon in Iraq.

A careful reading of Chapter 18 of the Book of Revelation describes, in amazing detail, that the Great Harlot – Babylon the Great is indeed an actual city with which most of the world's leaders (political, financial) have “committed fornication” (v. 9), where she has lived luxuriously (v. 7), has made the merchants of the world rich (v. 15), and by her “all the nations were deceived” (v. 23).  Her destruction will come about “in one hour.” (vv. 10, 19)

The placement of this description of Babylon the Great in the Book of Revelation is immediately after the 7^th angel pours out his bowl of God’s wrath at the end of Chapter 16, which completes God’s wrath against an unrepentant world and the ushering in of the Kingdom of God.

But, Chapters 17 and 18 are considered by many Bible scholars as “parenthetical” in nature, since they are not a real-time description of events occurring on earth or in heaven vis-à-vis the 7 trumpet-initiated events or the 7 bowl judgments.  Rather, these chapters are an off-line dialog between John and an angel to reveal to John further detail regarding the judgment by which that city, Babylon the Great, will suffer, including the characteristics of that city.

In another parenthetical chapter, Chapter 14 (v. 8), another angel tells John that “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”  The phrase “is fallen” is stated twice since the original historical city/kingdom of Babylon has already fallen (by the hand of the Medes), and now the present existing city of spiritual Babylon has fallen.  Another explanation for stating this twice is that both the political and religious world systems which originated with ancient Babylon are now fallen.

Either way, the placement of this twice mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is just after the description of the rapture of the 144,000 found in verses 1-5.  Just prior to that, in Chapter 13, the beast, or anti-Christ, is described, including his authority to continue for 42 months (3 1/2 years).  (Rev 13: 5)

Just after the mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is a description, beginning in verse 9, of a warning to not worship the beast or his image or to take the mark of the beast.  To do so would doom one for eternity.

So, it seems clear that Babylon the Great is an actual city which exists at the time of the beast, i.e. the anti-Christ. I believe that we have only a short time, no more than 10-15 years, or less, before the anti-Christ will indeed be revealed.  I can think of no other city and host nation on earth which presently exists that dominates and “reigns over the kings of the earth” (Rev 17: 18) and makes all the merchants of the world rich, aside from New York City and America.  Additionally, Rev 18: 19 describes a lament of merchants for the destruction of "that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth."  This must be New York City and host nation America, as well.

Some teach that the "great city" is Rome (or more accurately, the Vatican) because it associates the "great harlot" with a false church associated with the false prophet of Rev chapter 13, and they further associate that false church with the Roman Catholic church which is headquartered at the Vatican.  But, Rev 18: 19 requires that all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth.  I do not believe that Rome, or the Vatican, make all ship owners rich, or engage in the amount of commerce on par with New York City, and also with America.

Some also base this assumption regarding Rome on Rev 17: 9, which gives information about the 7-headed beast on which the harlot sits, whereby it states that "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits."  The use of the term "seven mountains" in this verse, I believe, does not connote the 7 hills of Rome, but connotes rather 7 world kingdoms or nations and not 7 literal mountains.

While I do believe that the city of Rome and the Vatican will become an apostate religious Babylon during Daniel's 70th week, and may indeed be destroyed by the antichrist some time around the mid-point of Daniel's last week (i.e., about 3 1/2 years prior to Jesus' return), I believe these passages of Chap 17 of Rev refer to something else -- a political/economic Babylon.  The next verse, Rev 17: 10, confirms this and gives further information about the 7-headed beast by stating that "there are also seven kings.  Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come."  I believe that these 7 kings signify leaders of the 7 "mountains", or world kingdoms, described in Rev 17: 9.

Remember that the angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 A.D.  At that time in world history 5 world kingdoms had come and gone (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece), one world kingdom then-existed (Roman Empire), and one world kingdom had not yet come (future revived Roman empire).  Remember also that the great city has to exert control over leaders of the world in finance and trade, according to the Book of Revelation.  No other city in the present world has more influence on the entire world in regard to finance (stock markets and commodity trading located there) and trade.  Couple that thought with the huge amount of drug use, pornography, prostitution, same-sex marriage, gay pride activities, and other activities considered abominations to God occurring within New York and within America.  Indeed, the cup of her abominations and the filthiness of her fornications are filling to the brim of her golden cup.  (Rev 17: 4)  Without repentance by the people of this nation, God’s wrath will be carried out and she will be judged.

