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Thursday, December 24, 2020

A Blessed Christmas To All

And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2: 16-20)

 https://biggeekdad.com/2015/11/angels-from-the-realms-of-glory/

"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village as the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood. While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. Another betrayed him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon the cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today he is the center of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon the earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.”             

Excerpts of a sermon in 1926 by Reverend James Allan Francis



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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Blessed Is The Lord, Creator Of Heaven And Earth

 Once again this is the time of year when the Christian world celebrates the birth of Christ. 


In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus." (Luke 1:26-31)


The sixth month in the Hebrew calendar is “Elul” (Aug - September). Most pregnancies last nine months which would place the birth of Jesus in “Lyar” (April - May). 


The early church in Rome incorporated the Pagan Winter Solstice and chose December as the appropriate time to celebrate the birth of Christ commonly referred to as Christmas. Alas most of the nominal “Christian” world  has taken to heart the fabricated story of Saint Nicolas, replete with gift giving and all the lust for crass materialism that it entails. This attitude relegates the birth of Christ as merely peripheral rather than the greatest and most significant event to ever take place in the history of the universe.

 

The prophet Isaiah had foreseen the coming of the Messiah countless generations before the birth of Jesus.


Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53: 1-2)


Jesus grew up in front of God His Father, and appeared as just another little boy with no remarkable physical attributes. However later as an adult he would offer up his own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. 


He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
(Isaiah 53: 3-6,10)


It was the will of who? It was the will of God the Father in heaven to put Jesus His son through suffering and death, when he made himself, God incarnate, an offering for the sins of the world to satisfy the covenant between Himself and all of mankind.


Earlier Jesus had said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10: 30). This  and other statements clarify the divinity of Jesus the Christ as the incarnation of God Himself in human form.


Following his death and resurrection as He appeared to the apostles and said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.”

( John 14: 6-7)


It is interesting to note that no other world religion has anyone who left His place in heaven and was born into this world as a man and who selflessly died, was buried and rose again from the dead to offer salvation and a right relationship between man and his creator. 

As one looks around and surveys the world in turmoil and tumult in all the nations, it may become evident that the end of the age and the return of Christ is close at hand. It’s time to either acknowledge Christ and ask Him to become personal Lord and Savior, to turn away and refuse is to suffer the eternal consequences.

 

God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thessalonians 5: 9)


  1. joshuastone.whatis@gmail.com

Friday, November 27, 2020

Wheat vs The Weeds

The following verse describes completely and succinctly the only means by which God has provided for mankind to be forgiven of all transgressions and be admitted into His presence in the next most fabulous and everlasting life.

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

(John 3: 16)


Surely God has shown His love for us in spite of some of the most egregious things we do. He made it clear when He set the standard; “The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18: 20)

And again: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23)


How incredibly unselfish, to think that that Creator of the universe would offer up His own beloved Son as payment for our sins and basic human shortcomings. I wouldn’t let my son die for anyone, especially some of the disgusting filth we read about in the news almost daily. But aside from God’s plan, there is no other way, only eternal damnation and death. If it seems strange and unfair, but remember that you are not God, you have not created yourself and therefore you do not make the rules. Keep this in mind; “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. (Psalm 14-1)


Jesus taught using parables which would illustrate God’s mindset in human terms.


He told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)


Jesus went on to explain the parable of the sower:

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13: 18-23)


“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”(Matthew 13: 24-30)


The wheat refers to the lives that mature spiritually by following the will of God by believing that the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient covering for their own sins, and in believing that they have asked Him into their lives as Lord and Savior and in the process they, like wheat that have brought forth grains of goodness. The enemy is the devil who continually sows evil thoughts into the minds and hearts of humanity. Those likened to weeds are of two types that have continued to suck up the goodness of life that God provides to all. One type is religious but only gives mental assent to the historical existence of Christ while ignoring their own need for him refusing him altogether, they can be referred to as believers in name only. Then there is the other type who openly hates God and his Christ and openly scoffs at and hates believers. 


Jesus explained the parable of the weeds:

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13: 36-43)


We will refer to those who have set biblical scripture as foundational to their beliefs as (believers), they may be members of any church, denomination or synagogue. Christians are those believers who have acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and have asked him to be their personal Lord and Savior and have made Him central to their lives. They will be judged solely on the basis of their trust and faith in Christ and His righteousness. 


Non believers are comprised mostly of secular humanists, those that have taken on the mantle of morality based on their own self-righteousness with no belief in or regard for God or His Christ. This will include Atheists, Pagans and all followers of false religions, they will be judged on how well they followed the law all of which is essentially based on the ten commandments.

