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FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. He was sinless! He was not born with a dead nature, soul and spirit. YET HE TOO
NEEDED TO RETREAT.
Amazing how He tasted all the sufferings and living deaths around Him, His brethren in the flesh mocking Him and abandoning
Him (Except for the 11) while one was a devil in disguise He knew all the while! His family, but for His mother, rejecting
Him until He rose from the dead and on and on we could go. A man of constant sorrows and well acquainted with grief.
Here we are in Him. Like Him we taste so much poison and suffer so much disappointments, so much grief, but not nearly the
portion GOD our Father had to place on Him that He so readily took upon himself as a terrible yoke to give us LIFE...His life!
We understand these truths well but not well enough. For we, unlike Him, have a dead nature to carry around like a bag of
heavy cement, but for God's grace would sink us like a stone in the tears of our own sorrows.
He retreated! He needed to restore a tired and worn body, even though the burden of sin was not upon Him until the cross.
And then it was the burden only God the Son could take.
My dear brother, I have not one doubt that you are not finished nor that the best is yet to come for His Glory through you.
For it will. In your weakness, uncomfortable as it is, even crippling as it could be, His strength can be perfect. His grace
becomes more brilliantly displayed. His love the more penetratingly vivid.
Paul had this trouble. Some great disability God allowed. Indeed, sent as a messenger of Satan to buffet him! As we know Paul
was a mighty teacher of the law. A well developed dead man walking. God had to cripple Him so that His design, yes! I say
His design for Paul would become the lived reality of his life!
How great is our God. He chose us before the world was made...to be His. He birthed us to be destined for Him as one of His
elect, He called us in due time, and we responded accordingly of Free Will. Now we are His forever. Nothing will change that.
Retreat! We are in a horrific contest! The stakes are as great as can be on earth. We are to love each other in His love.
Preach The Gospel of Salvation by Grace through Christ alone for the remission of all sins...ALL. Support the enemy in their
death and love them as well because we know the lostness of their souls that they admire and hold in highest esteem.
Strengthen the body that is His ambassador of love. His temple of worship. His vessel to honor and great glory for His names
sake.
The enemy does not sleep. He does not need to eat or drink. He walks around constantly seeking whom he may devour and take
to hell where all are equally miserable forever in the Lake of Fire.
You are in a terrific contest with an unseen adversary. You have the ultimate victory in Christ BUT you need to offer up to
your Lord and my Lord, for we are ONE in Him, the best offering we can. And that means a body that is in as good a frame as
He allows, rested, full of His armor, and The filling of the Holy Spirit, without unconfessed sin, awake and alert...ready.
This is not news to you, my dear brother. I am merely a sounding board echoing back at you His wisdom in you as a reminder
of that which you know. Forgive my verbosity at times. I love you in the Lord and you are my brother in eternity. Then we
will never have a weakness, nor falter, from the legacy of our dear father of the flesh, Adam. We will be glorified in and
like Him.Jesus Christ forever. Oh,happy day!
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
It is to His glory and our riches and eternal life He has brought us together here as Family in The Faith. Glory to Him.
IN HIM, WE ARE THE LIGHT IN THE WORLD. LET IT SHINE!
THE MAN IN THE GLORY
"He shines like a billion suns ablaze
No nighttime in his countenance to see
A more than brilliant face has he.
His clothing is luminescent pure
His hair on fire golden white
And angels minister to him in flight.
He is the Savior of all the world
A plan his Father saw fit to unveil
And intercedes by our days and nights
So the death of sin cannot have might.
His chamber high above the earth
The blood of his an eternal worth
Set out before the alter pure
God the Father forgives for sure.
He is our High Priest
Keeping those of us he owns.
In Christ there is only victory
And we the victors just through him".
(1 John 1:8-10)
"O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America!
America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea..."
HEBREWS 10:19-25
Brethren, once again in living grace through belief in Christ Jesus our Lord And Savior, I salute you in your tribulations
which are but a brief time, assured of eternal victory in Him who has called you from your mother's womb (Jude 1,3).
Salvation is Christ and everything we do in His Spirit is worthy of us to His glory. Our dead self has been buried with Him.
He lives to make intercession for us daily. For what purpose? So we can live our life from above, the one Christ secured for
us, from God our Father . What we received is ineradicable for it rests on Christ's finished work and nothing we can do will
change that blessing (Jn.Chap. 17).
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."( Jn. 17:3)
Today we are in a time of lukewarm Christianity and apostasy. The Lord warned us by command in Jn.21:22 to follow him. When
we are quenching The Holy Spirit we are good for nothing to God and wasting our precious time on earth. We are called upon
to serve The Lord with all our strength and mind and being. Be courageous and bold. Once you believed and received Him by
The Spirit, it was for all time. Move out into the battle with your whole armor of God to overcome that wicked one, Satan
who is the architect of the death the world suffers. (Eph.6:12-17).
Is there a nation on this God created earth that has had greater worldly blessings than America? God is her Father. It was
God who blessed her beginnings. Jesus was in the hearts of the leaders who set sail for her shores. He was in their homes
that were dedicated to the glory of Almighty God. In simple church meetings where the people were the truth of the cross of
Christ, they kept a place in their hearts for Jesus, through The Holy Spirit, who rode the seas with them to this God blessed
land. And it was for His Glory. The righteousness of God was with them (Prov.14:34).
They left a king to honor The King of all nations (Jer.10:7) and affirmed their God given right to worship and serve The Lord
(Zech.8:22). He was their inner strength and hope. And they knew that God's word was true. It guided them to their victory
in the freedom to worship and make Him the God of this great land. In so doing they received the blessings promised in scripture
(Ps.33:12).
Wisdom is to know The Lord and to fear Him by the example of reverential trust and disdain of evil starting with ones self
(Ps.19:9; 2 Tim.3:15). Our forefather's knew that there was a better place God had prepared, eternal in the heavens, and that
the life they lived on earth would be to the benefit of this new nation as well as their own in God's Book of Life (Isa.26:2;
49:6; Ps.2:12; Rev.3:5).
Yet the spirit of anti-christ, is strong on the closing pages of gentile world history. It is like a huge cancer that will
be overcome by Christ at the beginning of a 1000 years of His reign on earth. He will rule the world in glory. And even then,
at the close of His rule, mankind will once again seek it's own self-glory in rebellion against Christ when Satan is let loose
for a brief while. But as GOD has proclaimed from eternity past, at the end of time, before creation steps into eternity,
every knee shall bow before Him and every voice shall proclaim that "Jesus Christ is Lord" (Mt.24:29-30; Rev.19:11-21; 20:4-6;
20:7-9; Zech.14:1-9) .