So, the question remains regarding who God refers to as “My people”.  A quick concordance study of the bible shows many, many references in the Old Testament which describe the nation of Israel as “My people” in the eyes of God.  Examples are too numerous, but 1 Chron 11: 2 describes a scene where God is speaking to David after David was anointed to be king of Israel, although Saul was still king of Israel at the time.  God tells David that he “shall shepherd my people Israel.” (emphasis added)

However, in Rom 9: 25, the apostle Paul tells us, quoting the prophet Hosea (Hos 2:23), that God has included a new group of people as “My people”.  Hosea had prophesied that God “will call them my people who were not my people.”  (See also, 1 Pet 2: 10)  Thus, Gentile Christian believers are now “My people”.  I do not believe, however, as many do, that this description by Paul, citing Hosea, gives grounds for Christians to claim that THEY, and only they, are now considered by God as “My people.”  This is part of what is known as “replacement theology”, where Christians have become replacements for the Jews in God’s eyes.

I believe that God, as prophesied by Hosea, has simply increased the group of those He considers “My people” and has not substituted one group for another.  The nation of Israel, i.e. the Jews, will ALWAYS be his people.  He made that promise to Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12.  Also, in Deut 14: 2 it is recorded by Moses that God considers the Jews His "holy people" and "a people for Himself."  I do not believe that God will ever back-off these promises. 

Since both Jews and Christians are considered “My people” in God’s eye, then what does the command mean?  In full, Rev 18: 4 states, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'"  (See also, Jer 51: 45)

UPDATE:  So then, if a believer leaves the United States prior to its destruction, where should he/she go?  Perhaps verse 50 of Jer 51 offers a clue.  God's word says to "let Jerusalem come to mind."  It says this in the context of speaking to those who have escaped the sword which has come upon Babylon and has destroyed her.  God may indeed be telling such ones who escape His wrath against the United States to seek shelter in Israel.  Seek the Lord to confirm this in YOUR heart.

I believe that the harlot of Rev 17 represents the entire Babylonian system, which is a human governmental system and accompanying religious system fostering a way of living which includes pride, false idols and a corrupt God-rejecting government.  This Babylonian system originated with Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah, after the flood, and is described in Gen 11.  God wants us to "come out" of such a Babylonian system and to seek Him with all our heart by living holy for His kingdom.  Be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3.  That is, God wants us to be standard bearers for Him and His kingdom -- ambassadors.  These Babylonian systems are increasing in strength in America.  Do not be overcome, but continue to do good throughout the ever-increasing evil times which are rapidly accelerating around us.  The Kingdom of God transcends the Babylonian systems.  We live in the world, but we need to operate to show we are in His Kingdom which is spiritual.

So, if New York City is that great city Babylon the Great, then the United States of America is the spiritual nation of Babylon which includes that great city.  How can this be?  How could God birth America and then bless America for over 200 years only to bring her to nothing?

Read the prophecy found in Ob 1: 1-4.  It speaks of the ancient nation of Edom, but it appears equally applicable to the United States.  God has indeed set America's "nest among the stars" but also vows to "bring her down" because of her pride and to "make [her] small among the nations."  God hates pride, which shows lack of consideration and deference to Him.  Clearly, America as a nation has turned away from and forgotten God.

King David wrote over 3,000 years ago that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Emphasis added) (See, Ps 9: 17-18)  There is no exception in that psalm for America.  A nation cannot forget God until it first knows God.  America was founded on God's word.  In the early 1600's, the Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock in the Massachusetts Bay colony founded that colony on biblical principles and saw America as a New Israel.  Recently, however, the president of our nation told the world that America is the world's largest Muslim nation.  Insanity.  Who does not believe that America as a nation has indeed forgotten God?

