Understanding Revelation

When I started studying Revelation, I was sure that it could be unraveled logically. I have learned a lot since then, and my whole perspective has changed. What I'm going to say isn't a copout--believe me, because I don't give up easily (and that's an understatement)!--but it's what I feel God has taught me.

Here's what I know now:

• We each need to read Revelation for ourself, and pray that God will teach us what He wants us to know.
• If we want to understand Revelation, we need to read it a lot and know it well (not the same as understanding--more like memorization). You may read it and learn it this Spring, and it may not be until next Fall that God chooses to reveal something to you. He will bring the Scripture to your remembrance--but you can't remember what you never knew.
  
• Don't be discouraged. Be content with knowing, but not understanding. When the time is right, you'll understand.
  
• Do pray and ask God to teach you, and guide you, as you study.
  
• Revelation is given on a 'need to know' basis.
  
• Revelation is just that--something that God will reveal to each of us, in His own time and His own way.
  
• You may study for hours, yet walk away with just one little nugget of understanding--but this is good!
  
• The book is purposely complicated, to make it impossible to interpret merely using logic. The only way to understand Revelation, is by the Holy Spirit revealing it to us. The Holy Spirit will only reveal it to Christians.
  
• The awesomeness of that is that it doesn't depend on our intelligence! I'm fairly smart and there are things I have tried for years to understand, but can't--but then, in an instant, God has opened my eyes to something that was right there all the time, and suddenly I understand! Contrary to what some churches have taught-you don't have to be a priest to read and understand Scripture. God reveals things in a way that any of us can understand, no matter how smart we are--or aren't. We're all on a level playing field here!

These are my general opinions:

• It seems the people who claim to understand Revelation the most, are actually the ones that understand it the least.
  
• The prophecy 'experts' make certain assumptions, upon which they base the rest of their interpretation. Very few of them seem to question these assumptions, and the 'rules' they have set up for how to interpret prophecy. If these assumptions or ways of interpreting are wrong, then the foundation of their interpreting is wrong, and they may end up misunderstanding much, or most, of the prophecies.
  
• In reality, right now there is no way we can know for sure how it will all play out. Only God knows the specifics, and although He is revealing things a little at a time, He has not yet made it all clear to us.
  
• He may not give us the full interpretation before it is fulfilled. There may be things we only see later, in hindsight, as having been the fulfillment of prophecy.
  
• It is tempting to latch onto the first interpretation that fits but, in studying with a completely open mind, I have found that each portion of prophecy in Revelation could potentially be fulfilled in many different ways.
  
• I believe the reason God has not revealed it all, is because there are many possible outcomes, depending on what choices we make (our generation, the Church, America, etc.).
  
• I believe if God revealed what would happen, it would cause it to turn out that way, violating our free will to some degree. I believe He wants us to do all that we can, until we breathe our last breath. MUCH of the ending has not yet been written!
  
• A lot of people have a fatalistic attitude--that we really have little to do with the outcome, that it is predestined; some people even go so far as to say that God will make things happen a certain way, no matter what we do. But I believe that the time, and the way, the prophecies will be fulfilled, is completely dependent upon the choices of mankind.
  
• God always prefers to show mercy and, if we repent in time, He may turn aside His wrath. These things could all come to pass in the next few years (that's the road we're on right now)--or, if we repent, God may intervene and 'pause the clock' by tens or even hundreds of years.
  
• Because it is Satan that is behind the events in Revelation, and because his overall battle plan has not changed, we will see the same sort of events happen again and again, until he finally gains control of a global government.

These are my specific opinions:

• I am not convinced that all of these events will be confined to a 7 year period.
  
• Things do not necessarily happen in the order in which they are written. Yes, there is an overall chronology to the events--but there are a lot of 'flashbacks' (as in the movies), that go back to an earlier time and show the events that happened to bring you back to the 'present', in order to understand things that were just mentioned.
  
• The same event may be explained from several different perspectives--rather than those being separate events.
  
• I am not convinced that the bowl judgments follow the trumpet judgments, and they follow the seven seals. I strongly suspect that there is overlap here-that things are happening simultaneously, or even that what are commonly believed to be separate events, are actually the same event.
  