Today, in 2008, America is at a crossroads in history. Will she respond to the call of her Holy and Righteous God who is all
powerful and merciful? Will she stand up for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and heed His word of truth that echoes down
the corridors of time:
"...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts" (Zech.4:6).
It's not news that mankind has always tried to make itself bigger and better then it is. That's the way we are born, dead
to God and eventually needing to puff our "self" up. (Gen.4:16-24; Rom.1.18-23).
The scripture is clear what happens to those who pit themselves against Almighty God (Gen.6:5-7; Nah.2:14; Ex.12:29-30; Rev.18;19:17-21).
Those who reject Jesus are being what is natural to them. Some think worldly position and "get,get,get" will do it. Other's
eating right or the worship of hand picked gods. Still other's the right partner, job, drugs, re-incarnations, intellect or
entertainment will. Satan concocted a billion scams to deceive the lost spirit and soul of man. In the end of his rule on
earth multitudes will worship him in the form of a false christ without recourse to the true God ever again. They will have
to pay their final bill with others from before. (Rev.13:16; 14:9-11; 21:11-15).
The lost world loves itself. It cannot perceive The Spirit and the truth of Christ. Read a book like "I'm O.K your O.K" that
some snake salesman put out years ago to keep us in the grave. Just look around you and see all the important people on the
T.V shows and the "news" that glorifies everything under the son except The Son of Almighty GOD. Look out your window at the
stars on the street. The real news is that there's nothing new under the sun. Man needs God. God says "come". Love came from
God, in the form of His Son and everything he accomplished for us. It rests within a believer by His power and authority.
It is God The Holy Spirit (Jn.15:12-14).
The world and the flesh are a well dressed up graveyard. It is already judged. All roads do not lead to heaven, only the one
name that saves who is Jesus Christ (Jn.3:16).
The big shots have countless followers who fill their pockets with millions and more. They make sure to mention God and, as
if they have some eternal connection, appear so sanctified. They come in all forms and walks of life including the clergy.
Often proud and self-assured they strut and fret their hour upon the stage as greatly blessed of God. Why don't they give
their wealth to the poor as Jesus suggested and follow him? (Lk.18:18-27).JESUS WAS MEEK & LOWLY * DESPISED OF MEN (See Isaiah
53)
Who is America today? Does she still have THE LORD at her side? Is she that sure hope of the downtrodden and destitute, of
the widows and the children, the poor and needy, the elderly and infirm who gave their lives for her promise of equality under
God? Is she a beacon of God's light to the world? Is she listening to their plight and remembering that she is her brother's
keeper (Gen.4:8)? And if she is true to the Spirit of scripture will she respond to God properly in Ezekiel 3:18-21? Can she
be strong in the Lord and respond to her enemies scorn by answering the words of that great leader of Israel who brought his
people into the promised land: "...choose this day whom you will serve..."(Josh.24:15).
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!
WE MUST AND WILL SERVE THE LORD AND GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA UNTIL WE LEAVE AND THEN THE DARKNESS OF EVIL WILL PREVAIL.
You are in my prayers. Keep me in yours. Maranatha.
Chaim
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU
"He shall glorify me;..." John 16:14
THE SPIRIT AND LOVE OF JESUS
The Holy Spirit will help you understand the bible and the words of GOD to you. But you need to take it most seriously and
apply yourself. It is the greatest gift you will ever get besides Jesus Christ. GLORY TO GOD. HE loves us so much and will
make sure our life is in HIS hands.
THE SPIRIT HAS THE ACTIONS OF A PERSON
He Speaks:
He clearly communicates with Believers. If there is communication, then many other things are indicated: will, ability, intelligence,
etc.
2 Samuel 23:2: ...The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me....
Acts 8:29: ...Then the Spirit said....
Revelation 2:7: ...the Spirit says....
He Prays******:
Paul tells us that when we don't know how to pray that the Spirit Himself makes intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:26).
This indicates that the Holy Spirit knows our minds, and has the ability to communicate with GOD THE FATHER for us. Neither
of these are abilities a power or force might have.
He Guides******:
One of the ministries that He has with the Christian is guidance, be it guidance in our study of the Word, or guidance in
finding Elohim's will. Romans 8:14: ...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
He calls and commissions******:
"He Commands*******:
He commanded Phillip to go to the Eunuch at Acts 8:29. This requires planning and authority. Phillip was submitting to the
plan of the Spirit for his life.
He Dwells In Believers******:
Only a being with personality can dwell with another being. John 14:17 mentions, in relationship to the Spirit, ...and shall
be in you.
He Teaches******:
A teacher is not devoid of personality.The Holy Spirit has the ability to teach which indicates many of the things that we
have mentioned. Will, intelligence and the ability to communicate are all qualities of personality. John 14:26
Likewise*******:
He Reproves: John 16:8
He Sends: Acts 13:4
He Forbids Some Actions: Acts 16:6,7
He Empowers: Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 1:21
He Testifies: John 15:26,27
The Holy Spirit can be vexed******:
Isaiah 63:10: "But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against
them." Vexed means to annoy or disturb. In relation to this, we need to understand that we have a responsibility to the Holy
Spirit to treat Him as a person. How it must vex Him when His people deny his intelligence, His wisdom, His concerns for us
etc.
He can be grieved*******:
You cannot grieve a force or power, but it is possible to grieve a person. Grieving the Spirit should be the last thing that
we Believers would want to do, yet we do so often.
Ephesians 4:30 warns that the Holy Spirit can be lied to: Ananias and Sapphira lied to Him with dire results. To know and
punish a liar requires intelligence and a sense of value judgments. Conversely, who would attempt to lie to a power or force?
The idea itself doesn't even make sense. Acts 5:3:
The Spirit can be resisted*******:
In Stephen's sermon he encouraged his listeners to be open to the Spirit. "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your parents did, so do you" -- Acts 7:51. Notice that the result of resisting
the Spirit is being "stiff-necked."
The Holy Spirit can be called upon*******:
Ezekiel 37:9 is the beginning of the vision of the dry bones arising and being assembled. The Spirit is called to breath life
into the dead. If called upon, there is an expected possibility of a response.
The response is that action of personality that we ought to look forward to when we pray. If the Holy Spirit is not a Person
He can't reply to our prayers. If He can't reply to our prayers, then why should we pray? On the other hand, when we are praying
and worshiping God and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit we should understand that this is not a flow of energy but the
actual presence of the Almighty God in our midst! The Holy Spirit has heard and accepted our prayers and praise!
