I guess it would be irresponsible of me to warn you that you'll be going through the Tribulation and then not tell you exactly how to prepare for it. Right?
If you are a "born-again" believer in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and you do not die beforehand, you should prepare yourself psychologically, mentally, physically and spiritually to face THE biggest persecution of Christians that has ever come on the earth!
What? How can I say that?
I'm not saying it. God's Word says it. Don't look at me. Look in the Word. Read your Bible.
If you don't have a Bible, I suggest you get a King James Version of the English Bible. You should also get one in your own language, if English is not your first language, but you could try learning some English. That brings about a unity of beliefs and understanding.
So, how should we prepare for persecution, imprisonment, torture, starvation, martyrdom and death?
Seven Christians were recently martyred in Libya. They were taken from their homes. Why?
Apparently, their murderers had gone door-to-door, asking residents,
"Are you Muslim or Christian?"
Those who confessed to being Muslim were spared. Those who confessed to being Christian were taken. The seven that were taken were shot in the head. Imagine that; seven (God's number). The Bible says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15.
I think one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself is to change your view of death. Death is sweet. It's a sweet release. Listen to some of the accounts of people who have died and come back to talk about it. Every one of them talks about "perfect peace". We will see the face of Jesus.
Don't you want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"?
Don't we all love to go home? After a long, tiring journey, don't you love to get inside of your home, take your shoes off and throw yourself into your favourite chair? Or, after work? Don't you look forward to finally getting off the highway and having a nice hot drink in your living room? I mean, isn't "home" the place where you can be yourself, relax, chill out and take a load off?
So, our heavenly home will be all that and more. Personally, I just can't wait! I'm looking forward to it, Just like the Apostle Paul did.
How do we prepare ourselves for death? Jesus tells us right in Revelations 12:11:
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
They did not love their own lives. Wow. This is a result of putting your life into God's hands. You don't do your own thing, go your own way, make your own decisions, but you ask God what to do, you follow and obey what He tells you to do and make decisions based on what God shows you. It's so exciting.
If we do this --practice hearing from God and obeying Him to the best of our ability, that's probably the best preparation we can make for facing ANYTHING that comes into our lives.
You want to make sure you're in God's will, don't you? Don't you want to be in God's will all the time so that when/if something happens, you won't say, "Uh, oh, I blew it! I disobeyed God so now God is punishing me."
You don't want to be in a situation where you don't KNOW for sure that you are in God's perfect will. Especially during this time on the world scene when things are heating up. Make sure you are where God wants you to be and doing what God wants you to be doing.
So, to prepare ourselves for the Tribulation, we need to work on our relationship with Jesus. I would say that that needs to be first and foremost. We need to be able to discern the voice of God. We need to be able to hear God's messages to us. We need to be able to jump when He says jump and stop when He says to stop.
And, that means studying the Word of God more intensely than we have ever studied it before. The Word is our map, our guide and our war manual. And it will teach us how to hear from our Commander in Chief.
He has already told us what our tactics look like. He has instructed us on exactly how to treat the enemy.
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." That's Matthew 5:44.
And be happy when they persecute you!
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matthew 5:11 and 12.
We are supposed to count it a privilege to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. That shows that we are getting the job done! The book of Acts gives several accounts of persecution. The first martyr, Stephen died preaching the Gospel (two whole chapters full of his preaching) and before they stoned him, told his persecutors,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56)
"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:59 - 60.
Can you imagine? He was so full of the Holy Spirit and was so focused on winning souls to the Lord and preaching to the lost that he probably didn't even feel the rocks. What a testimony to those who were throwing the rocks! He asked God to forgive them! That's the kind of martyrs God wants us to be.
Now, we can't practice getting rocks thrown at us. It would be crazy to practice using thumb screws or shoving needles under our finger nails. But, we can practice preaching the Gospel. We can be so full of the knowledge of God's Word and so full of the Holy Spirit that we don't "love our lives".
If we're so focused on the spiritual and on imparting the truth of salvation to others, God will be obligated to pour out His Spirit on us!
Stephen was so full of Jesus that his persecutors saw his face as if it had been an angel! Acts 6:15.
So, the things we can practice are:
1. Prayer
2. Developing a deeper relationship with Jesus
3. Preaching the Gospel
4. Reading, Studying and Memorizing the Word
5. Loving our Enemies
What was Jesus saying when He said, "Love your enemies"?
One way I see that is that Jesus was telling us, "Christians don't have enemies." It's almost like a law. It is the Law of Love!