• It is important to differentiate between what John saw in the spirit realm, and what he saw in the physical realm. In other words, when an angel sounds his trumpet and 'hail and fire mixed with blood' is hurled down upon the Earth--that is probably how it appears in the spirit realm. It may not literally be hail and fire mixed with blood when seen in the physical realm. The result: 'A third of the Earth was burned up . . . ' is what we would actually see. So, we should not necessarily expect to see or hear, in the physical realm, everything that is described in Revelation.
  
• I believe it is possible for God to have mercy on us, at any point, if we repent. Therefore, I believe it may be possible that the 'clock' could be paused at almost any point.
  
• Although I believe the clock could be paused, there are certain things that cannot be undone. I believe this explains the significance of the three 'woes'. The fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpet judgments involve releasing demonic entities that have been bound and prevented from interacting with mankind. I believe that once they are released, they cannot again be bound. These woes are:
     * the angel of the abyss, and hordes of spirits that physically torment people (for 5 months)
     * four angels, with 200,000,000 troops that have the authority to kill 1/3 of mankind
     * satan and his followers are hurled to Earth
  
• If you understand that once these spirits are unleashed, we are stuck with them from then on (even if we repent and God pauses the clock), then it becomes even more apparent why these events would be called 'woes'.
  
• There is no 'Rapture' per se. Jesus will return (as warrior, judge and king) near the very end of the Tribulation. There will be a great earthquake, the dead in Christ will be raised, the 'two witnesses' will be taken up to heaven, any remaining believers will be taken up, and we will meet Him in the clouds.

So, again, I think the best way to understand the Bible, is to read the Bible. We are promised that the Holy Spirit will teach us what the Scriptures mean. Some of that teaching happens on a subconscious level. God-inspired writings are much deeper and carry much more information than when people write.

The more you read the Bible, the more you learn the many ways that God conveys truth to us. You learn His 'voice', His style, how He uses patterns and foreshadowing, how much meaning a passage can carry on many different levels, etc., etc. There is so much deception these days, I think it is far better that we ask God to teach us, than men.

(In God's kingdom, no one is 'better than' anyone else. How much you understand will depend on how much you read the Bible, spend time contemplating God's word, and pray.)


And one more thing:
"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."
Rev. 1:3

Enduring What Is Coming--Mental Preparation

I believe, over a year ago, that the United States experienced a large influx of demonic spirits.  I can't prove that, or explain why that might be--I can only tell you that I feel it.

Something has radically changed in America.  There is a spiritual darkness present here now, as the darkness that envelopes the land before a great storm.  I don't know whether or  not you have sensed it too.

I'm sharing a list of suggestions, to help you protect yourself from things that are to come: deception and spiritual forces of evil (in whatever form they may manifest in our physical world).

Scripture tells us that a people without understanding (of God's ways) will come to ruin.  Jesus says that we are as sheep among wolves, yet we should be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. 

• There is another dimension-an unseen spiritual world-that is intricately tied in with everything that happens in our world   That world is eternal, ours is bound by time.  From that world, all dimensions are seen.  In our world, much that happens is not visible to us.  Our world is secondary to that world.  In that world, the story began--the story that never ends.  This world, as we know it, is coming to an end.  A new heavens and a new Earth will take its place, by the grace of God, because this one has been irreparably corrupted (no, I don't mean global warming).
• Everything really does boil down to the battle between good and evil   That is the whole reason 'our world' was even created.  It was chosen to be the theater for the great battle between good and evil.
• Don't be so sure that you know what is going on--nothing is as it seems  Many deceiving spirits are among us.  Theories abound.  Conspiracies abound.  A lot is going on, and a lot is being revealed.  God will show you what you need to know.  Be careful you don't get caught up in the confusion and start defining people as 'friends' or 'enemies' by whether or not they share your current beliefs about what is going on--they may just know more (or less) about it, than you.
• There is one force of good--spiritual forces of evil are attacking from many sides   There is only one force for good, and it is far more powerful than the force of evil.  However, the force of evil is desperate, and is attacking from every side.  Stand firm and wait for God's deliverance (no, not the 'Rapture') when you are besieged.  Have faith.  Resist evil and it will retreat.
• Get back to the basics   Don't let yourself be taken on a tangent by new and intriguing teachings. There is much deception swirling around us.  Go back to the basics that God teaches us in the Bible, and hold on tight.
• Search your heart often   Our hearts our desperately wicked, yet if we would judge ourselves, we'd all see ourselves as innocent.  God judges the intent of our hearts.  It is your heart that decides toward what direction to point your will.  It is your heart that falls into sin first.  None of us is righteous.  Our greatest enemy lies within us, and we are blind to its true condition, and to its power to lead us astray.
• Read your Bible & pray for understanding   The Bible is God's message to us, and is for God's people only--no one else can understand it.  But, the Holy Spirit must teach you what it means.  Equip yourself for the days ahead, by learning it now.
  