Read the prophecies concerning "Babylon" found in Jer chapters 50, 51 and the many descriptions therein which were not fulfilled by ancient Babylon.  For example, Jer 51: 6-14 speaks of a "Babylon" which I believe refers to that same "Babylon the Great" of the Book of Revelation.  Read it for yourself and note the similarities between that prophecy and America today.  Notice the similarities between Jer 51: 6-8 and Rev 14: 8, Rev 17: 2, and Rev 18: 3 regarding the characteristics and destruction of the "Babylon" described therein.

UPDATE:   As recorded in Jer 51: 12-14, the prophet Jeremiah hears God's spirit say, "set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes.  For the Lord has both devised and done what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.  O you who dwell by many waters, abundant in treasures.  Your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.  The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself:  'Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts and they shall lift up a shout against you.'”  (Emphasis added)  I,  and others far more scholarly in biblical research than I, believe that this prophecy is against the Babylon the Great of the end times.  That is the Babylon  described in the Book of Revelation which I and they argue is the United States of America.

UPDATE:  Ancient Babylon was not geographically located "on many waters."  America is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.  The Great Lakes provide a thousand miles of shoreline in the northern portion of America.  Truly, America is a nation on many waters.

UPDATE:  I believe that in addition to the destruction of America by external sources, such as a nuclear attack from Russia and/or China, internal foreign forces will cause America to become paralyzed and perhaps go into occupation and control by foreign forces.  Jeremiah calls this a takeover by men as numerous and characteristic as locusts.  Locusts swarm in large numbers, and they devour.

UPDATE:  Verses 41-44 of Jer 51, describe the total destruction of Babylon (Sheshach), the praise of the earth.  I believe this description is literal and that it describes America.  After a devastating and complete nuclear attack, the great earthquake associated with the 7th Trumpet in the Book of Revelation will shift the land of America in such a way as to have the oceans overflow the land, forever.

UPDATE:  In Jer 50: 14-15, the prophet records God saying, "put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow.  Shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord.  Shout against her all around.  She has given her hand, her foundations have fallen.  Her walls are thrown down for it is the vengeance of the Lord.  Take vengeance on her."  Verses 29-32 describe further detail regarding America's coming destruction.

UPDATE:  Again, I believe this prophecy is for America.  Ancient Babylon was taken over in a relatively peaceful invasion by the Medes in one night (See, Dan 5: 26-30)  The coming combined invasion and subsequent destruction of America will not occur in one night.  Its utter destruction will occur in one day, but the prior invasion by foreign forces will most likely take months.

Some ask, "How could God bless America and then bring her down?"  In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin.  Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.  And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)

Does anyone doubt that America today is going in the wrong moral direction vis-a-vis God?  Can the need for repentance in America be any more clear to avoid God's judgment and utter destruction?  Without such repentance, judgment and utter destruction are coming to New York City, and sadly, I believe to most of America.  When?  Only God knows, but he has given the warning.

My guess -- the destruction will occur some time during the final 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns, the final 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, based on the placement of the admonition of God in Rev 18: 4 which occurs after the anti-Christ/beast is revealed.  At that time, I believe the principal city of America, "spiritual Babylon", New York City, and most likely much of America, will be utterly destroyed in one hour.  This will probably be a nuclear event initiated by a nation such as Russia and/or North Korea, whose leaders have typically had hatred for America.  Perhaps China could join in.

God warned Lot to leave Sodom before it was destroyed -- but Sodom was indeed destroyed.  Effort should be directed by all born-again (from above) Christians to live as citizens of His Kingdom instead of trying to get God to hold-off on His judgement, which He cannot do since His Word says it will occur.  God's people should focus on living holy for Him.  When destruction comes to America, He will give His people a way out.  Pray that you are counted worthy to escape. (Luke 21: 36)

It could be that after America is destroyed the war of Gog of Magog, described in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39, will occur.  I always wondered how any nation, or group of nations, could come against Israel militarily without America preventing such an action.  Once America is destroyed, or severely wounded by a nuclear attack, there would be no world power capable of preventing such a war as described in Ez 38/39.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner.  It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble.  (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)


2012 - True Believer

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There Will Be No 'Pre-tribulation' Rapture of the Church -- Do Not Be Deceived, Prepare to Endure

Much of what I am about to say will be new to some, unbelievable to many, and controversial to most.  But please read on and seriously consider what is written herein, because your eternal life depends on it.

