PROPHETIC SIGNS THAT WE ARE IN THE END TIMES [A good summary of SOME key evidences--QX]

CONTENDER MINISTRIES ^ | 11 JUL 2004 | JENNIFER RAST

[Safrguns]

hehe... thanks.
Though, your still in my crosshairs.

[Quix]

Thanks.

Good. Keep it up. Kind of comforting, actually.

Though I wouldn't want you to suffer false hopes!

I don't know if you've ever read me say, or not.

When I was first in Taipei in the Navy, there was an elderly Assembly of God former missionary who pastored the little military chapel we attended. A very small group of us.

Anyway--he entertained requests to preach on whatever. He was a wise, loving soul. Had been one of the last out of Mainland China--in 1955 and just about didn't make it out alive.

I asked him to preach on the topic of Calvinism/Arminianism--however I put it at the time.

I was close friends with a Southern Baptist gal and associated a lot with her and her missionary colleagues. All very staunch Calvinists.

Anyway--Bro Vigna presented Scriptures on Both sides. I suppose on summary he came down on the side of Arminianism but you'd hardly have known it. He really emphasized that the WHOLE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE was on both sides. That was interesting.

Certainly, over the years, I've learned that contrary to my rearing in a very fundamental sort of A of G church--God was not going to cancel someone's Salvation if the Rapture occurred when someone was frowning.

On the other hand, there ARE plenty of Scriptures indicating that one can remove Himself from under the Blood so to speak. But I don't think it's as easy as some may think.

Doubt that conviction is going to change this side of Heaven. Too many Scriptures on that side, too.

[Safrguns]

He really emphasized that the WHOLE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE was on both sides. That was interesting. interesting is not the word for this... confusing is more like it. I don't see how he could say this. I can understand someone's interpretation of scripture which puts them on one side or the other, but I don't understand how a man of God can say that the bible supports both ways. For me, it would call into question where this guy stands on the doctrin of inspired scripture. It cannot be both ways. If one side is right, the other must be wrong. Though I wouldn't want you to suffer false hopes! No worries there... i'm not responsible for someone else's error... I'm responsible for my own. My reward comes from following the Holy Spirit's leading. Therefore, If I am wrong, may He correct me immediately in Jesus name.

[Quix]

Oh, he was staunch about Inspiration of Scripture.

He was just a larger person than a lot of people. And, he served a larger God Almighty than most denominational people.

I've learned that God is often MUCH MORE "BOTH/AND" than He is either/or. I don't know how to explain it.

I also doubt that God is going to give out eternal spankings for reasonable people who differ in reasonable ways about Scriptural stuff which He didn't make abundantly and adamantly clear one way or the other.

Certainly the Virgin birth; death; resurrection etc. are NOT such fuzzy things. But many other things are arguable.

God must have had His reasons for setting it up that way. One of the mysteries, I think.

[Safrguns]

Certainly, over the years, I've learned that contrary to my rearing in a very fundamental sort of A of G church... You know, about 8-10 years ago, I spent a couple of years attending an A of G church in Georgia... played trombone in the band... even performed (as part of the band) with Phil Driscoll once. It wasn't until about the end of the 2nd year that I realized that the A of G church did not believe in the doctrin of eternal security... and yet they DO believe in the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I cannot tell you how much this troubled me... Until I started noticing something during services which re-lifted my spirit. Over the course of about 2-3 months, I started noticing that 5-8 out of 10 utterances, or prophecies, or words of knowledge that were given had to do with this doctrin... and they were ALL on the Calvinist side! The most frequent ones were references to scripture that God would NEVER leave us nor forsake us, and others referencing scriptures indicating that once Jesus had us, NO ONE could snatch us from His hand. What was really confusing to me though, was that no-one seemed to be making the connection... So I went to the pastor... sat down in his office for about 30 minutes or so debating the issue... I went to the Lord in prayer about it... deeply troubled... How can a body of believers SO CLOSE to the Holy Spirit in prayer and practice be missing this? Why was there so much confidence in the doctrin of free will which seems to be the king-pin of Arminianism? How many times did Adam have to sin to be guilty under the law of sin and death? What makes us so much better than Adams pre-sin status that it takes us an undetermined number of transgressions to cause us to fall back under the law of sin and death? I know your not a Calvinist, but think about this for a minute... Of all the churches (denominations) which one do you think represents the biggest threat to the enemy right now? What is holding that church back? Just as I believe that every individual is vulnerable to enemy strongholds which seek to entangle or disable them, I also believe that such tactics are employed at the corporate level in the Body of Christ. Each denomination has them... I can name most of them... What would you expect would happen if those strongholds were to be broken in these last days?

[Safrguns]

God must have had His reasons for setting it up that way. God is NOT the author of confusion.

[Quix]

I think God is sovereignly going to break tons of those strongholds individually and corporately.

I think a lot of things hold down A of G as well as ALL the other denominations. They are all bound up in traditions of men and doctrines of men to greater or lesser degree. And even those to lesser degree are seriously blunted in effectiveness.

I am thankful for Calvinists intensifying the import of such Scriptures in my life.

Blessings for your kind posts.

[CJ Wolf]

Hey just checking in!

[Quix]

HEY BRO,

HAVE AT IT!

The waters' . . . per usual!

Blessings,

[skylight4u]

Events are very important and are open to much interpretation. As the written word is passed down it is edited and translated many times and is open to great interpretation. The rapture was supposed to happen many times already...

And it happens every day within us. Judgment day is everyday in your own heart.

It is here, it is now.

The kingdom of heaven lies within us.

[Quix]

Certainly Scripture exhorts us to judge ourselves and to pray always . . .

Moment by moment dialogue with God and openness to His Spirit's still small voice constantly is crucial, imho.

[skylight4u]

Nicely said.

Spirit's still small voice speaks to us all.

The spirit is a mystery. A mystery that has been told in stories over many years through many tongues.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha

[Quix]

Well said.

Thanks for your kind posts.

[skylight4u]

thank you.

Time is not after us, Time is not chasing us.

There is no end.

[Safrguns]

The rapture was supposed to happen many times already... Not according to God's clear word on this... "for no man knows the day or the hour... not even the Son of Man, but only the Father in heaven. Judgment day is everyday in your own heart. incorrect. "For it is appointed to man once to die, and then comes the judgement" It is here, it is now. Not unless your dead. Jesus said "I did not come to judge the world but to save the world" John 12:47 The kingdom of heaven lies within us. This sounds like humanism. The kingdom of heaven is a real place NOT on this earth. (not yet anyway)

[skylight4u]

"The kingdom of heaven lies within us."
This sounds like humanism.


The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  (Luke 17:20-21)

[Safrguns]

Time is not after us, Time is not chasing us. There is no end. Translation: There is no judgement. More humanism?

[Safrguns]

Luke 17:21

"nor will they say, 'look here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees... He was referring to Himself. If you know anything about the Pharisees in the bible, you would know that they are not very well connected to the kingdom of heaven.

[skylight4u]

Ofcourse.

[skylight4u]

Nice chating with you safrguns.

take care.