pre-tribbers need to rejoice in this...

Some have said that if we would search we will find no history of the teaching in the early church record. They say that it did not exist until the 1830's. But that is not true...

Let us examine some early church writings:


Justin Martyr 100 A.D.- " The man of apostasy shall venture to do unlawful deeds on earth against us the Christians."
(Trypho, cx)

This is true, for many will be saved during the tribulation, after the rapture of the church, they are called the ‘tribulation saints...”... so this statement does not teach against Pre-trib rapture.


The Pastor(Shepherd)of Hermas 150 A.D.-
"Happy ye are who endure the great tribulation that is coming."
(Vision Second)
" Those, therefore, who continue steadfast, and are put through the fire,
will be purified by means of it… Wherefore, cease not speaking these things into the ears of the saints. This then is the type of the great tribulation that is yet to come."
(Vision Fourth)

the early church was going through great tribulations... burnings upon crosses, crucifixions, throwing to lions, imprisonments, scourgings with 39 stripes...etc... So when they spoke of enduring tribulations, they meant the tribulations they were currently in... and note that they also said “‘this then is the type of the great tribulation that is yet to come...” They knew another, greater tribulation was still to come... but only the tribulations they were currently in would be the ones they endured before the coming of the Lord...

Barnabas 130 A.D.-
"Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are called by God, we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord."
(The Epistle of Barnabas, chapter IV)

This indicates that salvation can be lost, and the hope of escaping the tribulation and the Antichrist would have to be faced... if one ‘falls asleep in their sins”... as the five foolish virgins will have to go through the tribulation, but not the five wise ones... This is what Barnabas was speaking of...

Irenaeus 130 A.D.-
" And they (the ten kings) shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the church to flight."
(Against Heresies, V, 26, 1)

Where two or three are gathered in His name, is a church... So after the rapture of the church in a pre-trib rapture, there can be a ‘church’ of tribulation saints which will endure some trib. Before being killed...

George Mueller 1805-1898-
"The Scripture declares plainly that the Lord Jesus will not come until the apostasy shall have taken place."
(Mission Tour and Labors, p. 148)


Spurgeon 1885-
"First, then, there is a terrible time, a time of fearful national trouble. When the Lord Jesus shall come, the heavens shall tell us:
‘There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.’ And then our own eyes shall tell us for they shall see ‘ the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory’… ‘Look up, and lift up your heads’ because graves are opening and you will quit the grave never more to die."
(Charles Hadden Spurgeon, April 23, 1885)

Billy Graham-
" Perhaps the Holy Spirit is getting His Church ready for a trial and tribulation such as the world has never known."
( San Shoemaker’s Under New Management, p. 72)

There is currently an apostasy, and a great falling away, and perilous times, and much tribulation upon saints... and trials galore... but that is not the 7 year tribulation spoken of in Revelation and Daniel... So the above quotes refer to this type of trials... not to the 7 year period of the wrath of God...

Hermas.....
There is an interesting paragraph in the Shepherd of Hermas... that shows that the early church spoke of tribulations often, for they were going through many... but they also knew of a separate tribulation, through which they believed the church would not pass....

Hermas tells us that he passed by a wild beast and met a virgin who saluted him saying... Hail O man.!
He returned the greeting... Lady, hail!
Then she asked... Has nothing crossed your path?
Hermas replied...
I was met by a beast of such a size that it could destroy peoples, but through the power of the Lord and His great mercy, I escaped from it...
The virgin said... Well, did you escape from it, because you cast your care on God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved by no other than His great and glorious name? You have escaped from great tribulation on account of your faith, and because you did not doubt in the presence of such a beast. God therefore, and tell the elect of the Lord His mighty deeds, and say to them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. If ye prepare yourselves, and repent with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible for you to escape it, if your heart be free and spotless in serving the Lord blamelessly.”
Hermas, The Shepherd of Hermas, Book I, fourth, ch. ii, also ch. iii)

This shows that the teaching was definitely in the early church... of a pre-trib rapture...and that the teaching of the pre-trib rapture was not added in 1830... but to a restoration of the doctrine that had been lost when the church apostatized in the dark ages... The church lost not only the pre-trib rapture doctrine, but salvation by faith, not works, became powerful feeling, and persecuted and tribulated (excuse the word) the world for a time, instead of wanting an escape of the tribulation...

After the first early rain revival of the church, the church became powerful... and ruled over the wicked... and the hope of the rapture waned... The church was joined by many wicked, with teachings from heathenism... for it was illegal not to belong to the church... The corruption of church doctrine explains the lack of the teaching of the pre-trib rapture, or of a rapture period, during the middle ages... Thus it is not strange that in the post-Nicene period, and the leaders in the middle ages, there is silence regarding the rapture of the church...

But the early church did believe in such... a pre-trib rapture.
As evidenced by Hermas’ teaching...

And the promise to the church of Philadelphia... (Rev. 3:10) “I will keep thee from the ‘hour’ of temptation...”
“Hour’ designates a time of coming trial, a period of tribulation... that comes upon not only a part of the earth, but upon ‘all who dwell upon the earth...”

The word for ‘dwell’ is not then normal... “oikeo” but the strengthened “katoikeo” meaning all who are identified with the earth...

Alford refers us to other examples in the Bible of this word being used, which shows it refers to “those who are not of the church of Christ”....

The nature of the 70th week of Daniel is one in which it is Israel who is to be dealt with.... not the church... (Daniel 9:27)

Isaiah 26:20-21
“Come, My people enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

The twenty four elders, representing the 24 divisions of the heavenly priesthood all have crowns on their heads in Rev. 4 and 5... and Paul clearly teaches that no saint, not even him, would get their crown until the rapture time... and the tribulation is starting in Rev. 6 -19... so this would indicate a pre-trib rapture...

There is a necessity for a period between the rapture and the second coming of Christ.

The judgment of believers will take some time... the passing out of rewards...
And then the second thing... the marriage supper of the Lamb, the opening of the New Jerusalem... will also take some time.

If we go up to the clouds, and then immediately come back to rule and reign with Christ for a 1000 years... when do these things occur?

Why would we be constantly exhorted to watch, if we could date the Antichrist’s coming, note esp. the date of the abomination of desolation... for if we were here, and knew that date, we have revealed in Scripture to the day, how many days after that is the second coming... and we would know the day of His return.

There are many messages from the demonic sources that have been telling those in league with demons, that the earth has an infection, pollution which earth needs to cleanse.

These demons refer to the Christians as "dark forces", and they are referred to as those who "no longer fit in". Such pollution, infection, and dark forces... they say... are keeping earth and its forces from the "light" of evolving to a higher state of consciousness called the "fifth dimension."

They describe a plan to "evacuate" millions of people who are out of vibration with "Earth Mother". As a surgeon removes a cancer, extraterrestrials are prophesied to be coming to "beam up" many into alien ships in a "twinkling of an eye."

Ashtar, an evil spirit, spoke through George Van Tassel in 1952 Ashtar is one of the 'Council of Seven Lights' pledged to save mankind from itself... Ashtar says a planet named Lucifer was destroyed by such an out of sync population.

In the 1980's this same Ashtar demon spoke through Thelma Terrell (Tuella) in her book called "Project World Evacuation" saying that earth would be spared by the evacuation of millions of people who threaten the evolution of the earth.
"...The Great Evacuation will come upon the world very suddenly. ... So sudden and so quick in its happening that it is over almost before you are aware of its presence... Our rescue ships will be able to come in close enough in a twinkling of an eye to set the lifting beams in operation in a moment."

Ashtar, that same evil spirit, also says that this will come in several stages.

"PHASE I of the Great Exodus of souls from the planet will take place at a moment's notice when it is determined that the inhabitants are in danger.

PHASE II, the second phase immediately following the first... as demon spirits return for the children of all ages and races."

Ashtar also says:
"Do not be concerned nor unduly upset if you do not participate in this first temporary lift-up of souls... This merely means that your action in the plan is elsewhere... Your time will come later, and these instructions are not necessary for you at this time."

Kay Wheeler in 1994 in Connecting Link Magazine (a quarterly New Age periodical) that some extraterrestrials called "Souls of Light" from the "Seven Celestial Plane of Life" say:
"The Mother is desperately fighting for her life... She is in critical condition at this time... That is why you see the many crises in the world. ... The Mother is cleansing. It is all that she knows to do at this time to clear herself of the pollution that exists within her body. But you as light bearers can help your Mother to cleanse in such a way that does not destroy all life on this planet.... Earth's population needs to be decreased to bring forth the necessary changes upon this planet to move into the fourth dimension... Many of these beings who are leaving this planet at this time have completed that which they came to do. It is a time of rejoicing for them. Do not feel sad about their leaving. They are going home. Many are waiting to be with them again... Many beings must move on, for their thought patterns are of the past. They hold on to these thoughts that keep Earth held back."

