Posted on 06/07/2010 7:28:42 AM PDT by topcat54
Thank you much for the ping, and the post. It contains some fascinating information that should be pondered. Marking it for when I have more time to read it through. :)
Oh, and for what it’s worth, I enjoy your long posts, too. I see someone complained, but it’s not like it would take that long to scroll down if one chose to ignore it! :)
That is really neat. Thanks for posting it. :)
The "quality" of Christians is not the point. Since it is God alone who numbers His flock the size of that flock is in His hands.
But the trend is certainly positive. From 12 to two billion. Out of two billion Christians, there are undoubtedly men and women who are faithful to Christ alone.
And that number most certainly is more than 12.
I just don't get the attitude of those who cavalierly dismiss two billion Christians as insufficient evidence for the success of the Gospel. Peripherally and no doubt unknowingly, they are doing the work of the enemy by admitting defeat.
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you" -- 2 Thess. 3:1
"So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." -- Acts 19:20"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." -- Isaiah 55:11
Where in Scripture does it say the word of God does not "prevail" but instead fails?
From a geopolitical standpoint, and from a sense of obligation for the genocide of the Jews in WWII, Israel must be protected and defended. But as far as Scripture goes, dirt and rocks and vain genealogies mean nothing to God. "Neither Jew nor Greek; all one in Christ Jesus." -- Galatians 3:28
Christ defeated Satan on the cross at Calgary. The rest is clean-up.
How have Christians gotten to the point where they deny this merciful fact?
All history led up to the cross and all future leads from the cross.
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." -- Hebews 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
ping
Hi, Fru! I’m always so happy to read your posts. How are you and yours?
Unless, of course, those dirt and rocks and "vain" genealogies are an integral part of the promises made to the nation of Israel that God has yet to fulfill.
ping
Dirt and rocks and vain genealogies are not any "integral part" of the salvation that Christ has won.
There are believing Jews and believing Gentiles. They are all one in Christ Jesus.
The rest is politics. Much of it is good politics. But it has no basis in Scripture.
The victory has been won. We're now experiencing its gracious aftermath.
What was that promise to Israel?
The promise was that a Savior would come and give eternal life by grace through faith in that Savior to all who love His appearing.
And so He has.
That is where prophecy leads us, not to some, we all live happily ever after on this Earth having kids and raising families til Jesus comes and we sing Kumbaya.
The Bible is a war manual. We are at war with Satan, in our own lives as well as this world. That war will not be over till Christ returns.
Ezekiel, Daniel Revelation and others tell us what to look for when that might be. It uses terms like "don't be afraid" for a reason. There's some scary stuff coming up, and the Bible tells us to put on our battle armor.
None of the Apostles looked for rosy lives here and now. They were ready for battle. And so should we, as we see the day approaching.
Preparing for battle isn't defeatest, its anything but. Denying the coming battle is, it'll get your a$$ kicked.
Christ died in Canada??? ;)
Such a statement manifests volumes of lack of faith. In order to presume a rapture rescues a believer from worldly tribulation, it presumes the world is our destination.
Mandating one to 'deal with it', expresses more envy and malevolent intent to a fellow believer who doesn't ascribe to a particular way of thinking as the author, who seeks vengeance by his own understanding, rather remaining in fellowship with God and recognizing God has different agendas for different believers in His Plan.
There might be some finer truths discussed in the presentation, but the author, IMHO, generally writes from a perspective out of fellowship with God, rather than within His hand.
Of course, if the 2nd coming came in 70 AD, there would be no more need for teaching. But since those with such an eschatology teach, what do they really believe? They aren’t that foolish, but arrogance does account for much.
But noooo.
Calvary. Calvary. Calvary. (I have relatives in Calgary - my only defense.)
Calvary. Calvary. Calvary...
Why not? That's where He's led me and millions of Christians.
The Bible is a war manual. We are at war with Satan, in our own lives as well as this world. That war will not be over till Christ returns.
The war is spiritual. Satan beguiles every Christian but we have Christ's promise that He has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit who will fight our battles for us and with us and who will never leave us defenseless.
There's some scary stuff coming up, and the Bible tells us to put on our battle armor.
There's plenty of "scary stuff" right here in front of our faces. Stuff many of us are oblivious to.
So no one is "denying the battle." The battle is the same as ever -- "evil in high places."
But with our "battle armor" in place, which is the "sword of the Spirit" -- God's holy word -- Christians should have no fear. Christ has overcome the world. It is His. Now. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. All of it. Now.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him; And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." -- Colossians 1:12-17"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
"All things."
We can all discard what God told us and live in a world of cotton candy and butterflies if we just try hard enough.
Why not? That's where He's led me and millions of Christians. .
He did not lead you here to just be fat and happy. We are here to make war with Satan.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
My king is a warrior king, should I be any less a warrior???
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great."
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
I glanced at that link and it was meaningless. All I know is the Scripture clearly states that some “will not sleep,” but will go directly to the Lord. That tells me that for some there will be some kind of occurrence and the only thing that explains that is a Rapture. Now, can you tell me your explanation if you think the Rapture is a false teaching?
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