When Corrie ten Boom was in the Nazi prison camp and saw the prison guards treating her sister roughly, her sister told her,
"Don't hate."
As a rule of thumb, we are just not permitted to hate. We are permitted, as Christians to love and forgive. Yes, even our enemies.
Hate is not a luxury permitted by Christians. Well, hate's not a luxury, anyway. It's a burdensome, acidic and destructive device of the Devil. Isn't it?
Ok. So, don't hate. And, don't FEAR.
Fear is a killer. Worry and fear weaken us. Joy and love strengthen us.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to memorize verses on fear. You'll be surprised how many verses there are that deal with that subject.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
One of the Biggest Lies of the Devil!
You can quote me on this: "The Pre-tribulation Rapture Theory is one of the biggest lies of the Devil." Yep. Of course it's the Devil (Satan, the punk, the liar) who wants believers (Christians) to think that they are not going to go through the Tribulation. And why does he want to deceive us in this way?
Isn't it obvious?
The Tribulation is going to be a time when the punk pours out his own spirit on the earth. He is cast out of heaven and he comes down to deceive all the nations of the earth. He embodies himself in a man, known as the Antichrist.
Think about it. He must be called the Antichrist for a reason.
People! Wake up! If the Antichrist is called the Antichrist and he persecutes Christians, how will there be any Christians to persecute if they have all been "raptured" before the Tribulation begins? Come on. Any toddler could figure this out. I'm not saying that it's stupid to believe in the Pretrib Rap. Wait a minute, maybe I am. Yes, it is stupid. There's no other word for it really.
Anyone who actually reads the Bible (preferably the King James version) will see the true picture. Throughout history, Christians (or believers) have been persecuted for their faith. Jesus said in Matthew 5 verse 11 and 12 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Here's another verse I'd like all you "Pretrib Rap" believers to explain, if you can.
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in the hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Of course the Devil doesn't want you to believe you're going through the Tribulation because he doesn't want you to be prepared. No Commander in Chief wants his enemy to know the time and place that his army will attack. He wants to catch the enemy with their pants down. Fear is a powerful weapon.
That's why I am writing this. This is your warning. Consider this your official "Wake Up Call".Yes, Christians will go through the Tribulation. That is, unless you happen to die beforehand.
WE WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE WRATH OF GOD!
Let's make that abundantly clear. God is not going to pour out His wrath on his own dear children. Of course not. That will be a horrific experience for the non-believers. And, while that's going on, we will be enjoying the marriage supper.
Why did Jesus even tell His disciples in Matthew 24 all the signs of the end time, if we weren't going to be here to experience it? Why didn't He just say, "Hey, don't worry about it because I'm going to snatch you away before any of the terrible stuff happens."
No, He went into detail, even saying things like "see that ye be not troubled". Why would we be "troubled" if we were "raptured". I put the word "raptured" in quotations because...
It's not in the Bible.
Oh, you didn't know that? Maybe you should read your Bible. Seriously.
Meantime, for all of your who do believe there is a POSSIBILITY that what I'm saying is true, here is Psalm 27 as a part of your Tribulation Prep. Memorize it! You'll be SO glad you did! I am!
Psalm 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forske me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Isn't it obvious?
The Tribulation is going to be a time when the punk pours out his own spirit on the earth. He is cast out of heaven and he comes down to deceive all the nations of the earth. He embodies himself in a man, known as the Antichrist.
Think about it. He must be called the Antichrist for a reason.
People! Wake up! If the Antichrist is called the Antichrist and he persecutes Christians, how will there be any Christians to persecute if they have all been "raptured" before the Tribulation begins? Come on. Any toddler could figure this out. I'm not saying that it's stupid to believe in the Pretrib Rap. Wait a minute, maybe I am. Yes, it is stupid. There's no other word for it really.
Anyone who actually reads the Bible (preferably the King James version) will see the true picture. Throughout history, Christians (or believers) have been persecuted for their faith. Jesus said in Matthew 5 verse 11 and 12 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Here's another verse I'd like all you "Pretrib Rap" believers to explain, if you can.
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in the hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Of course the Devil doesn't want you to believe you're going through the Tribulation because he doesn't want you to be prepared. No Commander in Chief wants his enemy to know the time and place that his army will attack. He wants to catch the enemy with their pants down. Fear is a powerful weapon.
That's why I am writing this. This is your warning. Consider this your official "Wake Up Call".Yes, Christians will go through the Tribulation. That is, unless you happen to die beforehand.