 

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” 

(James 2: 10) 


Anyone can plainly see that It’s becoming more evident that we are approaching the close of the age, now is the time for you to accept Christ and salvation or reject Him and suffer eternal damnation your choice! What will it be?


If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13) 

Friday, October 30, 2020

From Archbishop Vigano to the President of the United States

The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”  (Revelation 12: 9 & 12)

Roman Catholic Archbishop Carlo Viganò to President of the United States Donald J. Trump, a letter of concern for Christians and the entire world.

Mister President,

Allow me to address you at this hour in which the fate of the whole world is being threatened by a global conspiracy against God and humanity. I write to you as an Archbishop, as a Successor of the Apostles, as the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America. I am writing to you in the midst of the silence of both civil and religious authorities. May you accept these words of mine as the “voice of one crying out in the desert” (Jn 1:23).

As I said when I wrote my letter to you in June, this historical moment sees the forces of Evil aligned in a battle without quarter against the forces of Good; forces of Evil that appear powerful and organized as they oppose the children of Light, who are disoriented and disorganized, abandoned by their temporal and spiritual leaders.

Daily we sense the attacks multiplying of those who want to destroy the very basis of society: the natural family, respect for human life, love of country, freedom of education and business. We see heads of nations and religious leaders pandering to this suicide of Western culture and its Christian soul, while the fundamental rights of citizens and believers are denied in the name of a health emergency that is revealing itself more and more fully as instrumental to the establishment of an inhuman faceless tyranny.

A global plan called the Great Reset is underway. Its architect is a global élite that wants to subdue all of humanity, imposing coercive measures with which to drastically limit individual freedoms and those of entire populations. In several nations this plan has already been approved and financed; in others it is still in an early stage. Behind the world leaders who are the accomplices and executors of this infernal project, there are unscrupulous characters who finance the World Economic Forum and Event 201, promoting their agenda.


The purpose of the Great Reset is the imposition of a health dictatorship aiming at the imposition of liberticidal measures, hidden behind tempting promises of ensuring a universal income and cancelling individual debt. The price of these concessions from the International Monetary Fund will be the renunciation of private property and adherence to a program of vaccination against Covid-19 and Covid-21 promoted by Bill Gates with the collaboration of the main pharmaceutical groups. Beyond the enormous economic interests that motivate the promoters of the Great Reset, the imposition of the vaccination will be accompanied by the requirement of a health passport and a digital ID, with the consequent contact tracing of the population of the entire world. Those who do not accept these measures will be confined in detention camps or placed under house arrest, and all their assets will be confiscated. 

Mr. President, I imagine that you are already aware that in some countries the Great Reset will be activated between the end of this year and the first trimester of 2021. For this purpose, further lockdowns are planned, which will be officially justified by a supposed second and third wave of the pandemic. You are well aware of the means that have been deployed to sow panic and legitimize draconian limitations on individual liberties, artfully provoking a world-wide economic crisis. In the intentions of its architects, this crisis will serve to make the recourse of nations to the Great Reset irreversible, thereby giving the final blow to a world whose existence and very memory they want to completely cancel. But this world, Mr. President, includes people, affections, institutions, faith, culture, traditions, and ideals: people and values that do not act like automatons, who do not obey like machines, because they are endowed with a soul and a heart, because they are tied together by a spiritual bond that draws its strength from above, from that God that our adversaries want to challenge, just as Lucifer did at the beginning of time with his “non serviam.”

Many people – as we well know – are annoyed by this reference to the clash between Good and Evil and the use of “apocalyptic” overtones, which according to them exasperates spirits and sharpens divisions. It is not surprising that the enemy is angered at being discovered just when he believes he has reached the citadel he seeks to conquer undisturbed. What is surprising, however, is that there is no one to sound the alarm. The reaction of the deep state to those who denounce its plan is broken and incoherent, but understandable. Just when the complicity of the mainstream media had succeeded in making the transition to the New World Order almost painless and unnoticed, all sorts of deceptions, scandals and crimes are coming to light.