The Spirit is to be obeyed*******:
It is inconceivable to think that we would obey anything less than a person. Acts 10:19-21 tells us that the Holy Spirit ordered
Peter to go meet some people and he followed His instructions. At Acts 16:6 Paul is again guided and commanded by the Holy
Spirit.
Likewise*******,
The Spirit can be quenched, 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
He can be blasphemed, Matthew 12:31.
He can be revered, Psalm 51:11
The Holy Spirit can be tested, Acts 5:9
He Gives Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:27:28
He Indwells: 1 Corinthians 6:19
He Convicts: John 16:7
He Intercedes: Romans 8:26:27
He Testifies: John 16:13,14
He Teaches: John 14:26; 1 John 2:27
He Guides: John 16:13
THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM********:
Question 4: What is God? Answer 4: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness,
justice, goodness, and truth. Question 5: Are there more Gods than one? Answer 5: There is but one only, the living and true
God. Question 6: How many persons are there in the Godhead? Answer 6: There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
This requires many of the attributes which we have already discussed. Only a being with personality can call and commission
people to diverse ministries around the world. Acts 13:2, Acts 20:28.
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT:
How do know who is in Christ? Salvation manifests. We will know them BY THEIR FRUITS (Mt.7:20)!
Among these are love, faith, righteousness, humility, compassion, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, selflessness, self-control, temperance, respect, hospitality, thankfulness, charity, forgiveness and purity of
heart. The apostle Paul said: "Overall these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity".
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit turns us into a new creation. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Being a new creation, we demonstrate the virtues of Jesus Christ. "The
fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against
such things, there is no law". (Galatians 5:22-23)
Christ secured our salvation until He comes for us. He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the
day of Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
Paul exhorts Christians to live as a new creation and abandon the ways of the sinful world. Everyone who confesses the name
of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. (2 Timothy 2:13) Do not offer parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness,
but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer the parts of your body to
Him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)
We live in terrible times. People are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their
parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out
of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22) If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been
born of Him. (I John 2:29)
Therefore, I urge US in view of God's mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is
our spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
our mind. (Romans 12:1-2 in part)
The Bible has emphasized the importance of loving God and our fellow men. But if anyone obeys God's word, God's love is truly
made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him. (I John 2:3-5) We know that we have passed from death to life, because
we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. (I John 3:14)
Jesus said: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking
your tunic. (Luke 6:27-29) His command: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12) Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:44)
How can we show our love? John said: "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:18). Since
love comes from God, we have the power to love one another and defeat the sins of the world. "... And His commands are not
burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (I John 5:3-5).
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity in him, how can the love of God be in him?
(I John 3:16-18). About love, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You
are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:13-14).
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him (I John 4:16). Dear friends, let us love one another, for
love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because
God is love (I John 4:7-8).
Paul said that he is nothing without love (I Corinthians 13:2). Paul described love this way. "Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave
you. And overall these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule
in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful" (Colossians 3:12-15).
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
Him" (Colossians 3:17). " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians
3:23).
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"
(I Peter 5:5). "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the
unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2). "...God has called us to live in peace" (I Corinthians 7:15).
May we all be blessed by His word.
Chaim
SUPERNATURAL SALVATION
God loves us and gave us Jesus Christ, unto eternal life, in our family of faith, the church. He guarantees our salvation
once we believe on Him and His finished work on our behalf for remission of our sins and washing by His blood. He did it and
still does it by His precious blood in Heaven as our High Priest ( Hebrews 1:1-3; 9:11-15; 1 Cor.6:20; Rom. 3:25; Col. 1:21-22).
He KNOWS WHO WE ARE and has sealed us (2 Tim.2:19) (a seal signifies a finished transaction, ownership, and security).
Saved by grace (Eph.2:,8).
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,it is the gift of God"
In Christ we are forgiven of all our sins and washed in His blood (Eph.1:7; Heb.9:14; Col.1:14).
We are a new creation. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new" (2Cor.5:17)"
We are redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal.3:13).
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs
from a tree."
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.6:19).
Blessed (Gal.3:9).
A saint (Rom.1:7;1 Cor.1:2; Phil.1:2).
Holy and without blame (Eph.1:4).
One of God's elect (Col.3:12; Rom.8:33).
Established to the end (1Cor.1:8).
Strong in the Lord (Eph.6:10).
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might".
Dead to sin (Rom.6:2,11).
More than a conqueror (Rom.8:37).
Joint heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17).
Sealed for life with the Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13).
In Christ by His doing (1Cor.1:30).
Accepted in the beloved (Eph.1:6).
Complete in Him (Col.2:10).
Crucified, buried, risen and alive with Christ (Gal.2:20; Eph2:5).
Reconciled to God and free from condemnation (2Cor.5:18; Rom.8:1).
A fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God and qualified to share in His inheritance (Eph.2:19; Col.1:12).
"Now, therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;..."Eph.
2:19.
Overtaken with blessings and God's workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for good works(Eph.1:3; 2:10).
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in
them."
We are the righteousness of God, His chosen, and His ambassador (2Cor.5:21; 1Thess.1:4; 2Cor. 5:20).
We are being changed into His image (2Cor. 3:18).
Raised up and being seated in heavenly places with Christ (Col.2:12).
Beloved of God and delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col.1:12-14).
Access by one Spirit to the Father (Heb.4:16; Eph.2:18).
"Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need"
God gave us the truth in His word, the bible. He gave us the Holy Spirit at the moment we believed that Christ is our Savior
and has delivered us from ALL our sins and paid the final bill for them with His life. He KEEPS us saved no matter what, because
He is the worker behind our eternal life, not we. Our life now and forever is guaranteed by His faithful service to all of
mankind, ever, who believe on Him. When we sin we go to our Father and have a loving talk telling GOD what we did and how
we feel about it as HIS son or daughter and do so in Jesus name. GOD forgives because His SON died for us and will remember
the sins NO MORE. (1 John 1: 6-10; 2:1-2).
When we need help He will answer us with blessings that HE knows is best for us according to HIS will for us (1 John 5:14-15).
God has told us that the MORE we study HIS word the closer we will walk with HIM and the stronger we will get. HIS word is
the truth. It is LIFE for us. We are not like the world. The world is not for GOD it is for itself! (1 John 2:15-17; 3:1-3;
4:2-3).
The Holy Spirit will help you understand the bible and the words of GOD to you. But you need to take it most seriously and
apply yourself. It is the greatest gift you will ever get besides Jesus Christ. GLORY TO GOD. HE loves us so much and has
made sure our life is in HIS hands (John 10:27-29: Romans 8:28-39 ).
