I must cry out!

It constantly feels as if my words fall on deaf ears, whether they be calls to repentance, admonitions to right living, or wake up calls about the end times. People just do NOT want to hear truth anymore; they would rather believe the lie. Are you experiencing this?  Truly heartbreaking

So hard not to feel hopeless sometimes, but we need to have faith no matter what it looks like, for only God knows their heart. All we can do is plant the seed…

I remember a dream I had as a young teen about Jesus’ return. In the dream, I saw written in the clouds, “HE IS COMING!” I went to the high school and began telling everyone & anyone, whether they would listen to me or not, that they needed to Repent & be Saved because Jesus was coming SOON. And I remember that the supposed Christians that I knew were all trying to quiet & silence me telling me that I was causing a scene & embarrassing myself & them, but I would not.

I even got on the intercom system and was pleading with anyone who could hear me to Repent & turn to Christ, that His coming was at hand, as teachers & administrators tried to stop me. In the midst of all this, I remember being surprised that there was a handful of unlikely people, that I would not have expected, who began to help me plead with the students around us. Most of them I did not even know as Christians.

Sadly, I can see this happening in reality soon as well

So I will continue to cry out, whether anyone seems to listen or care, despite whether other believers try to silence me or mock me… Who is there to fear but Him who can destroy both body & soul in hell?

Original Pic here – http://www.questionsfromthesoil.com/index.php?/photography/pekin-first-assembly-of-god/

When is the rapture?

I know our belief in the timing of the rapture is not a salvation essential doctrine, YET I believe it can have a VERY big effect on our faith & our spiritual walk… and possibly even our salvation!

Matthew 24 has been pivotal to me in seeing the fallacy of the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine that is being so widely taught & pushed by books & movies as well.

If you really think there’s a pre-trib rapture, go & read the plain words of Jesus in Matthew 24 & let me know where you find this rapture. I don’t see it. I wish it was there. Somehow I think Jesus might have mentioned it.

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Instead He said there’d be false Christs, turmoil among the nations, wars & rumors of war, famines, earthquakes in diverse locations…

THEN you will be raptured… um, no… actually it says THEN you will be persecuted, put to death, & hated because of Him.

9 “At that time MANY will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.“

King James says many will be offended – maybe because Jesus didn’t rapture them away to glory before all the bad stuff started & their hearts weren’t prepared to endure persecution?! They didn’t have enough oil to take them past the midnight hour?!?

20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. -Matt 13 NIV84

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. -Matt 13 KJV

Matthew 24 then goes on to say AND WHEN YOU SEE the abomination that causes desolation spoken of in Daniel – midweek beginning the great tribulation – which means we are HERE when that happens, otherwise we couldn’t see it.

21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

There we are again!

There’ll be more false Christs & prophets (sounds like they’ll be there the whole time too trying to deceive us. Again, us believers – unbelievers wouldn’t care what they said!)

Then immediately after the great distress, there will be darkness. And then FINALLY, Jesus says -

30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a (#1) loud trumpet call, and they will (#2 & 3) gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

Oh look, there we are again!! And He’s FINALLY gathering us at the trumpet call, at THE END of the great tribulation, those that stood firm until the end as He had said!

First (#1) the trumpet sounds, second (#2) those who have died will be raised, and lastly (#3) we who are left will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, PRAISE JESUS!!!

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep (some will live to see Jesus return in glory), but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the (#1) trumpet will sound, (#2) the dead will be raised imperishable, and (#3) we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” -I Cor 15:51-54

And again…

15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly NOT precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and (#1) with the trumpet call of God, and (#2) the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still (#3) alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. -I Thess 4

The resurrection & rapture of the saints are tied TOGETHER at the END of the age, the LAST day, after the LAST and 7th trumpet!!!

Picture found here-http://untilallhaveheard1.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/at-the-last-trumpet/

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Sorry if I seem to be beating a dead horse BUT this to me goes beyond how any person may try to use this or that scripture to support a pre-trib rapture. JUST look at the words of Jesus & see what He said. It seems abundantly clear to me!!!

Stepping off my soapbox now…

There is no choice – only life and death

Today is the 40th memorial anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision, which overturned state laws which had criminalized abortion. Along with the companion case of Doe v Bolton, this is how abortion became legal in the U.S., through all 9 months of pregnancy. Tragic.

So once again I’ve been thinking about how I was very nearly one of the more than 55 million babies that have been killed in their mother’s wombs, denied the right to life, since Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton 40 years ago today. It’s still completely overwhelming and heartbreaking.

Every single person in my mother’s life including my grandparents told her to abort me, yet she for some reason spared me… this despite aborting two babies before me and one baby after me… only survivor of 4… Why me? A question I’ve pondered many times… biological father unknown… the possible result of rape. But you know, how I was conceived does not diminish my humanity or my value as a person, neither did my location of residence before I was born.

The Remnant Church and the End-Time Testimony of Jesus Christ

I believe we are the end time saints, the remnant church of the last days… And I believe this post is an awesome encouragement & admonishment for us as we face this ever darkening world.

“Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand!”

Read the post here => The Remnant Church and the End-Time Testimony of Jesus Christ

“The Remnant church is, at its core and most fundamentally, God’s witness here on earth. Truly we have been called first and foremost to be a witness. Now most saints know that this word in its Greek form translates to martyr. Does that mean that every saint, every witness since the beginning of the church has been called to martyrdom? Certainly not. Yet let us not forget brothers and sisters that in every century God’s people here on earth have been persecuted and martyred for their faith. The danger for us saints in the Western world in the last 100 years has been that we have not been so-called.

