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Posts Tagged ‘rapture’

These Terminal Times

Posted in Bible, Christianity, discipleship, evangelism, Jesus, religion, Salvation, sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 7, 2013| 5 Comments »

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” 2 Timothy 3:1

Jesus is Coming Soon

Do you believe that? The Apostle Paul did, and he lived his entire Christian life as if Jesus would be coming to get him at any moment. As a result his attitude of faith served to make him spiritually healthier. But please don’t ever say:

“Paul was wrong, Jesus never returned for him.”

paulFirst of all, that’s just not true. But regardless, Paul would tell you that his actions were right, despite the fact his rapturial timing was askew (Paul’s harpazo was of a personal nature and likely occurred when he purportedly lost his head). Let us be mindful of Christ‘s own words, “That day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Back to Paul’s attitude: consider 1 John 3:2-3

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

In case you missed it, Paul is proclaiming that whoever has this hope becomes purer and thus more like Jesus. I think it was Billy Graham, when asked what if God is not real, responded, “Then I will have lived a better life.”

Paul would have likely agreed. Not only is Jesus Christ the real-deal, but in our waiting for His return we are being made better, not for our glory, but for His!

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification” 1 Thessalonians 4:3a

Want to know God’s will for your life? Well there it is!

The Contrasting Christian

What is the net result when Christians do not live as if Christ’s return was imminent? Jesus tells us Himself in Matthew 24:48-51

“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ’My master is delaying his coming, ’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Clearly, if our behavior does not reflect an attitude of Christ’s return being near, than it’s likely emulating the worldly conduct that surrounds us. In other words, if we’re not surrendered to the sanctification process, that is the setting apart of ourselves for all things Spiritual and submitted to God for the changes He desires to see in us, than we’re behaving as the rest of the world behaves. This person must question whether or not he or she is truly saved. Keep in mind that merely going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

I implore you as well.

Jesus is coming soon and you do not want to delay. If you are not a Christian, you must rectify that immediately revive(here’s how). If you are a nominal Christian, you need to start acting like a normal Christian. Repent or be revived! Now is the time. We are closer to Christ’s return than we have ever been before and if you should die before Christ returns for all of us, then you will be a witness to a private audience with the King of Kings. At that time if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He will not receive you into His Kingdom — that’s just the way it is.

I beg you, stop rejecting the only Savior.

 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-27

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Resurrection: Part One and Two

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, investment, Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , on January 6, 2009| 4 Comments »

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:4-5Who Are ‘They’

‘They’ are us! That is to say that the ‘they’ the Apostle John spied sitting upon these thrones are all the saints of the raptured church. If you believe and have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then John saw you! As cool as that is, that is not what I wanted to write about today.

Let’s Talk Resurrection

The Bible makes mention of not one, but two resurrections and we read about the first one in our text today. “But wait a minute, ” you say, “I thought Christ’s resurrection was the first one?” That is correct, but understand that the first resurrection is not so much a single event as it is a period of time; a period of time that began with an empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday and ends here in Revelation 20:5, or more accurately, at the onset of the Millennium.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Revelation 20:6

That about sums it all up does it not! Think about it–if you are a part of the first resurrection, whatever horrible and rotten things that happened to you while on earth suddenly do not matter all that much. Why? Because as part of the first resurrection-wave, you are now blessed and holy! Outside of Jesus Christ, this cannot occur.

Resurrection: Part Two

Unlike the first resurrection, the second resurrection is a singular episode which occurs during a time generally referred to as the White Throne Judgment. Sadly, it is also referred to as the second death. Truthfully, John’s fist-hand account of this event [in Revelation 20:12-14] is frightening

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The second resurrection is for those who have denied Christ Jesus; for those who have said they have no need for a Savior. These may be the same people, who make the claim, “I’m a pretty good guy…Sure, I’ve made a few mistakes in my life, but the good far out-weighs the bad.” What they fail to realize is that when the ‘book of works’ is opened, if there is only one sin recorded therein, it is one sin too many. Christians cannot be judged by this book, the reason being that their sins have all been blotted out by the blood of Jesus.