In 1995, Barbara Marciniak, in her book "Pleiadian Keys to the Living Library", tells of the coming disappearance of millions of people. With 13 trance-channeling sessions with "Pleiadian" aliens describing future calamities... saying that tragedies will accelerate until the 'great shift' occurs...

This same Barbara Marciniak, in her book "Bringers of the Dawn: Teachings from the Pleiadians", tells of a coming evacuation... These evil spirits claim to be the "Original Planners" of the earth, who seeded the earth with their DNA, and say "A major leap is about to take place." and "If human beings do not change-- if they do not make the shift in values and realize that without Earth they could not be here-- then Earth, in its love... will bring about a cleansing that will balance it once again. There is potential for many people to leave the planet in an afternoon... The people who leave the planet during the time of Earth changes do not fit here any longer... perhaps 20 million people leave the planet at one time there will be a tremendous shift in consciousness for those who are remaining..."

Earlyne Chaney, a New Age channeler, receives messages from an evil spirit named Kut-Hu-Mi... saying that earth "realizes that her matter must be purified... must be cleansed of the dark thought forces..."

Asher, a evil spirit speaking through John Randolph Price on December 31, 1986 told him that two billion people who didn't go along with the New Age would be wiped off the face of the earth during the coming cleansing.

Timothy Green Beckley says about the "light workers" who are left behind;
"...Many ... will not be taken ..., but left behind to help mankind survive through the cataclysmic period. This is their mission."

The rapture is the removal of God's children before the outpouring of the wrath of God. The evil spirits are aware of such an event. The demons are already trying to explain away what will be a great puzzlement in that day, trying to set up ahead of times lies that this departure of many is good for those left behind. In reality, the wrath of God, the changes that come then will be horrible, tragic, and deadly to most of the world.

We Christians reject these lies of demons, but we do know from the Bible that there will soon be a departure of all who are Christians. We will leave, and it will not be good for demons and their friends... for the tribulation, the wrath of God, will be poured out following the rapture of the saints.

ESCAPING THE WRATH TO COME

Why is there a rapture before the tribulation?

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (KJV)
10 And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.


It is the ‘wrath of God’ from which Jesus wants to save us.

There are types shown in the Bible of this ‘escape’ from the ‘wrath of God’. The rapture of Enoch, before the flood of Noah’s day, is one of those types. The taking of Lot and his family from Sodom, before the destruction came, is another.

The ‘wrath to come’ is the tribulation.

God wants us to escape the tribulation. The greatness of this escape to come, put joy in our hearts. The tribulation of the world is bad enough, but to know that when God’s wrath is to be poured out, and for us now promised to escape from such, is a happiness. This expectancy, and hope, helps us.

Jesus had foretold of an escape from wrath.
Luke 21:36
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

This ‘escape’ is the rapture. The wrath is the tribulation.

II Thessalonians 2:1
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him.”

II Thessalonians 2:7-8
“he (the church) that letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked one be revealed.”

I Thessalonians 5:9
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath...”

Revelation 3:10
“Keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall be upon all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.”



THREE VIEWS OF THE RAPTURE


PRE-TRIB

The pre-trib view is that the rapture will occur before the start of the tribulation. This view sees the time in heaven for the saints, wherein the judgment seat of Christ, the rewards, the expelling of the devil (Rev. 12) is made final, and the marriage supper of the Lamb with its opening of the New Jerusalem. The time spent in heaven is seven years, with this view.

MID-TRIB​

The mid-trib view is that midway through the tribulation, the saints are brought home to heaven. This view has the saints in heaven for three and a half years before the second coming. The saints though have to endure the first half of the wrath of God. It is the milder half, but still it sees the wrath of God upon the saints. The pre-trib believers also believe in a mid-trib rapture, but they see it as the 144,000 that are raptured after their ministry is finished. Mid-trib’s view is resultant of a misunderstanding of several Scriptures.


POST TRIB

The post-trib view is that Jesus returns in one event, and takes the saints to the clouds, and returns with them instantly.

This view has us never going to ‘heaven’, leaves no time for the judgment seat of Christ with its rewards, and has no answer for when the opening of the New Jerusalem, and the marriage supper of the Lamb is.

The saints have to endure all of God’s wrath, except the battle of Armageddon, and the only reason they are not harmed by that, is due to the glorified bodies they will then have. Y

et, that in no way fits the description of ‘harpadzo’, being ‘caught out of harm’s way’... for they are really ‘unharmed in the midst of harm’s way’ (which is not befitting the word harpadzo).

So, I trust and know there will soon be a PRE-TRIB rapture of the church... a resurrection of all the dead in Christ who will 'rise first', but then I and the rest of the living saints, will be caught up to the clouds, to go to heaven with Him... WOW !

WE ARE TO BE 'RAPTURED', I.E. CAUGHT OUT OF HARM'S WAY...

WHAT 'HARM' IS COMING WE MUST BE 'CAUGHT AWAY FROM'???

Jeremiah 51:13
"O THOU THAT DWELLEST UPON MANY WATERS, ABUNDANT IN TREASURES, THINE END IS COME, AND THE MEASURE OF THY COVETOUSNESS."

"Babylon" is term in the Bible that is used to refer to the various locations formerly listed. The term - "Babylon" - is used to refer to whatever nation is in power at the time that is mentioned. Therefore, in Isaiah 13 and 47, and in Jeremiah 50 and 51, the word seems to refer to the United States. This war will eliminate the United States.

The United States did not just happen. God has had a purpose for this country. It has played a vital role for God. At the rapture, that role ceases; for the saints are gone. The evangelism of the tribulation will be carried on by the 144,000 rather than by the church. After the rapture, the Lord must judge this country for its sins. Just as He judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He must judge a country that has as much guilt as the United States has.

These passages in Isaiah and Jeremiah also show that the rapture should occur before the war called Counterfeit Armageddon.

Jeremiah 51:9-10
"WE WOULD HAVE HEALED BABYLON, BUT SHE IS NOT HEALED, FORSAKE HER...COME LET US DECLARE IN ZION, THE WORK OF THE LORD."

Jeremiah 51:45
"MY PEOPLE, GO YE OUT OF THE MIDST OF HER, AND DELIVER YE EVERY MAN HIS SOUL FROM THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD."

Isaiah 13:1-5
"LIFT YE UP A BANNER..." ( a banner is lifted up to gather troops around it.) I HAVE COMMANDED MY SANCTIFIED ONES, I HAVE ALSO CALLED MY MIGHTY ONES, EVEN THEM THAT REJOICE IN MY HIGHNESS...THE LORD OF HOSTS MUSTERETH THE HOST OF THE BATTLE... THEY COME FROM A FAR COUNTRY, FROM THE END OF HEAVEN, EVEN THE LORD (Jesus), AND THE WEAPONS OF HIS INDIGNATION (the saints)."

Jeremiah 50:28
"THE VOICE OF THEM THAT FLEE AND ESCAPE OUT OF THE LAND OF BABYLON, TO DECLARE IN ZION, THE VENGEANCE OF THE LORD GOD ( a heavenly "Zion")."

Jeremiah 51:6
"FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON."

In Revelation chapter 6, where this war is mentioned at the beginning of the tribulation, it follows the rapture in chapters 4 and 5 where the saints are in heaven rejoicing around the throne. So this war will follow the rapture of the church.

It is this war that makes the Lord "snatch away" His saints before they can be harmed by the devastation of it. The bulk of scripture points to a pre-trib rapture. If I were a believer of the mid trib rapture theory, I would definitely then see in Isaiah and Jeremiah a notice to escape from the United States before the war judges it. However, I am a pre-trib believer and see in those passages the promise that the Lord will muster His saints together so we may later return for the second war, the Battle of Armageddon.

War is the reason for the hurried, sudden "rapture."

The Greek word "harpadzo" refers to a "snatching away hastily", and an "escaping in the nick of time." So as Lot and his family escaped just before the devastation against the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and as Enoch was raptured before the devastation of the deluge, so the church will be taken from the earth before this war commences.

REASONS FOR THE JUDGMENT ON THE UNITED STATES, AND THE WORLD

The reasons for this judgment on the United States are seen more and more clearly now. The rampant sin, the homosexuality, the other forms of sexual perversion, the Satanic worship, the attack on the saints of God --quickly is mounting.