WE WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE WRATH OF GOD!
Let's make that abundantly clear. God is not going to pour out His wrath on his own dear children. Of course not. That will be a horrific experience for the non-believers. And, while that's going on, we will be enjoying the marriage supper.
Why did Jesus even tell His disciples in Matthew 24 all the signs of the end time, if we weren't going to be here to experience it? Why didn't He just say, "Hey, don't worry about it because I'm going to snatch you away before any of the terrible stuff happens."
No, He went into detail, even saying things like "see that ye be not troubled". Why would we be "troubled" if we were "raptured". I put the word "raptured" in quotations because...
It's not in the Bible.
Oh, you didn't know that? Maybe you should read your Bible. Seriously.
Meantime, for all of your who do believe there is a POSSIBILITY that what I'm saying is true, here is Psalm 27 as a part of your Tribulation Prep. Memorize it! You'll be SO glad you did! I am!
Psalm 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forske me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Monday, February 3, 2014
More Tribulation Prep!
It's coming. In fact, it may already be here! Are you prepared? Don't go another day without memorizing a few verses (if not all) of Psalm 91!
I just read that 99 Christians were martyred. Remember, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."
Those who kill us will think they are doing God's service. (But, what god?)
So, here's Psalm 91!
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
I just read that 99 Christians were martyred. Remember, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."
Those who kill us will think they are doing God's service. (But, what god?)
So, here's Psalm 91!
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Tribulation Preparation
Since it's almost upon us, I think it would be a good idea to prepare for it! You may ask, "How?" And I would answer, "Good question."
How does one prepare for the worst scenario ever?
In most motivational talks, the speakers often tell you to "see yourself there". It may seem a little negative, but, in a sense, "seeing yourself in the tribulation" can help by psychologically preparing yourself to accept that it is going to happen and that it's God's will.
Ok, so if that doesn't help much, here's another idea:
Learn how to get things from God.
It's really good practice to learn how to trust God to supply your needs without your help.
In order to learn how to do that, you'll want to learn and better yet, memorize Bible verses to claim for your needs. For this, you can either purchase a concordance or go online to use an online thesaurus such as the one at: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Readers-Version-NIRV-Bible/
or http://biblethesaurus.org
When you look up a word, like "supply", the thesaurus will give you an entire list of scriptures you can look up that have that word in them.
Philippians 4:19 says "My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
When you pray, take that verse, hold it up to God and claim it! Hold God to His Word. Why wait until the situation is dire before you learn the power of God's Word?
So, I suggest that the best way to prepare for the Tribulation is to learn the Word. Learn how to use it as a practical tool. Learn some of the power that it commands. Let it rule over your life now. Follow it. It will lead you to greener pastures in the spirit.
I don't really think there's any way to prepare physically for what is coming on the earth in these next few months. Physically, you will just have to learn to survive. Spiritually, we can learn to THRIVE.
Keep using your spiritual muscles. Strengthen them by using them. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
Read the Psalms. Memorize as many powerful verses as you can. Psalm 91 has brought many believers through many tribulations and persecutions. Christians in the past have swallowed poison and not been killed, passed through the fire and not been burned, even been shot with a bullet and it didn't touch them. On and on and on, I could tell you testimonies of those who have survived terrible persecutions through miracles of God and His angels.
God's angels shall bear you up in their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall run and not be weary, you shall walk and not faint. We just need to learn to trust.
TRUST.
It's easier said than done. It doesn't happen when we're comfortable, only when we're forced into difficult situations. And that's what is about to come soon. The Great Tribulation.
Are you ready?
How does one prepare for the worst scenario ever?
In most motivational talks, the speakers often tell you to "see yourself there". It may seem a little negative, but, in a sense, "seeing yourself in the tribulation" can help by psychologically preparing yourself to accept that it is going to happen and that it's God's will.
Ok, so if that doesn't help much, here's another idea:
Learn how to get things from God.
It's really good practice to learn how to trust God to supply your needs without your help.
In order to learn how to do that, you'll want to learn and better yet, memorize Bible verses to claim for your needs. For this, you can either purchase a concordance or go online to use an online thesaurus such as the one at: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Readers-Version-NIRV-Bible/
or http://biblethesaurus.org
When you look up a word, like "supply", the thesaurus will give you an entire list of scriptures you can look up that have that word in them.
Philippians 4:19 says "My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
When you pray, take that verse, hold it up to God and claim it! Hold God to His Word. Why wait until the situation is dire before you learn the power of God's Word?
