Why The World Will Not End This Week
another great article which reflects what I was saying about why the world will not end on Dec. 21st.
another great article which reflects what I was saying about why the world will not end on Dec. 21st.
Showing posts with label end of world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label end of world. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Pastoral chat
Yesterday I got the delight of meeting with a fellow pastor. In my families’ journey of faith, the Father
God has led us to his congregation to be fed.
It was a real delight, getting to fellowship with a brother in the
faith. Below I'll give an overview of our conversations and meanderings disscussing current events.
Since we’ve only recently come to his church, we haven’t yet
had the chance to sit down and talk concerning the current situation of
world-affairs, and the overwhelming number of Biblical prophecies that are
being fulfilled around us, other than through email links and videos
shared. So we finally got a chance to
sit down and talk yesterday.
It was so refreshing to talk to someone who saw and
understood the import of all that is occurring in the world around us. That in itself is a fulfilled prophecy
concerning the last days: Daniel
12:4 4 "But as for you, Daniel,
conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go
back and forth, and knowledge will increase."
Around the
world, natural and man-made disasters are occurring at a more frequent, and
intensifying pace. The New Age, through
her spirit channelers (mediums in contact with demons, who are liars) tell us that
“mother earth” is traivailing in death throes of survival, and that she is
trying to move into the next dimension, and without cleansing herself (a.k.a.
rapture), she will not make it.
The demons themselves
have laid in place the deception to explain away the rapture of the saints, so
that the world’s populace will not believe God’s word, which He gave to us that
we might be saved from our sins. And don’t
think that people will be able to choose salvation when the rapture
happens (Rom. 8:6-7).
2
Thessalonians 2:10-12 10 and with all the deception of
wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the
truth so as to be saved. 11
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will
believe what is false, 12 in
order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took
pleasure in wickedness.
If you are
saved after the rapture, you have missed the time of God’s grace, but you may
still find mercy. But it will not be
your choosing (John 15:16). The rapture
is not the end of the world. The saints
will be “caught up” to be with the Lord forever (Rev. 3:10). But this will commence the final week of
seven years for Israel, according to Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:24,27).
Daniel
9:24 24 "Seventy weeks have been
decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to
make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting
righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
One can see
online the Temple blueprints for the Third temple, which itself will be
destroyed by the end of the seven years, but then will be rebuilt by the
nations of the world, under the leadership of Messiah Yeshua. I think we can go ahead and start calling him
by his Hebrew name. His return is so
close.
But you know,
talking to my pastor friend yesterday, we did in fact discuss the big, “What if”
question. “What IF, it doesn’t happen?” Well, you know, that doesn’t negate the truth
of scripture. It just means that the
rapture is going to take a bit longer than we thought, and that things are
indeed going to get rough for those who profess faith in Christ.
But praise be
to God, who gives us the victory in Christ!
To depart from the body is to be present with the LORD. And what should I choose? I desire to depart and be with Christ, for
that is better by far. 7 But
whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the
sake of Christ. 8 More than
that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them but [shit ~ for so the
force of Paul’s wording in the Greek] so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not
having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the
basis of faith, 10 that I may
know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the
dead. Philippians 3:7-12
Monday, October 1, 2012
2012, Mayan Calendar, Nostradamus, Bible Code
Ok guys... its October already. Anyone remember all that Mayan prophecy stuff talking about entering a new era at the end of 2012, and not just entering a new era, but also the return of Quexalcoatl, the Serpent God worshipped by the Mayans.
2012, Mayan Calendar, Nostradamus, Bible Code
The signs of the times are all around us.
Matthew 24:24-25 24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.
2012, Mayan Calendar, Nostradamus, Bible Code
The signs of the times are all around us.
Matthew 24:24-25 24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Apocalyptic Sounds from Around the Globe!!! 2011 - 2012
These sounds have been occuring for some time. In fact, the Bible speaks of sounds from the heavens (2 Sam. 5:24; 1 Chron. 14:15; 2 Kings 7:6,; 1 Thess. 4:16), most notably Mat. 3:17,
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
and how in the last times there will be signs in the heavens.But the humanity at large has dismissed this as 'unscientific' and superstitious. But scripture tells believers:
2 Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; Jeremiah 10:2
for
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
If you have never placed your faith in the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not too late. Turn from your sins to God in repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, and the death he endured for you on the cross (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10, 13). Be saved from this wicked and corrupt age! Lk. 11:29
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Israel National Library uploads trove of Newton's theological tracts - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
Israel National Library uploads trove of Newton's theological tracts - Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel News
The apostle Paul wrote that a partial hardening of the Jews had occurred until the fullness of the Gentiles could be brought in to the faith, and (he writes) "so all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:24-27). As the article above indicates, are we witnessing the LORD preparing His chosen people to receive Jesus Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach) when He returns (Zech. 14:4, 9; Acts 1:11)?
