Noah, Escape, Rapture, Door

Long ago I stopped trying to debate those who believe something else about the rapture of the Church.  If someone's faith tells them they will be here during the tribulation period, who am I to argue with them.  That same faith they have in being here during the time of Jacob's trouble may ensure that they do indeed stay here.  As they believe so they receive.

This post is not for those people.  We should have one overriding desire, to know the truth.  What does the Word say and what does our faith say?  Two different people can read the same verse of scripture and walk away with two different meanings as we have seen over and over again with the rapture.  What we believe matters.

Matt 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment.

What does the Word say?

Psalm 27

1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came on me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up on a rock.

I see language like this throughout the Word of God.  What is He telling us?  He is a real shelter.  We do not have to spritualize any language here.  He said it, He meant it.

What happened with Noah?  In the time of trouble was he hidden away?  Yes, just like Psalm 27 says.

What else do we know about Noah?  He is directly connected to the unknown day and unknown hour:

Matt 24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

We should pay particular attention to this:

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Which refers to this:

Genesis 6:11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

What are we being told?  The very day it began to rain, Noah went into the ark.  That is the way it happened back then, and that is the way it will happen again.  We know with absolute certainty, not some man's opinion but God's Word tells us it will happen this way again:

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

We are given the same angle on the Word by Luke here:

Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch 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.

Contrasting all the protests I hear from people who cry day and night that we must take the tribulation on the chin and endure all its horrors, I see alot of escapism in the Word of God.

Pray for escape?  That is precisely what our Lord told us to do.

Like who?  Like Noah, Noah is the example given.

Hide?  Yes, that is what the Lord told us here:

5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up on a rock.

A Door:

Gen 7:16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

 (The Lord shut the door^^)

Keys?   Keys go into doors...

Rev 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Noah went through an open door and the Lord shut him into the ark.  As it was, so it will be again.  A door will be open and no man can shut it (who shut the door of the Ark?  The Lord shut it)

Rev 4:1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter

An open door, an open door, the Lord shut Noah in...
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.


What is the bottom line?

What is coming will be like the days of Noah.  It was business as usual right up to the very day that Noah entered the ark and it began to rain.  We are seeing this around us today.  Yes, we see the storm clouds on the horizon, they appear to be directly overhead.  Does this match what the Lord said would happen according to the days of Noah?  It matches exactly. 

There was a door in the ark, there will be a door open in heaven.  What are doors used for?  People go through them.  This fact alone sorely vexes the pre-wrath and post-trib rapture believers.  How can they account for the doors in Rev 3 and 4?  It is an undeniable fact that people move through doors that is their stated purpose and yet we read nothing from the antagonists to explain to us who is moving through these doors?

It is not enough to speculate who is moving through the doors open in heaven.  The Bible has to prove it.  In Rev 3 and 4 there are doors open in heaven.  In Rev 5, there are "24" elders who have this testimony:

and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Can people out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation=24?
The key word there is "every."

Every kindred?  Yea, thats more than 24
Every tongue? Yea, thats more than 24
Every people?  Yea, thats more than 24
Every nation?  Yea, thats more than 24

A door was open in heaven in Rev 3 and Rev 4, then in Rev 5 we have a group of people from every kindred, tongue, people and nation in heaven.  In Rev 4 we read that these men have white rainment and crowns of gold.  Crowns?  Yes, that means they have been judged already.

 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive ... And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

 Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so ... I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown

 Again, what is the point?  Someone is escaping something if there are men with crowns on their head in Rev 4, period.  How did they get into heaven and judged before the entirety of the tribulation starts if we all have to suffer through the tribulation?  If I can find just one example of where their theory (pre-wrath, post-trib) is wrong then it calls the entire theory into question.

The 24 elders in heaven in Rev 4-5 with crowns on their head did not and will not go through the tribulation from Rev 6 onward.  Why not?  How did they escape?  How does this fit into the theories of no escape, no hiding, no place of refuge we hear day and night from those who preach themselves into the tribulation?

Why should we say no to debate?  Because we are all about to find out who is right.  Events will prove out exactly that the Lord meant every Word of what He said.

What if I have it all wrong and there is no pre-trib rapture?  My faith is in Christ, I soldier on.  That's it. 

What if the pre-wrath and post-trib folks are wrong and there is a pre-trib rapture?  They might have a real problem.  If they receive according to their belief (and we know the Lord respects faith and belief) then they could end up in the tribulation when they could have escaped.

As a people we must know our God.  Noah escaped the flood, Israel escaped from Egypt, Israel will escape again:

Revelation 12:6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place ... The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by  God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

So how exactly do these ^^ people get to escape the horrors of the tribulation but all the rest of us are supposed to suck it up and take it on the chin (according to the antagonists)?