If This Blog Were a Church

And if I were a preacher (I am not), this would be a great place to encourage those who do not know Jesus Christ [as Lord and Savior] and to invite them to have their sins blotted out of the ‘book of works’ with His blood. It would also be a good place to remind them that God does not send anyone to hell. Hell was created for satan and his henchman. If people end up there, they essentially have sent themselves. In God’s economy there is no gray-area, everything is either black or white.


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Is Babylon the United States?

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, food and drink, health, investment, tagged , , , , , , , on January 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Revelation 18:21-24Is Babylon New York City

Reading the passage above a person could certainly make a case that New York City will be the Babylon that is ultimately destroyed at the end of the Tribulation period. I will not be dogmatic about the assertion; I just am fascinated by the notion that Babylon could be in the United States. The truth is that Babylon might be anywhere. While others have made a case for it being the Babylon of Iraq, Rome, or even China–I just happen to see New York City as the best fit.

Why NYC?

New York is currently the financial epicenter of the world (ground-zero as it were) and arguably the wealthiest site on the planet. Sorcery in this case, as defined in the original Greek, really pertains to illicit drug use and needless to say, New York City surely holds it own in that arena. As for New York being the literal martyring-capitol of the world, that is yet to be seen, but one could make a pretty good figurative case for it being so. What do the prophets says?

Isaiah 18:1-2

Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!

The United States can relate to wings (as long as they are eagle’s wings), we are west of Ethiopia, nations do send their ambassadors to the United Nations, we are a nation that has conquered it’s rightful inhabitants, and oh yes, our rivers are fairly tainted.

Jeremiah 50:12 + 37

Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert… A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people…
I believe that England (our mother) is baffled by our behavior to the point of being ashamed. As for being a mingled people, no one could argue. Who though would say that Iraq or China are mingled?

Jeremiah 51:12a-13, 49, 53

…The LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness…As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth…Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.

The United States is the only modern-day kingdom that possess all these distinctives ~and~ ‘dwellest upon many waters.’ Whether or not the United States will stand with Israel to the bitter end is yet to be seen. Finally, and as far as you and I know, we are the only nation with the short-term capacity to mount an attack from the heavens with our moth-balled ‘Star Wars’ technology.

Who Cares

I suppose if the church is going to be plucked-off the planet before any of this takes place, it really does not matter much (to us) who, what, and where Babylon ends up. However God knows and He has established some road signs, and although seemingly vague, they serve to direct each sojourner to a place inside themselves; a place in need of some radical house cleaning—the Babylon of our very own hearts. James warns of this Babylon within.

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:1-8


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Factor-In Heaven

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, investment, Jesus, religion, travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 30, 2008| 3 Comments »

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2
Losers
The Tribulation is going to be a horrible time and persecution against the Christian is going to be at an all-time high. Oh, these persecuted believers are not you and I, for the church has been raptured by this time, but those who have been ‘left behind’ and came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior during the period of the Tribulation. Without a doubt, these pre-and-post martyred saints will be seen as losersby the heathens that supported and/or carried-out these barbaric punishments.

Factoring Heaven into the Equation

While it is true (that) much of the Book of Revelation is forewarning, this portion of the volume is a sneak-preview into Heaven for those, who with patience, endure. It serves to remind those who will suffer on Earth that their future hope and victory lies in Heaven. Let every believer know that in everything we do, Heaven needs to be factored into the equation. My heart aches for every Christian who suffers because they have lost this focus and also for every non-believer who endures the pain of life without any prospective hope whatsoever.

…Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel…To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:5 + 27

Do You Have This Hope

If you do, then my prayer is that your heart would ache for the unsaved, with each day your search spotlighting divine appointments to keep. If you do not have this hope, then I suspect it is no accident that you find yourself reading this blog today. This is the time for you to turn away from worthless pursuits and turn towards eternal salvation found in Christ Jesus alone.