The apostle Paul wrote that a partial hardening of the Jews had occurred until the fullness of the Gentiles could be brought in to the faith, and (he writes) "so all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:24-27). As the article above indicates, are we witnessing the LORD preparing His chosen people to receive Jesus Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach) when He returns (Zech. 14:4, 9; Acts 1:11)?
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Commentary on Aaron Russo video
I have written a response to the interview with Aaron Russo, and his insight into 9/11, government corruption, RFID chipping, and the formation of the one world government, found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGAaPjqdbgQ
This is a response to the Aaron Russo video. I think he's a got a lot of good info on there, but I also see that he does not have a Biblical approach, and he's missing the overall endtime scenario. I do think there is a group of American/European elites who are controlling and moving things together under their control into a global union, or government. But I also see Islam playing a part in it to, trying to accomplish a global Caliphate and worldwide Islam under sharia law. The church of Rome, we also see pushing for an authoritative centralized world bank and one-world religion. I think the evil one has several fronts that he's working from, not just one, to bring about his end time regime.
This is a response to the Aaron Russo video. I think he's a got a lot of good info on there, but I also see that he does not have a Biblical approach, and he's missing the overall endtime scenario. I do think there is a group of American/European elites who are controlling and moving things together under their control into a global union, or government. But I also see Islam playing a part in it to, trying to accomplish a global Caliphate and worldwide Islam under sharia law. The church of Rome, we also see pushing for an authoritative centralized world bank and one-world religion. I think the evil one has several fronts that he's working from, not just one, to bring about his end time regime.
It seems like the "radical" or orthodox Muslim sects are largely going to be wiped out through the battles with Israel (Ps. 83; Isa. 17:1; Ezek. 38). This is going to leave a predominately 'moderate' Muslim populace in the world, and I know the pope has been in communication with Muslim leaders, seeking to bring everyone together in "one faith." It may be completely true that 9/11 was set up by the controlling parties or not... I definitely think that we have to keep our eyes on the bigger scenario. I know in Dan. 11:40-45, it speaks of the one-world king having to fight wars, with the king of the south and others. I expect, with the regional countries there being primarily Islamic, even under the global rule of Antichrist, there will still be some Muslim infighting till the end.
The evil one has to be recognized on all fronts where he is working, and Islam is set up as a photo negative of Christianity for the last days, so I'm pretty sure that it will play a massive role in the coming deception of the world-teacher and his prophet.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Harold Camping again predicts End of The World
Calif. group again predicts end of world Friday
This should not surprise us. But what we need to do is to look at what the Bible says about when the End of the World is going to happen. And I think with the reporting done on the H. Camping predictions, there has been some confusion to the Biblical teachings.
Camping is claiming to have found out through mathematical equations, supposedly given in the letters of scripture, the timing of the rapture. The "Catching Away" of the saints, and the literal end of the world are two separate events. In fact, the rapture, or "catching away" of the saints (1 Thess. 4:15-17) seems to almost immediately precede the revealing of the man of lawlessness, better known as the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:7).
If 2 Thess. 2:7 is indeed referring to the Holy Spirit in the presence of the Church, (1 Thess. 4:15-17) then the rapture would merely begin the 70th shabua (or "week") in Dan. 9:26-27. And scripture seems to indicate that there would be a time of peace for the first three and a half years, and then the man (the Maitreya/ Mahdi?) heading up the one world government in the "new age" would take his seat in the Jewish temple, which is waiting to be rebuilt now, and demand universal worship to himself as God, but we know he is only a god for a brief time (Rev. 13:1-10; 19:19-20).
But if the timing of the rapture were something to be known, why wouldn't God spell that out clearly, like the rest of it the last days events? All we know of the rapture is that nothing in scripture dictates precisely when it will occur. It could happen today. It could happen two years from now, so it is imminent.
After the taking of the church, the world will remain, and scripture teaches the man of lawlessness will remain seven more years before the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus (Dan. 9:27, 7:18). This begins the time of the outpouring of the wrath of El Elyon (God Most High) upon the earth. People will come to Christ in this time, though it will require their life, and possibly their head (Rev. 20:4).