• Live by Biblical principles:  even if you don't understand them--they protect you   God's rules form a hedge around you--not a hedge to keep you in, but a hedge to keep evil out.
• Don't follow the crowd   Jesus told us that the path to destruction is wide and many people will go that way and, conversely, the way that leads to life is narrow, and few will find it.
• Don't be distracted by the trivial  God, and his people, are being attacked from every side.   Stay focused, there are many important issues right now--don't let the enemy distract you.
• Be very suspicious of 'miracles' and supernatural displays   Jesus promised that false messiahs and workers of miracles would abound in the latter days.  Don't be surprised, and don't be taken in, no matter how elaborate a 'miracle' may seem.  A lot can be done with money, technology, and demonic power.
• Deceptions come in all sizes  Don't think something is too big and powerful, or too little and unimportant, to be fake.
• Turn off your TV!   More than anything else, this is the tool that Satan uses to unify people in their beliefs and actions.  It's not about what shows you watch--it's the whole paradigm for life, the whole package of values and beliefs, that is presented over and over and over and over . . . molding you without you even being aware.
• Trust no one 100%   Sadly, unfortunately, we have come to this point.
• Be skeptical, think critically   Don't believe everything you see and hear, no matter  how often you see and hear it.  Don't believe everything you are told--no matter who tells you.
• Blindly follow no one   Think for yourself.  It is largely your choices that will determine the course of your life.  Everyone has an agenda.  As times get tougher, people will become more self protective, deceptive and manipulative--in a word: less trustworthy.
• Be responsible for yourself and your children   Start taking on the responsibilities God gave you, because soon you will have to fight tooth and nail for them.  Everyone's children will soon be taken away--because parental authority will be usurped by international treaty.  The irony is, you'll still have the expense and responsibility for raising them, they'll still live with you, but you will not have the freedom to choose what is in their best interest, or how you will raise or teach them.  (What do you think your family life will be like when your teenager realizes you have no legal authority over them?  Who will be running the show then?)
• Protect what is important to you   You are standing on the verge of losing everything that matters to you--and you don't even see it.  Trust me--you'd better wake up and stand up to protect what is important to you now, while you still can.  After that, you're going to have to decide which of your values and freedoms you are willing to die to hold onto, and which you'll learn to live without.
• Diligently protect your children!   The real battle is for the hearts and minds of your children.  If you don't believe me, look to history, look to other countries and their kidnapped child-soldiers, look to how our mandatory, liberal/progressive-run educational system is turning children against their parents.  'There is nothing new under the sun'--history repeats itself.  To see the future, examine the past.  Fight now, before it's too late!
• Teach your children   Equip your children now, to face the deceptions ahead of them.  Your window of opportunity is closing.  Not only will you not be legally able (your parental authority will be gone),  your children will be turned against you in the schools where they are spending 30 or more hours a week under intense pressure from people whose values are in direct opposition to your own--people who have already begun a revolution, against the values we represent.
• Think long and hard before surrendering your freedom for security  An enemy will say anything to get you to surrender--it's much easier on them than having to fight you!  They will even create a crisis, to convince you to surrender your freedom to them, in trade for the promise of peace and safety.
• Remember that what you agree to do voluntarily, will later become mandatory  Seems to be a basic principle in life.
• Remember that if you don't use self control, you will end up under someone else's control  Another seemingly basic principle in life.
• Don't be proud and arrogant  Pride comes before a fall.  It's pride and arrogance that got America into this mess.  It's pride and arrogance that God hates.
• Don't be sucked in by flattery  Oldest trick in the book.  It works most effectively on those with low self esteem, excessive pride and arrogance, or narcissism.