So, I suggest that the best way to prepare for the Tribulation is to learn the Word. Learn how to use it as a practical tool. Learn some of the power that it commands. Let it rule over your life now. Follow it. It will lead you to greener pastures in the spirit.
I don't really think there's any way to prepare physically for what is coming on the earth in these next few months. Physically, you will just have to learn to survive. Spiritually, we can learn to THRIVE.
Keep using your spiritual muscles. Strengthen them by using them. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
Read the Psalms. Memorize as many powerful verses as you can. Psalm 91 has brought many believers through many tribulations and persecutions. Christians in the past have swallowed poison and not been killed, passed through the fire and not been burned, even been shot with a bullet and it didn't touch them. On and on and on, I could tell you testimonies of those who have survived terrible persecutions through miracles of God and His angels.
God's angels shall bear you up in their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall run and not be weary, you shall walk and not faint. We just need to learn to trust.
TRUST.
It's easier said than done. It doesn't happen when we're comfortable, only when we're forced into difficult situations. And that's what is about to come soon. The Great Tribulation.
Are you ready?
Saturday, February 1, 2014
The Truth about the Trib!
Let's get down to it! Are we going through the "Great Tribulation" or will we be "raptured" before it happens?
Are you going to believe some sweet-looking, smooth-talking preacher? --Or, the Word of God?
Well, it's a little more work to dig into the Word of God and "study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed", but, really I think it's the only way for you to discover the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth so help you God. Get to work, my dear brothers and sisters. Quit slacking. Quit letting the preachers and pastors lead you astray. If they jump off a cliff, will you follow? (Not to even mention Kool Aid. We won't get into that. However, it's a good illustration of what can happen when people don't study the Word on their own time and just let someone else preach whatever "revelation" they "receive" from the Word of God to preach to you.
Ask yourself, "What does this preacher want to gain by preaching to this huge crowd with itching ears?"
Let me be the first person to confess that I also have been oft times swayed by the strong opinions of others. I have clung to doctrines that seemed to come right out of the Bible but, now, looking back, I realize (finally) that the ones that were wrong used only one or two verses to prop up their belief. And, now, some with some of those false doctrines, I believe just exactly the opposite because of the preponderance of scripture, the knowledge and leading of the Holy Spirit and, most of all, my knowledge of the love of God.
You get to know God's voice. You learn to feel His love.
So, would a truly loving God allow His children to go through the greatest tribulation there has ever been?
Well, take a look at the God of the Bible. Did God allow Daniel to be thrown into a den of hungry lions? Did God allow Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be thrown into a fiery furnace? Did God allow Stephen to be stoned to death? Did God allow Peter to be crucified? Did God allow the persecution of the early church?
We could go on and on and on... And, of course, the answer is a resounding, "Yes! He did." God either kept them through it or delivered them out of it at the last moment. He gave them the grace and anointing to go through what they were destined to go through.
So, if you find yourself alive during the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist is forcing everyone to take the Mark of the Beast, you are being hunted by the authorities and ...what? Jesus hasn't come back to rapture you? Don't be shocked. It could happen to you. That doesn't mean you're not saved!
It means that the Bible says exactly what it means. For example, in Matthew 24. (I repeat myself.)
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken:
30 AND THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Ok, so if the Bible says "immediately after the tribulation", how do these pre-tribulation rapture theorists justify their beliefs?
We know that the rapture or the resurrection is going to happen when Jesus comes back, not before that. How do we know that? Verse 31! He's going to gather us from off the earth.
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
I invite you to refute these scriptures. Find others that will refute them if you will. But, don't just swallow what the pastors say who preach peace and safety. That's dangerous.
I heard one preacher refer to Luke 21. He was going along quite well, but when he got to verse 12, he took a drastic turn in a completely off-track direction. He said that Jesus was warning the Jews of His day what was going to happen to them and that these scriptures did not apply to us today.
Take a look at Luke 21 verse 12: "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake." It goes on to talk about persecution and then says, in verse 20: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." (Jesus is referring to the Great Tribulation here but Luke calls it the desolation.) In verse 22, Luke calls it the days of "vengeance". Same thing! Call it Tribulation, Desolation or Days of Vengeance, it's the same thing.
A few of my friends have a saying, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."
Have you ever heard that saying? Well, don't you think it would be better to expect to have to go through the Great Tribulation and prepare to survive it than to imagine in your La La Land Dream World that you're going to be raptured before it happens?