The real indicator of when the "end of the world" will be is the signing of the 7-year peace treaty by a world leader, who is regarded by humanity as a 'savior'. Then you know there will be seven more years before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But even that is not the end, for in Isaiah 65:20, a passage by many thought to be speaking of the state of the world under the millennial reign of Christ, it states that those who die at 100 will be considered accursed (a sinner). So some unbelievers will live to see Christ come down from heaven, establish his rule from Zion (yes, Jesus is a Zionist!) Zech. 14:9. So during the one thousand year reign of Christ, sinners will have the opportunity to know Christ as their Savior, but even then, not all will.
Revelation gives us a glimpse that at the end of the thousand year reign, Satan, our enemy, is going to be released from the abyss, and he will come out to deceive the nations once more, and lead them in a battle to make war on the Messiah (Rev. 20:7-10) and His people. But they will again, be quickly defeated, and the great judgment will take place, and then God will renew the heavens and the earth (Rev. 21:5), and His dwelling will be among men (Rev. 21:2-3), and so we will dwell with God forever more.
He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen, Come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20
This should not surprise us. But what we need to do is to look at what the Bible says about when the End of the World is going to happen. And I think with the reporting done on the H. Camping predictions, there has been some confusion to the Biblical teachings.
Camping is claiming to have found out through mathematical equations, supposedly given in the letters of scripture, the timing of the rapture. The "Catching Away" of the saints, and the literal end of the world are two separate events. In fact, the rapture, or "catching away" of the saints (1 Thess. 4:15-17) seems to almost immediately precede the revealing of the man of lawlessness, better known as the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:7).
If 2 Thess. 2:7 is indeed referring to the Holy Spirit in the presence of the Church, (1 Thess. 4:15-17) then the rapture would merely begin the 70th shabua (or "week") in Dan. 9:26-27. And scripture seems to indicate that there would be a time of peace for the first three and a half years, and then the man (the Maitreya/ Mahdi?) heading up the one world government in the "new age" would take his seat in the Jewish temple, which is waiting to be rebuilt now, and demand universal worship to himself as God, but we know he is only a god for a brief time (Rev. 13:1-10; 19:19-20).
But if the timing of the rapture were something to be known, why wouldn't God spell that out clearly, like the rest of it the last days events? All we know of the rapture is that nothing in scripture dictates precisely when it will occur. It could happen today. It could happen two years from now, so it is imminent.
After the taking of the church, the world will remain, and scripture teaches the man of lawlessness will remain seven more years before the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus (Dan. 9:27, 7:18). This begins the time of the outpouring of the wrath of El Elyon (God Most High) upon the earth. People will come to Christ in this time, though it will require their life, and possibly their head (Rev. 20:4).
The real indicator of when the "end of the world" will be is the signing of the 7-year peace treaty by a world leader, who is regarded by humanity as a 'savior'. Then you know there will be seven more years before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But even that is not the end, for in Isaiah 65:20, a passage by many thought to be speaking of the state of the world under the millennial reign of Christ, it states that those who die at 100 will be considered accursed (a sinner). So some unbelievers will live to see Christ come down from heaven, establish his rule from Zion (yes, Jesus is a Zionist!) Zech. 14:9. So during the one thousand year reign of Christ, sinners will have the opportunity to know Christ as their Savior, but even then, not all will.
Revelation gives us a glimpse that at the end of the thousand year reign, Satan, our enemy, is going to be released from the abyss, and he will come out to deceive the nations once more, and lead them in a battle to make war on the Messiah (Rev. 20:7-10) and His people. But they will again, be quickly defeated, and the great judgment will take place, and then God will renew the heavens and the earth (Rev. 21:5), and His dwelling will be among men (Rev. 21:2-3), and so we will dwell with God forever more.
He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen, Come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Why the Rapture Could Happen in 2011
Why is 2011 a Possible Year?
Please turn to Matthew 24.
You know there have been many predictions in our time that the world is going to end. In fact, you probably remember, the most recent one, which made the news, May 21. This turned into a real opportunity for unbelievers to scoff, and gave them another reason to dismiss the gospel message. In fact, Peter warns us of this in 2 Peter 3, he tells us, “In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?” We saw that with the mockery that filled the airwaves and internet after the rapture failed to take place.
Many here know of Hal Lindsey, who has been involved in teaching on the return of Christ. Back in the late 80’s, he made some claims that the rapture was about to occur. Obviously, it didn’t come true, and he has since repented and no longer names dates, though he continues in ministry about the end times. Going back even further, in the 60’s there were claims that the rapture would take place.