Pastors: Who Are You REALLY Looking Out For?

My apologies to those who are dedicated, sacrificing Pastors who have the best interests of their people at heart.  To those of you who sincerely try:  God bless you.

However, some of you are being so helpful to the devil that he can leave your congregation alone and go on vacation!!

If you don't teach your people right from wrong, the truth from lies . . . if you don't preach about sin and repentance . . . who are you REALLY helping?

Sure, your attendance will be high, and you'll go through the motions of being a minister of the gospel . . . your political correctness will make you popular, but it will be an intricate dance to tell the truth without stepping on anyone's toes.  You'll be so busy with the latest program that you'll hardly notice that your old, faithful, Bible-thumping, Amen-corner Christians have departed.  The flurry of activity will distract you from the fact that you no longer feel God's presence in your church--or in your life.

Is your church 'lukewarm' towards God, towards truth, towards sanctification?  You are the one who sets the standard for your people.  They aren't going to achieve any more than you tell them you believe they can achieve.  If your church is lukewarm, it's because you allow them to be comfortable with being lukewarm!

Pastors:  If you don't teach your people right from wrong, don't maintain a higher standard for your congregation (and yourself), don't confront your people regarding their sins--do you really think you're helping them?

Don't you know, if you permit something, they think God permits it?  If you accept something, they think God accepts it?  If you remain silent about sin, if you don't point it out and call it for what it is--your congregation will assume that you condone it, and that God does likewise!

It would be nice if your people read the Bible--but you can't assume that they do!!  You need to shore up the foundations of their understanding--and then add the basic building blocks.  Forget the fancy trim and designer windows! Forget following the crowd!  Forget the latest fad!  Forget pleasing people--please God!!  Your people are falling into deception, and God is going to hold you accountable if you are not doing your job!

Satan has been waging a concerted attack against all that is foundational to the lives of human beings. He is setting the stage for his reign on Earth, as the head of a global government.  The day is fast approaching.  His reign won't last for long--but it will be devastating while it does.  How many of your people will be able to (spiritually) endure?  How many of their children have already been led far astray?

Unable to conquer truth, he is changing the definition and concept of truth, making it a relative term--something of little importance.  Unable to obliterate the family as fast as he'd like, he is attempting to redefine it as well, and make the family (as God designed it) obsolete.  He calls the idea of reality into question, teaching that it is something we create through our own will and imagination. 

When I say you need to get back to basics in your preaching--I mean the very foundations of our understanding of God and life!!  As obvious as these things may be to you--don't assume your congregation knows the difference!! They need to know there is a God!  There really is such a thing as absolute truth!  There are actions and beliefs that are right, and others that are wrong.  Jesus is the only way.  Etc., etc., etc.

If you don't teach your people what is sin, don't confront them when they sin, and don't hold them to a higher standard (because you don't want to make them uncomfortable?)--do you think you are acting in their best interest?  Sin and deception will ensnare them and pull them deep into bondage!  Which do you think is worse?  They trust you enough to put their spiritual well-being into your hands.  More than that--God thought highly enough of you, and trusted you enough, to place them in your care!!  Are you going to disappoint His faith in you?

Wake up and do what God has called you to do.  The hour is late!!  God is going to send a powerful delusion to those who do not love the truth . . . teach your people truth!! Teach them to love the truth, to search out the truth, to hold fast to the truth!!

You have labored long and hard--don't give up now that we are in the final stretch!  Forget what is behind and press forward with all your might!!  Your finest hour may be just around the bend!!

Believe That Allah Is God?

You can't be a follower of Jesus and believe that Allah is the same as God. 

It is very clear, if you compare the Scriptures (Holy Bible) and the Koran, that the Koran is the antithesis of Scripture.  The 'god' of the Koran (Allah) is known as Satan/The Devil in the Bible.