In Isaiah 47, the reasons are listed as such:

"THY SHAME SHALL BE SEEN." (VS 3)
"THOU SHALT NO MORE BE CALLED THE LADY OF KINGDOMS." (VS 5)
"WROTH WITH MY PEOPLE." (VS. 6)
"GIVEN TO PLEASURE." (VS. 8)
"DWELLEST CARELESSLY." (VS. 8)
"MULTITUDE OF THY SORCERIES. (drugs, cults) (VS 9)
"HAST TRUSTED IN THY WICKEDNESS...THOU HAST SAID 'NONE SEETH ME'" (VS 10)

The abortions in this country have surpassed 59 million. The government now wants us to pay for all of them with our tax dollars. The homosexual issue will be a real, literal struggle now in these last months before this war. The drug scene is out of control. The cults are becoming brazen, and will soon attack the saints openly. It is no wonder that the Lord will judge the United States soon after the removal of the saints.

Babylon (i.e., the United States) will be destroyed, and no more be like "Sodom" and "Gomorrah".

Isaiah 13:19
"AND BABYLON, THE GLORY OF KINGDOMS, THE BEAUTY OF THE CHALDEES' EXCELLENCY, SHALL BE AS WHEN GOD OVERTHREW SODOM AND GOMORRAH."

This nation of the United States shall never be inhabited again after this destruction.

Isaiah 13:20
"IT SHALL NEVER BE INHABITED, NEITHER SHALL IT BE DWELT IN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION."

The destruction of the United States will happen suddenly.

Jeremiah 51:8
"BABYLON IS SUDDENLY FALLEN."

Isaiah 47:9
"IN A MOMENT, IN ONE DAY."

Isaiah 47:11
"EVIL SHALL COME UPON THEE, THOU SHALT NOT KNOW FROM WHENCE IT ARISES... COME UPON THEE SUDDENLY AND THOU SHALT NOT KNOW IT."

Isaiah describes this event in interesting terms in Isaiah 47:

Isaiah 47:1
"Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon."

Here in chapter 47 of Isaiah, we are shown how the nation is like unto a proud female, used to luxury, and now made poor and to come sit in the dust, not upon a throne. The "sit in the dust" is an expression of humiliation and mourning (Joshua 8:6, Job 2:12, 10:9, Proverbs 22:15). This great nation, called here to be "Babylon", referring to the United States, will be humbled, humiliated, and desolated.

Isaiah 47:9 tells us two things will happen in a moment, in one day, to this Babylon, one likened to the proud female, i.e. the United States.
1. loss of children
2. widowhood.

Isaiah also prophesies in chapter 47 that the nation "shall not know from whence it (the destruction) riseth." (vs. 11). And it is repeated in verse 12, "thou shall not know." Therefore, the acceptance, hearing, or understanding of the Lord's prophecy in the Bible, and of the exegetical explanation of it by today's prophets, will be almost nil.

This country is filled with many who would rather read their horoscope, go to fortune tellers, call psychic hot lines, or read tabloid predictions, than to study the Bible, hear truthful preachers of the Word of God.

Isaiah foresaw such resistance and stupidity of this day, and God responded to such in Isaiah 47:13:
"Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."

"Astrologers" are ones who attempt to divine from the heavens a prophecy for the world. Astrology claims connection between the motions of the heavens with things that occur on earth. This was practiced first by the Babylonians, Egyptians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Indians, Arabians, and the Chinese. They divided the heavens into twelve parts called "houses". From the positions of the stars in the "houses" their calculations are made. They are foolish, ignorant, heretical, and false.

"Stargazers" are those who try to tell the future by the position of the stars... and is therefore very similar to the "astrologers" above mentioned. To stare at the skies, and ignore the great Book given by the One Who created that universe is the epitome of ignorance.

"Monthly prognosticators" are those that foretell what might occur within a month by the various positions and shapes of the moon. Most of us have heard some say. "there must be a full moon tonight." This is a survivor of the types of ideas some have had concerning an explanation for bizarre or unusual behavior of some.

We are not to engage in such prognostication, such foolish false prophecies, such ignorant substitutes for the Word of God, the prophetic revelation of the Almighty God. We may not like such prophecies, as the one concerning "Babylon" but we would be foolish to ignore it!

The enemy of the United States is Russia in this first war of the tribulation. This may surprise many who think they are a changed nation, yet that nation changed almost overnight and can again. The missiles and nuclear weapons are still there and well able to be used.

Jeremiah says the nation is "out of the north" (Jer. 50:3, 9, 41, 51:48). Russia is the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel chapters 38-39. Those chapters of Ezekiel describe the last battle of that first war of the tribulation. There Gog and Magog seek to take Israel as a "spoil" of the war that they have just won. The preceding part of the war is where the United States is defeated. After the defeat of Russia by Israel and God in Ezekiel 38-39, the rise of the Antichrist is easy, for the two super-powers of the day are gone.

Consider also the following references:

Jeremiah 50:3
"...OUT OF THE NORTH THERE COMETH UP A NATION AGAINST HER."

Jeremiah 50:9
"I WILL RAISE AND CAUSE TO COME UP AGAINST BABYLON, AN ASSEMBLY OF GREAT NATIONS FROM THE NORTH."

Jeremiah 50:41
"BEHOLD A PEOPLE SHALL COME FROM THE NORTH."

Jeremiah 51:48
"...SPOILERS SHALL COME UNTO HER FROM THE NORTH, SAITH THE LORD."

The warfare seems to be an atomic war, for the "FACES SHALL BE AS FLAMES" and the land will be "DESOLATE" when the battle is over.

Isaiah 13:8-9
"AND THEY SHALL BE AFRAID, PANGS AND SORROWS SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THEM; THEY SHALL BE IN PAIN AS A WOMAN THAT TRAVAILETH; THEY SHALL BE AMAZED ONE AT ANOTHER; THEIR FACES SHALL BE AS FLAMES. BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD COMETH (proving this to be a latter day 'Babylon' referred to here), CRUEL BOTH WITH WRATH AND FIERCE ANGER, TO LAY THE LAND DESOLATE; AND HE SHALL DESTROY THE SINNERS OUT OF IT."

None are to be left in Babylon. This war is to result in one fourth of the world being killed. Missiles seem to be referred to in Jeremiah 50:15:
"...ALL YE THAT BEND THE BOW, SHOOT AT HER, SPARE NO ARROWS, FOR SHE HATH SINNED AGAINST THE LORD."

In Jeremiah 25:31-33, we read of destruction that sounds like thermonuclear attack:

"A NOISE SHALL COME EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH; FOR THE LORD HATH A CONTROVERSY WITH THE NATIONS, HE WILL PLEAD WITH ALL FLESH; HE WILL GIVE THEM THAT ARE THE WICKED TO THE SWORD, SAITH THE LORD. BEHOLD, EVIL SHALL GO FORTH FROM NATION TO NATION, AND A GREAT WHIRLWIND (firestorm) SHALL BE RAISED UP FROM THE COASTS OF THE EARTH. AND THE SLAIN OF THE LORD SHALL BE AT THAT DAY FROM ONE END OF THE EARTH EVEN UNTO THE OTHER END OF THE EARTH; THEY SHALL NOT BE LAMENTED, NEITHER GATHERED, NOR BURIED; THEY SHALL BE REFUSE UPON THE GROUND."

The destruction of the United States seems to be total destruction.

Jeremiah 50:25-26
"THE LORD HATH OPENED HIS ARMORY, AND HATH BROUGHT FORTH THE WEAPONS OF HIS INDIGNATION; FOR THIS IS THE WORK OF THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS IN THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS...LET NOTHING OF HER BE LEFT."

Isaiah 13:19-20
"AND BABYLON, THE GLORY OF KINGDOMS, THE BEAUTY OF THE CHALDEES EXCELLENCY SHALL BE AS WHEN GOD OVERTHREW SODOM AND GOMORRAH... IT SHALL NEVER BE INHABITED."


Jeremiah 50:39
"...IT SHALL BE NO MORE INHABITED FOREVER, NEITHER SHALL IT BE DWELT IN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION... AS GOD OVERTHREW SODOM AND GOMORRAH ... SO SHALL NO MAN ABIDE THERE."

The war seems to be devastating. It is described as "sudden" (50:8). The war seems to involve missiles and great destruction. No one in the land survives this war, and the description seems to indicate it is an atomic destruction.

Jeremiah 50:14, 26, 29, 39-40, 51:2, 26, 37, 43
"...shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord. Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape... it shall no more be inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith the Lord, so shall no man abide there... fanners shall fan her, and shall empty her land... thou shalt be desolate forever... shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant... her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth."

The destruction of the United States will be with such force that it will change the orbit of the earth.

Isaiah 13:13
"I WILL SHAKE THE HEAVENS, AND THE EARTH SHALL REMOVE OUT OF HER PLACE..."