WE LOOK FOR HIS COMING NOW
Here is a very important scripture. 2 Tim.4:6-8. In the words of Paul by the Holy Spirit:
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
I say we can be "Raptured" at any time.
Even NOW.
Some say, even with malice and disdain for the brethren like me that He will arrive at the end of the Great Tribulation to
save His church! Some say the middle and others not at all. This is not sound doctrine. It destroys the meaning of His promise
of immediacy and the sure hope of our forefathers. It crushes the very attitude we must live in that Paul makes clear above:
"...but them also that love his appearing".
Those all keep looking for anti-christ and the Great Tribulation to come and focus on current events to prove their misguided
and self serving teachings. They gain many followers!
Do you see what the Spirit is saying to us through Paul? I know you do!
A crown from the Lord for we who live in His faith LOOKING FOR HIM DAILY and full of The Spirit in total commitment to Him
.This is our sure hope! His coming for His church of called out ones.
I believe the best inference of Scripture is that the Rapture will occur at the beginning of the Tribulation. The most important
reason I believe this has to do with the issue of imminence. Over and over in Scripture we are told to watch for the appearing
of the Lord. We are told “to be ready” (Matt. 24:44), “to be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42), “to
be dressed in readiness” (Luke 12:35), and to “keep your lamps alight” (Luke 12:35). The clear force of
these persistent warnings is that Jesus can appear at any moment.
Only the pre-Tribulation concept of the Rapture allows for the imminence of the Lord’s appearing for His Church. When
the Rapture is placed at any other point in time, the imminence of the Lord’s appearing is destroyed because other prophetic
events must happen first.
For example, if the Rapture is going to occur in mid-Tribulation, then why should I live looking for the Lord’s appearing
at any moment? I would be looking instead for an Israeli peace treaty, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the revelation of
the Antichrist. Then and only then could the Lord appear.
This raises the issue of what we are to be looking for. Nowhere are believers told to watch for the appearance of the Antichrist.
On the contrary, we are told to watch for Jesus Christ. In Titus 2:13 Paul says we are to live “looking for the blessed
hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Likewise, Peter urges us to “fix
our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). John completes
the apostolic chorus by similarly urging us to “fix our hope on Him” at His appearing (1 John 3:2-3).
And no matter when He comes, we do His word a great disservice, even His power and authority, to say He is coming at Tribulations
end or in the middle. Even I, who believe it will be before that time, say He can come NOW! But I am safe. I don't set dates
NOR do I say to you "look for anti-christ, look at world events for anti-christ and wait for Great Tribulation to start and
then He will come"! WRONG! ERROR! maybe HERESY! If we must go through Tribulation so be it BUT LOOK FOR HIM NOW!
Paul looked for Him 2000 years ago!!! Who says this looking started in the 18 century! The Devil made it up! Those who scoff
at the pre-Tribulation Rapture in particular deride as the "escapist" mentality of holding to the Blessed Hope; however Jesus
personally advised His disciples to pray that they would escape the Tribulation:
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole
earth. 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 21:36)
Those who are "accounted worthy to escape" that day, which will fall as a snare upon all who dwell on the earth, will also
be spared the temptation of the strong delusion of II Thessalonians 2:11. Jesus prophesied to these, His elect: "Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
" (Rev. 3:10) The elders of these elect are seen in the next chapter of Revelation, casting their crowns of gold before
the Throne of the Lamb, before the Tribulation begins.
Brethren, no matter when the Lord calls us Home we must keep THE faith which is in the truth of His word. We are to live each
day with the joyful hope that He can come now. With this hope we will have great love for our ministry to the lost, because
we love Him, and want to do His will daily. Want to reach the lost world with His Gospel of Grace knowing that He is coming.
To set dates such as "At the end of the Great Tribulation" is wrong. Or to be certain of it at any other time is wrong! But
to live as He would have us is to believe, like Paul, that He can come RIGHT NOW! NEVER give up that hope. TO DO SO WILL FORFEIT
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Chaim
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS AND THE SURE HOPE OF ETERNITY
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ" (Eph.1:3:").
We who believe, are seated in Christ in the heavenlies! This is the exalted position He has given us! No matter what our condition
is down here, we are positioned in Him above. We are blessed right now with all spiritual blessings. Have you ever stopped
to think what you have in Christ? We are justified and sanctified in Him. Either lay hold of them or not. We are most blessed
of all peoples.
In His plan for the ages God the Father made a blueprint so to speak. Here is the one for the church.
1. He chose us in Christ. Eph. 1:4
2.He predestinated us to the place of sonship. Eph. 1:5
3.He made us accepted in the Beloved (Christ). Eph.1:6
"According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love" (Eph.1:4).
The spiritual blessings which you and I have been given are in accord with the divine will and in perfect unison with God's
purpose. We are to open our gift to see what God has done for us and then move out IN FAITH and lay hold of them and live
on His high plane He has brought us in Christ. This was God's plan before creation. The church was planned, God the Son paid
for us, and God the Holy Spirit protects us. The source of all our blessings is God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
source of our salvation is not of ourselves (works), God is (Eph.2:8-9).
"According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world".
God planned our salvation before we were! Christ came down in time to deliver it in His completed work on the cross. The Holy
Spirit is the One who convicts us of sin. He brings us to a place of faith in Christ and to a saving knowledge of the grace
of God that is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ.God does the saving and we, the sinning. We were lost and He found us! God
chose us before the foundation of the world. He did not choose us because we were good! He chose us so that we could do some
good. It is by His sovereign will and His goodness and wisdom that we are here now serving Him.
"You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you..."(John 15:16)
"...that we should be holy and without blame before him in love"
God's choice of us was in order to sanctify us that we might be holy. A holy life is demanded by God's election. We don't
then go out and do as we please (Rom.6:1-2). We can't use grace as a license to sin. If we are living IN SIN it is because
we are sinners who haven't been saved. A sinner who has been saved will show a change in his way of living.
We are elect of God that we should also be "without blame". God chose Israel and would not allow Balaam to curse Israel or
to find fault with His people (Num.23:21). But God found fault with them AND JUDGED THEM in order to sanctify and purify them.
God will dicipline us when sin is present and unconfessed.
If there is no evidence of change in our lives then we must ask ourselves, "are we one of His elect"? This is what we look
for, and God has made provision to absolve us from our sins which all of us do (1 John 2:1-2). The fact that we know we sin
is a change in our life! There is NO limited atonement. Christ died for the world as this verse shows.
"And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the world" (1 John 2:2)
The call of God has gone out to the whole world. If we hear it and respond, according to our free will, then we are one of
the "elect"(John 6:37). Some chose not to. They are the lost.
"Chosen us in him".
God has made His choice.