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54


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Angel Food

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, investment, Jesus, tagged , , , , on December 27, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Angel Food
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7Confession Time

Before today, I never noticed the truth of this particular section of scripture and I need to acknowledge a false teaching…Of my own. You see, I have always believed (having had it improperly taught to me) that the Rapture could not occur until everyone on the face of the planet had heard the Gospel message. The basis for that doctrine was fueled by the words of our Lord and Savior in Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

What I failed to notice (until today) was this angel flying in midway through the tribulation, and yes, before the ‘end’, to boldly preach the Good News to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. What that means is that the Rapture could actually occur before you finish the end of this sentence.

On Another Note

If you are still reading, again my apologies—I suspect I have done it before and that I will likely do it again, but please know it is not my intention to mislead or deceive. I have squared it with the Lord and it is my hope and prayer I will not be erroneous in the future. But another thing also leapt off the page today—check-out the boldness of the third angel in Revelation 14:10-11 regarding those who deny Jesus Christ and choose to take the mark of the beast.

…He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God… He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever…”

Be An Angel

The message of salvation is either very important to us or it is not. I suppose my question to everyone (myself included) is just how important is the Gospel message (and if it is important) why are we not as bold as angels in our presentation, after all, everyone we know who is not saved is going to hell.

I heard a story today that gave me pause. It’s about an Englishman named Richard Love who was sentenced to death over a half a century ago. As the prison chaplain walked with him to the gallows, he pleaded with him to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, adding that to deny Christ was to accept eternal torment.

Love’s response? “Go to hell.”

This doomed man wanted to know why, if this Good News message was so gravely important, why then was the chaplain waiting until the very last second to deliver it and he added, “If I thought this message was the truth (as you do), than I would have crawled on my hands and knees through broken glass in order to deliver it to every person in England.” (paraphrase mine)

It would seem that Love dispatched himself to hell that day, but nevertheless, God used Love to convey a significant truth—if the Gospel message is as critically important as we believe it to be, what on earth are we saving it for?


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Brides and Bridesmaids

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, tagged , , , , , , on December 17, 2008| 5 Comments »

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. Revelation 7:14-15 Given a Choice…

Given a choice (and we are given a choice), I would rather be a bride (as in the bride of Christ) rather than a bridesmaid. As wonderful as it will be to get to Heaven, my desire is to go in the first wave, rather in the second, for it is the first wave (the raptured church) that is indeed Christ’s true bride. Again, the raptured church (are) those Christians who are plucked-out before the tribulation period begins and Revelation 7:14-15 is speaking of those people who come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior ‘during’ the tribulation period. They are Christians, they are saved, but they are not the bride of Christ.

Dave, You Lost Me

When we read today’s passage again, we see the revelation. First, we can rejoice for those who chose to believe in Jesus Christ during the tribulation because they are now in Heaven, having been martyred for their new-found faith. But we also notice that they stand before the throne and will serve Jesus forever, night and day. Make no mistake about it, they will be ecstatic that they have been given this eternal opportunity and will rejoice in it, but serve they will.

However, because we have believed in Jesus Christ before the tribulation (and also before the, ‘wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke, ’ spoken of in Joel 2:28-32, we will sit with Jesus in His throne (much as a bride would sit with her groom) and we will reign and rule with Him.

Because you have kept My command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth…To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne…Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 3:10, 21; 20:6

So What’s the Point

So many non-believers declare that if and when they see proof that Jesus is who He says He is, they will believe. That may be true for them, but there are these things they must consider:

1. If they die before the tribulation period, they won’t have this chance
2. If they come to believe during the tribulation, they will be martyred (murdered) for their faith.
3. They will get to be in Heaven forever, but will not be His bride, but His servants.
4. They will be happy to be His servants, but they should know now they could be His bride.
5. If a person cannot stand for Jesus now, what makes them think they will be able to stand for Christ when someone is threatening to kill them?