This will allow the year to be the length that the Bible predicts it to be during the tribulation. For we are told that the tribulation is two periods of 1260 days. This is 2520 days and when divided by 7 years (which the Bible indicates the 2520 days to be) the year is then 360 days long. (This is the length of the year in the days preceding Isaiah's day. It was not until the days of Isaiah that the year lengthened to 365 1/4 days.)

This devastating atomic warfare is so horrible that it is here at this time of destructive power that the orbit of the earth is changed.

Jeremiah 50:46
"At the noise of the taking of Babylon, the earth is moved."

The RAPTURE catches us out of harm's way. The destruction that comes early in the tribulation kills one fourth of the world. It devastates especially the United States. None are left alive here... So, if the mid trib, or post trib believers were correct, and they live in the United States, then they would not be raptured anyway, for all in this country will perish in that first war of the tribulation. So, I am going to be pre-trib raptured.

I Thessalonians 5:1-11
1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
7. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.
8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
10. Who died for us, that , whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The rapture of the church will evacuate the saints before some terrible events occur. It is not wise to wish to delay the rapture till mid-trib, or post trib... You would not want to be here during the days after the time He has planned the rapture. Many wonder how the world will explain the rapture. And the devil has much planned by new agers, wiccans, and others to explain a sudden disappearance of many. But even these explanations will be short-lived, for events so terrible, so devastating to this world will occur in the days following the rapture... That the explanation of what happened to the Christians will be of little concern to them while they see many millions dying, starvation a likely thing for many more, and more death on the way....

Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy. For nearly 1700 years, this city has been buried under volcanic cinders, ashes, and stone. It has become a mute reminder of possibility of sudden, cataclysmic destruction. In AD 63, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius made limited damage to Pompeii. People repaired the city and forgot. Then in A.D. 79, Vesuvius erupted and buried the city. Thousands died, by the suddenness of the event. In the same way, the suddenness of the tribulation will catch the world by surprise.


Unexpected events are to occur, and there was no need to write of all the events to so occur, for the people at Thessalonica had been taught many things already by Paul. These events, taught by Paul, and taught in the Word of God, are meant to identify the times and the seasons. We can know the general time of the Lord’s return.

The ‘day of the Lord” spoken of here, is the period of time from the rapture of the church, to when God will have finished dealing with wicked mankind... It includes the rapture, the tribulation, the millennium, and the white throne judgment. The tribulation is just the transition period into that time.

The ‘day’ is coming ‘as a thief in the night’ to most of the world. It should not surprise us when scoffers mock our beliefs, our understanding of prophecy. The world has always mocked the idea of Jesus coming. Janet Reno, of the attorney general, made it a policy of the government, that anyone who believed in a literal return of Jesus Christ, was in a cult. The nation did not demand her removal for such heresy, for many of this nation are sympathetic to that viewpoint.

“As a thief in the night” indicates that it will be sudden, unexpected, while the minds of people are asleep cognitively. Then comes ‘sudden destruction’. That means utter and hopeless ruin.

Notice that Paul began, ‘ye have no need that I write unto you.. For ye yourselves know” Paul had gone into detail on events that foreshadow this ‘day’... and these people had no need of him re-iterating these facts...

What of the people today? Some have no clue... to the signs of the last days. We can announce ... ‘it is soon” ... and they stand there with mouths open, and wonder how we could know that... And yet, we live in the times when the signs that Paul spoke of, that John spoke of, that Peter and Jude spoke of...... are being literally fulfilled before our eyes... We can watch the news and rejoice in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and others can watch the same news and only know if the stock market went up or down...

We are to be spiritually enlightened....

We are ‘children of the light’. We should be aware of the future. Christ and the Bible wants us enlightened, for one third of the Bible is prophecy. “Let us not sleep”, we are encouraged thus to stay awake, aware, and knowing during the darkness, when a thief could come in unawares. Some Christians are willingly ignorant, sleeping mentally,. Books, teachers, the Bible... all explain prophecy... and Christians have no excuse for ignorance.

We are told to ‘be sober’. The world and its demands can make us insensitive and not alert to prophetic events and their importance. We must sober up to the importance of prophecy.

We need to put on the ‘breastplate’. If we begin to get into prophecy, we will find ourselves in a battle with satan and the demonic helpers of that one. A breastplate is provided for us by the Lord to protect us from frontal and rear attacks from the enemy and his helpers. Some Christians want a life of ease, no spiritual battles...


We are ‘not appointed’ to God’s wrath. We suffer, heartache, persecutions of the world, attacks of the devil, but not the wrath of God. God has chosen for us to escape His judgment. The word ‘wrath’ speaks of God’s anger, terror of His judgment on sin, of which we have been washed clean. We stand as perfect in God’s eyes, washed in the blood of Jesus. We should ‘comfort’ and ‘edify’ each other with these facts....

Some ‘Christians’ spend much time trying to convince us that when God starts pouring out His wrath, we are still going to be here, suffering it. They seem to enjoy putting ‘un-comfort’ and ‘un-edification’ (excuse the coining of words) into the saints. The Bible is very plain, that we do suffer... but it is even more plain that it is not God’s wrath that we are to suffer.

Matthew 13:30 (KJV)
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

So before the wheat is gathered into the barn (the rapture of the church), the tares are to be gathered into bundles to be burnt (the judgment of the church that Peter mentions).

Thus, in the last days, when the church is experiencing revival, the tares will also ripen and be very noticed. This is why Peter, and Paul, and other writers warned about false prophets of the last days. They will become more blatant, more vile than ever before.

Matthew 13:40-42 (KJV)
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This punishment that is promised is not a scolding, not a tough sermon. This indicates a punishment of hell fire. Jesus re-iterated this teaching in verses 49 and 50. He was trying very hard to get the disciples to understand this truth. Peter obviously did, for he refers to this latter day judgment on the church which would be so severe that the "RIGHTEOUS SHALL SCARCELY BE SAVED" ( I Peter 4:17-18).

There is much sin within the church. We don't like to admit it, but it is true. Many buildings of worship are like morgues. Some in the congregations secretly have gotten into astrology, predictions by psychics, occultic practices, new age thinking, sexual sins, impurity, astral travel, etc. The church has been too blind to these hypocrites. Many a sinner can point out the hypocrites, that most Christians seem unable to identify. The reason is that some get so involved in earning dollars that they neglect the body church, family, devotions, Bible study, and a close relationship with the Lord Jesus. They may put their children in designer clothes, and drive the best cars, and live in magnificent homes, etc. but when they see the needy - they turn their eyes away. These are easy to keep away from truth. The devil has no trouble keeping such Christians asleep in the pew. The devil can keep them confused about what true Christianity is, and this confusion - allows hypocrites to flourish. Children are being taught in schools devoid of God, but full of new age teachings, sexual perversions, and drugs. The school curriculums often encourage promiscuity, abortion, and sexual perversion. Then in the homes, the god called "T.V." has replaced Jesus. Many can skip worship in the body church, and not care. Many have apathy and unconcern for spiritual things. Some cannot be described as "God-fearing, sin-hating, and soul-saving people." These things have given us congregations that are filled with nit-pickers, quarrelers, gossips, complainers, fault-finders, and pew-sitters. These congregations need revival. Then they will discover who among them are the "tares."

When Ezekiel was shown a vision of what it was like in Jerusalem, he was shown an idol at the entrance to the temple, pictures of false gods painted in the rooms of the priests in the temple, and many other vile sins within the temple. God's presence left the temple. Prophetically, it described the sinful state of the church of the last days.

In Ezekiel 9, there is a vision described that pictures the judgment on the church of the last days. This prophetic vision has not yet been fulfilled, and many scholars believe this inspired Peter's reference to the judgment beginning at the house of God. In the vision, seven men come. Six have a slaughter weapon in their hand. The other has a writer's ink horn. He is told to go forth from the holy place and set a mark on the foreheads of those who "SIGH AND CRY FOR THE ABOMINATIONS." Then the other six are sent forth and told to slay all who have not the mark. They are told to "BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY." This vision pictures what will soon happen when the Lord sends angels, similar to the death angel that came on the first passover in Egypt. The judgment sounds serious.

In II Timothy 3:1-14, we are told that "IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME..." Then Paul describes some in the congregations who have a "FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENY THE POWER THEREOF..." These "perilous" events will include the purging of the congregations of the tares, and Paul describes in detail their sins. Don't assume that the perilous events are only for those outside the church, for this is not in keeping with the context of the warning.

Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV)
26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus wants a pure church when He comes to rapture it. It is far from that type of church today. We need revival, and we need the purging of the tares.

Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.