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved in the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen
you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereby he called you to our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 2 :13-14). Peter writes in 1 Pet. 1:2, "Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus
Christ..." God saves sinners needing the blood of Christ to clean them (Rom.9:14-16).
No one knows who the elect are, only God knows. We are to preach His Gospel of Grace to all. The elect are those who heed
God's call. Those who don't, have by their free will chosen sin over salvation and are not elect (Rom.9:14).
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"
(Eph.1:5).
We need to know that we have been chosen in Him in order to stand for God today. This assurance will make a world of difference
in our life.
(* The elect are the whosoever wills and the non-elect are the whosoever won'ts" according to His purpose.
The doctrine of election lays an axe at the root of pride, presumption, and despair.)
Predestination means that when God saves you He will see you through to the end. This is all about our sanctification, our
spiritual development. It is the work of God in the heart and life of the believer. Our salvation and development as a son
and daughter of God is guaranteed by His perfection and His responsibility towards us. Jesus is the author and finisher of
the faith He gave us in Him. No one will be lost who is found in Christ according to God's predetermination. See Luke15 and
the parable of the one lost sheep. There were 99 left but that one who strayed was as important as the 99. All of us are
of equal importance with God. This is election! God will NOT lose one of us! (Rom.8:28-39).
Eph. 1:7. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace".
God the Son paid the price for the church. Back in eternity past God chose us, predestinated us, and made us accepted in the
beloved. In time, these plans were realized when Christ walked out unto the stage of life in human form to redeem us who are
His church. That redemption was solely and exclusively by His blood (Mt.20:28) We were bought with a price; the life and love
of Jesus who gave Himself for us (1 Cor.6:20) . This was a final liberation of us by Him (Gal.3:13).
Do we serve our Lord out of Love?If so we will keep His commandments. We will serve Him in love because He loved us first
(1 John 4:19) and gave His life for us (John 14:15). And because we have God the Spirit in us we will love one another and
confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1 John 4:10-16).
YOU ARE HIS
You were His from before the earth was made
His to bless His heart of Love
You were His to give Him the glory
His while you waited in the womb of your blessed mother
Your days were known to Him
Your faithfulness guaranteed
The hairs on your head counted
Your breaths measured
Your life in His hands
You were His for eternity
His when you first awoke from a death's sleep
His in your moments of doubt
His in the battle
His when you rise and lay down
He will never give you up
You are His precious possession
His no matter what transpires
His in the New Jerusalem
You are His in love forever
HE IS COMING PT1
The term, Rapture, comes from a Latin word that means to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out. It is a Biblical word that
comes right out of the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. The word is found in 1 Thess. 4:17. In the New American Standard
Version, the English phrase, “caught up,” is used. The same phrase is used in the King James and New International
Versions.
A Promise to the Church
The concept of the Rapture was not revealed to the Old Testament prophets because it is a promise to the New Testament Church
and not to the saints of God who lived before the establishment of the Church.
The saints of Old Testament times will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation and not at the time of the Rapture of
the Church. Daniel reveals this fact in Daniel 12:1-2 where he says that the saints of that age will be resurrected at the
end of the “time of distress.”
Biblical References
The first clear mention of the Rapture in Scripture is found in the words of Jesus recorded in John 14:1-4. Jesus said, “I
will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
The most detailed revelation of the actual events related to the Rapture is given by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He says
that when Jesus appears, the dead in Christ (Church age saints) will be resurrected and caught up first. Then, those of us
who are alive in Christ will be translated “to meet the Lord in the air.” Paul then exhorts us to “comfort
one another with these words.”
Paul mentions the Rapture again in 1 Corinthians 15 - his famous chapter on the resurrection of the dead:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet.” (verses 51 and 52)
Paul’s reference here to being changed is an allusion to the fact that the saints will receive glorified bodies that
will be perfected, imperishable and immortal (1 Cor. 15:42-44, and 50-55).
The Timing
The most controversial aspect of the Rapture is its timing. Some place it at the end of the Tribulation, making it one and
the same event as the Second Coming. Others place it in the middle of the Tribulation. Still others believe that it will occur
at the beginning of the Tribulation.
The reason for these differing viewpoints is that the exact time of the Rapture is not precisely revealed in scripture. It
is only inferred. There is, therefore, room for honest differences of opinion, and lines of fellowship should certainly not
be drawn over differences regarding this point, even though it is an important point.
Post-Tribulation Rapture
Those who place the timing at the end of the Tribulation usually base their argument on two parables in Matthew 13 and on
the Lord’s Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24 the Lord portrays His gathering of the saints as an event that will take place “immediately after the
tribulation of those days” (Matt. 24:29). This certainly sounds like a post-Tribulation Rapture. But it must be kept
in mind that the book of Matthew was written to the Jews, and therefore the recording of Jesus’ speech by Matthew has
a distinctively Jewish flavor to it as compared to Luke’s record of the same speech.
Note, for example, Matthew’s references to Judea and to Jewish law regarding travel on the Sabbath (Matt. 24:15-20).
These are omitted in Luke’s account. Instead, Luke speaks of the saints looking up for deliverance “to escape
all these things” when the end time signs “begin to take place” (Luke 21:28 and 36). The saints in Matthew
are instructed to flee from Judea and hide. The saints in Luke are told to look up for deliverance.
It appears, therefore, that Matthew and Luke are speaking of two different sets of saints. The saints in Matthew’s
account are most likely Jews who receive Jesus as their Messiah during the Tribulation. The saints in Luke are those who receive
Christ before the Tribulation begins. Most of those who accept the Lord during the Tribulation will be martyred (Rev. 7:9-14).
Those who live to the end will be gathered by the angels of the Lord (Matt. 24:31).
The parable of the wheat and tares (Matt. 13:24-30) and the parable of the dragnet (Matt. 13:47-50) can be explained in the
same way. They refer to a separation of saints and sinners that will take place at the end of the Tribulation. The saints
are those who receive Jesus as their Savior during the Tribulation (Gentile and Jew) and who live to the end of that awful
period.
Mid-Tribulation Rapture
There are variations of the mid-Tribulation Rapture concept. The most common is that the Church will be taken out in the exact
middle of the Tribulation, at the point in time when the Antichrist is revealed.
This concept is based upon a statement in 1 Corinthians 15:52 which says that the Rapture will occur at the blowing of “the
last trumpet.” This trumpet is then identified with the seventh trumpet of the trumpet judgments in the book of Revelation.
Since the blowing of the seventh trumpet is recorded in Revelation 11, the mid-point of the Tribulation, the conclusion is
that the Rapture must occur in the middle of the Tribulation.
