Posted on 05/08/2020 4:37:58 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:4-6)
The famous Faith Chapter in the book of Hebrews, begins with two Saints, Abel and Enoch as examples of faith which we are to imitate. Faith is the point, for faith is the only way to please God.
I once asked the LORD, Why Faith? Why is that what you require? I believe I received several answers in the form of scripture and impressions, from the LORD. God requires faith, because we simply cannot save ourselves. Only God can save our souls, no one can redeem themselves, therefore Faith is required, because faith glorifies God and not man.
Another reason for the requirement of faith that came to me, is that our problems began when we quit believing in the goodness of God. Adam and Eve were willing to entertain a false and degraded notion of God, that He was holding something back that would be good for the first couple. The Serpent bore false witness about the LORD, and they believed it.
The way back? It has to be faith. We must repent and believe again in the goodness of God.
The hall of faith begins with Abel and Enoch. One Saint who was murdered for his faith, and for bearing witness to God in a hostile world. There would be literally millions upon millions who would follow in his footsteps, being willing to let go of their life rather than deny the truth of God.
The other Saint, Enoch, was a man who lived in a kind of end times scenario living in the time leading up to the flood. It was a day of Apostasy, but Enoch walked with God, until God took Him home. He didnt die , He was raptured. God took him home, to be with himself.
Faith was required of each of them.
I believe that we also live in an end-time. I have no doubt that Jesus is coming, and in our lifetime. What makes us unique is the re-emergence of the nation of Israel, in 1948, in fulfillment of the prophecies about the last of the last days. All of the prophets pre-supposed that there would be a national Israel, and a Jewish occupied city of Jerusalem, as well as a controversy over Judea, (The West bank) which would engulf the whole world.
The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:1-3)
Which brings us back to our two Saints at the beginning of Hebrews 11. One died, He was martyred for his witness to God. The other one did not die. He was Raptured. Both of these Saints lived by Faith and Pleased God.
I believe that this speaks to us in our generation.
No doubt. many of us will end up dying. Perhaps some of us will be given an opportunity to be martyred. We are Saints and love God, but all things being equal, unless the LORD returns, we will die, one way or another.
(Of course, Christians dont really die, they go to sleep) but the real point is that Faith is the only way to please God.
But according to the scriptures, there is a unique end-times event, coming, as I hope I have pointed out in this series, called the Rapture, or Our gathering together unto Him, the Episynagogue and Jesus coming to take us where (He) is, unto himself. The LORD is coming to snatch us off the earth with a swift and irresistable power.
To participate in such an event is a rare honor among the countless Millions of Saints who believed in Jesus before us.
But whether we die, or are martyred, o whether we are raptured, the real point is that we must live our lives by Faith,which is the only way to please God.
This is why I do not enter into the countless discussions as to the timing of the Rapture. Will The Rapture be pre- ,mid , or post Tribulation?
Honesty, the only things I am sure about the Rapture at all are that it is:
* For Gods Saints only, and the prospect of it is a comfort.
* A Mystery revealed in the New Testament era.
* It occurs before the actual Wrath of God.
* It involves the dead in Christ as well as We who are alive, until the coming of the LORD.
As far as I know, all else can only be speculation. God doesnt want us to know the exact timing otherwise it would be clearer. I am glad there is a Rapture, and my prayer has always been that I be involved in it, while alive. But I cannot say with certainty what the timing of it is, so I dont.
What counts is Faith in Jesus. Not dead works, but a living, vital, infectious faith. Let us have a faith which still moves us to confess and forsake our sins, to Love and seek God. To forgive and love our brothers, and a faith which moves us to share with others what God has shown to us. Is your faith alive? Do you have oil in your lamp? Are you current with God?
We Overcome the World by our faith. This is the victory that overcometh the World our faith. We overcome the Spirit of antiChrist also, by our faith. So also we overcome the sins that so easily beset us, and the Coldness and soul deadening effect of this world, by our Faith.
Of course we want out of here, we can increasingly see that there is nothing in this World for we who believe, but rejection and opposition.I want Jesus to come, and Long for the Rapture. I am either going up in it, or I am gong to die, but one way or another we are leaving.