This warning was given to the congregation at Laodicea, which represents the majority of congregations in the last days. Most congregations are "LUKEWARM." Jesus says He will "SPUE" them out. Was He kidding? Do we ignore His warning? The congregation at Laodicea is described as thinking that they "HAD NEED OF NOTHING." Many today are unaware of the lacking in their spiritual lives. We need revival desperately. We need to be in the revival, not just spectators of the revival. We need to be "HOT" for the Lord.

Matthew 3:12 (KJV)
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Three events are mentioned here.
1. "PURGING THE FLOOR" This is the harvest of tares.
2. "GATHER THE WHEAT" This is the rapture of the church.
3. "BURNING THE CHAFF" This is the punishment of the wicked.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (KJV)
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

This "FALLING AWAY" is the Greek word "apostasia", not ‘apolusa’. Most have interpreted this as referring to the great backsliding to occur in the last days. Yet, the word "apostasia" refers to "a separation, withdrawal." Paul was referring here to a separation that occurs before the rapture of the church. This is the severing of the tares from the church. The day of the rapture will not precede this severing process. Paul made it clear that the "FALLING AWAY" was before the rapture.

The church is likened unto the body. All parts of the body have a purpose and use. The inward parts, though unseen as the hand and foot, are very vital. Yet, some in the church today are like "warts" or "cancers". These are totally useless, and harmful. God is threatening to remove the warts and cancers of the body called the church. Then He will have a healthy body to rapture.

Those who are like "bumps on a log" within the church had better get stirred. The revival movement in the last days is God's work. It is not optional, it is mandatory that we join. God is sending Jesus back for a revived church. He will first judge that church, before He judges the world. He will purge it of the hindrances, offenders, and those who do iniquity. It is not a wise time to be in the ranks of backbiters, gossips, faultfinders, criticizers, etc. When God is done with the judgment upon the church, then the church will have the biggest revival the world has ever seen.

Matthew 13:43 (KJV)
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Will we in the church of these last days receive the healing or a judgment? This was the choice of Ananias and Sapphira. This was the choice given Lot and his family. It was the same choice given Noah, and those of his day. It is the very same choice given those in the church of the last days. Peter warns us that "JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD...THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL SCARCELY BE SAVED..." Can we afford to be "LUKEWARM" Christians?

In I Peter 4:17-18, where the word "JUDGMENT" is used, it is the Greek word- "krima." This word means "damnation." It does not refer to a scolding. It does not refer to discipline, but to punishment. It is not correction, but damnation.

Who shall receive this krima? Is it for all? Of course not! The Lord is going to receive many from the congregations to go to heaven and be rewarded. If we look at how this word "krima" is used elsewhere in the New Testament, we will discover who are the ones to be judged.

1 Timothy 5:12 (KJV)
12 Having damnation (krima), because they have cast off their first faith.

Some were once saved who have 'cast off ' their faith. Damnation awaits these who have apostatized.

In Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, and in Luke 20:47, we are told that "pharisees" are to receive "GREATER DAMNATION" (krima). To profess to be saved and righteous, and have no real inner change, as did the Pharisees - is dangerous. Hypocrites are today's Pharisees. People who profess a Christianity, but live a sinful life - are in grave danger of the damnation that Jesus promised the Pharisees.

Jude 1:4 (KJV)
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation (krima), ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Into our churches have "crept" people who are not Christians and who will be judged with a damnation when this judgment begins.

Galatians 5:10 (KJV)
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment (krima), whosoever he be.

It is dangerous to be a troublemaker in the church of the last days. We must get into the latter rain revival, and insure that when this judgment of the church occurs, we are serving God properly.

2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment (krima) now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation (krima) slumbereth not.

Peter promises that those in the congregations of the last days that are teaching damnable heresies will receive the damnation judgment. There are some of the last days that are teaching doctrines that are contrary to the Scripture. If believed and acted upon, some false doctrines will damn a person. We must be very careful in these last days.

Matthew 12:36-37 (KJV)
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (krima).
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (krima).

This indicates that the words of the people in the congregations identify the "GOOD MAN" and the "EVIL MAN" (Matthew 12:35). We had better be careful to watch what we say for God. God is well aware of what we say, and when we claim to speak for Him, we had better be sure He is the true inspiration of what we say.

We can boldly come to this day of "krima". Undoubtedly, it will be soon. The Bible is very clear. Yet, we do not have to live in fear.

1 John 4:17 (KJV)
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (krima)

This boldness is received when we live in "LOVE" as John describes in his epistle. Whenever we lack the "LOVE", we stray toward hypocrisy, trouble making, and false doctrines. If we keep the love for our brethren, and for our Lord, we will not need to fear the krima judgment that Peter warns will someday come. The gift of exhortation is the ministry of love to a congregation. If we are actively restoring this gift to the congregations, the judgment will not have so many tares to remove. Many of the current tares may be restored to the congregations as wheat.

When this judgment upon the church does come, it will purge the church for the revival to come in those days.

Moses preached a warning of the death angel of the Passover. Those who did not heed the warning to put blood on the doorposts found the judgment came to their own house. Many in the last days are not heeding the exhortations being given in the last days. The harvest of tares will finish the purification of the congregations of the last days. Then will come the double portion of revival that the church will soon enjoy.

THE HEALTHY CHURCH RAPTURED

Healing, a catharsis cleansing of the sins and failures in the church, is needed to bring the church to the place God wants it to be at the rapture.

After all God has already done for us, the church is still:
"lukewarm" Christians,
"bumps on a log" Christians,
"stumblingstone" Christians,
"apathetic" Christians,
"depressed, discouraged" Christians,
and even “sinful” Christians.

The church needs stirred. These are the last days. The rapture is near. There is much work to be done. There are "loved ones" to be saved. God wants a church that is pure and holy when it arrives in heaven.

Ephesians 5:27
"That He might present it (the church) to Himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and
without blemish."

The former rain revival came as the church was just beginning. It was like the spring rains that get the seed started. Now we are nearing the harvest of the church, and the church needs the fall rains that finish ripening the crop. If you are not in revival now--you have only yourself to blame. For God wants you to be in revival, the Holy Spirit is trying to revive you, and Jesus is anxious to return for a spotless church.

Hosea 6:3
"He shall come unto thee as the rain, the former and the latter rain unto the earth."

Zechariah 10:1
"Ask ye of the Lord rain, in the time of the latter rain."

Over the years, the term ‘latter rain revival’ has been used by some who defiled the concept, added false doctrines to what the Bible teaches concerning this event. Do not throw out the ‘baby with the bath water’, there is going to be a last day revival, one that will bring healing to the ‘sickness’ of the church. This revival will also result in many souls being saved, just before the rapture of the church.

The latter rain revival will be much like the former rain revival. The fresh, latter rain outpouring of the Spirit began around the turn of the century. The message has been going out with boldness. Opposition has been getting stronger. And as the world felt the impact of the early church, the world is feeling the impact of the church. The power of God is present to heal and save wherever the gospel is preached.

A "double portion" time is coming soon. This will be a time following the "harvest of tares" and during a time when the ministry gift of exhortation is being exercised as never before.

Joel 2:23-24
"For He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former and the latter rain in the first month, And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil."

So, according to Joel, in one month (Nisan is the first month, and many think this will be the month that the double portion will occur) the Lord will give a double portion of revival. The church will see many saved, miraculous healings, and a revival that the world has never seen before.

The cleansing of the church, referred to in Matthew 13, Ezekiel 9, etc. is the preparation for the revival. Sin is judged, so revival, healing, can follow.

I Peter 4:17
"For the time is come that judgment (krima=damnation) must begin at the house of God."

The world will see its judgment during the tribulation. But before God deals with the world, He will first judge His church. In the church there are BACKBITERS, GOSSIPERS, FAULTFINDERS, CRITICIZERS, TROUBLEMAKERS, OFFENDERS. God will soon sever these out of the church

The devil knows this great healing of the church is coming and he is doing his best to ripen the tares--while God is trying to ripen the wheat. The devil has always tried to ruin revival with some of his own, -within the camp of the saints.

There is a great healing of the church to be enjoyed in these last days. You can have part in this, if you so desire. You must shake off all the fear that the devil has tried to put on many Christians. You must resist the pressures and threats of the government and the media. You must get on your knees and humble yourselves to the Lord. You must say to Him --"What would YOU want me to do?" Then expect God to show you His power.

Revelation 3:11 (KJV)
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 3:13 (KJV)
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Following this great healing of the church, following the great revival of soul winning that then occurs, will be the ‘rapture’ of the church.

John 9:4
"THE NIGHT COMETH WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK."

The judgments of the tribulation, this vengeance of God, someday to come upon this world, is not meant for the saints. The saved, before it arrives, will be raptured out of here. Paul, in Thessalonians, is seeking to assure them that they will not suffer God’s vengeance.