I have spent many hours over the past few years studying the scriptures regarding the timing and substance of the rapture.  Also, I have listened to lectures on the subject in-person and on TV, I have read numerous books on the subject, and I have heard sermons preached on the subject.  You should also know that until a few months ago, I myself was a "pre-trib" rapture believer; however, I am quite confident that I was wrong.  I have received recent revelation from the Holy Spirit in regard to the scripture I have studied on this subject, which has opened my eyes.

Again, please consider seriously what I say herein.  I have no book contract or other financial reason to write this.  I believe that what I say herein is God's truth for us and that he wants me to publish it.  Study it out for yourself.  Do not be complacent in your understanding.  God desires that you prepare your heart to seek Him to know Him, His commands, and His truth. (See for example, Acts 15: 17; Zeph 2: 3; Jer 29: 13; Ps 27: 8; Is 55: 6; Hos 10: 12; Ezra 7:10; Chron 16: 10-11; 2 Chron 12: 14;  2 Chron 20: 33)  To prepare your heart to seek the Lord means to determine in your heart that you will seek the Lord.  The best way to do this is to read His word, fast and pray; with necessary repentance. 

As many of you are aware, the term "rapture" is not found in any English translation of the Bible.  It is the Latin word "raptio" which has been translated into English as "rapture" and was used in the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible to represent the original Greek words found in 1 Thes 4: 17 meaning to be "caught up" or "snatched away."  The Latin Vulgate version of the Bible was commissioned in 382 C.E. by Damasus I of Rome.

In general, the rapture is a future event, believed by Christians, whereby there will be heard the voice of the Archangel Michael, the blowing of the trumpet of God (the last trump), and a shout of command of the Lord Jesus to call all true believers up to the clouds of heaven to meet with him in the air.  At that time, all those who are dead in Christ having believed in Jesus' salvation for them will rise (i.e. be resurrected) and will be instantly given new, eternal and immortal spiritual bodies which are immune to death, disease and any other effect of sin.  Then, those who are still alive and surviving who believe that Jesus is their salvation will be "changed in the twinkling of an eye" and also be given new, eternal and immortal spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15).

The Greek word translated as "remaining" in 1 Thes. 4: 17 in many English translations of the Bible more accurately means "alive and surviving."  This rapture event will be amazingly quick and will result in a meeting with Jesus for the raised (resurrected) dead in Christ and those living and surviving on earth who are believers.  Jesus will then take them with him to Heaven, soon to return to earth with him to battle, as described in Rev 19: 11, 14.  From that point on, they will be with Jesus forever in their new immortal spiritual bodies.

As a point of history, over the past few hundred years, many Bible scholars have expressed various opinions regarding the likelihood, timing and conditions surrounding the rapture of the Christian church.  As stated above, the term "rapture" is equated with the concept of a "catching away" of the church of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament, at a future point in time in proximity to the final 7 years of man's reigning on this earth, commonly referred to as the "7-year tribulation."

Firstly, I would rather refer to this final 7-year period as Daniel's 70th week (i.e., a "week" of years = 7 years; Dan 9: 27), since nowhere in scripture is there a period of time referred to as the "7-year tribulation", but there is indeed scriptural basis for the term "Daniel's 70th week."  During this time, there will be "tribulation" (i.e. affliction, pressure) on all humanity.  But, a period called the "Great Tribulation" is described by Jesus in Mat Chapter 24, and it will not commence until some time in the midst of the 70th week (Dan 9: 27) when the "Abomination of Desolation" (i.e., the person who will be the satan-possessed anti-Christ who will influence all world governments, and  eventually rule a one-world government during Daniel's 70th week) described in Dan 11: 31 enters a future rebuilt temple of God on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God (2 Thes 2: 3-4).  Thus, the Great Tribulation begins about 3 1/2 years before Jesus' 2nd coming, which is to occur at the end of the 70th week.