Either way, the point is Faith. So I will leave the timing of the Rapture to God, and just strive to be counted worthy to attain it, whether ded or alive.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:35)
“Here is a video just for folks like you. Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZBoSaG4-KY"
I watched this video of Dr. Andy Woods talking about the pretrib rapture. It was convoluted to say the least. He (and much of the Christian world) does not understand many critical concepts, such as the 70 weeks of Daniel, times, time, and half a time, and if/when we know the identity of the antichrist. Please take a look at the following and make a comparison with what Dr. Woods is saying. (Dr. Woods is wrong)
http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/dan927.htm
http://aloha.net/~mikesch/times.htm
Dr. Woods also says “We can’t know who the AntiChrist is as long as the Church is here” He’s joking, right? Sadly he is not. There are plenty of clues throughout the bible to tell us who it is. The early reformers had no problem with the identity....Daniel and Revelation.
http://www.who-is-the-antichrist.org/
Dr. Woods then says the church will not go through the tribulation and gives examples of times in the bible that this was the case.
First, Enoch was “raptured” into heaven so he would not have to go through the flood. That had nothing to do with saving Enoch from the flood. He walked with God and was as close to sinless as any human could be. God took him to heaven for that reason. It had nothing to do with the flood. If Enoch had not been taken to heaven I’m sure he would have died of natural causes after a long life. remember, he fathered Methuselah, who lived 969 years and he died before the flood. Enoch was 365 years old when he was taken to heaven by God.
Second: Noah and his family are saved from the destruction of the flood, not by being taken up to heaven, but by being safe in the ark. See the difference here? GOT PROTECTED NOAH AND HIS FAMILY THROUGH THE TRIBULATION (flood).
Third: He mentions Lot and his family. Same thing. God protected Lot and his family THROUGH their tribulation. He did not remove them to where they were not affected. They went through it but with God’s protection (Lot’s wife might have had a different opinion, however).
Dr. Woods equates these scenarios with what he believes will be the same in a pretribulation rapture scenario. He forgets to mention Egypt. The Israelites went THROUGH the plagues (tribulation) with God’s protection. It will be the same for the world at it’s end. Nothing in the bible says we will be saved from it. But, everything says we will be protected by God as we go through it.
The “church” is taken up to heaven when Christ returns after the tribulation/plagues. That is what the bible teaches.
From this article:
http://www.who-is-the-antichrist.org/
What nine characteristics help us to identify the little horn power? (antichrist)
Location: out of 4th beast and among the ten horns (v.8) - The Papacy arose out of Rome among the ten tribal divisions of Rome
Timing: after the ten were established (v.8) - the Papacy became a political power by decree of the Roman emperor Justinian in AD 538 which was after the emergence of the ten tribal divisions that emerged as the Roman Empire fell apart in AD 476.
Uprooted three of the ten horns (v.8) - As the Papacy came to prominence, it influenced Pagan Roman armies to destroy three of the tribes which opposed its Christian doctrines. These three were the Vandals, Ostrogoths, and Heruli. The last of these was destroyed in AD 538 when Justinians decree went into effect.
Eyes and mouth of a man (v.8) - the Papacy has a man as its visible head.
Persecutes the saints (v.21, 25) - Ever hear of the Papal persecution during the dark ages - Inquisition, etc. More than 50 million Protestant Christians tortured and killed by the Catholic Church.
Different from the other ten horns (v.24) - the Papacy was a religio-political entity different from the kingdoms before it.
Speak out against God (v.8, 11, 20, 25) - Verse 8 says it will utter boastful or blasphemous things. One quote of many like it from Prompta Bibliothea Canonica Juridicia Moralis Theologica appearing in the Catholic Encyclopedia Volume VI, pp. 25-29, The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted, that he is not a mere man, but as it were, God and the Vicar of God. The Pope is, as it were, God on earth, chief king of kings, having plentitude of power.
Little Horn attempts to change Gods times and laws (v.25) - The Papacy deleted the second commandment of the Decalogue on idolatry, changed the Sabbath to Sunday in favour of sun worship and divided the tenth commandment on coveting into two parts to get back to Ten Commandments.
Have power for a time, times, and half a time (or three and a half years, forty two months, or 1260 days - see Revelation 12:6, 14) (v.25) - Applying the prophetic day for year principle established in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 that equals 1260 years. The Papacy lasted in primary power from AD 538 to 1798 in which year Napoleons general Berthier marched into Rome, deposed the Pope, and carried him into exile where he died.
You seem deeply grounded in your beliefs. So am I. I suppose you are prepping for the Tribulation. Keep your Bible close, it will explain to you what is happening at that time and why. It will be a Survival Guide to the Tribulation.
Amen!