Why is it that so many of these claims have been made? Well, these expectations are set upon the signs and information that Jesus gave his disciples in Matthew 24. 2 Tim 2:15 tells us that it is God’s will that we be able to rightly divide (or correctly interpret) the word of truth, so let’s look a little closer at Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24 Jesus names a number of signs that will chacterize the world just before His return.
1.) He speaks of the increase of false prophets/teachers and people claiming to be the Messiah, or World Savior.
a. David Koresh
b. Sergei Torop (Russian incarnation of Jesus)
c. Mohammed - proclaiming the Mahdi
d. Joseph Smith - Mormons/ LDS
e. The Maitreya – “World Teacher,” proclaimed by New Agers
2.) Then He says we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Anyone heard of that lately? Presently, our world has been completely filled with wars and people revolting against their leaders, even in States here in the U.S.!
a. War in Iraq
b. War in Afghanistan
c. War threatened with Iran
d. Massacre of Christians in Nigeria (and other Muslim countries)
e. Egypt - Isaiah 19
f. Arab Spring (Syria, Tunisia, Libya, etc.)
3.) Thirdly, he speaks of natural disasters, earthquakes and famines that happen in various places. Luke adds in Luke 21 that there will be pestilences, terrors and great signs from heaven. He also says that there will be “distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves.”
4.) Lawlessness will increase, and the love of most will grow cold. But in this time, the gospel will be preached throughout the world.
Just looking around we can see that these signs are happening around us more and more every day, with even the Bible belt of America being some of the places hardest hit. After describing these events in Matt. 24, he tells of some events in the heavens that will herald his very soon coming, and then He speaks of His return with His angels to gather His elect.
Jesus tells us that when we see all these things occurring, that we can be sure his coming is near. Next He says, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:34).
Here’s where the dilemmas comes in.
What generation is the LORD speaking of? If we look back at the beginning of ch. 24, we see that His disciples are asking when is Jesus’ return and the end of the world. Now for a Jew, that phrase understands that God is fulfilling His promise to Abraham, that He is giving the Promised Land to the Jewish nation, and exalting the Jews above all the nations, in order to bring glory and praises to His name, according to His faithfulness to fulfill and keep the promises made to the Jewish patriarchs.
So the nation of Israel must be in existence for these events to take place. So we can draw from this that he is speaking to the generation being born when the nation of Israel comes back together. The nation of Israel was reinstated by the United Nations in 1948. If you get anything from this message this morning, let it be this: Israel is God’s time clock concerning the working out of redemption in human history.
The next question is, “How long is a generation?” This is primarily why there have been so many claims for the rapture, but have resulted in disappointment and crushed the hopes of many. What did the LORD mean by generation. Did he mean 40 years, by which the Israelites were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, till that generation died out? Well, 1948 plus 40 years would put it at 1988. Sound familiar to anyone in here?
How about 60 years? That would put the timing of the rapture at 2008… but that time too is past so it couldn’t have been then.
In my readings one day, I was reading through Psalm 90, and I came across verse 10: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty, yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
I was preparing for these Sunday evening sermon, I came across a verse in Gen 15 which defines a generation as 100 years. Now if that were the true meaning of “generation”, it would shoot this sermon in the foot! What is a pastor to do!? Ha ha… fortunately, we can look around us and see that the sense of Moses’ Psalm is more accurate. Not many Americans live to be 100 years old. In fact, a recent report came out by the Center for Disease Control saying that Americans live on average to be about 77.9 years old.
This Psalm spoken by Moses, I believe is key to understanding Matt. 24. This verse, spoken by Moses, assumes that the normal lifespan for a man to live is 70 years. And He says, “if due to strength, 80 years.” If we take 1948, the year Israel became a nation-state, and add 70 years, we get 2018. So if the assumption of 70 years is correct, that places the return of Jesus at 2018. But the Bible teaches us in Daniel 9 that the prince who is to come, will make a strong covenant with the many for one week, or one ‘SEVEN,’ that is, one period of 7 years which is known to the Jews as a shvua.
This one world ruler will be heralded because of his solution of peace in the Middle-East. He will successfully bring a seven-year peace treaty. The U.S. and other nations are increasingly pressuring Israel to cave to the demands of Muslims who want the Israeli nation destroyed, in the words of their leaders, “Wiped off the Map!”
President Obama himself stated in 2010, and again in May of this year, that he hoped to have a two-state solution for Palestine and the Jews in place by September of this year. There is a BIG PUSH for peace in the Middle-East right now.