I am aware that many TV evangelists, the typical Sunday school teacher, and most everyday Christians believe, teach and have been taught that a "pre-tribulation" or "pre-trib" rapture will purportedly take place some time prior to the "7-year tribulation", or Daniel's 70th week, which week commences with a peace covenant "with many" (perhaps a United Nations treaty, which most likely will include the nation of Israel) being "confirmed" by the "prince of the covenant."  Again, this may be different from what some of you have been taught, but a study of Daniel Chapters 9 and 11 supports my contention regarding the terminology and substance of Daniel's 70th week.

I do believe that there will be a rapture of the church but I do not believe that scripture supports a "pre-trib", or "pre-70th week", timing of the rapture.  I believe that the rapture will occur on a future Feast of Trumpets on a future Tishri 1 of the Biblical calendar (late-September/early-October).  Generally, the church has been taught, albeit incorrectly, that the rapture will occur prior to Daniel's 70th week.  The main reason for this misinterpretation of scripture, I believe, is due mainly to "wishful thinking."  After all, who would want to endure the dreadful plagues and exceedingly hard times associated with the trumpet plagues of Rev Chapters 8 and 9?

Additionally, many ask, "how could a loving God punish his bride the church, and then after subjecting her to great affliction rapture her home to himself in heaven"?  These questions appear logical, but remember where the Israelites were when the various terrible plagues of Egypt were brought about in the days of Moses -- the Israelites were in Egypt too, but were protected from the plagues while they lived in the area of Goshen, their place of refuge.  The meaning of Goshen is "draw near."  We will, no doubt, have opportunity to find and enter "mini-Goshens" during the 70th week.  Where they will be geographically, I do not know.  But, I have no doubt that they will exist and be available to those who seek the Lord, to those who draw near to Him, to be "hidden" in the time of trouble as described in Ps 27: 5.  Likewise, God promises in Ps 50: 15 that if we call upon Him in the day of trouble we will be delivered. 

So, to put it bluntly, for at least the reasons given herein, I believe that the rapture of the church, which includes both living believers and the dead in Christ, will not occur until the "Day of the Lord" at the end of Daniel's 70th week.  At that time (the true "Last Day"), Jesus will return to earth to:

     1)  "harvest" or "catch away" or "rapture" his church to himself;
     2)  defeat the armies of the world's nations which have gathered at Armageddon (Mt. Megiddo) in Israel to destroy Jerusalem;
     3)  bind satan for 1,000 years; and
     4)  renew the earth and establish his eternal kingdom on earth, where he is forever King of kings and Lord of lords.

To properly understand scripture, the words of the Bible must be interpreted literally, unless they are clearly being used in a non-literal sense.  Also, the context of the scripture must be considered.  Taking quotes from scripture out of context misrepresents the true meaning of the scripture and misleads many.

The rapture event described in 1 Thes 4 is given a time frame in 1 Thes 5 as the "Day of the Lord."  This is the day Jesus returns to earth, described above.  Many teach that the event described in 1 Thes 4 is the "coming of the Lord" (i.e. the rapture) which is invisible to the world and is a separate event from the "Day of the Lord" described in 1 Thes 5 which, they say, is the Lord's "glorious appearance" (Titus 2: 13; Mat 24: 30) when Jesus returns and is seen by the entire world at His Second Coming on the Last Day.  This bifurcating of the single event described in 1 Thes 4 and 1 Thes 5 is improper.  In context, that which is described in 1 Thes 4: 15-17 is the same subject matter being further described in 1 Thes 5: 1-4, which follows immediately after 1 Thes 4 and is the same event.  (See also, Ps 50: 4 describing a rapture of His saints during a last day scenario)

Jesus laid out the timing for the rapture/harvest on the Last Day in Mat 24: 29-31 while answering his disciples in regard to their questions concerning what would be the "sign of his coming, and the end of the age"?  He answered them by saying that "immediately after the tribulation of those days ... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds."  (Emphasis added) This "gathering together "event is on the Last Day, the Day of the Lord.  So, the tribulation comes first, then the rapture.

In Mat 13: 24-30 and 37-39, Jesus describes the same Last Day scenario of the rapture given by 1 Thes 5 and Mat 24: 29-31.  He gives the parable of the good seed (wheat) and the bad seed (tares) being allowed to grow together until the harvest.  The harvest is described in Mat 13: 27-29, 31 as occurring at the end of the age on the Last Day.