I am not the least bit worried about the tribulation. If it comes in my lifetime, so be it. What I “prepare” is my relationship with Christ and what He tells me through the bible. If I were to die tomorrow (and I hope I don’t), my fate is sealed one way or the other. Same for any human on this planet. Same for you. Same for MTNinTN. Same for everyone...... Those who do go through the tribulation and are not sealed by God (vs the mark of the beast) are done for. They will not be in heaven. Thinking that one will be pulled out of all of it and not have to deal with the tribulation, mark of the beast is a delusion of the devil. Once save always saved? not biblical. Same for a secret rapture. Same for what a lot of the Christian world teaches. The bible states that the tribulation/plagues will be worse than anything the world has ever seen. Do I look forward to that? not really. But, in the same token I would look forward to being alive at the every end and seeing the end of the world and Christ coming in the clouds in all his Glory. That will be something to see.
21Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? 23Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness! (there’s that word, Lawlessness, again)
10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
There will be many professed Christians that will not be in heaven.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Yeah, believe what you will. Listen to who you will. It’s only your salvation that’s at stake.
So I suppose you and MTGinTN don’t have to worry about the mark of the beast? Good luck with that. (Amen)
I don’t need “LUCK with that”. I won’t be here for that. Nor will anyone who is a member of the Body of Christ.
Maranatha
Of course. People claim all sorts of things, but ... :
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.And then theres the things about being forgiven as we forgive and being measured with the same measure we use to measure others ... etc.
Acts 14:22
And the ego is easily played, too. Just ask Satan. Im sure Ill be tripping over some of my words and condemned by others from times past.
Im thinking there aint too many saints amongst us gonna be raptured on outta here any time soon. Thats just my humble opinion, of course. Not my will be done, but His ... thank God!
Are you familiar with 1 John 3 ? In that chapter of his letter he first tells us that when Jesus appears in the air (the first Heaven) to gather us to Himself we shall see Him as He is in His glorified state (1 John 3:5), because the moment before we see Him we will have been changed in the twinkling of an eye to share in His spacetime coordinate system which allowed Him to do the amazing things described AFTER His resurrection (for those who want to know what their new body and soul will be able to do).
Then John explains that we born agains have a new spirit where God ABIDES so that our newborn spirit cannot sin! (1 John 3:9).
“Not about luck, it is about the Promise of God that we born agains are not appointed to wrath but to obtain deliverance from the wrath (1 Thess 1;10).”
Noah and his family were delivred from the wrath of God and went safely THROUGH the flood.
Lot and his family were delivered (excepting his wife) from the wrath of God and went safely THROUGH the destruction of Sodom.
Those alive during the tribulation will be delivered from the wrath of God and He will protect us THROUGH the plagues.
So, born agains cant sin? first time Ive ever heard of that. That would make you like a robot with no free choice. Or, is it that if you do sin you get a free pass without your need to ask for repentance and then sin no more sort of thing? Completely contrary to the entire bible... are you talking about on this earth or in heaven? Satan sinned. Why didn’t he get a free pass?
Yes, those who will be alive at the end of the world when Christ returns, at the very end of everything, after the tribulation/plagues, will be changed in the twinkling of an eye and meet Christ in the air, then off to heaven....not before. No secret rapture. No 7 years to make deals with the Jews, Nada. No second chances for anyone else to convert.
I believe that Hebrews through Revelation were/are written to those Jews who will be going through the Tribulation. Remember that God promised Abraham that Israel would be a nati9n of PRIESTS to the other nations. Which is exactly what Hebrews is about: a nation of PRIESTS.
What it comes down to is this.... God will protect you. And there is not one text in the bible that says God will remove anyone to heaven when it hits the fan. However, he does say this:
Psalms 91:
9Because you have made the LORD your dwellingmy refuge, the Most High 10no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. 11For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
This is EXACTLY what God did in Egypt with the Israelites and it will be EXACTLY how He protects his people through the tribulation/plagues. No doubt in my mind.
You are wrong. It’s that sadly simple. But you don’t want to follow 2 Tim.2:15 to show you GOD’S way to study His word. It’s HIS word, He outta know how He wants it studied. NOT READ. STUDIED. The road you’re headed down will surely make you an ashamed workman IF you do stand before Him. That is God’s advice in 2 Tim.2:15, not mine. Argue with Him about it if you do not care what He plainly states what will make us approved unto Him.
Your life. Your choice. I pray that you Choose wisely
2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
The problem is that YOU have the wrong truth. OT and NT are very clear on the subject.
And after ALL the information I’ve presented here you can say I haven’t STUDIED? That is rich indeed.
Your life. Your choice. I pray that you Choose wisely
You are so wrong it is almost amusing. A boat floats on top of the flood. Leaving the cities which were THEN destroyed is not going through the annihilation. You have missed what the Angel told Lot: ‘I cannot act until you are out of there.’ You are a false teacher. Don’t take the Mark when commanded to you. Just don’t do it!
There’s your first problem, no KJV Bible.
Now it’s making sense. You’re never going to get it.
Maranatha
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