Now, one would imagine that living in an atmosphere where one is allowed to worship freely without any state or religious interference that Christendom would thrive, yet, if we look at the state of Europe and North America we see something that at best, is a shallow faith…

The Remnant man or woman carries their cross. Carrying a cross is a lonely business. Its their very loneliness that compels them to seek an even closer walk with the Lord. The trials of the cross, the narrowness of the path, the desert and wilderness that often stretches out before them, a lack of fitting in, no acknowledgement of anything that you do, what you do you do in secret, you only seek to see the Lord high and lifted up…

The Remnant saint knows something of the glory of God. He has been touched by it, ruined for the things of this word by it. He has a fire that burns in his bones that will not and cannot be quenched. He is single-minded in his devotion. He arises in the morning with thoughts of His Lord.”

Hot, cold or lukewarm?

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

So then because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Warning!

Observe that there are three categories listed. Cold, Hot and Lukewarm. Also observe what Jesus is saying…”I know your works…”

Folks, this is serious business here. To be cold is to be completely indifferent to the things of God (lost, unsaved). Lukewarm is even worse…because a lukewarm person knows just enough scripture and churchianity to be completely deceived…and many remain in that state. They know or understand things about God, but are still indifferent to the things of God. That is…they live for themselves. They are lovers of self rather than lovers of God, and this fruit will manifest itself in the life of these “believers”.

The final category is HOT. This is where we should all be, if we name the name of Christ as our Lord and Savior. We should be consumed with HIM. He should be in our thoughts, in our speech and in our actions. A HOT Saint will live a vibrant and productive life for the Kingdom of God and they will spend themselves to advance His kingdom on this earth. They will burn brightly, proclaiming the TRUTH and the world will hate them…because the world hated HIM first. If we are indeed His children…we will do as He did…and we will suffer the same rejections, indignation, insults, suffering and persecution that He suffered.

So…here is the question: examine your Christianity. What category do you fit in? If you are having a hard time discerning…then it’s probably NOT good. Here is Jesus’ words to you:

“I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:18-19)

– via Valiant Christianity

On my heart…

I’ll let God’s Word speak for itself:

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—

The Narrow Road…

Are you on the narrow road?  Will you enter by the narrow gate?  Are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling?

Or are you on the wide road to destruction?  Which leads to the very gates of hell…

I had a dream a short while ago that has stuck with me.  I believe God was using it to speak to me.  I’ve had dreams for years (since I was around 8 years old) about Jesus coming back.  He’s been preparing me to speak, to call others to repentance and to holiness…

In this recent dream,

I found myself inside a large building.  I was on the right side of the building, making my way up a rocky and very challenging path.  It was extremely hard going and required great exertion and dedication to make progress upwards. 

As I was slowly making my way up the trail…

I observed people on my left who also appeared to be going in the same direction, but their way was easy and wide, free of the obstacles and challenges in mine.  They were walking along together, two or three at a time, talking and laughing and making what looked like quick progress.  They took no notice of me.  I continued climbing slowly up the path before me, seemingly alone. I finally reached the end and felt great accomplishment and satisfaction in having made it.

Shortly thereafter, I found myself standing in front of this great building, which contained the two paths that I had seen, talking with the owner and operator of the building.  I believe he commended me on my journey, and then he told me to tell others to take the hard way as well.

The dream seems very self-explanatory in the light of scripture:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14 NASB

And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” – Luke 13:23-24 NASB

“A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.” – Isaiah 35:8 NASB

So I implore you to examine yourself and your walk, to be sure you are on the narrow road, so that you can enter by the narrow gate.  It is not easy, but it is the way of Holiness that will lead us home to our Lord.  We must be holy as He is holy!  Do not conform to this sinful world or you will partake in its destruction.  GO THE HARD WAY!!!

Watch & pray! Be alert!

“So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be ALERT and sober… Take heed, WATCH and PRAY, for you do not know when that time is…. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man…

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it has from the beginning of creation.” But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

-1 Thess 5:6, Mark 13:33, Luke 21:36, 2 Peter 3:3,4,8,9,11, 14-18

Skin on bones!

Now you are most likely, and for good reason, wondering what the title of this post is all about.  They are words of profound insight from our not quite 5 year old.  If at first they don’t hit you, just ponder them for a bit…

Earlier tonight before we put the littles to bed, the younger two were playing with Daddy, and I was practicing some reading with our oldest.  We were reading a simple storybook Bible for toddlers.  He first impressed me with his reading of the word ‘beautiful,’ with no input from me whatsoever, in its description of the garden that God placed Adam & Eve.  I was amazed!  He really is a natural reader.

Then after we read a couple of stories, he was flipping through the book and stopped on a page about the birth of Jesus.  I asked who the baby in the manger was, to which he quickly responded, “Jesus.”  I then had him read the takeaway message at the end, which said, “God sent His Son for me.”  I asked him what that meant

Is Damascus next?

Something that’s been on my mind alot lately — Will the prophecy of the destruction of Damascus be fulfilled in the near future? I have never in my life seen Damascus mentioned in the news so often, as I have in the last 6 months or so!

Damascus is known to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, thus this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled…

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” – Isaiah 17:1

-originally posted to Flickr by upyernoz at http://flickr.com/photos/48600082269@N01/48691572-

Praying for as many people to be spared as possible!