This is the difference between what God says and what men say.  Is there an escape?  Yes.  Are we told to pray for it?  Yes.  Will Christians be on earth during the tribulation?  Yes. 

Will all Christians who ever lived be on earth during the tribulation? NO.  That is a ridiculous question because Christians will die out of this world as we always have right up to the day of the tribulation beginning.  There is an escape we are told to pray for.  That escape is an escape from "all that is about to happen."  Let your faith decide for you what "all that is about to happen" means.

There are people preaching and teaching and raging until the veins pop out in their neck that there is no escape from the tribulation. 

Who are the most likely candidates for Christians populating the tribulation?  These people ^^.

As it was, so it will be again.  We were told to pray for escape from all that is about to happen.  I propose we do exactly that:

36Watch 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.

If the Lord told us to pray for escape and there are legions of people doing the exact opposite (not praying for escape and actively teaching there is no escape), what will become of them?  It is a question worth pondering.

grace and peace
,

A Time of Prosperity

According to what the Lord tells us, this writer believes "the snare" will come at a time of prosperity:

Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

What did the Lord warn us about to avoid the snare?
1. Carousing
2. Drunkenness
3. The cares of this life

What did He not warn us would weigh our hearts down?
1. Grinding poverty
2. Being hunted down by the anti-christ
3. Global economic meltdown
4. etc etc

Do you think if the anti-christ was hunting you down every day to take your head off, that might weigh your heart down a little bit?  Uh...yea.  No warning of that though.  What do carousing and drunkenness and the cares of this life appear to point to?  A normal time, a time of relative prosperity.  How can we arrive at this conclusion?  When people have what they want from this world, they forget the Lord

Hosea 13:6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were ...

When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

According the the Word, we should be on high alert when we are living in days like today.  When do people cry out to the Lord?  When they are in trouble and oppressed

Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my ...

... Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters.

When do they forget the Lord?  When they have what they want from this world.

These are the days, today when our eyes should be carefully trained on the Lord.  Who knows when the Lord will show up and call us to account?

Matthew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man ...

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Not the world, you...

The signs are all around us that this world is circling the drain of history and the wrath of the Lord will soon be upon it.  For years, we followed those signs here but the Lord instructed this writer to give it a break.  Why?  Long suffering and patience were not served by it.  How so?  Nobody can stay on the razors edge of preparedness all the time.  We have to find a sustainable, every day level of readiness that can be maintained until a. we die, or b. the Lord shows up.

Raising our expectations over and over only to have nothing happen over and over leads to discouragement.  The enemy loves this, it does not serve us well.  Should we pay attention to the signs all around us?  Sure, they were sent for a reason but we must temper them with longsuffering patience.  What did the Lord tell us?

Rev 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

8I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.

Because we have kept the word of His what?  Patience.......We are running a marathon, not a sprint.  Great is our reward if we finish the race "in Christ."  Keep the faith, expect to suffer in your patience expecting a payoff for your efforts.  The absolute best this world has to offer, money, power, sex, whatever does not even compare to a shadow of what we have waiting for us.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

  grace and peace

Don't Be Afraid of What's Coming

I believe the Lord spoke to me yesterday. Almost verbatim, he said "Don't be afraid of what's coming, it's not for you." So I start thinking about this. It's not for me....why not? Of course, perhaps "it's not for you" means more than "me" but "we" the true church. Does what I heard, jive with what the word of God says?

Jeremiah 30 :7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Now, this statement above is very clear, it says the time of Jacob's trouble, not the church's trouble. No debate is even possible here, nowhere in all scripture is any statement even comparable that tells us there will be a time of the "church's trouble." Why? The church's troubles have been from the very beginning. How did the church start out? Our fathers were fed to the lions in Rome for their faith, and its been non-stop persecution ever since. The church has had its persecution on earth from the very beginning up through today. No, the babylonian church isn't persecuted much, but why would they be? Why would the world persecute the world? We are talking about the true church here, not so called christianity.

What else do we know about this time of Jacob's trouble?

Daniel 9 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

There's only one week left of the 70 weeks determined for the people of Israel. What's the purpose of this last "week" of years (7 years)? Here is is: to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Look particularly at this: to make reconciliation for iniquity....

You know what that is? It's a glaring neon sign that says "not for the church."

