Sunday, April 17, 2022

Are We There Yet?

 The million dollar question these days seems to be: How much will the Church see before we are raptured out of here? There is so much projected on the Horizon, one is left wondering….would the Lord allow the church to go through that? 

Food shortages, EMP attacks, Foreign Invasion, Hyperinflation, Increased Persecution, etc. All these and much more have people wondering how close the Rapture is. Many believe it is not God’s will for the church to see any crisis before the Rapture. However, the promises in the Bible are that the church escapes the Tribulation (God’s wrath), not little tribulations! We are in the beginnings of sorrows and have been! 2020 is when the world stage really started to shift and things began to progress quicker! 

So, everyone wants to know, when Lord? (Including me). However, I believe we glorify the Lord more when we DON’T know exactly when. This is hard for me to admit! The Lord will judge each believer at the Bema seat of Christ for how they watched for His return. There are plenty of examples in Scripture about watching for our Master to return and being found faithful! Although a believer can sense the season (months-years) of the Lord’s return, no one is able to nail down a specific date! That is because the Lord knows our nature! He knows it’s best for us to always be anticipating His return and that it has a purifying effect on our life (1 John 3:1-3). 

I’ve watched many YouTube watchmen set dates (although they say they aren’t) and come up short every time. Many hide behind the idea that they are just speculating and that it’s okay to guess when the Lord is going to come back. Let me tell you, I fell into this trap in the fall of 2021. I was convinced that the Lord wanted to let us in on His secret of when exactly He would be coming back to rapture us! When the Lord rebuked me for falling for this, I came to realize that it is so easy, to blur the line between the Spirit and the flesh! 

Our flesh wants comfort. We don’t want to suffer. We want out of this world now! In fact, even the apostle Paul desired to depart and to be with Christ, for that was far better! But he also knew to remain, meant fruit for his labor!! So, how many of us are willing to stick it out in the future if the Lord tarries? Yes, we want Jesus to take us Home now!! But what if it is God’s will that we suffer for Him? A servant is not greater than His master! Jesus left us an example that we should follow in His footsteps.

I fear that many believers, have made comfort their idol. The general rule for Christians throughout church history is that we must take up our cross and follow Him. That means dying to ourselves! It’s painful! But necessary! 

Part of being a Rapture Ready watchman, is being willing to admit we don’t know the exact timeframe Jesus will come back, but ready and willing to stay busy and even suffer until He does! His thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways are higher than ours! We need to stop thinking we know better than Him, or when it’s the best time for Him to come back, and humbly surrender to whatever He calls us to experience!! ( Preaching to myself here). Maranatha!! 

Friday, August 27, 2021

Rapture References in Scripture

 In ancient Israel, Tu B’Av commemorated the lifting of the ban on inter-tribal marriage and was celebrated as a “matchmaking day” for unmarried women. On the full moon of Av, virgins would dress in white and go out and dance in the vineyards to attract husbands.


Some speculate that Ruth’s wedding to Boaz, a picture of the Church’s wedding to Messiah, occurred on Tu B’Av: Scripture records that Ruth lived with her mother-in-law, Naomi, until all of the wheat harvest was complete (Ruth 2:21-23). Tu B’Av traditionally marks the beginning of the grape harvest and, therefore, an unofficial conclusion to the wheat harvest. This is presumably when Ruth would have stopped living with her mother-in-law to take up residence with her new husband/redeemer, Boaz.


Pertaining to the grape harvest, a rapture-typology in Song of Solomon associates ripened grapes with the coming of the shepherd to gather and spirit away his beloved Shulammite maid:


“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song 2:11-13).


Notice that tender grapes are the final agricultural sign mentioned before the shepherd, a type of Christ, says, “Rise up, my love … and come away.”


The grape harvest is when new wine is made. Peter associates new wine with the end of the age when he quotes Joel’s prophecy about the coming Day of the Lord in Acts 2.


Related to the Day of the Lord, Tu B’Av coincides with the full moon. Scripture links the full moon to the return of the “goodman” of the house, a picture of Jesus returning to settle accounts at the end of the age:


“The goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He has taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon” (Prov. 7:19, 20).


It stands to reason that the goodman would return at the full moon as the moon is symbolic of the congregation of God, or Church, which will be harvested after reaching a state of “fullness” (Rom. 11:25).


Finally, Tu B’Av is a summer holiday. 


In Matthew, summer is a metaphor for the end of the age:


“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near” (Matt. 24:32).


In Proverbs, summer is when the wise son gathers the harvest and the foolish sleep:


“He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son” (Prov. 10:5).


Sleeping at the harvest reminds us of the parable of the virgins in which the foolish virgins fall asleep without filling their lamps with oil. When the bridegroom appears suddenly, they are not ready to join him at the wedding celebration and find themselves locked out (Matt. 25). 


In Amos, summer is when judgment comes upon Israel:


“This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of summer fruit … Then the LORD said to me, ‘The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer’” (Amos 8:1, 2).