Was Jesus a Prophet?

Readers, I want to point out something important.  I paraphrase a lot of things the Bible says, but don't give references.  If you are not a Christian, it may not matter to you--it is the Holy Spirit that draws you.  If you are a Christian--has this bothered any of you? 

If you know the Bible well, then probably not, because you know these things.  But if you don't know the Bible well, and you want to question where something is written in the Bible--please ask!  It is important that you don't believe everything you hear.  Many deceivers and lies are in the world--and even those of us who strive to be truthful, can sometimes be mistaken.  Always be on guard!

The Bible tells us (1 John 4:2-3) how to recognize the Spirit of God. 

"Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

In God's Word, not one word is spoken in vain.  Every word here is important.  It's easy to skim over it and miss the meaning.

A lot of false/antichrist religions acknowledge that Jesus lived on Earth--so how can this passage be true? 

Let me add my comments and emphases here:

"Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus (the human being) Christ (the Messiah, the Savior that God has sent, God himself) has come in the flesh ( is Jesus)  is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus (as the promised savior/messiah, who came and lived on Earth)  is not from God."

The test is whether they acknowledge that Jesus came to Earth and that He is the Messiah--the Savior, God in the flesh.

Please look around and reevaluate some of the religions that you may have thought passed the test.  If they only recognize Jesus as being a good man, a teacher, or a prophet--they are not from God, but are antichrist (anti=against, Jesus being the, christ=promised one, messiah, savior) because they do not recognize that Jesus is the Christ. 

Christ was not Jesus' last name!  Every time ' Jesus Christ'  is spoken, or written, it is an acknowledgment that  Jesus is the savior that God promised to send, to save mankind from our sins! 

 So, in answer to the title: Was Jesus a prophet?  Yes--and much, much more!!

God Wants Us To Go To War!!

We are in a war!  It is a war in the spirit realm--a war between Christians and Satan.  The prize is the kingdom of Earth--where all mankind will be united under one leader. 

The first ruler of this earthly kingdom will be The Antichrist.  He will make war on Israelites and Christians, because he can't stand to have any opposition.  At the same time, there will be various wars, struggles, disasters, etc. on Earth, as this spiritual war manifests itself in the physical realm.  If you aren't aware that, behind it all, there is one war in the spirit realm, you will probably be seeing many seemingly unrelated things happening.  You may be confused about many things, even if you study Biblical prophecies.  (In addition to Bible prophecies often being vague and confusing, Satan is actively creating as many other teachings, interpretations and explanations as he possibly can.)

What is important to remember is this:  The war is in the spirit realm.  The war is being fought directly between Christians and Satan, for control of the kingdom of mankind on earth.The only way you can fight this battle is by relying on Jesus.

Many of the details of what happens in the physical realm are given in the Bible.  However, little is specified about what is happening in the spirit realm.  I will give my best interpretation and opinions--based on my study of the Bible and being a Christian for nearly 30 years.

We are told in the book of Ephesians that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but spiritual powers of darkness.  We have to remind ourselves that what we see is only a small part of what is real.  The small part we see may not help us understand the unseen any more than a single leaf can give us a clear understanding of a tree.  The only way to see the whole picture is to study God's Word and pray for understanding.

The book of Revelation tells that, when Satan was still in Heaven, the angels that were loyal to God fought him and the angels that had 'crossed over to the dark side'.  Satan and his angels 'were not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven'.  Then they were cast down to Earth. (Woe to us, because he is filled with fury since he knows his time is short).

The book of Daniel tells us that The Antichrist (empowered by Satan) will wage war against Christians and will be defeating them (in the physical realm), until the Lord comes and pronounces 'judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High' (Christians),who are then given the kingdom.

Just as earthly soldiers fight wars for their country, while their leader isn't on the front lines-so will Christians fight to win the kingdom for God, while their  king-to-be (Jesus) waits in the wings.
If you are someone who has heard or read Bible prophecies, you're probably going to think that's wrong, because you know that Jesus will come to Earth and fight in the physical realm when he returns--before he is enthroned as king.  BUT, remember, the war I'm talking about is in the spiritual realm.  Jesus comes for the 'mop up' , so to speak (in the physical realm).