But there are two problems with this interpretation. The first is that the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 is blown for believers
whereas the seven trumpets of Revelation 8, 9 and 11 are sounded for unbelievers. The Revelation trumpets have no relevance
for the Church. The last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 is a trumpet for the righteous. The last trumpet for the unrighteous
is the one described in Revelation 11.
Another problem with this interpretation is that the passage in Revelation 11 that portrays the sounding of the seventh trumpet
is a “flash forward” to the end of the Tribulation. Flash forwards are very common in the book of Revelation.
They occur after something terrible is described in order to assure the reader that everything is going to turn out all right
when Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation.
Thus, the eighth and ninth chapters of Revelation, which describe the horrors of the trumpet judgments, are followed immediately
by a flash forward in chapter 10 that pictures the return of Jesus in victory at the end of the Tribulation. The mid-Tribulation
action resumes in chapter 11 with a description of the killing of the two great prophets of God by the Antichrist. Then, to
offset that terrible event, we are presented with another flash forward, beginning with verse 15. The seventh trumpet is
sounded and we find ourselves propelled forward to the end of the Tribulation when “the kingdom of the world becomes
the kingdom of our Lord.”
The point is that the seventh trumpet of Revelation relates to the end of the Tribulation and not the middle. It is therefore
no basis for an argument in behalf of a mid-Tribulation Rapture.
Pre-Wrath Rapture
The cornerstone of this concept is that the terrifying events during the first half of the Tribulation are due to the wrath
of Man and Satan, and not to God. Since the Church is only promised protection from the wrath of God, the Rapture will not
occur until near the end of the Tribulation when God will pour out His wrath on the world.
This concept raises a serious theological problem because it questions the sovereignty of God. It assumes that Man and Satan
can act apart from God’s will, when the fact of the matter is that neither can do anything God is not willing to permit.
The Bible often portrays God carrying out His will through evil persons or nations. One of the classic examples is when He
allowed the evil nation of Babylon to discipline Israel by destroying Jerusalem and the Temple and by carrying the surviving
Jews away into captivity. It was an action that prompted the prophet Habakkuk to ask why God would punish those who are evil
with those who are more evil (Habakkuk 1:13).
Any carnage wrought by Man or Satan during the Tribulation will still constitute the wrath of God. They will simply be His
instruments. The Bible says God sits in the heavens and laughs over the plots and deeds of evil men, not because He does not
care, but because He has everything under control (Psalm 2:1-6). The point is that He has the wisdom and power to orchestrate
all evil to the triumph of His will in history. That’s why the psalmist wrote that “the wrath of man shall praise
You [God]” (Psalm 76:10).
HE IS COMING PT2
I think it is also important to note that when God pours out His wrath, He does not always do so directly. One of His most
common ways is to simply back away from the nation or person and lower the hedge of protection around them. This is clearly
spelled out in Romans 1:18-32. That passage says that when people rebel against God to the point that they begin to worship
the creation rather than the Creator, God “gives them over” to the evil in their hearts. In other words, He just
steps back and lets evil multiply. The passage further states that if they still refuse to repent, He steps back again and
“gives them over to degrading passions.” And if they persist in their rebellion and sin, He finally “gives
them over to a depraved mind” at which point the society destroys itself. Such destruction could be viewed as the wrath
of Man, but it is really the wrath of God working through Man.
There is another serious problem with the pre-wrath Rapture concept. It relates to the fact that all the wrath of Revelation
is specifically portrayed as the wrath of God. Where do the seal judgments originate? The answer is from the throne of God
as Jesus opens each seal of the scroll that was in the Father’s right hand (Revelation 6:1). And where do the trumpet
judgments originate? The same place — from the throne of God (Revelation 8:2). When we arrive at the bowl judgments
in Revelation 15:1, we are told that with them, “the wrath of God is finished.”
Another problem with the pre-wrath concept is that it does violence to the chronological order of Revelation. The seal judgments
are viewed as the wrath of Man and Satan, occurring during the first half of the Tribulation. The trumpet and bowl judgments
are considered to be the wrath of God.
They are lumped together at the end of the Tribulation. There is no justification for putting the trumpet judgments at the
end of the Tribulation. They are clearly placed in the first half of the Tribulation in the chronological layout of the book
of Revelation.
One final problem with the pre-wrath concept of the Rapture is that it disputes the fact that there is no purpose for the
Church being in the Tribulation. The Tribulation is the 70th week of Daniel, a time devoted to God accomplishing His purposes
among the Jewish people, not the Church.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
I believe the best inference of Scripture is that the Rapture will occur at the beginning of the Tribulation. The most important
reason I believe this has to do with the issue of imminence. Over and over in Scripture we are told to watch for the appearing
of the Lord. We are told “to be ready” (Matt. 24:44), “to be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42), “to
be dressed in readiness” (Luke 12:35), and to “keep your lamps alight” (Luke 12:35). The clear force of
these persistent warnings is that Jesus can appear at any moment.
Only the pre-Tribulation concept of the Rapture allows for the imminence of the Lord’s appearing for His Church. When
the Rapture is placed at any other point in time, the imminence of the Lord’s appearing is destroyed because other prophetic
events must happen first.
For example, if the Rapture is going to occur in mid-Tribulation, then why should I live looking for the Lord’s appearing
at any moment? I would be looking instead for an Israeli peace treaty, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the revelation of
the Antichrist. Then and only then could the Lord appear.
Focus
This raises the issue of what we are to be looking for. Nowhere are believers told to watch for the appearance of the Antichrist.
On the contrary, we are told to watch for Jesus Christ. In Titus 2:13 Paul says we are to live “looking for the blessed
hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Likewise, Peter urges us to “fix
our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). John completes
the apostolic chorus by similarly urging us to “fix our hope on Him” at His appearing (1 John 3:2-3).
Only Matthew speaks of watching for the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15), but he is speaking to the Jews living in Israel in the middle
of the Tribulation when the Antichrist desecrates the rebuilt Temple.
Wrath
Another argument in behalf of a pre-Tribulation Rapture has to do with the promises of God to protect the Church from His
wrath. As has already been demonstrated, the book of Revelation shows that the wrath of God will be poured out during the
entire period of the Tribulation.
The Word promises over and over that the Church will be delivered from God’s wrath. Romans 5:9 says that “we shall
be saved from the wrath of God through Him [Jesus].” 1 Thess. 1:10 states that we are waiting “for His Son from
heaven . . . who will deliver us from the wrath to come.” The promise is repeated in 1 Thess. 5:9 - “God has not
destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Deliverance
Some argue that God could supernaturally protect the Church during the Tribulation. Yes, He could. In fact, He promises to
do just that for the 144,000 Jews who will be sealed as bond-servants at the beginning of the Tribulation (Rev. 7:1-8).