But this effort to divide Israel has been in motion for some time now, and even conservative president Bush played a part in trying to divide Israel. Remember Hurricane Katrina under President Bush’s watch? God promised Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you” (Gen 12:3). . The Bush administration was working on removing the control of Israel and the Israeli settlements from the Gaza strip. Hurricane Katrina was a direct judgment from God on America for cursing Israel
Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return, but He commanded us to recognize the signs of the times, saying that when we see these things, to lift up our heads, for our salvation is near!
Other New Age websites tell there is a day coming soon, when an advanced alien civilization from far far away, will zip in close at the speed of light, hover near the earth, and then we will hear a loud sound. Then, all of a sudden millions of people will disappear off the face of the earth!
(And we’re supposed to be the weird ones!)
They will supposedly be taken to another galaxy or universe for rehabilitation, while humanity makes it’s next “evolutionary jump” into God-consciousness, just like Oprah and Shirley Maclaine said. I don’t know about you, but it sounds a lot to me like the demons are getting ready for the rapture, so they can keep on deceiving!
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Barbara Marciniak, a New Age author, says in her book “Bringers of the Dawn”:
Will 2011 be the year of the rapture? Will this be the year for a peace treaty initiated by Antichrist? September is coming fast. Only time will tell. But if it is not, it still will not destroy my faith. God’s word has been and continues to be fulfilled perfectly, and He will fulfill His word in His perfect timing. We only must obey His word, and be faithful to His calling on our lives.
Many Christians disagree as to when or even if the rapture is going to happen. And that’s okay. Your belief concerning the rapture has nothing to do with your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Some think that the rapture is going to be pre-Wrath, that is, in the middle of the seven year reign of the Antichrist. Some think that it is going to be Post-tribulational, at the end of Antichrist’s reign, as Christ returns in the sky, he will collect and transform all the saints.
But I think that the fact the demons are preparing a deception at this stage for the disappearance of (according to John Randolf Pierce’s spirit guide,) 2 billion, this is a great argument for the Pre-Trib position, because evidently the demons believe it too, and they are preparing those in “harmony” with their teachings that it is going to happen soon!
Jesus defined eternal life for us in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Here he defines eternal life as a relationship, knowing God personally.
I tell the youth, if you are not spending time daily reading the Bible and in prayer, you are probably not saved.
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Cor 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves… do you not realize that Christ is in you, unless you fail the test?
Please turn to Matthew 24.
You know there have been many predictions in our time that the world is going to end. In fact, you probably remember, the most recent one, which made the news, May 21. This turned into a real opportunity for unbelievers to scoff, and gave them another reason to dismiss the gospel message. In fact, Peter warns us of this in 2 Peter 3, he tells us, “In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?” We saw that with the mockery that filled the airwaves and internet after the rapture failed to take place.
Many here know of Hal Lindsey, who has been involved in teaching on the return of Christ. Back in the late 80’s, he made some claims that the rapture was about to occur. Obviously, it didn’t come true, and he has since repented and no longer names dates, though he continues in ministry about the end times. Going back even further, in the 60’s there were claims that the rapture would take place.
Why is it that so many of these claims have been made? Well, these expectations are set upon the signs and information that Jesus gave his disciples in Matthew 24. 2 Tim 2:15 tells us that it is God’s will that we be able to rightly divide (or correctly interpret) the word of truth, so let’s look a little closer at Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24 Jesus names a number of signs that will chacterize the world just before His return.
1.) He speaks of the increase of false prophets/teachers and people claiming to be the Messiah, or World Savior.
b. Sergei Torop (Russian incarnation of Jesus)
c. Mohammed - proclaiming the Mahdi
d. Joseph Smith - Mormons/ LDS
e. The Maitreya – “World Teacher,” proclaimed by New Agers
2.) Then He says we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Anyone heard of that lately? Presently, our world has been completely filled with wars and people revolting against their leaders, even in States here in the U.S.!
a. War in Iraq
b. War in Afghanistan
c. War threatened with Iran
d. Massacre of Christians in Nigeria (and other Muslim countries)
e. Egypt - Isaiah 19
f. Arab Spring (Syria, Tunisia, Libya, etc.)
3.) Thirdly, he speaks of natural disasters, earthquakes and famines that happen in various places. Luke adds in Luke 21 that there will be pestilences, terrors and great signs from heaven. He also says that there will be “distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves.”
4.) Lawlessness will increase, and the love of most will grow cold. But in this time, the gospel will be preached throughout the world.
Just looking around we can see that these signs are happening around us more and more every day, with even the Bible belt of America being some of the places hardest hit. After describing these events in Matt. 24, he tells of some events in the heavens that will herald his very soon coming, and then He speaks of His return with His angels to gather His elect.