It is up to us,  who live on Earth, to do spiritual battle for the spiritual title to the kingdom of mankind on Earth.  So far, Satan and fallen man have the title, and are holding it firmly.  This is because we are not fighting in the spiritual realm, and Satan is walking all over us!!

Most Christians are content to 'live and let live' with regards to evil.  That is not God's plan.  We are to be active in engaging and fighting evil, remembering that what we see in the physical realm is the fruit, while the roots are found in the spirit realm.  We need to go to the spirit realm to dig out the roots.  In order to battle in the spirit, we need to live holy lives.  Indeed, living a holy life is spiritual battle.  In some unseen way, it tips the balance of power towards the side of good.

Now, none of us is good, and none of us can live holy or do spiritual battle on our own.  It is only through depending on Jesus that we can do anything.  But it is important that we be doing spiritual battle.  We ARE in a war, like it or not.  Either we fight, or we surrender--every day.


So, where are we at right now?  We are in a spiritual battle with Satan, with glimpses of it, here and there, in the physical realm.  I believe that, because we have not been living holy lives, the balance has tipped in favor of Satan.  So much so in fact, that soon he will be able to pretty much unite the world under one puppet leader (The Antichrist) that he will choose, enthrone and empower.

Once The Antichrist is in place, God will allow him to have authority for three and a half years.  During this time he will do his best to win over everyone on Earth.  Those that he can't charm, he will threaten.  In a continued escalation of force, those who are unmoved by his threats, he will persecute.  When that doesn't work, he will punish and/or and execute.

Although he is blindly narcissistic and egotistical, I believe there may be another reason he puts so much effort into winning people over.  I think the worship he receives, from those he causes to submit to him, gives him more spiritual power.  (I also believe that dying for what you believe is very powerful in the spirit realm.  This could be a reason that he doesn't simply execute his opposition at the outset.)

After some time of his 'winning' in the physical realm, by killing many Christians (in the physical realm we consider it a loss to die in battle), the balance of spiritual power shifts.  At the appointed time, God 'calls the match'--in favor of the Christians. We are told that the Christians overcame Satan by the blood of Christ, their testimony, and by being willing to die for Him (and, of course, many did).


I think it may also be, in addition to the number of martyrs, that after real persecution sets in, the veil of deception we've been living under is lifted and we are able to stop denying the spiritual war we are in--and we get serious about living for God and fighting evil.


One other point, and word of warning I have to make:  Only those who fight will win.  If you fight to the end, without giving in or giving up, you win.  The days of being able to 'sit on the fence' spiritually are almost over.  You will get off the fence, or you will be knocked off the fence soon.  If you choose 'God's side', you will have to fight--you cannot be on His side and ignore the battle.  If you choose God's side, you have to live holy, and that is half the battle!




A Time To Kill
The Gates Of Hell

A 'Sleeper' Doctrine?

What if I was to tell you that, coiled amongst your core Christian beliefs, was a deception powerful enough to cause you to turn your back on God?  A 'sleeper', if you will, awaiting the right time to strike. . .

A lot is said, in the Bible, about the return of Christ.  But nowhere is a 'Rapture' mentioned.  In fact it is a relatively new doctrine, being only a couple of hundred years old, if I remember right.

In fact, if you put aside everything you've ever heard, and read through the New Testament, asking God to teach you and give you understanding, I believe you will come to a very different conclusion than what is currently being taught.

If you are a born again Christian, you do not have to have someone interpret God's word for you.  The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will teach you all things--if you will listen.

Now, I am not saying that so that you will throw aside your teachers, pastor and elders.  I am saying--don't just take ANYONE's word for spiritual matters, but also search the Scriptures yourself and pray for God to lead you in truth.

I am also saying it so that you understand that it is OK for you to do this.  In fact, when the apostle Paul came and taught them, the people of Berea were praised for it!

'Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.'

The passage I paraphrased, about the Holy Spirit teaching you all things, was written by the apostle John to the church at a time when some were teaching false doctrine--so it absolutely applies to this situation.  This was his word to them, to hold onto the truth and abide in God, and the Holy Spirit would keep them grounded in truth and protected from deception. 