Paul goes on to tell them more.
II Thessalonians 2:6-8
"And now ye know what withholdeth, (you know what is keeping the Antichrist from coming, so that he does not come earlier than he should) that he (the antichrist) might be revealed in his time.... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work (the evil of the plan of the devil to bring the man of sin, is already working that way...) only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way... and then shall that Wicked one be revealed..."

The word 'letteth' in our day means 'hinders' or 'restrains'.

This "he' is the church (see Eph 2:15, 4:15, I Cor. 12:12-13, 27, Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18, 24).

The restraining one, the hinderer to the coming of the antichrist is that the church is still here, able to rebuke demons, identify the evil doctrines, and slow down what the devil will try to do with the work of the man of sin during the tribulation.

The Holy Spirit is to remain till the mid tribulation period where He will conclude His conviction on sinners, only after the ones unrepentant are so hardened in sin, that they will never repent. Then, His work on conviction is finished.

Paul is saying that the second coming will not come till after the man of sin comes and does his work for seven years (as we learn elsewhere the length of his stay), and the man of sin cannot come, till after the hindering force is gathered together to Jesus... “raptured”, as we call it.

So this pins down the timing of the events, and the ones who had false revelations to say otherwise, and those who composed a fake letter from Paul to try to teach otherwise, are in error. A stronger delusion is coming in the tribulation time to such people.

The Holy Spirit is going to enrich us with gifts and power till the rapture, then He will concentrate on convicting the sinners coming under judgment in the wrath of God. When the ones who repent do repent, and finally, no one more is going to repent, then, and only then, will He depart to heaven. At the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, the Trinity will all be present.

The ultimate purpose of alerting of the soon coming rapture... and it is because we are called to be 'watchmen.'

If one thinks the rapture is post trib, they can relax and not really straighten out their lives, till they see the antichrist, measure the days from one event to the right number of days till the next, and actually know to the day of the second coming... LOL.. but we are not to know the exact day...

In mid trib ideas, they believers think they have time to see the antichrist, see when he defiles the temple, measure half the days of the trib to the mid point, where he will do the abomination of desolation, and then know they are mid way, and then they can get ready for the rapture...

Either way, they have it narrowed down, know when to get ready, and don't have to be fully ready till then...

Only in pre-trib are we needing to be prepared every day, every minute... for we do not know how many days, or even hours are left.. .We do know from signs that we are very close...


God does not want to judge or to punish. He only does so as a last resort. He does not want to judge the saints at all... but wants to deliver us. God desires the wicked to repent.

Ezekiel 33:11
"I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his evil way and live."

This is similar to II Peter 3:9:
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance."

It is also similar to I Timothy 2:4:
"...Who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."

Yet, in order to be saved, the wicked must turn from their wickedness to live.
We need to make sure they are ready for the pre-trib rapture, and if some are not sure if it is pre, mid, or post... they be best to try to make sure they are ready for the pre-trib... for if they are wrong, and they give assurance they can 'wait' longer than they truly can....

God shows He is anxious to have the sinner repent soon. This is emphasized four times in chapter 33 of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 33:11
"the wicked turn from his way and live."
Ezekiel 33:12
"he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness..."
Ezekiel 33:14-16
"If the wicked restore the... he shall surely live, he shall not die..."
Ezekiel 33:19
"If the wicked turn from his wickedness, ...he shall live thereby..."

God is willing to forgive the repentant! God is anxious for us to win souls before the days of tribulation judgment come.

Some re taught that they can rest in a spiritual lounge chair and wait for the eventual rapture. Yet, we are warned against this kind of apathy.

Matthew 7:21-23
"Many shall in that day say, 'Lord, Lord, we have'... -'I never knew you!'"

The goal of being a 'watchman' is to be alert to the soon coming rapture, and bring warnings to the apathetic, and give warnings to the sinful to repent.

They have to know that sin is sin, or they will not repent. The Holy Spirit does the convicting, we simply preach the Words of the Spirit of God, and let the conviction bring repentance. We are ‘watchmen’ with that purpose. We will preach, teach, exhort, etc., and often seen few results. But, if we do, when the rapture does come, we will have issued the calls to repent and not be ashamed if we have missed preaching it correctly.

So, is it all right to be 'wrong' on the timing? No... for if we do not work while it is day, and the night comes when we are suddenly taken, and some others have not heard the warnings of the tribulation, have not prepared for a pre trib rapture, then our 'watchmen' duties are shamefully undone.

Some can be 'so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good'...
others can be 'so earthly minded they are of no heavenly good'...

Jesus said 'when you see these things begin to come to pass, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.' So we do need to be looking, for no generation before us was seeing more come to pass prophetically than we are... so we should be more looking up than any generation ever.

Being so Jesus minded, we also should be more concerned for souls....

There is another passage to mention, that in the last days, some will be saying 'where is the promise of His coming?' and be so dense to the fact that Jesus is coming, that they are mocking the coming.

II Peter 3:3
“KNOW THIS FIRST, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS MOCKERS SHALL COME WITH THEIR MOCKING, FOLLOWING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS AND SAYING - ‘WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?’”

Some are not excited about the rapture. Jesus is soon to literally appear to the saints in the clouds, and take us home to heaven. If that does not excite anyone then they should have them close the casket lid.

The truth of the rapture has a great, profound effect on the ones who embrace it.

Those who have been absent from loved ones who have died earlier, are assured by such rapture truth, that the reunion time is imminent and assured
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Those who are afflicted physically can with the rapture truth, anticipate a time soon, that will mean no pain, no weakness, no deformity, and no suffering unto death, any longer.
(I Corinthians 15:42-44)


Those who suffer poverty and absence of carnal mammon, can still joy in the riches of heaven, the heavenly inheritance soon to be found via the rapture.
(I Peter 1:3-4)

Those who are persecuted can rest on the fact that saints will via the rapture, escape from the unfriendliness of this world
(Galatians 1:4)

The truth of the rapture, awakens saints from spiritual drowsiness, to alertness and sober thinking.
(Romans 13:11, I Thessalonians 5:6-7)

The truth of the rapture, when vivid in the minds of saints, makes the saints purify themselves, cleanse themselves from the defilements of sin. It puts a determination to be ready to soon stand before the Lord in the clouds
(I John 3:2-3).

The coming rapture of the church, announced in heaven with a trumpet like shout from the Lord God, is an event that should have us gloriously expectant and anxious. Knowledge of it, is not enough, but a longing, a loving expectation is vital.

Revelation ch. 4
”which said; Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

‘Come up hither” will be the Words trumpeted by the Lord, that will make these bodies be transformed into glorious, eternal, and incorruptible bodies... The atoms of the bodies of dead saints, whose spirits have already been in heaven, will be reunited in the clouds with those spirits. They will be made into glorious, eternal bodies also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBBxcNldAJA

I Corinthians 15:51
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed


Not all will die physically, and go to heaven to await the rapture. Some, (of us, I hope) will not precede the rapture and go to heaven early. When the rapture occurs, the ones of the Lord, will have their bodies in a moment, a part of a second, changed from mortal body to immortal body.

The time needed for this is a less than a second moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

The Greek says en (G1722) atomo (G823), in an atom of time\
.
1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV)
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

It will happen at the last of two trumpets which will sound at this time. A first trumpet will sound, and the resurrection of all the dead bodies of saints, will rise to be reunited with their souls already gone to heaven.

The second, or last trumpet, will call for all the alive saints, who are still in mortal bodies. Their bodies will be changed, as they rise up into the clouds.

We meet with those already gone to heaven, and there all the saints of all times, will be gathered with the Lord to make that triumphant trip to heaven, and you can imagine the rejoicing, jumping, dancing, crying with joy, that will be occurring as we watch our Lord lead us to heaven.


1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

One reason some do not have any comfort, but are in despair and turmoil most of their lives, is that they do not 'comfort one another with these words'.

Sorry, but watching 'wheel of fortune' just does not do it like the comfort of the reality of the rapture.

The study of prophecy is a never ending, but an exciting study. Some may not be capable of it, some may shy sheepishly away from it. Yet, when we are anxious for the return of the Lord, we are smilingly ready for what is about to come.


Prophecy is the revelation of history by God before it occurs. He does want us to know many things about His purposes toward us, toward other peoples, and toward the universe. True prophecy is the prophecy that springs from the mind of God.

True prophecy affirms that God does foreknow events before they happen.

Isaiah 42:9
"Behold, the former things have come to pass - new things I declare unto you - before they spring forth, I tell you of them."

True prophecy shows us that God is omnipotent. He can declare things will someday occur, and the devil and all his forces cannot stop them from occurring.