Jesus tells us that when we see all these things occurring, that we can be sure his coming is near. Next He says, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:34).
Here’s where the dilemmas comes in.
What generation is the LORD speaking of? If we look back at the beginning of ch. 24, we see that His disciples are asking when is Jesus’ return and the end of the world. Now for a Jew, that phrase understands that God is fulfilling His promise to Abraham, that He is giving the Promised Land to the Jewish nation, and exalting the Jews above all the nations, in order to bring glory and praises to His name, according to His faithfulness to fulfill and keep the promises made to the Jewish patriarchs.
So the nation of Israel must be in existence for these events to take place. So we can draw from this that he is speaking to the generation being born when the nation of Israel comes back together. The nation of Israel was reinstated by the United Nations in 1948. If you get anything from this message this morning, let it be this: Israel is God’s time clock concerning the working out of redemption in human history.
The next question is, “How long is a generation?” This is primarily why there have been so many claims for the rapture, but have resulted in disappointment and crushed the hopes of many. What did the LORD mean by generation. Did he mean 40 years, by which the Israelites were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, till that generation died out? Well, 1948 plus 40 years would put it at 1988. Sound familiar to anyone in here?
How about 60 years? That would put the timing of the rapture at 2008… but that time too is past so it couldn’t have been then.
In my readings one day, I was reading through Psalm 90, and I came across verse 10: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty, yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
I was preparing for these Sunday evening sermon, I came across a verse in Gen 15 which defines a generation as 100 years. Now if that were the true meaning of “generation”, it would shoot this sermon in the foot! What is a pastor to do!? Ha ha… fortunately, we can look around us and see that the sense of Moses’ Psalm is more accurate. Not many Americans live to be 100 years old. In fact, a recent report came out by the Center for Disease Control saying that Americans live on average to be about 77.9 years old.
This Psalm spoken by Moses, I believe is key to understanding Matt. 24. This verse, spoken by Moses, assumes that the normal lifespan for a man to live is 70 years. And He says, “if due to strength, 80 years.” If we take 1948, the year Israel became a nation-state, and add 70 years, we get 2018. So if the assumption of 70 years is correct, that places the return of Jesus at 2018. But the Bible teaches us in Daniel 9 that the prince who is to come, will make a strong covenant with the many for one week, or one ‘SEVEN,’ that is, one period of 7 years which is known to the Jews as a shvua.
We are told that this “Prince who is to come,” the antichrist, will reign for a seven year period. If Christ is going to return in 2018, then that means that the Antichrist or One-World leader must begin his reign soon, because 2018 minus seven years brings it to the year 2011. If it is indeed 80 years when Christ returns, that would put the emergence and reign of the Antichrist at 2021.
This one world ruler will be heralded because of his solution of peace in the Middle-East. He will successfully bring a seven-year peace treaty. The U.S. and other nations are increasingly pressuring Israel to cave to the demands of Muslims who want the Israeli nation destroyed, in the words of their leaders, “Wiped off the Map!”
President Obama himself stated in 2010, and again in May of this year, that he hoped to have a two-state solution for Palestine and the Jews in place by September of this year. There is a BIG PUSH for peace in the Middle-East right now.
But this effort to divide Israel has been in motion for some time now, and even conservative president Bush played a part in trying to divide Israel. Remember Hurricane Katrina under President Bush’s watch? God promised Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you” (Gen 12:3). . The Bush administration was working on removing the control of Israel and the Israeli settlements from the Gaza strip. Hurricane Katrina was a direct judgment from God on America for cursing Israel
Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return, but He commanded us to recognize the signs of the times, saying that when we see these things, to lift up our heads, for our salvation is near!
Have you ever heard of the New Age religion? It’s everywhere today, though it is not new. It’s as old as Satan’s appearance in the garden of Eden. The New Age teaches that we are all gods, that we are all part of God. The penetration of this religion was accelerated through the Beatles embrace of eastern religions and promoting yoga (Goodfight.com, They Sold Their Souls For Rock & Roll), which is the Hindu worship of false gods, which Paul tells us are demons… It’s promoted so much now by culture sometimes you find this Hindu idolatry taking place in some Southern Baptist Churches!
Another aspect of the New Age religion is that it encourages getting in touch with your “higher-self” or your spirit guide. Disney is even putting out movies now that make light of people having their own ‘spirit-guides.’ Young people, there are no spirit guides. Scripture tells us that it is appointed once for a man to die, then face judgment (Heb. 9:8)! These channelers, and ‘ascended masters’ that the New Agers are contacting out there are nothing but demons, lying spirits that pose as angels of light.