Until a few months ago, it was easy to smear as “conspiracy theorists” those who denounced these terrible plans, which we now see being carried out down to the smallest detail. No one, up until last February, would ever have thought that, in all of our cities, citizens would be arrested simply for wanting to walk down the street, to breathe, to want to keep their business open, to want to go to church on Sunday. Yet now it is happening all over the world, even in picture-postcard Italy that many Americans consider to be a small enchanted country, with its ancient monuments, its churches, its charming cities, its characteristic villages. And while the politicians are barricaded inside their palaces promulgating decrees like Persian satraps, businesses are failing, shops are closing, and people are prevented from living, traveling, working, and praying. The disastrous psychological consequences of this operation are already being seen, beginning with the suicides of desperate entrepreneurs and of our children, segregated from friends and classmates, told to follow their classes while sitting at home alone in front of a computer.

In Sacred Scripture, Saint Paul speaks to us of “the one who opposes” the manifestation of the mystery of iniquity, the kathèkon (2 Thess 2:6-7). In the religious sphere, this obstacle to evil is the Church, and in particular the papacy; in the political sphere, it is those who impede the establishment of the New World Order.

As is now clear, the one who occupies the Chair of Peter has betrayed his role from the very beginning in order to defend and promote the globalist ideology, supporting the agenda of the deep church, who chose him from its ranks.

Mr. President, you have clearly stated that you want to defend the nation – One Nation under God, fundamental liberties, and non-negotiable values that are denied and fought against today. It is you, dear President, who are “the one who opposes” the deep state, the final assault of the children of darkness.

For this reason, it is necessary that all people of good will be persuaded of the epochal importance of the imminent election: not so much for the sake of this or that political program, but because of the general inspiration of your action that best embodies – in this particular historical context – that world, our world, which they want to cancel by means of the lockdown. Your adversary is also our adversary: it is the Enemy of the human race, He who is “a murderer from the beginning” (Jn 8:44).

Around you are gathered with faith and courage those who consider you the final garrison against the world dictatorship. The alternative is to vote for a person who is manipulated by the deep state, gravely compromised by scandals and corruption, who will do to the United States what Jorge Mario Bergoglio is doing to the Church, Prime Minister Conte to Italy, President Macron to France, Prime Minster Sanchez to Spain, and so on. The blackmailable nature of Joe Biden – just like that of the prelates of the Vatican’s “magic circle” – will expose him to be used unscrupulously, allowing illegitimate powers to interfere in both domestic politics as well as international balances. It is obvious that those who manipulate him already have someone worse than him ready, with whom they will replace him as soon as the opportunity arises.

And yet, in the midst of this bleak picture, this apparently unstoppable advance of the “Invisible Enemy,” an element of hope emerges. The adversary does not know how to love, and it does not understand that it is not enough to assure a universal income or to cancel mortgages in order to subjugate the masses and convince them to be branded like cattle. This people, which for too long has endured the abuses of a hateful and tyrannical power, is rediscovering that it has a soul; it is understanding that it is not willing to exchange its freedom for the homogenization and cancellation of its identity; it is beginning to understand the value of familial and social ties, of the bonds of faith and culture that unite honest people. This Great Reset is destined to fail because those who planned it do not understand that there are still people ready to take to the streets to defend their rights, to protect their loved ones, to give a future to their children and grandchildren. The leveling inhumanity of the globalist project will shatter miserably in the face of the firm and courageous opposition of the children of Light. The enemy has Satan on its side, He who only knows how to hate. But on our side, we have the Lord Almighty, the God of armies arrayed for battle, and the Most Holy Virgin, who will crush the head of the ancient Serpent. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

Mr. President, you are well aware that, in this crucial hour, the United States of America is considered the defending wall against which the war declared by the advocates of globalism has been unleashed. Place your trust in the Lord, strengthened by the words of the Apostle Paul: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). To be an instrument of Divine Providence is a great responsibility, for which you will certainly receive all the graces of state that you need, since they are being fervently implored for you by the many people who support you with their prayers.

With this heavenly hope and the assurance of my prayer for you, for the First Lady, and for your collaborators, with all my heart I send you my blessing.

God bless the United States of America!

,+ Carlo Maria Viganò
Tit. Archbishop of Ulpiana
Former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America



Sunday, October 25, 2020

An Urgent Message To Americans And The World

 This is a most timely message from Cornerstone Chapel, well worth the time to listen.

https://cornerstonechapel.net/

Thursday, October 8, 2020

End Times And The Pre-Tribulation Heresy

The doctrine of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Christians prior to the appearance of the Antichrist and his reign of tribulation terror over the earth is not biblical and offers false hope. It is a devastating doctrine that had never been taught at any time during the first seventeen centuries of the Church and has been taken out of context from verses in Matthew chapter 24 along with 1st and 2nd Thessalonians that refers specifically to the second coming of Christ during the midst of Antichrist’s reign of terror and death perpetrated against the Church.