Brides and Bridesmaids

Finally, we see the differences between a bride and a bridesmaid as portrayed in these two Bible verses (both times Jesus is talking). Thomas (our bridesmaid) is most certainly blessed, but the bride (the one who elects to serve the Lord while on earth) is the one who is served in Heaven. The choice is always ours.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. Luke 12:37


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God is Not Through with the Jew

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2008| 17 Comments »

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed…the tribe of Gad…the tribe of Asher…the tribe of Naphtali…the tribe of Manasseh…the tribe of Simeon…the tribe of Levi…the tribe of Issachar…the tribe of Zebulun…the tribe of Joseph…the tribe of Benjamin… Revelation 7:4-5144, 000

Who are these 144, 000 people spoken of in the Bible? Ask the Jehovah Witness and he will tell you that it is the Jehovah Witness. Ask the Mormon and he will say it is Mormon. Ask the Seventh Day Adventist and he will say it is Seventh day Adventist. However, if we ask God, He will say it is the children of the twelve tribes of Israel—Revelation 7 cannot be any clearer. God is not through with the Jew and to believe otherwise is to call our Father a liar.

What About Me

What about you; where will you be? Well, if Jesus Christ is your Lord and your Savior, you will have been ‘plucked out’ before the seven year Tribulation period. What about this term, ‘plucked out’…I have never seen this term used in my Bible? There is nothing to worry about; it means you have been ‘raptured’ (which is another term you won’t see specifically used in your Bible).

Replacement Theology is Bogus

Replacement theology; or the notion that the Lord has forgotten about the nation of Israel and has replaced it with the Christian church, is a false teaching. It is erroneous because the Bible clearly declares otherwise and to promote it is to promote anti Semitism. And besides, if it were true, than that would mean that God has broken His promise to the Jews. Honestly, if God starts breaking promises, than we are all in big trouble.

Jubilee

 

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Not All Heroes Ride White Horses

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, investment, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 15, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals;* and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2A Few Things to Remember

The things that the Apostle John saw (past tense) in Heaven have not yet taken place, at least as far as we are concerned. What John describes here is more-or-less a prophetic forecast, or a sneak peek of coming attractions. Furthermore, these events (that he is about to describe) take place after the church (Christian believers) have been raptured off the planet. And finally, the opening of these seven seals is not the final judgment, but rather the things that will occur during the seven year tribulation period—essentially it is a time that the unsaved world will pay for their (own) sins.

Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the Lord your God When He led you in the way? …Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you, ” Says the Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 2:17+19

Antichrist

Because of our ‘conditioning’, the person riding in on a white horse might seem like the good-guy, or hero, but we will soon discover that he is as far from good as one can get. The guy is in fact the Antichrist.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand… Daniel 8 :24-25 (KJV)

The Bow of Antichrist

It may or may not be relevant, but I’ll share it anyway. John records that the Antichrist will possess a bow, but I have a sense that this bow will not be a weapon (initially) like a bow and arrow, but rather a rainbow, or a sign of peace, for the word for bow here is the exact same word for rainbow used in the Book of Genesis (i.e., the ‘bow’ God placed in the heavens after the flood). Daniel’s prophetic account (above) declares that Antichrist will, ‘by peace destroy many’. I suspect it will be beneath this same banner of peace that many unsaved souls will rally.

Additionally, the crown that Antichrist wears is man-made. The Greek word for his crown is ‘Stephanos’, which is more of w wreath-like affair. In contrast, the crown our Lord wears is defined in the Greek language as a ‘Diadem’ and speaks to Christ’s deity and Lordship.

Why All the Gloom and Doom

I confess that I avoided getting into Revelation for the longest time. Partly because I assumed that since I would not be here for it (having been raptured), the events of the tribulation was information that I really did not need to know. I was wrong. As a Christian, I am called to sound the alarm, but to do so in such a manner I am not an alarmist. The Good News, after all, is only good if it contrasts that which is not good. We live in a world that would have us believe that there is no hell and that whatever we choose to do, as long as no one else is hurt, is perfectly acceptable. Sadly, there are many churches that espouse the same nonsense. Do not be deceived.