Some Green-friendly New-Age websites teach about a coming cleansing of Mother Earth, that she is going to cleanse herself of all those of people who have an “intolerant” vibrational frequency. I don’t know what frequency you’re tuned to, but I’m tuned to 104.1, k-love! Haha These New Age websites refer to those who uphold Christian beliefs and values workers of darkness, and those who teach that we are all part of God, and every one of us is a “Christ,” the proclaim as workers of light. The Biblical definitions of "Light" and "Darkness" have been flipped on its head (1 Jn. 1:5).
Other New Age websites tell there is a day coming soon, when an advanced alien civilization from far far away, will zip in close at the speed of light, hover near the earth, and then we will hear a loud sound. Then, all of a sudden millions of people will disappear off the face of the earth!
(And we’re supposed to be the weird ones!)
They will supposedly be taken to another galaxy or universe for rehabilitation, while humanity makes it’s next “evolutionary jump” into God-consciousness, just like Oprah and Shirley Maclaine said. I don’t know about you, but it sounds a lot to me like the demons are getting ready for the rapture, so they can keep on deceiving!
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Barbara Marciniak, a New Age author, says in her book “Bringers of the Dawn”:
“The people who leave the planet during the time of Earth changes do not fit in here any longer, and They are stopping the harmony of Earth. When the time comes that perhaps 20 million people leave the planet at one time there will be a tremendous shift in consciousness for those who are remaining.” Barbara Marciniak, “Bringers of the Dawn.”
Will 2011 be the year of the rapture? Will this be the year for a peace treaty initiated by Antichrist? September is coming fast. Only time will tell. But if it is not, it still will not destroy my faith. God’s word has been and continues to be fulfilled perfectly, and He will fulfill His word in His perfect timing. We only must obey His word, and be faithful to His calling on our lives.
Many Christians disagree as to when or even if the rapture is going to happen. And that’s okay. Your belief concerning the rapture has nothing to do with your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Some think that the rapture is going to be pre-Wrath, that is, in the middle of the seven year reign of the Antichrist. Some think that it is going to be Post-tribulational, at the end of Antichrist’s reign, as Christ returns in the sky, he will collect and transform all the saints.
But I think that the fact the demons are preparing a deception at this stage for the disappearance of (according to John Randolf Pierce’s spirit guide,) 2 billion, this is a great argument for the Pre-Trib position, because evidently the demons believe it too, and they are preparing those in “harmony” with their teachings that it is going to happen soon!
But let us remember, regardless of what day or year the LORD returns, if you do not have a personal relationship with the One who came and shed his own blood for your sins, you could meet the LORD on your way home in a wreck, or die in a housefire. No one today is promised tomorrow, and none of us knows when our life is required of us.
Jesus defined eternal life for us in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Here he defines eternal life as a relationship, knowing God personally.
I tell the youth, if you are not spending time daily reading the Bible and in prayer, you are probably not saved.
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Cor 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves… do you not realize that Christ is in you, unless you fail the test?
If I were to ask you today, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Would you say to me that you were sure of it? Jesus said on the day of judgment that many who come to him saying, “Lord, Lord,’ will not enter the kingdom of heaven. He will tell them, depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never KNEW you!” Does he know you? If not, cry out to Him with a repentant heart, and ask Him to save you. And keep crying out, keep praying, till he transforms you into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
Sunday, May 15, 2011
End of the World - May 21st
I know this news has been out there for a little bit. According to the calculations of Harold Camping, the "end of the world" will be on May 21st.
It's pretty easy to refute. Jesus said that no man would know the day nor the hour, though he did say that you will know the season. His disciples had asked him what would be the signs of His return, and when would He restore the kingdom to Israel (the very thing our world leaders are trying to reverse right now - Gen. 12:3)?
He responded and gave them a description of the signs that will signal His near return. Normally, I would cite Matthew 24, but the same dialogue, or aspects of it, is also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21.
First he says, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. Luke 21:8 (NASB95)
He goes on to tell his disciples, "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." Luke 21:9 (NASB95)
So he tells us here that when we see the wars and disturbances, not to be terrified, for the end does not follow immediately. Jesus continues,
10 Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:10-11 (NASB95)
Some think that here he was referring to Is. 19:2, which I've previously mentioned in this blog, when he tells them that "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." From here He warns them in vss. 12-19 of the persecution that is to precede and coincide all these events for those who follow His teaching
Then He tells how to discern that the end time is nigh for His return. Is it a time of prosperity and Israeli-Judeo renaisance? It's not. one of the key signs of Christ's soon return is that of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. 20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.