But God’s promise to the Church during the Tribulation is not one of protection but one of deliverance. Jesus said we
would “escape” the horrors of the Tribulation (Luke 21:36). Paul says Jesus is coming to “deliver”
us from God’s wrath (1 Thess. 1:10).
HE IS COMING PT3
Symbolism
There are several prophetic types that seem to affirm the concept of deliverance from Tribulation. Take Enoch for example.
He was a prophet to the Gentiles who was raptured out of the world before God poured out His wrath in the great flood of
Noah’s time. Enoch appears to be a type of the Gentile Church that will be taken out of the world before God pours
out His wrath again. If so, then Noah and his family are a type of the Jewish remnant that will be protected through the
Tribulation.
Another Old Testament symbolic type which points toward a pre-Tribulation Rapture is the experience of Lot and his family.
They were delivered out of Sodom and Gomorrah before those cities were destroyed.
The Apostle Peter alludes to both of these examples in his second epistle. He states that if God spared Noah and Lot, then
He surely “knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment”
(2 Peter 4-9).
Another beautiful prophetic type is to be found in the Jewish wedding traditions of Jesus time. After the betrothal, the groom
would return to his father’s house to prepare a wedding chamber for his bride. He would return for his bride at an unexpected
moment, so the bride had to be ready constantly. When he returned, he would take his bride back to his father’s house
to the chamber he had prepared. He and his bride would then be sealed in the chamber for seven days. When they emerged, a
great wedding feast would be celebrated.
Likewise, Jesus has returned to Heaven to prepare a place for His bride, the Church. When He returns for His bride, He will
take her to His Father’s heavenly home. There He will remain with His bride for seven years (the duration of the Tribulation).
The period will end with “the marriage supper of the Lamb” described in Revelation 19. Thus the seven days in
the wedding chamber point prophetically to the seven years that Jesus and His bride will remain in Heaven during the Tribulation.
Revelation
Speaking of Revelation, the structure of that book also implies a pre-Tribulation Rapture in a symbolic sense. The first
three chapters focus on the Church. Chapter 4 begins with the door of Heaven opening and John being raptured from the isle
of Patmos to the throne of God in Heaven. The Church is not mentioned thereafter until Revelation 19:7-9 when it is portrayed
as the “bride of Christ” in Heaven with Jesus celebrating the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” At Revelation
19:11 the door of Heaven opens again, and Jesus emerges riding a white horse on His way to earth, followed by His Church (Rev.
19:14).
The rapture of the Apostle John in Revelation 4 appears to be a symbolic type of the Rapture of the Church. Note that it is
initiated by the cry of a voice that sounds like the blowing of a trumpet (Rev. 4:1). Since the Tribulation does not begin
until Revelation 6, the rapture of John in Revelation 4 appears to be a symbolic type that points to a pre-Tribulation Rapture
of the Church.
Some counter this argument by pointing out that although the Church is not mentioned in Revelation during that book’s
description of the Tribulation, there is constant mention of “saints” (for example, Rev. 13:7). But that term
is not used in the Bible exclusively to refer to members of the Church. Daniel uses it to refer to Old Testament believers
who lived long before the Church was established (Dan. 7:18). The saints referred to in the book of Revelation are most likely
those people who will be saved during the Tribulation, after the Church has been taken out of the world.
Paul’s Assurance
An interesting argument in behalf of the pre-Tribulation timing of the Rapture can be found in 2 Thessalonians. The church
at Thessalonica was in a turmoil because someone had written them a letter under Paul’s name stating that they had missed
the “gathering to the Lord” and were, in fact, living in “the day of the Lord” (2 Thess. 2:1-2).
Paul attempted to calm them down by reminding them of his teaching that the day of the Lord would not come until after the
Antichrist is revealed. He then stated that the Antichrist would not be revealed until a restraining force “is taken
out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:3-7).
There has been much speculation as to the identify of this restraining force that Paul refers to. Some have identified it
as the Holy Spirit. But it cannot be the Holy Spirit because there will be people saved during the Tribulation, and no one
can be saved apart from the testimony of the Spirit. God is always present on earth. (John 16:8-11 and 1 John 5:7).
Others have identified the restrainer as human government. It is true that government was ordained by God to restrain evil
(Romans 13:1-4). But the governments of the world are in rebellion against God and His Son (Psalm 2), and they are therefore
a contributor to the evil that characterizes the world. Furthermore, the Tribulation will not be characterized by a lack of
government. Rather, it will feature the first true worldwide government (Rev. 13:7).
In my opinion that leaves only one other candidate for Paul’s restrainer - and that is the Church. It is the Church
that serves as the primary restrainer of evil in the world today as it proclaims the Gospel and stands for righteousness.
When the Church fails in this mission, evil multiplies, as Paul graphically points out in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Paul says that
society in the end times will be characterized by chaos and despair because “men will hold to a form of religion but
will deny its power.” When the Church is removed from the world, all hell will literally break loose.
Escapism?
The pre-Tribulation concept of the Rapture has often been condemned as “escapism.” I think this criticism is unjustified.
The Bible itself says that Christians are to “comfort one another” with the thought of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:18).
Is it a comfort to think of the Rapture occurring at the end of the world’s worst period of war and calamities that
destroy more then half the world's population instead of at the beginning?
Regardless of when the Rapture actually occurs, we need to keep in mind that the Bible teaches that societal conditions are
going to grow increasingly worse the closer we get to the Lord’s return. That means Christians will suffer tribulation
whether or not they go into the Great Tribulation. And that means all of us had better be preparing ourselves for unprecedented
suffering and spiritual warfare.
If you are a Christian, you can do that on a daily basis by putting on “the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:13), praying
at all times in the Spirit that you will be able to stand firm against the attacks of Satan (Eph. 6:14-18).
If you are not a Christian, your only hope is to reach out in faith and receive the free gift of God’s salvation which
He has provided through His Son, Jesus (John 3:16).
"What is replacement theology?"
Answer: Replacement Theology essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of Replacement
Theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation
of Israel. All the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel can be divided into two camps: either
the Church is a continuation of Israel (Replacement Theology / Covenant Theology), or the Church is completely different and
distinct from Israel (Dispensationalism / Premillennialism).
Replacement Theology teaches that the Church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the
Bible are fulfilled in the Christian Church, not in Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration
of Israel to the Promised Land are "spiritualized" or “allegorized” into promises of God's blessing for the Church.
Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially
with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, and there is no future for the Jewish
nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2000 years despite the many attempts
to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1900
years?