In his prayer for Christians in Thessaloniki, referred to in 2 Thes 1: 4-8, Paul states in his letter to them that because of their faith and patience through persecutions and trouble, they should be "counted worthy of the kingdom of God", and further states that God will repay with tribulation those who trouble them, giving them "rest ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels."  (Emphasis added)  (See also, Mark 8: 38)  So, their rest from further persecution is not to be given by God until Jesus returns in full glory on the Last Day, described in Mat 24: 30 as His "glorious appearing."

If rest is to be given to believers from persecution, trouble, danger, etc., at any time other than the Last Day, then when?  If such rest is to occur in a pre-trib rapture, prior to Jesus' being revealed, then why doesn't Paul say so?  He describes only one time when such rest is to be given, and mentions no other time when rest for Christians from persecution will be given by God.

This Last Day rapture/harvest event and timing is vividly illustrated in Rev 14: 14-16, where the Son of Man is shown in the clouds of heaven putting in a sharp sickle to reap the earth of His followers at harvest.  This event is placed in the Book of Revelation immediately prior to the pouring out of the last 7 plagues or "wrath of God" of Rev Chapters 15 and 16, described below.

Additionally, Rev 14: 4 describes the rapture of 144 thousand who have been redeemed from mankind and are first fruits to God and to the Lamb.  If the church is raptured "pre-trib", this would also violate scripture since the 144 thousand are clearly raptured during the second half of the 70th week and are described in scripture as being first fruits.  A "pre-trib" raptured church would necessarily precede the rapture of those 144 thousand and itself be first fruits which, according to scripture, cannot be.

The rapture/raising of the dead in Christ will also be a resurrection event.  (See, 1 Thes 4: 16; 1 John 3: 2)  But the first resurrection of humanity will not occur until the end of the 70th week, around the time the beast (anti-Christ) is destroyed.  In fact, Christians who are killed for not taking the mark of the beast during the 70th week are participants in the first resurrection.  (See, Rev 20: 4-6)  Daniel 12: 2 teaches that "many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake."  The timing for this event in Dan Chapter 12 is given at the end of Dan Chapter 11 and is the time when the anti-Christ is defeated.  Furthermore, Jesus himself gave the Last Day as the time for the resurrection of those who believe in him, when he stated in John 6: 44 that "no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."  (See also, John 6: 39-40, 53-54)  So, any teaching of a "pre-trib" rapture contradicts the timing of such a rapture event as described in scripture, which event includes the first resurrection of humanity.

Many in the church have been taught that the reference in Rev 4: 1 of  a door standing open in heaven, which is described just after the letters to the seven churches in Rev Chapters 2-3, is an image of the "pre-trib" rapture of the church.   In that passage, John is called up to heaven by Jesus to see things which are to take place after the letters to the seven churches are discussed in Chapters 2-3.  I do not believe that the open door of Rev 4:1 is a picture of a "pre-trib" rapture of the church.  Here, Jesus simply is bringing John up to heaven for him to see future events which have not yet happened on earth.

In fact, in Rev 3: 8 the "open door" in heaven is promised only to the "Philadelphia church."  The attributes of those qualifying as members of the "Philadelphia church" are given in Rev Chapter 3.  I believe that a rapture is indeed promised by Jesus to the "Philadelphia church" in Rev 3: 10, wherein Jesus says that "because you (the Philadelphia church) have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth."  (Emphasis added)  If this promise has any meaning, it is a reward only for those who persevere.  Its interpretation must be consistent and in context with the above discussion and interpretation of scripture in regard to the substance and timing of the rapture.

In line with that, I submit that the "hour of trial" from which those who persevere will be kept is "the wrath of God" which occurs at the end of the 70th week, and perhaps all of the 7 trumpet initiated-events occurring during the 70th week since the Great Multitude in heaven of Rev Chapter 7 are seen by John just prior to the 7 trumpet initiated-events which begin in Rev Chapter 8.  Therefore, one must strive to be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3, or risk being left on earth during the entire Great Tribulation period (Mat 24; Mark 13) for cleansing and to bring about true repentance.