…And be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23b


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I Am Looking Forward to…

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Jesus, religion, travel, world news, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 5, 2008| 6 Comments »

I Am Looking Forward to…Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things… 2 Peter 3:13-14

How do you finish the sentence, “I am looking forward to…”?

This Saturday I am off for Disney World in Orlando Florida and while I am looking forward to spending time with the wife and kids, I am not looking forward to Disney World and it’s lines, it’s hype, and it’s expense. Suddenly the question, “How are you going to ‘spend’ your vacation, ” has a prophetic ring to it (the operative word being ‘spend’). Now consider the verses that precede 2 Peter 3:13…

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness… 2 Peter 3:10-11

Who’s There?

Now I am one who believes in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, therefore, Jesus is NOT going to come as a surprise to me when He comes to bring me home. On the contrary, when He comes for me, I’ll be flying as fast as I can to meet Him in the clouds. However, when I read this passage (and others like it), I am reminded that everything that is on loan from God and in my possession is going to burn up and dissolve. Dissolve–that sure sounds like something catastrophically nuclear to me! Add these prophetic words from Zechariah 14:12 and it becomes even clearer…

And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.

Kinda Like M & M’s

Flesh dissolving as they stand; eyes melting in their heads; tongues liquefying in the mouths…Man-oh-man, I am so glad I am not going to be around for that, but I digress. If our focus is not to be on the things of this world; the stuff we all seem to hoard with a selfish abandon, where should our focus be; what should we be looking forward to? The answer is very, very clear.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 65:17

How does that look practically? First it is important to know that we are not being called to separate ourselves from the world—we are in fact called to minister to this world. The world is sick and in Christ Jesus we hold the cure; we might call it the Gosp-Pill. Since we are called to be good stewards with ‘all’ the Lord has provided, including the Good News, we are to offer it to every ailing person we know. Whether or not they take it is their business—we are just called to deliver it.

Needless to say, keeping our focus on Christ Jesus will give us a better perspective when we suffer the trials and tribulations of being a Christian and dealing with the world we live in (housework, traffic, bills, etc). We can choose to be miserable (and of no use to our Lord), or opt to keep our eye on the eternal prize that awaits those who know and trust in Jesus.


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Doing the Math

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Jesus, religion, travel, world news, tagged , , , , on November 4, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Doing the MathBut, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

The Last Days

We are locked into time, while simultaneously God’s existence transcends it. Seeing as it has been two thousand years since Christ’s resurrection, it is as if His sacrifice occurred but forty eight hours ago. Therefore that puts the church in the third day. That might not matter much to you, unless of course you were familiar with the words of the Prophet Hosea

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Hosea 6:1-3

Freedom and Rest

If you are one (like me) who agrees with the ‘correct’ Biblical scholars, than we know that Adam came on the scene in approximately 4004 BC. Since we know without a doubt that Jesus finished His earthly work about 2000 years ago, that would put us at the end of the 6000th year or 6th day, depending on which side of the time/space continuum you choose to stand. My mind automatically recalls the 7th day as being a day of rest and even the 7th year as being the time when slaves were allowed to go free (or opt to stay with their master!). Returning to our opening verse, ‘with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, ’ how wonderfully that coincides with Jesus Christ’s thousand year reign on earth!. Moses gives us a nice illustration in Deuteronomy 31:10-12

And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law

How Close Are We?

When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. Psalm 102:16

In 1948 Israel became a nation, making it sixty years old. If my God-math is correct, Israel is about 90 minutes into statehood—not a very long time. That might cause us to ask, (not in a scoffing way), “So what’s the delay?”

Give Me a Second

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

There is your delay right there! Jesus loves us so much; He desires not one of us would perish. In a sense, Jesus wanted to hold the bus until I was saved, He waited until you were saved, and He is currently pleading at the door for everyone else. We should remember that the next time we are in a rush to be taken home. If we listen real close, we can almost hear His plea, “Just a few more seconds Dad!”


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