If all the Christians (true believers/followers of Christ) are going to be raptured before the Great Trib, who is going to refuse to receive the Mark of the Beast? Who will warn people to refuse it? Who is going to teach them how to survive by faith without the Mark of the Beast to buy or sell with?
Who is going to be calling down fire from the sky?
There's lots of miracles predicted for the end time. Oh, and by the way, the Bible says the Antichrist is going to be persecuting guess who! Well, who do you think he's going to persecute? He's call the Antichrist for a reason!
Ok, all I can tell you is, "Don't swallow all the lies of the peace preachers. Don't fall into that trap! Wake up!"
Are you going to believe some sweet-looking, smooth-talking preacher? --Or, the Word of God?
Well, it's a little more work to dig into the Word of God and "study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed", but, really I think it's the only way for you to discover the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth so help you God. Get to work, my dear brothers and sisters. Quit slacking. Quit letting the preachers and pastors lead you astray. If they jump off a cliff, will you follow? (Not to even mention Kool Aid. We won't get into that. However, it's a good illustration of what can happen when people don't study the Word on their own time and just let someone else preach whatever "revelation" they "receive" from the Word of God to preach to you.
Ask yourself, "What does this preacher want to gain by preaching to this huge crowd with itching ears?"
Let me be the first person to confess that I also have been oft times swayed by the strong opinions of others. I have clung to doctrines that seemed to come right out of the Bible but, now, looking back, I realize (finally) that the ones that were wrong used only one or two verses to prop up their belief. And, now, some with some of those false doctrines, I believe just exactly the opposite because of the preponderance of scripture, the knowledge and leading of the Holy Spirit and, most of all, my knowledge of the love of God.
You get to know God's voice. You learn to feel His love.
So, would a truly loving God allow His children to go through the greatest tribulation there has ever been?
Well, take a look at the God of the Bible. Did God allow Daniel to be thrown into a den of hungry lions? Did God allow Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be thrown into a fiery furnace? Did God allow Stephen to be stoned to death? Did God allow Peter to be crucified? Did God allow the persecution of the early church?
We could go on and on and on... And, of course, the answer is a resounding, "Yes! He did." God either kept them through it or delivered them out of it at the last moment. He gave them the grace and anointing to go through what they were destined to go through.
So, if you find yourself alive during the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist is forcing everyone to take the Mark of the Beast, you are being hunted by the authorities and ...what? Jesus hasn't come back to rapture you? Don't be shocked. It could happen to you. That doesn't mean you're not saved!
It means that the Bible says exactly what it means. For example, in Matthew 24. (I repeat myself.)
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken:
30 AND THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Ok, so if the Bible says "immediately after the tribulation", how do these pre-tribulation rapture theorists justify their beliefs?
We know that the rapture or the resurrection is going to happen when Jesus comes back, not before that. How do we know that? Verse 31! He's going to gather us from off the earth.
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
I invite you to refute these scriptures. Find others that will refute them if you will. But, don't just swallow what the pastors say who preach peace and safety. That's dangerous.
I heard one preacher refer to Luke 21. He was going along quite well, but when he got to verse 12, he took a drastic turn in a completely off-track direction. He said that Jesus was warning the Jews of His day what was going to happen to them and that these scriptures did not apply to us today.
Take a look at Luke 21 verse 12: "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake." It goes on to talk about persecution and then says, in verse 20: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." (Jesus is referring to the Great Tribulation here but Luke calls it the desolation.) In verse 22, Luke calls it the days of "vengeance". Same thing! Call it Tribulation, Desolation or Days of Vengeance, it's the same thing.
A few of my friends have a saying, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."
Have you ever heard that saying? Well, don't you think it would be better to expect to have to go through the Great Tribulation and prepare to survive it than to imagine in your La La Land Dream World that you're going to be raptured before it happens?
If all the Christians (true believers/followers of Christ) are going to be raptured before the Great Trib, who is going to refuse to receive the Mark of the Beast? Who will warn people to refuse it? Who is going to teach them how to survive by faith without the Mark of the Beast to buy or sell with?
Who is going to be calling down fire from the sky?
There's lots of miracles predicted for the end time. Oh, and by the way, the Bible says the Antichrist is going to be persecuting guess who! Well, who do you think he's going to persecute? He's call the Antichrist for a reason!
Ok, all I can tell you is, "Don't swallow all the lies of the peace preachers. Don't fall into that trap! Wake up!"
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