Although we have many wonderful pastors and teachers, now more than ever, it is vital that you look to God, not men.  And because of the difficult times ahead, it is critical that your Christian faith is based on what God's Word (the Bible) say to YOU--not what someone tells you God's Word says to you.  Check it out for yourself!  The foundation you lay now will have to support you through the storms that are coming in the days ahead.

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would remind believers of everything he had taught.  (I believe that also covers the whole Bible, not just the 'red letter' words.)  But how can you be reminded of something you do not know?  God's Word is alive.  Study it, know it and, when you need it, He will remind you of just the right verses that apply to your situation.

I said all that because I want to explain what I believe to be true about 'The Rapture' and the return of Christ. And I want you to understand that I am not trying to recruit disciples to myself.  I want you to find the truth, and not just take my word for it. 

This will probably take up more than one post, so I will have to link them together for you when I finish.  I will conclude this one by giving a couple of my reasons for why I don't believe a 'Rapture' comes before The Tribulation.

1. It never made sense to me that Christians all over the world, for the last 2,000+ years, would endure persecution and yet we (American Christians) would expect God to whisk us away when things got difficult.  What arrogance!  We should expect to suffer MORE than they did, because we were endowed with such tremendous blessings from God and we squandered them!   
2. Also, one of the themes I see, throughout the New Testament, is that suffering is a means of purification.  I really don't like that.  I don't like to suffer, nor do I like to see others suffer (if they are 'innocent'--I've got to be honest).  But God sees things from an eternal perspective and He knows that what we go through here on Earth will build the character that we take with us into eternity. 

These are a couple of the ideas that got me digging deeper to find the truth.  I want to continue on this topic, in a new post, by taking the time to present the verses from God's Word that I believe support my position.



Just Another 'Blue Light Special'?
Deathbed Conversions

Novus Ordo Seclorum --'A New Order of the Ages' (Oh yes . . . Part 3)

(Continued from Part 2, 'Amerika')

There WILL BE one world government, ruled by the antichrist.  I don't want to see it happen, because I've read the end of the book--I KNOW how that turns out!  While the Bible spells out much about what will take place, it doesn't say that America has to be the seat of his power!

Sure, our currency reflects the designs that the freemasons have, for a world government that begins in America--but that is not prophecy! It is a hope, a plan, a goal of some--but God has not decreed it to happen.

Don't be fooled by false 'prophecies'--a prophecy is only as infallible as the one who ordains it!  Maybe the Mayans somehow saw the future--or not.  Maybe Nostradamus saw what would happen--or not, etc., etc., etc.

The Bible makes it clear that if a prophet is speaking God's prophecies--he will never be wrong!  If he is not 100% right in his prophecies, then they did not come from God.  And if it doesn't claim to be the word of God, then it is not even a prophecy.  It is a goal, a hope, a fear, or an opinion!

If you are still not convinced that something new has settled upon our country, that there is a conspiracy unfolding, then look at the alliances Obama is making.  He is snubbing our traditional white, imperialist allies and befriending dictators!  Sure, you can say he is just trying to 'establish a dialogue' with them to bring about resolution to current conflicts--but that is just the cover!  In fact, it isn't even a cover.  All of this is happening in plain sight, yet people do not see!

We currently have several world leaders, who have recently seized power from their people--Putin, Chavez, Zelaya.  Elected democratically, they then changed the laws, enabling themselves to stay in office.  Wake up please.  It is happening in America now too!

If you don't think he sympathizes with these dictators, look at his response to the heroic efforts of the Hondurans in ousting a leader who was doing the same thing he is--usurping power and violating the people's constitutional rights!  He sided with Zelaya and insists he should be returned from exile and placed back into power over the Honduran patriots!

And consider his lack of response to the brave freedom loving people in Iran who were protesting a fraudulent election.  Silence, until he was repeatedly pushed to issue some kind of response-- and even then it was lukewarm at best!

These are the people that Obama is befriending--bold, audacious men that take what they want by force.  I believe he feels a kinship with these men because he has similar ambitions.  In fact, I believe they are all auditioning for the position of world leader.