Isaiah 46:11
"I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass."

"Prophecy" comes from two Greek words. "Pro" means "forth or before". "Phemi" means "to speak." Therefore "prophecy" is - to speak forth facts from God's mind. The prophets will often speak a "Thus saith the Lord..."

One third of the Bible is prophecy. This shows a great emphasis of God on revealing future facts to us. He knows many things we would like to know, and God seems to be intent on revealing much to us.

Amos 3:7
"He revealeth His secrets unto His servants, the prophets."

We can sometimes be surprised to see in the Bible how much God has wanted to reveal. In Jude 14, we are shown that even Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, knew that someday Christ would come with many , many saints. Abraham was called a prophet, and we are told in Hebrews that he looked for the New Jerusalem. Moses spoke with God "face to face" (Num. 12:8), and knew that a Deliverer would come "like unto men" (Deut. 18:15).


Prophets are chosen of God. We a told to "covet to prophesy" (I Cor. 14:39). Moses prayed:

Numbers 11:29
"Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them."

It appears that God is trying to answer that prayer. We see how the Holy Spirit is offered to "all flesh." And all who come to the Lord are commanded to "covet to prophesy."

In the Old Testament, the prophets would gather the people together at the new moon (beginning of the month), and on the sabbaths - for the purpose of edification and instruction. These men were primarily preachers of righteousness. Many, if not most of them, were strange in some way. In fact, they were often asked of God to do "strange" things. Ezekiel was told to preach to mountains. Hosea was told to buy back his unfaithful wife at auction. Abraham was told to offer his son in sacrifice. Elijah was told to pour water on the sacrifice. Moses was told to hit a rock to get water. Jeremiah was told to buy an expensive belt, wear it for a time, then go to the river Euphrates and bury it. One thing that stands out about prophets is that they were willing to do anything God asked of them, no matter how stupid it seemed.

It is amazing to see how accurate the prophecy of God has been. All Bible prophecy has either been fulfilled, or soon will be.

Matthew 5:18
"One jot of one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
There were 333 details of the Messiah's first coming predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled all 333 prophecies. The chances of that happening by chance are 1 in 840, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

There are 1423 prophetic verses in the 7957 verses of the New Testament.

Christ is the center of all the prophecy of God.
Acts 10:43
"To Him give all the prophets witness."
Revelation 19:10
"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

All learning moves from the unknown to the known. As children first learn basic addition. Then they are taught subtraction. After those are taught, then multiplication and division are taught. In the same way God has built revelation upon revelation to prepare us for the message that He is now revealing to us. The Messianic prophecy began in seed form with the prophecy to Adam and Eve about the seed of woman that would someday come and bruise the head of the serpent. From that prophecy, God has progressively revealed more and more about the Messiah.

Isaiah 28:10
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they might go."

For anyone to try to prophesy without Bible study to find out the precepts, and lines that God has already revealed is foolish. Now, in these last days, we have a whole stack of lines and precepts given to prophets already. We need to study them, and then let God reveal more revelation to us. The new revelation will not contradict the old revelation, but will rather confirm and enlighten it.

Daniel started in the study of the Word of God. When he was studying the message of Jeremiah (a contemporary), he found a revelation of prophecy. He read in Jeremiah (25:11, 29:1,10) about the 70 years that the people were to suffer the captivity.

Daniel 9:2
"I, Daniel, understand by the books the number of years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, the prophet, that he would accomplish 70 years in the desolation of Jerusalem."

Then Daniel turned to God to pray about Jeremiah's prophecy. As he prayed and continued to search the Word of God, he came to Leviticus 26:14-39.

Daniel 9:3,11
"I set my face unto the Lord God... the curse is poured upon us and the oath that is written in the law of Moses."

To Moses had been given the prophecy that when a captivity would come to the people, God would punish them seven times longer if they did not repent during that time of punishment. So Daniel took both prophecies and multiplied 70 times 7, and realized that there would be 490 more years of judgment time for Israel. It was then that God sent to Daniel a revelation to reveal more details of the 490 years that were to be given to Israel.

Daniel 9:22
"I am now come to give thee understanding... 70 weeks (490 years) are determined..."

In order for us to understand prophecy, a detailed study of the Word of God and its prophecy should be undertaken. There is prophesied a time in the last days when prophetic knowledge will cover the earth as waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

There is also prophesied that in the last days, a famine for the hearing of the Word of God, despite a hunger and thirst for it, would come. This time of ignorance of the Bible's prophetic message is predicted for the same time as the flooding of the earth with prophetic knowledge. How can this be?

Amos 8:11-13
"...last days... famine... of hearing the words of the Lord... they shall wander from sea to sea... run to and fro to seek the word (revelation) from the Lord, and shall not find it... in that day the fair virgins, and the young men shall faint for thirst..."

IT AMAZES ME that some do not want to know more and more about prophecy. The Lord we all claim to love is soon coming back. Knowing that should make us want to win souls, witness, pray, study the Word, pray, and all those things take an impetus of knowing we are soon to be in the clouds with Jesus.

Some will enjoy it, some others will fear if they are not ready for the rapture. Some will faint from a thirst and hunger for the message, but lack hearing about it starves the soul. It is not because it is not there at all, for the Bible is one third prophecy, and there are some preachers preaching truth to be fed upon. But mockers will not hear the truth. The famine is not one of lack of prophecy, it a famine because of lack of "hearing" the Word.

How do we hear and study Bible prophecy?
Are you ready to dig in the Word and learn what God has revealed in prophetic teaching already?
Are you willing to search out all the signs of the fulfillment of God's prophetic word?
Are you going to tune in to God's revelation of more "visions" and "dreams" that are prophesied to come in the last days? (Joel 2:28-29) As Christians, we should be anxious and expectant of God's enlightenment of prophetic truth.

Since we are in the last days, we should be building upon all the former prophecies.
We should be at a peak of understanding, and not in a valley of ignorance.

Some say that prophecy is a mystery, and therefore we should not study it. But God wants us to know, and He gave us one third of the Bible as prophecy.

Some read I Corinthians 2:9, but fail to read verse 10.
I Corinthians 2:9-10
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him... but God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit..."

The Bible does speak of mysteries and hidden truths. At some points in God's revelations, men are not to know certain truths. When finally ready, the Spirit does reveal these mysteries. Paul spoke of the mystery of the church. Paul explained what had been kept hidden from the prophets until after the rejection of Jesus by the Jews. For God to have revealed the mystery of the church earlier would have caused some to say that God wanted and caused the Jews to reject Jesus.

Jesus spoke of a judgment on the church to come someday, and said that until that moment, it had been kept a "mystery" (Matthew 13).

In the book of Revelation, Jesus reveals 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 vials of judgment. However John is not allowed to reveal the 7 thunders of judgment.

The Gentiles were promised blessings since the time of Abraham.

Genesis 12:3
"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Rahab, Ruth, and others pre-shadowed this blessing on the Gentiles. To Peter, however, this prophetic mystery was finally revealed in greater measure.

Daniel was a book that was to be sealed from full understanding until the last days. The Jews never understood the prophetic significance of the book of Daniel. Now in these last days we are beginning to fully understand the prophecy of Daniel.

People often rebel against new revelations. The Jews did in Jesus' first coming. The Jews, before the captivity to Babylon, refused to heed the warnings of God's true prophets. And now, many say- "That's not the way I heard it..."

Yet, a more complete revelation and understanding of the prophecy of the Bible is being poured out on God's prophets in these days.

The truth of the Bible is not changing, but more understanding of its prophetic message is being given.

One warning must be given to those who are given words of prophecy by a "supposed" prophet.

First, the Word of God is the only reliable source. Every prophetic word must be judged by the Bible and conform to its truth. Don't ever trust any prophecy that does not agree with God's written Word.

Some have trusted a prophetic word, and were sent to mission fields poorly equipped and therefore had disastrous results. Many a terrible marriage was instigated by a false prophet. Un-Biblical doctrines have been accepted by many by a prophetic word that was not of God.

Whenever a prophetic word is given, the Lord wants us to confirm its truth, not only by the Word of God, but also by two or three confirmations.

I Corinthians 14:29
"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge."

I Thessalonians 5:19-21
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not count prophecies as nothing, but test all things. Hold fast to that which is good."

So, be sure that all prophetic sermons are based on the Word of God, and that none contradict it or try to supersede its message with a different message.

The Lord will soon return. We can trust in that, it is plain as day in the Bible.

An older man, was strolling along a path, and came upon a young boy sitting on the edge of the hill. He stopped and asked the boy what he was doing just sitting there. The boy answered, 'I am flying a kite.'