Luke 21:20 (NASB95)
I've said before, "Israel is God's time-clock." By watching the nation of Israel, we can see the aproximate timing of things. Now about Harold Camping's prediction, because he said it, I know that it will not occur then, though that'd be great! It's the day after my birthday, and my wife's is May 22nd, so, it'd be the perfect birthday present! By Camping making this assertion, it just lends incredulity to the Christian truth, and it distracts earnest believers from the real task at hand.
The apostle Paul tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12 (NASB95) This world in this last hour is being directed by demonic forces, guiding us all into a one-world system, one government, one currency and one religion (new age "oneness" spirituality). Many are still held captive in their sins, and are under condemnation, for they do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Jn. 3:16-18)
A quick run-down on the end-time schedule. The scripture gives three end-time battles before the return of Christ in power and glory (Zech. 14:9). There will be the soon, maybe now forming battle of Ps. 83, against all the neighboring countries, the Philistines and descendents of Esau, who are mostly Muslim and out to destroy Israel. This battle is coming soon. Shortly following this, there will be an invasion against Israel, led by Russia (Magog) and Iran (Persia) against the quiet land of Israel. It will have other Muslim countries like Libya (Phut) and Sudan (Cush) involved in it. This will be the greatest display of YHWH's power since the days Israel fled Egypt under Moses. It should also be the final battle to end Islam, as the disillusioned Muslims drop the hateful teachings of their religion, as the goal of their religion (destruction of the Jews and global Caliphate) is not realized.
Hopefully many at this time will turn to Christ and to His saving grace, for the cleansing and forgiveness of their sins. It is not too early today, if you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can place your trust in Him today. The Savior invites you, 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matt 11:28-30 (NASB95)
It's pretty easy to refute. Jesus said that no man would know the day nor the hour, though he did say that you will know the season. His disciples had asked him what would be the signs of His return, and when would He restore the kingdom to Israel (the very thing our world leaders are trying to reverse right now - Gen. 12:3)?
He responded and gave them a description of the signs that will signal His near return. Normally, I would cite Matthew 24, but the same dialogue, or aspects of it, is also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21.
First he says, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. Luke 21:8 (NASB95)
He goes on to tell his disciples, "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." Luke 21:9 (NASB95)
So he tells us here that when we see the wars and disturbances, not to be terrified, for the end does not follow immediately. Jesus continues,
10 Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:10-11 (NASB95)
Some think that here he was referring to Is. 19:2, which I've previously mentioned in this blog, when he tells them that "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." From here He warns them in vss. 12-19 of the persecution that is to precede and coincide all these events for those who follow His teaching
Then He tells how to discern that the end time is nigh for His return. Is it a time of prosperity and Israeli-Judeo renaisance? It's not. one of the key signs of Christ's soon return is that of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. 20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.
Luke 21:20 (NASB95)
I've said before, "Israel is God's time-clock." By watching the nation of Israel, we can see the aproximate timing of things. Now about Harold Camping's prediction, because he said it, I know that it will not occur then, though that'd be great! It's the day after my birthday, and my wife's is May 22nd, so, it'd be the perfect birthday present! By Camping making this assertion, it just lends incredulity to the Christian truth, and it distracts earnest believers from the real task at hand.
The apostle Paul tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12 (NASB95) This world in this last hour is being directed by demonic forces, guiding us all into a one-world system, one government, one currency and one religion (new age "oneness" spirituality). Many are still held captive in their sins, and are under condemnation, for they do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Jn. 3:16-18)
A quick run-down on the end-time schedule. The scripture gives three end-time battles before the return of Christ in power and glory (Zech. 14:9). There will be the soon, maybe now forming battle of Ps. 83, against all the neighboring countries, the Philistines and descendents of Esau, who are mostly Muslim and out to destroy Israel. This battle is coming soon. Shortly following this, there will be an invasion against Israel, led by Russia (Magog) and Iran (Persia) against the quiet land of Israel. It will have other Muslim countries like Libya (Phut) and Sudan (Cush) involved in it. This will be the greatest display of YHWH's power since the days Israel fled Egypt under Moses. It should also be the final battle to end Islam, as the disillusioned Muslims drop the hateful teachings of their religion, as the goal of their religion (destruction of the Jews and global Caliphate) is not realized.
Hopefully many at this time will turn to Christ and to His saving grace, for the cleansing and forgiveness of their sins. It is not too early today, if you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can place your trust in Him today. The Savior invites you, 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matt 11:28-30 (NASB95)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