These are the philosophical allies of our president--and he is working to establish them as his political allies as well!  Every move he makes is to court those who despise freedom and draw them into his circle of influence!

Look at his appointees-many of them are drawn from the ranks of the organizations he puts them in charge of overseeing!  Do you not see that he is throwing the door open wide and letting the fox into the henhouse?  And he welcomes people from every ideology that is opposed to America as we know it!

The status quo is under attack--and it probably should be!  But the direction in which he is taking us instead is not towards honesty, transparency, justice, and equality.  Those are his claims, but you must look at his actions!  While he may cover his real convictions with the words we want to hear, the people he surrounds himself with don't even attempt to veil their convictions!

It has struck me how he has told us, more or less, what he planned to do.  His agenda is not deeply concealed.  In fact, it is so obvious that it is hard to understand why people are not seeing what it is!  Unlike previous administrations, his ambitions and design are all happening in plain sight-this is very unusual too!  Here is why I believe that it is happening this way:

Whether or not he knows and intends that what he is putting in place in America will pave the way for the antichrist to have world dominion is not apparent at this time.  However, there are deep spiritual involvements and implications here!

Understand, for example, that a person cannot be possessed without inviting it.  There are spiritual laws that cannot be violated.  So too, it would be a violation of spiritual laws for Satan to seize control of  government on earth.  However, he is free to persuade & deceive men to grant him the power that is rightfully theirs!  So, he courts the leaders of the world's people.

So, Obama is NOT violating spiritual laws in creating a government for the antichrist to control.  He is doing this in plain sight to obtain the implied consent of the American people!  He may say one thing, but we can see, if we choose to, what he is really doing.  This protects the antichrist from being unseated on the grounds that he violated spiritual laws in obtaining his power. Therefore, if you have any objections to what is happening, you must act to oppose it now, while the power of government still belongs to the American people.


(Continued in Part 4, 'The Witness')

Here's The Deal . . .

The Deal is that man & woman (Adam & Eve) were created good, and pure.  They were allowed to live, protected, in a perfect environment & were given free will.

CENTRAL to God's plan for people is their FREE WILL!

God set before them a choice-to have a relationship with Him, on His terms, or to follow their own desires. They chose the latter, thereby severing the relationship with God and choosing, ultimately, death.

But God loved them and knew the horrible fate to which they would be consigned-and all of their descendants as well.  I believe His heart was grieved for all of mankind that would follow, already sentenced to death and cut off from relationship with Him.  (Since Adam's choice, all mankind is born into sin and each one will ultimately commit sin him/herself.  Once a person knowingly sins, they are cut off from relationship with God.)

He had known, sadly, when He created them that this is the path they would take and so, when He created them He already had in mind a plan to bring about good for them, in spite of the choice they would make.  Although angry with Adam & Eve, He still loved them and His heart overflowed with forgiveness.

In order for mankind to be reconciled to Him, He would have to come to earth, live a sinless life in a human body of His own, and pay for the sins of all mankind by surrendering Himself to death and hell.

So, He chose a virgin and, by His Spirit, conceived a child within her. The Son, (part of God, who is a triune being--Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who had lived in Heaven, now came to earth in a body of flesh.  He lived a sinless life so that His death could pay the price for the sins of all mankind and so that they could be set free-if they choose.

He surrendered His body and spirit to death and descended into hell.  Here He paid the price for the sins of every man, past, present & future.  He spent 3 days in Hell and triumphed over Satan, then was resurrected.  He spent a short time on the earth with his disciples and then ascended into heaven.
 
It's that simple.  You could compare it to someone buying you an all expenses paid vacation to the Bahamas.  But you won't wake up on the beach unless you accept their gift, take the ticket, pack your bags and get on the plane.  Although the price has paid, you still have to make the choice and do your part.

To be reconciled to God you

• admit and repent of your sins (be sorry about them, ask forgiveness for them, and make up your mind not to live that way anymore)
• believe that He is God, that He came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died to pay for your sins
• accept His gift of freedom & life, with thankfulness
• pray to Him, read the Bible, and ask Him to connect you with Christians for friendship, teaching, protection and spiritual support
• be faithful to Him

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