Reconciliation for sins was made for us on the cross. If you are "in Christ," then you are reconciled to the Father through the Son. So once again, does it make sense that the 7 year period that is coming is "not for you." Well, the bible certainly appears to support it. The people who argue that everyone is going through the 7 year tribulation period have to ignore alot of scripture to justify their point. They have to ignore "the time of Jacob's trouble" and add in "and the church." They have to ignore the purpose of the tribulation which is clearly spelled out above. We know that the coming tribulation is a time of judgement and wrath, but that's not all it is. Its also a time of "reconciliation for iniquity." This fact alone sinks the "pre-wrath" argument. There's no arguing your way around the fact that "in Christ" today, sins are already reconciled.

The vast majority of what calls itself Israel today is secular at best, and satanic at worst. More attention is paid to Kabbalah and Talmud then to the old testament that they should be following as true jews. There's a reason the Lord tells us that the "syangogue of satan" is composed of those who call themselves jews but are not (Rev 2-3). These so called jews will kneels at the feet of the true church and confess that we are loved of the true Son of God (Rev 2-3). All of the so called christians who love the so called jews of our day won't EVER mention that fact.

The tribulation period has a purpose, its not some random event. Part of understanding who will participate, is understanding what the purpose is. We don't have to stop there to know why those who are "in Christ" won't participate, we have a promise of escape (Luke 21:36) from all of it. We have the promise to be kept from the hour of trial, coming to test all those on the earth (Rev 3:10). Notice again, Rev 3:10 mentions the purpose of the time....a time of testing/trial. Go do a word search of the entire New Testament and you will see that the real church is, and has been tested from the very beginning all the way through today. What purpose is there in testing something again that has already been thouroughly tested? PURPOSE..........

Again, we are talking about the true church here, not so called christianity.

John 14:2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

"Don't be afraid of what's coming, it's not for you." Remember that? Jesus says above he is coming to receive us to himself? Well, where would that be? That where he is (HEAVEN), we may be also. Let your heart not be troubled....why? He is preparing a place for us..where? In heaven. How do we get in? An open door in heaven (Rev 4), an escape (Luke 21:36), a promise to be kept from the trial coming on the whole earth (Rev 3:10).

There are many within todays babylonianity who believe they will go through all or part of the tribulation, many if not most of them probably will, so why debate them?

Back to this idea of "let your heart not be troubled." If you want an untroubled heart today, this is what your goal should be:

John 1:47 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, See, here is a true son of Israel in whom there is nothing false.

When Jesus looks at us, we should hope and pray and work to have the same thing said of us. Be pure in heart, do those things that please the Lord. Strive to be found spotless at his coming.

If you do these things, you won't have to wonder if you'll make it out in the escape. Those who are "in Christ" obey his commands. We strive to keep the fire of our first love burning, our love for him. We are zealous for his ways and his works. We hate evil and love what is good. We hate falsehood, but love righteousness. This is all basic elementary stuff guys, do good, shun evil. Love, hope, be faithful. Do these things so your heart may not be troubled. Do these things so the coming 7 years, the time of testing and trial is not for you.

I have noticed a subtle shift in what the Lord would have me do for him. There's less of a need to point out the hell on earth of what's coming, and more of a need for encouragement and understanding of what it takes to be counted worthy of the escape. Time is short, how short only the Lord knows. Let us be found as wise servants today, doing what pleases our Lord. He could show up today. grace and peace

About the Church

No Pastors Mentioned:

2 Tim 2: 2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

So, what happened there ^^^? Paul taught some people, then said, go find some faithful men who can teach others and teach what I taught you to them. Don't you find it interesting that Paul DID NOT say go find some "pastors" and let them spread the teaching? Paul could have done that but he did'nt. Look around at churchianity today, every single church..ALL OF THEM are full of "pastors" yet Paul does'nt mention them..WHY NOT? There were only two qualifications necessary to carry the message Paul taught..1. FAITHFUL 2. Able to teach
No "seminary" degree necessary, no made made title (pastor) necessary. No man made organization (churchianity) necessary. The body of Christ is a REAL BODY, an organic living entity, NOT a manmade organization. The system of churchianity with its idolatrous, nicolaitan (conquer the laity) system is the problem. Judgement STARTS WITH THE HOUSE OF GOD...remember that..

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Where is our Salvation?

2 Tim 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

IN CHRIST...there it is again. Our salvation is "in Christ."

Another Beat down of OSAS-once saved always saved:
2 Tim 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Have you "died" with Christ? What happens if you "make a decision" for Jesus, then deny him? HE WILL DENY YOU. This passage does'nt say (unless you "made a decision") it says IF...THEN..period. The OSAS teachers have to put words into the Lord's mouth to explain away the simple teaching that if you deny Jesus, he will deny you.

The teachers of babylonian churchianity would have you believe that "you can't deny him" once you've "made a decision" for Christ. Is that what 2 Tim 2 says? NO, its not, so why do they teach it?