In terms of bible history this doctrine is a relatively new belief that may have originated in Scotland in 1830, when a woman named Mary MacDonald received a "revelation" that the Church would not go through the end-time Tribulation. 

Others attribute the Rapture doctrine to Edward Irving, the leading figure in forming the Catholic Apostolic Church in England in the 1830s and it spread in the early 19th century. The Irish Bible teacher John Nelson Darby believed that this new truth was from God, and during a conference in 1831-33 he began to share the new teaching among the Plymouth Brethren where he was an influential leader. It is no coincidence that McDonald, Irving and Darby all lived at the same time in Great Britain.The doctrine was widely promoted in America through C. I. Scofield's Study Bible (1909, 1917), and it became a central pillar of the Dispensational Movement. It is still taught in many Protestant evangelical Bible schools, seminaries and churches as part of their statements of faith. It is by far the dominant prophetic view in Christian media. 

Several Messianic Jewish organizations and congregations also teach it as part of their pro-Israel, prophetic Last Days scenario. 


In short, the pre-tribulation rapture theory is the delusional brain child of those wishing to persuade Christians who are mostly not well versed in eschatological scripture, it appeals to the idea of escaping any of the pain and deprivation that is inflicted on believers by the followers of Antichrist. One believing this heresy must ask themselves if they really think that for some reason they are special and of more value to God than were the Christians down through the ages that were murdered, sawn in two, eaten by lions, boiled in oil, burned at the stake, crucified, and more recently the tens of thousands in the Mid-East, Asia and Africa who are being murdered in droves every day. 


The “Great Tribulation” is a horrifying period inflicted upon the Church by the followers of Antichrist that precedes the return of Christ, there is evidence that it has already begun. At some point immediately following the tribulation God will empty the bowls of His wrath on Antichrist and those who follow. These are closely coupled but separate events recorded in chronological order, the first event is described by John on the Isle of Patmos as he was given a foreshadowing of the future in (Revelation 6:9-11) “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “Oh Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”


The Great Tribulation of the church is not the wrath of God but the result of Satan’s diabolical hatred that is perpetrated against all believers. Satan’s destruction of the Church is then followed by the wrath of God against the Antichrist and all who refuse to repent and have turned their faces away from Jesus. (Revelation 6:12-17) 

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale; the sky vanished like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and every one, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?” 

Then as the angel opened the seventh seal a lengthy series of horrifying actions are levied against the Antichrist and his followers. It is written; “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)


Then in the immediate aftermath according to (Revelation 7:9-14).

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”


The Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine is a theory that sets people up for the catastrophic collapse of their faith, God does not do that to His people.This has happened countless times over the last two centuries since this Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine has been disseminated around the world by missionaries, through Christian literature, and satellite evangelists. Christians in several oppressive countries were taught that Jesus was coming soon to take them out of trouble and believing so, they did not flee or choose to fight their oppressors. Many perished, needlessly, clutching to misplaced hope thinking that since God loved them He would rescue them, but their faith was decimated, they believed that God had failed them and had lied to them. 


What value is the Rapture Message to true believers who are perishing daily in Communist and Islamic countries? Or to believers in Western Democracies who are seeing their nations being burned and destroyed by secular, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, racist, nihilist Leftists?

Those preaching this false doctrine are acting either out of their own drone-like acceptance of what was erroneously taught in seminary and lack of their own due diligence in searching the scripture, or out of the desire to grow a greater church following, get more tithes and offerings, and sell more books and videos to those having “itching ears.” They will be held accountable as they stand before the Lord at the end of the age for misleading many. 


Negative publicity about the false Rapture doctrine tends to create a defensive reaction similar to what we may refer to as "Demetrius Rage” as can be read about in (Acts 19:23-41). Demetrius was a silversmith who along with many others were profiting from making and selling statues of the pagan goddess Artemis. He became infuriated at the Apostle Paul’s proclamation that Artemis  was a false god and sought to prosecute him. Bible expositors preaching the pre-tribulation doctrine react the same way when this teaching is exposed as erroneous, as they know it puts them in league with false prophets and destroys their credibility and adversely affects their future income.