In Jeremiah, the Jews lament not being saved at the passing of the summer harvest:


“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20).


While the context is an ancient judgment, Jeremiah also likely alludes to a future time when Israel will see the Church saved from God’s wrath via the Rapture as they, themselves, are left behind.


In Micah, summer is when the upright people have been swept from the land:


“What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets” (Mic. 7:1-2).


The empty/harvested vineyard is indicative of summer’s end. A post-rapture world is typified as the only people who remain on the earth are the wicked, looking to shed blood. 


In recent months, we’ve seen glimpses of how people can turn ruthless with no “upright” individuals or authority present to act as a restrainer. However, the lawlessness on display today is but a foretaste of the evil and mayhem that will ensue after the godly are caught up into the clouds at the Rapture.


Could the event that will turn the world upside down—the catching away of believers—occur on or around Israel’s “matchmaking day,” the festival of Tu B’Av? 


It could. 


It could also happen on a day no one would suspect. This is why Jesus tells even His closest followers, those familiar with the biblical calendar and appointed times, to keep watch always (Luke 12:35-46; Mark 13:34-37). 

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

No man knows the day or the hour? 🤔

 Here the dilemma is how can Jesus' Second Coming be preceded by clear signs in Mt 24:15Mt 24:21Mt 24:27Mt 24:29, et al, and still be a time regarding which Jesus says "of that day and hour no one knows?" In addition, Jesus' warnings against being unprepared in Mt 24:36-51 seem to be describing a time (as in the days of Noah) in which it is "business as usual" for the world (Mt 24:3738ff). And yet we know that in the time of the Great Tribulation there will be "business" like the world has never seen nor will ever see again (Mt 24:21-note). At that time believers (and even unbelievers - Rev 6:16-17-note) will surely be aware of the fact that the end of the age and the return of the King is near (e.g., Lk 21:28). And as discussed below, because of the distinct time segments (7 years, 3.5 years, 1260 days, 42 months) of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, it would seem to be theoretically possible to know the day of Jesus' return (see some thoughts on this point). And yet Jesus clearly states not even the Son knows, so how can men expect to know? Can you see the dilemma that these passages in Matthew 24 pose? I must confess that I am at a loss to explain how on one hand signs point to His return and on the other hand we cannot know the day nor the hour. As discussed below because of this dilemma some have been led to believe Jesus is referring to the signless Rapture and not to His Second Coming.

There are basically two different approaches to explaining this dilemma.

(1) Some, such as Ray Stedman (A Thief in the Night), Arnold Fruchtenbaum, et al (see note 8), interpret this section as a description of the Rapture of the church, reasoning that Jesus' description of "business as usual" (Mt 24:37-39ff) simply cannot be true of the horrible time of the Tribulation and therefore must be a description of the Rapture which could happen at any time (if one holds to a pre-tribulation view of the rapture).

(2) The other interpretation, held by the majority of commentators is that Jesus' words are calling for men to ready for His return at the end of the Great Tribulation but that the rapture is not taught in Matthew 24 (See notes 6 and 7). After studying this text for some time, I am uncertain of which position is correct, although I favor interpretation (2). Therefore in these comments I am referring to His return as something for which we should always be prepared because that is what the tenor of the text teaches - Be prepared! It's a good motto for the Boy Scouts and a great motto for believers of every age!

RAPTURE revealed in His Word points to AUGUST 2021😲😳😲

 


Surely the LORD God will do nothing unless He revealeth His SECRET to His Servants! Know that the LORD is a rewarder of those who diligently seek. If thou lackest wisdom, let him ask GOD who giveth liberally. Whatsoever thou asketh of the Father in my name, it shall be given unto thee...IF thou ask in faith. Let not him that ask in doubt expect that he shall receive anything.

Watch here: 

Rapture 2021?

Thursday, August 5, 2021

America is fallen, fallen, FALLEN!!

 America MUST Fall! It has taken the purpose for which God has created it and perverted it. Instead of being a light to the world, they have promoted darkness. Instead of being salt, they have lost their saltiness and didn’t help to prevent the decay of the least of these, but rather exploited their weakness! God is not mocked, America (as a whole) has reaped what they have sown! The principle of sowing and reaping has reached its harvest here in America! All the nations that forget God will be turned into Hell! 

Watch my video warning of impending judgement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-YSuMrq2Tg&t=28s



We shall be like JESUS!!!!

 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” When we see Jesus, we will become JUST like him! The Fullness of Christ transformed by POWER!! This hope in becoming just like HIM, purifies us just as HE is pure!

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:8-12


We will no longer need these gifts, but only LOVE when that which is PERFECT (Jesus) has COME!!! When will HE COME? ANSWER: At the end of the church age...when the fullness of the (ELECT) Gentiles have come in(Romans 11:25)! For now......we see through a glass darkly.....BUT when we see Jesus face to face, we will KNOW, just as we know ourselves!!! Behold, Jesus is coming Quickly!!!