The view that Israel and the Church are different is clearly taught in the New Testament. In this view, the Church is completely
different and distinct from Israel, and the two are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture
that the Church is an entirely new creation, that came into being on the Day of Pentecost, and will continue until it is translated
to heaven at the Rapture (Ephesians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The Church has no relationship to the curses and blessings
for Israel. The covenants, promises, and warnings are valid only for Israel. Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's
program during these past 2,000 years of dispersion.
After the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), God will restore Israel as the primary focus of His plan. The first event at
this time is the Great Tribulation (Revelation chapters 6-19). The world will be judged for rejecting Christ, while Israel
is prepared through the trials of the Great Tribulation for the Second Coming of the Messiah. Then when Christ does return
to the earth, at the end of the Tribulation, Israel will be ready to receive Him. The remnant of Israel which survives the
Tribulation will be saved and the Lord will establish His kingdom on this earth with Jerusalem as its capital. With Christ
reigning as King, Israel will be the leading nation, and representatives from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor
and worship the King—Jesus Christ. The Church will return with Christ and will reign with Him for a literal thousand
years (Revelation 20:1-5).
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament support a Premillennial / Dispensational understanding of God's plan for Israel.
Even so, the strongest support for Premillennialism is found in the clear teaching of Revelation 20:1-7, where it says, six
times, that Christ's kingdom will last 1,000 years. After the Tribulation the Lord will return and establish His kingdom with
the nation of Israel, Christ will reign over the whole earth and Israel will be the leader of the nations. The Church will
reign with Him for a literal thousand years. The church has not replaced Israel in God's plan. While God may be focusing His
attention primarily on the church in this dispensation of grace, God has not forgotten Israel, and will one day restore Israel
to His intended role for the nation He has chosen (Romans chapter 11).
ISRAEL, TRIBULATION, REBIRTH
"..Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, has prevailed..." (Rev.5:5)
Satan has succeeded in poisoning many "Christians" and made them pawns in his diabolic quest to destroy the Jew. He used Hitler
to great advantage but his best efforts are right here on YouTube. Sugar coated Videos that are expensive production pieces
costing the "Church" serious money, lead the way, in this genocide hidden in "truths" they propound are "biblically" correct.
Quite! Like at the temptation of Jesus chapter and verse are used like a weapon of mass destruction, to prove God, our Lord
has been FINISHED with His forefathers sons and daughter's for 2000 years and forevermore!
I would not bother you with this again if your welfare and walk in Christ was not affected by this heresy and bold faced
anti-semitic. But by command of the Lord and as an elder in His church I must reach out and forewarn you. God is very jealous
for His own. And though one who espouses this, may be saved, although I cannot say,they will be judged for this, if not now,
then when they reach His throne in heaven or His throne of final and eternal judgment at the resurrection of the lost.
They are not excused. They say the church will be going through some or all of the Great Tribulation of 7 years. Of coarse!
Take Israel out of the Tribulation and who are the 144,000 Jewish saints ,12,000 from each of the 12 tribes? (Rev.7;1-17).
Who is sealed by God? (Rev.7:4). Does a Christian who has been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and baptized as well, need another
seal. Is not God The Spirit as good as it gets for protection? Nothing better! But these dupes of the Devil tug and pull the
scriptures to an almost unbelievable distorted length to destroy what God makes abundantly clear in His word. They pervert
the Book of Revelation! Israel will pay a great price during their time called "Jacobs Trouble". The church, by the grace
of God, will be in heaven (John 14:1-3).
And what of The Lion, our Lord? Will He be true to his blood family? Will He keep His word to them? These biblical rewriter's
say absolutely not! They say God, through the Church!, has buried Israel in a graveyard of no return. That we have taken on
all God's promises to them. That The Lion of The Tribe of Judah, born a Jew and named that name from His lineage through King
David and promised final victory for His people in Gen.49:9-10, as well as rule over them AND the world (2 Samuel 7.), has
no merit. They say and say and swear by it!
They call us Dispensational. Well I say that God does have a program for this earth that He foreknew and has every right to
fulfill. And does it in a clear and orderly fashion, not according to the Devils design, but His word. And He keeps His word!
See Palestinian, Davidic and New Covenants
Dt.29; Jer.31 & 33; 50:20; Isa.1:9; Ezk.39:25-29; Rom.11:5
Israel, the nation, in unbelief, is in a portion of the land promised it's forefather's. It rejects the gospel. It is not
the land God promised. Nor according to His plan
A NATION BORN IN A DAY (Isaiah 66:8, 15-16)
One day a remnant of believing Jews from the world over will occupy all the land promised in the Palestinian Covenant. After
the terrible time of Jacobs Trouble. After the great tribulation. After The Lord delivers them from all their enemies...when
they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. When King David is raised from the dead. At the latter rains. Then Israel
will be the worlds capital and Jesus will rule the kings of the earth and David will assist Him.(Jer.31:27-37; 32:37-40; 50:4;
Joel 2:28-32; 3:1; Isa.11:10-12; Ezek.37:21-28; Acts 15:18).
"I will ransom you from the power of the grave; I will redeem you from death..."(Hosea 13:14).
"Listen to me, oh house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been born by me from before you were;
and even to your old age I am he; and even unto gray hairs will I carry you,... and will deliver you... Remember the former
things of old;... for I am God and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My council shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa.46:3-4,9-10).
ISRAEL WILL YET BE PRESERVED AND DELIVERED FROM THEIR INIQUITY AND DISBELIEF BY THE LORD HIMSELF
Jer.33:8 "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their
iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me."
Jer.33:9 "And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear
all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure
unto it."
Israel After "Jacobs Trouble" In The Land God Gave
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, but I will put my fear
in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."(Jer.32:40; See also 50:5: Isa.61:8: Heb.8:8).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ" (Eph.1:3:").
We who believe, are seated in Christ in the heavenlies! This is the exalted position He has given us! No matter what our condition
is down here, we are positioned in Him above. We are blessed right now with all spiritual blessings. Have you ever stopped
to think what you have in Christ? We are justified and sanctified in Him. Either lay hold of them or not. We are most blessed
of all peoples.
In His plan for the ages God the Father made a blueprint so to speak. Here is the one for the church.
1. He chose us in Christ. Eph. 1:4
2.He predestinated us to the place of sonship. Eph. 1:5
3.He made us accepted in the Beloved (Christ). Eph.1:6
"According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love" (Eph.1:4).
The spiritual blessings which you and I have been given are in accord with the divine will and in perfect unison with God's
purpose. We are to open our gift to see what God has done for us and then move out IN |