The Lord says if you deny him, he will deny you. Where can we see Jesus delivering on this promise?

Right here:

Matt 7: 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Also here:

Matt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Apparently, there are more ways to deny Christ than to walk around saying "I deny him." If you are living in wickedness and sin, if you love the world, if you are greedy for gain, if your relgion has more to do with socializing and feeling good about yourself for fitting into the mold men designed for you than love of the truth, do you think you'll be welcomed into heaven with open arms?

Prophesying, casting out devils and doing many wonderful works apparently ISN'T enough to get a person into heaven. True believers will do those things, but apparently those who make it into the "narrow gate" have something else going for them.

It isn't a giant puzzle to figure out what it takes to be in the Lord's good graces today. Ask yourself what pleases the Lord.....we know what those things are, DO THEM. Be faithful, be obedient, love the truth, ask the Lord to remove everything in you that displeases him. Ask him to give you his mind and his heart that you may be like him in everyway and you have to REALLY want it, do you? How much do we love him? Our committment will be tested, that's a fact. Look up the word "test" in an online bible search engine and feast your eyes on all the testing men will face. ALL OF US are tested. Time will test us, time will show what really matters to us. You can fake almost anything for awhile, but what's really down deep inside of you cannot be faked. That "dig down deep" WANT will be exposed... sooner or later.

Time is short, if we don't discuss these things now, when will we? We might not get tomorrow....There are no signs for the escape/rapture, but there ARE signs for the tribulation. When we see the tribulation world hurtling towards us what does that tell us about the escape? IT MUST BE SOON. The Lord takes pleasure in us excercising our faith. Thought the rapture could occur years before the tribulation, its becoming apparent that the Lord will press us up right against the minutes and seconds the preceed the tribulation to TEST our faith. Do we really believe what was written in luke 21:36, or will we resign ourselves to slugging it out through the tribulation? Do you believe there will be an escape? Do you believe the Lord has made provisions for the believing small flock that exists immediately prior to the tribulation? The Lord provided for Noah, Lot, we see that he provides for Israel during the tribulation, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that this God I serve knows how to take care of those who belong to him. I have seen miracle provision in my own life over and over and over and over again, and he has saved his best provision for last.....It's going to take faith to receive the promises though.

If you toss in your faith just when you needed it most, what a tragedy that would be. As my brother Jeff says "walking outside the boat with Jesus"...there's no other place I'd rather be, but recognize it will take second by second, minute by minute FAITH to stay above the water and not sink down below it. Hope is the substance and evidence of things not seen, it is the bridge that enables you to hold today in your spirit what will be delivered to you physically tomorrow. Set your hope fully on the escape that is coming, when it shows up in this world, it will be like saying hello to a friend you've known for many years but have seen face to face for the first time.

There are many many diversions in this world competing for your attention. Make sure you keep your eyes on the prize. If you don't believe there is a prize, then you likely will never lay hold of one. As you believe, so shall it be done unto you. If you believe you will go through the tribulation, if that's where your faith is, what do you think your reality will be?

Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be
... Jesus told the officer, "Go! What you believed will be done for you." And at that moment the servant was healed.

It's important to know for yourself why you believe what you beleive. The devil comes to steal kill and destroy, whatever is not nailed down he will take from you. You need to NAIL DOWN what you believe, in order to do that you need to deeply answer WHY you believe. WHY is a very important question.

Jesus loved me first, that's part of my why. His extended grace is part of my why. His indwelling Holy Spirit provides the faith to get us the grace + faith necessary for salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
... For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and thisnot of yourselves; it is God's gift:

Your relationship or lack thereof with Jesus Christ will be exposed for what it is. We do not want to hear "away from me you evildoer, I never knew you."(matt 7:21+)

We must be ready and patient today. That is the lesson of the wise virgins in Matt 25. They were ready for whenever the bridegroom showed up. They were prepared for patience, they brought oil in jars to wait out the bridegroom for however long it took him to show up. The foolish virgins were not prepared to wait, and that lack was exposed when the bridegroom showed up at just the wrong time for them....

The tribulation timeline is nailed down to the day. The Lord gave men the ability to predict to the day when he will show up and when key events will happen during the tribulation. The escape however, is an unknown day and hour that will occur when we are not expecting it. Are you expecting the escape today? If not, if it came today, it would be at a time you did'nt expect it right? Any day now could be that day. We are close. Keep the faith, you are in my prayers if you are "in Christ." I also pray for all those who will know him in the future. Please pray for our family which is "in Christ" that we may be counted fully deserving of the escape that is coming.

grace and peace