The man looked up, but his eyes were no longer able to see a kite at that distance. So, he said, 'I can't see your kite'.

The boy turned and offered the man the string, and said, 'Here, hold the string and you can feel its pull.'

In looking for Jesus to return, there are some who, for one reason or another, do not see the signs of His soon return. Yet, if one is truly saved, there is absolutely no reason one should not be FEELING THE PULL.

The Lord is coming, and He is anxious for His return to fetch His church to heaven. We can feel the pull... Seeing the signs is something we also should do, but if we can't see them, at least enjoy feeling the 'pull'.

Pre-trib rapture believers have a great challenge. We see the nearness of the tribulation, we see the more nearness of the rapture, and we have a short time to warn the wicked, to win souls to Jesus.

We are like the 'watchman' I mentioned a few posts ago. And the job of 'watchmen', of those with spiritual insight to see dangers of which the people need warned, is great.

Notice..
Ezekiel 33:1-6
"Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people,
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

During the war, the city put a heavy responsibility on the watchman... He had to give a warning whenever the enemy approached. If a man disregarded the warning, he was signing his own death warrant, and could not blame the watchman. If a man was outside the wall, and failed to heed the warning, his death would not be the responsibility of the watchman. If the watchman failed to warn the people in the unprotected area, he was held responsible for their lives.


The trumpet (shophar) was a long horn, upturned at the end. It was used for military and religious occasions. It is still used in Jewish synagogues at their New Year. The watchman was to sound it in warning to the ones inside, and to the ones still unprotected outside... When God tells a prophet to warn the people, the prophet must pass on the message. The prophet must warn the righteous as well as the wicked.

Ezekiel 33:7-9
"So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

Then Ezekiel gave a call for repentance. When the people finally admit their guilt, and repent, Ezekiel does not rub their noses in their shame... Instead, he proclaims God's forgiveness. Ezekiel had no delight in judgment, but longed to see the people repent. The ultimate purpose of judgment is repentance.

We live in the time of the rapture of the church, and of the tribulation judgments which sooooon follow that rapture. We are 'watchmen' as described by Ezekiel, and as defined by God to Ezekiel. We are to warn, we are to alert, we are to call for repentance... and it is a heavy responsibility!

It is not a badge of renown, it is not just being an 'intercessor' for we are all told to 'watch and pray' so if watching was 'praying' only, then we would not have them shown to be separate. Praying, interceding is something we all are to do, and 'watching' i.e. being aware of the nearness of judgment, and on the coming of Jesus, is vital. We have a mission to share the nearness of Jesus' return... for Christians at the rapture, and for judgment on sinners at the tribulation... so... we must 'watch & pray'...

There are many preachings against the subject of Jesus coming back... Some others twist what the Bible tells us... The devils want us to get our eyes off the fact of this being the last days. Some want to sing lullabies to congregations...

There are many false prophets in our day. An awakening is needed to that truth. True prophets were disturbed by the complacency of the people. It is frustrating to see how often God's people are tolerant of false prophets.

Micah 2:11
"If a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie and say, 'I will prophesy unto thee of wine and strong drink', he shall even be the prophet of this people."

Jeremiah 5:30-31
"A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means, and My people love to have it so, and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

II Timothy 4:3-4
...for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Some of these latter day false prophets will fight the true prophetic message of God.

II Peter 3:3-4
"...knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking in their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."


One work of the Spirit in the church age is to unfold prophetic teaching. False prophets will seek to undermine and confuse the prophetic message. The last day revival will mean a revealing of more and more prophecy, but the devil will fight it more and more. There is already much false doctrine, more anti-Christian beliefs, and more sin in the ranks of the church. Yet, there is also more revival, and more awareness of the true message of prophecy that ever before.

Satanic counterfeits of true prophecy make people wary of God's revelations. To avoid true prophecy because of all the lies and deceptive teaching out there is foolish.

Hosea 4:6
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hath rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee."

Sometimes it is difficult to accept true prophecy, because it shatters our illusions.

In Noah's day, they could hardly accept the true message of Noah about the flood to destroy all the earth.

In Lot's day, it was hard for people to accept the truth of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Israel did everything they could to get Jeremiah to change his prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

People today are often unwilling to accept the truth of the tribulation to soon occur. The devil is actively fighting the truth of God's prophecy. He stirs up many scoffers to mock the true prophecies, and sends many false prophets to create false doctrines to lead many astray.

II Timothy 3:13
"...evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse..."


This day and age has many more true prophets than the world wants to recognize. A true prophet will speak a message for God, and the world wants to reject God's message. The church often rejects a true prophet because he will not tickle their ears with pleasant messages.

Jeremiah preached a message that his people rejected, and they threw him down into the sewer of the prison.

Zechariah preached a message that the people did not want to hear, and he was stabbed to death in the temple area.

John the Baptist preached about the sin of a government leader, and was beheaded.

Stephen preached that the people had crucified the true Messiah, and was stoned to death.

True prophets are not popular in our times either.

If a true prophet comes to town and says: "Love thy neighbor", or "Repent of your sins!", or "Study to show thyself approved...", the people yawn, or look for the exit. People do not like the truth if it stings.

There are many who are not ready for the rapture, and like the 5 foolish virgins of the parable, they have lamps but the light is out, and no oil within to even relight them...

The nature of the 70th week of Daniel is one in which it is Israel who is to be dealt with, not the church. (Daniel 9:27)

Isaiah 26:20-21
“Come, My people enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be over past, For behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

The twenty four elders, representing the 24 divisions of the heavenly priesthood all have crowns on their heads in Rev. 4 and 5, and Paul clearly teaches that no saint, not even him, would get their crown until the rapture time, and the tribulation is starting in Rev. 6 -19, so this would indicate a pre-trib rapture.

There is a necessity for a period between the rapture and the second coming of Christ. The judgment of believers will take some time, the passing out of rewards. And then the second thing, the marriage supper of the Lamb, the opening of the New Jerusalem, will also take some time. If we go up to the clouds, and then immediately come back to rule and reign with Christ for a 1000 years, when do these things occur?????

Why would we be constantly exhorted to watch, if we could date the Antichrist’s coming, note esp. the date of the abomination of desolation, for if we were here, and knew that date, we have revealed in Scripture to the day, how many days after that is the second coming, and we would know the day of His return.

THE TEACHING THAT TO BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS MAKES ONE TO BE IN A ‘CULT’

The Attorney General of the United States, during an interview on CBS "60 Minutes" on June 26, 1999 said:
"A cultist is one:
who has a strong belief in the Bible, and the second coming of Christ;
who frequently attends Bible studies;
who has a high level of financial giving to a Christian cause;
who home schools for their children;
who has accumulated survival foods and has a strong belief in the Second Amendment;
and who distrusts big government.
Any of these may qualify a person as a cultist but certainly more than one of these would cause us to look at this persona as a threat and his family as being in a risk situation that qualifies for government interference."

Are we cultists? When we hear the word "cult", most think of a radical, strange, fanatical, insurgent religious group that is revolutionary, rebellious, and ready to resort to violence to achieve their demented, extreme goals.

However, the new definition of our government for a "cult" seems to be borderline to an declaration of war against a larger segment of the religious world. If one of these would define a "cult", and more than one would demand "government interference" into the religious group, perhaps we should examine such criteria.

If a "cultist" is one "who has a strong belief in the Bible, and the second coming of Christ, we SHOULD meet that criteria.

For the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. (Joshua 1:8, II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 1:21, Numbers 33:2, II Peter 3:2)

Though God may inspire many a sermon, or Sunday School lesson, He will, or has inspired many books, and God may also inspire many prophetic messages and interpretations, all such are to be tested by the Word of God. If they are in harmony with God's Word they are to be accepted, as from the Lord.

We also believe that Jesus Christ is the member of the Trinity Who has always existed, but became the "Son" of God when He was born to the virgin, Mary. He lived a sinless life, then died upon the cross for the sins of all who would accept Him as Savior. He rose bodily on the third day, ascended to heaven to be our intercessor.

This same Jesus Christ will soon return to rapture His church, and later rule and reign on this earth for 1000 years.

Following that period, He will rule and reign for eternity on the new heaven and the new earth.
(Matthew 1:23, 17:23,20:19, John 1:14, 15, 30, ch.8, 3:16, 2:19-21, 10:17-18, 12:7, II Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:25-26, 10:12, Romans 5:12-21, I Corinthians 15:21-22, 47-49, ch. 17, I John 2:1)

Do those beliefs now constitute a "cult"? If so, most Christian denominations would be cults if they really believed what their doctrinal statements have declared.

Many congregations have strayed from such beliefs, and have become social clubs where the main doctrine has become a generic "Go ye into all the world and smile."