I believe that the "wrath of God" does not occur until the 7 bowl/vial plagues described in Rev Chapters 15 and 16 are carried out.  In fact, the passages of Rev 15: 1, 7 and 16: 1 describe how the wrath of God is that which is contained in the 7 bows/vials to be poured out on the earth, which happens at the end of the 70th week.  I believe that it occurs after the members of the church still on earth and surviving and who have not taken the mark of the beast have been raptured.

Understand that tribulation and God's wrath are not the same thing.  The church on earth will endure tribulation, which is defined as persecution, great pressure, danger, and affliction.  It is recorded in John 16: 33 that Jesus told His followers, "in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  (Emphasis added)  At Mat 24: 9, Jesus tells His disciples in regard to their questions concerning what would be the "sign of his coming, and the end of the age" that "they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake." (Emphasis added)

As recorded in Acts 14: 22, Paul told believers in the cities of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) that "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."  (Emphasis added)  In 2 Tim 3: 12, Paul tells Timothy that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  (Emphasis added)  Revelation 2: 10 describes how Jesus, in addressing the church at Smyrna, tells the believers that they will suffer and be tested through tribulation, but to be fairthful and endure to receive the crown of life.  Thus, there is no free pass given to a Christian to be kept from tribulation.

If we are alive and surviving during the time of the anti-Christ, we will face tribulation, but not God's wrath.  Paul makes this point clear and tells us in 1 Thes 5: 9, that "God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."  (Emphasis added)  Jesus spoke of a Great Tribulation which is to begin in the midst of Daniel's 70th week, when the Abomination of Desolation enters the temple and declares himself to be God, and it will last for about 3 1/2 years until the Last Day.  (Mat 24: 15-21; 2 Thes 2: 3-4; Dan 9: 27)  But, the wrath of God is reserved for after the saints still alive and surviving on earth are raptured.

Whether or not the rapture of the church occurs literally on the "last 24 hour day" of the age or some time prior during the last half of Danienl's 70th week, it will certainly occur prior to the wrath of God being poured out near the end of Daniel's 70th week subsequent to the Great Tribulation period spoke of by Jesus in Mat 24 and Mark 13.  The day of the rapture will indeed be the "last day" on earth for believers before Jesus comes to rule and reign as King of Kings.

Regarding the seven trumpet-initiated events, plagues or judgments of Rev Chapters 8, 9 and 11, I do not know when the first four of the seven events will occur, but because of their placement in the Book of Revelation vis-a-vis other events described therein, it seems most likely that they will occur during the second half of the 70th week during the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus in Mat Chapter 24.  If so, these events must be endured by the church on earth at that time, and are designed to bring about God's final plan to bring man to repentance or to face judgment.  If one or more of these events occur during the 70th week, their origin may be the two witnesses of Rev Chapter 11 who are given power/authority to cause various plagues (similar to Moses in Egypt) as often as they see fit.  I believe that the final three trumpet-initiated events (trumpets 5-7 -- the three "woes") of Rev Chapters 9 and 11 will occur during the 70th week.

I believe that the two witnesses will appear on the scene in Jerusalem around the time the Abomination of Desolation appears on the scene.  A reading of Dan 9: 27 in combination with Dan Chapter 11 and 2 Thes 2: 3-4 discloses that he who is the Abomination of Desolation (i.e. the beast, anti-Christ) is revealed in the midst of Daniel's 70th week in the new rebuilt temple of God in Jerusalem.  According to 2 Thes 2: 3-4, the Day of the Lord cannot occur until after the "man of sin/lawlessness" is revealed.  This is another nail in the coffin against the "pre-trib" rapture doctrine.

Additionally, I believe that events surrounding the opening of the seven seals discussed in Rev Chapters 6 and 8 are not judgments, but are simply an unfolding of events caused by the actual opening of the seals by Jesus, who has been in heaven for almost 2, 000 years.  I submit that scripture does not confine events related to the opening of all seven seals to the 70th week.  Jesus simply told John 2, 000 years ago to come up and see things which would occur in the future.  (See, Rev 4: 1)  Although I believe that events related to the opening of the final three seals will occur during the 70th week, I do not know whether any of the first four seal-related events have occurred in history or whether they will occur during the 70th week.  But, I believe that events associated with the opening of each of the seven seals are necessary to accomplish God's plan of redemption of mankind and redemption of the earth.

