Rev 8:6And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
We know that NASA cannot be trusted to tell us the truth, but maybe DHS is telling the truth. More here.
People cannot say they have not been warned. Do we know when things will happen? Not really, but we know with absolute certainty what will happen. I have asked the Lord repeatedly what I should do to be prepared for what is coming. I have received no impression whatsoever to get ready for long term survival in a post-apocalyptic world. What I have been impressed with is we have been given common sense to forsee the possibility of short term disruptions to our business as usual lifestyles. Look at what hurricane sandy did to NY. Look at what Katrina did to Louisiana. Should we have a little extra stored up for short term disruptions? Yes.
The only preparedness for long term survival on this earth when the bad things begin to happen will be divine provision. The Lord will have to take care of His people the way He provided for Israel in the wilderness. I believe we will escape all of "the" tribulation but the short term tribulations faced by all mankind are something we have always had to deal with.
When will "the" tribulation begin? Who knows, I don't and I have not come across anyone on the net or in person who I believe knows either. How will the events of the book of Revelation play out? I don't know, and I have not encountered anyone else who I believe knows either. People think they know, but I don't think they do know. Why? Notice in Rev 6 and Rev 8 for example, we do not see the time span over which these events occur. Will all the seals and trumpets be opened over the span of 1 day? 1 week? 1 month? 1 year? The Word does not say. The Word speaks of blood moons and sun like sackcloth so people think they have it figured out as one day near the end of the tribulation. Really? We have FOUR blood moons coming up over the course of the next two years, so which of those blood moons is "the" blood moon? They do not know so they are completely guessing. Which of the solar eclipse "sun turned to darkness" events counts? We see two of them coming in 2015, and we have seen many in years past, so which one is "the" one that "counts"?
Acts 2:20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
People do not know, they are guessing if they tell you they do. Could there be separate blood moons for separate events? I don't know, are their separate blood moons on separate appointed days of passover and sukkot in 2014-2015? YES.
What is going to happen we know for sure. HOW and WHEN we do not know, they are the Lord's.
What does this all mean? When we see events shaping up to look like events from the book of Revelation, we should be aware and be ready for possible fulfillment. Because we do not know the timing of many events we have to be ready always. Isn't that what the Lord told us to do?
Mark 13:32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Everyone, and I mean every last person who has ever told us "we can know" has been proven wrong. All of them to a person. Don't take my word for anything, I am a nobody. What DID THE LORD SAY?
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
And He said watch, watch, watch WATCH, but people do not listen or take heed. The 'pre-wrath' and 'post-tribbers' tell us there is no reason for us to watch for the Lord right now. They tell us that to obey the Lord's clear command is foolishness because their man made doctrine tells them a,b,c and d have to happen before we can be caught up in the clouds with the Lord. They mistake the Lord's descent to the mount of olives (the "second coming") with the Lord's descent to the clouds to catch us up (harpazo/rapture).
Anyone who tells us that it is foolishness to obey the clear commands in the Word, should be considered a threat. Why? They teach disobedience.
We were clearly told to be watching and ready for the Lord. How and when He appears to us is irrelevant to the point the Lord makes in Mark 13 above. Watch, PERIOD. Be ready, PERIOD. And to drive this point home with a sledge hammer I leave you with this:
Luke 21:36Watch 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.
What does "always" mean?
grace and peace