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Relevance Of Ancient Bible Prophecy With Current Events

The nations of the world are all currently embroiled in great internal and external strife. Most of it is meaningless in terms of eternity and is always based on petty jealousies, envy and the same evil mentality that drove Cain to murder his brother Able and it only serves to obscure mankind from the advent of the greatest event in world history. As I write this Turkey is arising once again as a major political and military force in Central Asia. Turkish President Erdogan is moving his nation from a Secular Democracy to an Islamic Theocracy and attempting to assert political influence over the Euro-Asian world. He is intent on reestablishing the former Ottoman Empire and it’s control over Europe and Asia. The leadership of the European Union and Nato are ineffectual against hegemony by aggressive nations, the only effective deterrence at this time would normally be the United States which is embroiled in it’s own violent domestic affairs and may be the target of a nuclear strike by China and a number of other Rogue nations. It appears that the clock is ticking and time is right for all these things to take place.

 

It’s important to know the current names of nations mentioned in the following prophecy rather than by their ancient names in order for it to make sense. Also that the implements of warfare as described were common at the time of the prophesy, the reader should understand that Ezekiel was referring to a latter day event which thus far has not transpired and that the armies mentioned will have modern armaments and equipment.The names of the nations and states that will be arrayed against Israel are as follows:

 

Beth -Togarmah - Turkey

Gomer - Turkey

Tubal (Tubalu in Cappadocia) - Turkey

Meshech (Muschki and Musku in Cilicia and Cappadocia) - Turkey

Rosh (Sarmatians known as Rashu, Rasapu, Ros and Rus) - Russia

Magog (Scythians) - Islamic southern republics of the former Soviet Union in central Asia.

Persia - Iran

Cush - Sudan

Put - Libya


The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords; Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togar′mah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes, many peoples are with you.

“Be ready and keep ready, you and all the hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be mustered; in the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land where people were gathered from many nations upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste; its people were brought out from the nations and now dwell securely, all of them. You will advance, coming on like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

“Thus says the Lord God: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates’; to seize spoil and carry off plunder; to assail the waste places which are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, you will bestir yourself and come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 

(Ezekiel 38: 1-16)


                                                                                   



“Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? But on that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, my wrath will be roused. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon every kind of terror against Gog, says the Lord God; every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples that are with him, torrential rains and hailstones, fire and brimstone. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. 

(Ezekiel 38: 17-23)


Considering how fragile and unsettling the future looks for so many in various places throughout the world one would think that it might be prudent to make amends with the Lord and establish a permanent place on the right side of God in eternity. 


“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)


Take an inventory of your life and admit to God that you are a sinner and have fallen short of His perfection, ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive your sins and give you a new and eternal future. 


because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

(Romans 10:9-13)

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

He Is Coming, Every Eye Will See Him

As he(Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” (Matthew 24: 3)

Jesus said: “They will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24: 9-14, 29-31)

The world is experiencing a sharp rise in anti-semitism, the persecution of Jews and Christians in these current times.


Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Since 2009 there have been no less than 32,000 Christians butchered in Nigeria 
by Jihadists and many have been murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 


Churches have been pillaged, desecrated and destroyed and Christians intimidated, beaten and murdered in various countries throughout the world.


Europe has experienced a growing number of acts of vandalism and destruction of Christian sites, the greatest number of such acts have occurred in France, where churches, schools, cemeteries, and monuments are being vandalized, desecrated, and burned at an average rate of three per day, according to reports drawing from government statistics.


Western European nations having large Muslim migrant populations are seeing a disproportionate rise in attacks on churches and Christian symbols. According to a 2017 study of France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, Islamist extremist attacks on Christians rose by 38%, going from 273 attacks in 2015 to 376 in 2016; the majority occurred during Christmas season and many of the attacks took place in churches and other places of worship. Similarly, around Christmas 2016, in Germany where more than a million Muslims reside, some 50 public Christian statues including those of Jesus were beheaded and crucifixes broken.


In the years following the death and resurrection of Christ the apostle John was banished to the Greek Isle of Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian for proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. During this time he was visited by the angel of the Lord and was taken up from his confines and given a vision of events yet to come.

“I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads.”
(Revelation 1:9 & 4:1-4)

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen. Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 6: 9-11 &7: 9-14)


“First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3: 3-4, 8)

The Jewish calendar and not the Gregorian is the legitimate calendar used in reference to biblical prophesy and is approaching the year 6000, which will comprise the Lord's six days which will coincide with the Gregorian calendar date 2027. Bible scholars believe the tribulation of the church and of all bible believers will reach a zenith in 2022, followed by the return of Christ at the end of His six days.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates." (Matthew 24: 32-33)

Most of the prophesies concerning the return of Jesus Christ the Messiah have been fulfilled, most notably the return of the Jews to their promised land Israel  which sets the stage and backdrop for the sudden return of the Lord and Savior.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1-8 & 19: 11-16)