You may consider the scroll being opened by the Lamb (i.e. Jesus) in heaven, one seal at a time, as the deed to the earth.  The earth was originally given (deeded) to Adam (Gen Chapter 1), but through his disobedience (Gen Chapter 2) satan gained rights (through the deed) to the earth.  A study of traditional procedures for the purchase and subsequent redemption of real property in ancient times involved such a scroll, having writing and being sealed until a time for the redemption of the property by the original owner, if the owner was able, to re-obtain the real property from loss.  Such a procedure is described in Lev 25: 23-25, where a redeemer kinsman could purchase the property on behalf of the owner who had lost the property.  In Jer 32: 10, it describes that a scroll describing a purchased title to real property was rolled up and then sealed.  The outside of the sealed scroll contained the conditions necessary for the original owner to redeem the lost property.

Those who persevere during the 70th week and are raptured are members of the church who are alive and surviving at the end of the 70th week who do not shrink from their faith by not loving their own life to the point of death (Rev 12: 11; Rev 14: 13; Luke 17: 33; John 12: 25) and who refuse to take the mark of the beast.  Many will be killed for such refusal (Rev 13: 15), and unfortunately, I believe that many members of the church living in the 70th week will not endure, but for the preservation of their life will accept the mark of the beast (Rev 13: 16-17) to be able to buy food and other items to survive.  This short-sighted decision by believers and non-believers alike will be eternally fateful.

Here is a likely scenario -- once the treaty "with many" is confirmed, many in the church will be at a loss to explain why no rapture occurred, causing confusion among believers (see, 2 Pet 2: 3-4), or will attempt to explain that it was not the "covenant" of Dan 9: 27.  But you reader, do not lose heart at that time, but know that no "pre-trib" rapture is promised in scripture.  Thus, it is imperative that those living through the 70th week be strong in faith.  As stated above, even if you are a believing, born-again Christian you can lose your eternal salvation if your faith waivers and you take the mark of the beast.  To do so damns your soul for eternity (Rev 14: 9-11).

The ability to renounce your salvation forever is spoken of in scripture, for example, in Heb 6: 4-6 and Heb 10: 26-31.  (See also, 2 Pet 2: 4, 20-21; Zeph 1: 2-3, 6)  Once saved, you are in God's hand, and nothing in heaven or on earth can take you from God's hand.  (See, John 10: 28-29)  But, because God has given us each free will, you can walk away from God's hand, lose his protection, grace and favor, and be at risk of facing his eternal judgment along with unbelievers.  You can also be blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life. (Rev 3: 5)  Obviously, you cannot be blotted out unless you were at one time in the Book of Life.

In summary, taken together, all the scripture discussed above point to a rapture of the church immediately prior to the "wrath of God" being poured out on those remaining on earth.  If you are a believer, you have nothing to fear, but do not be complacent in hoping for and depending on a "pre trib" rapture to escape the coming "time of trouble" to occur during the 70th week.  Do not love your life to the point of losing your salvation during the 70th week when things get quite uncomfortable and unpleasant.  Do not take the mark of the beast on your hand or forehead.

Remember that Jesus commanded us to persevere and hold fast to our faith by practicing patient endurance, especially in the end-times.  (See, for example, Rev. 3: 10; Mat 24: 13; Mark 13: 13; Luke 21: 19)  (See also, 2 Pet 3: 17)  By definition, you cannot endure without a struggle.  But, to do so will bring you an everlasting reward of eternal life in a disease-free, joyful, unspeakably beautiful future with God himself.  In Is 40: 31 it says that, "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."  Renewing one's strength takes affirmative action and effort, not complacency.  But we must wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen our heart (Ps 27: 14).

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner.  It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble.  (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)


For another argument against a "pre-trib" rapture, please click on "June 2009" under Blog Archive to see my June 2009 blog entitled, "Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven or on Earth? Is there no pre-tribulation rapture?"  Also, to check out my other previous blogs, click on the "Older Post" link below.

For an excellent video which touches upon many of the points made herein, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jTmZHDb_sP8#!

2012 - True Believer

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