Addressing Opposition to the Pre-Flood, Pre-fire and Brimstone, Pre-tribulation Escape/Rapture of the Church

I want to say this up front to the mid-trib, pre-wrath, post-trib folks. This debate will never be settled, which is why I stopped debating. I present my position, I read other people's positions. One man plants, another waters but only The Lord makes things grow...We can't all be right, the points of view on the escape/rapture are mutually exclusive. Why don't we skip over the escape/rapture altogether, just not talk about it? Because contrary to the mid-trib, pre-wrath (satanic), post-trib positions, we were ordered to pray for this escape. It's not an escape from 25%, or 50% or 75% of whats about to happen, its an escape from ALL thats about to happen-Christ's words there-not mine. The Lord was an "escapist" before I was. Those who condemn the escape from all, do not condemn me or my doctrine but the Lord himself. You have eyes, you can read, what does Luke 21:36 say? And are you doing what it says to do? Simple question..yes or no, we don't need a lengthy dissertation on why you refuse to do what the Lord commanded you to do, just admit that you refuse to do what you were commanded to do because your doctrine conflicts with God's word. It really is that simple. What happens when the people you have peddled your doctrine to end up not being found worthy of the escape because they no longer have the faith for it? What happens when some of them die in the time of Jacob's trouble, is their blood on your hands? Do you really believe that the word of the Lord is in error? Jesus says there is an escape from all, and you say there isn't, whose side should men stand on? Is your doctrine not theft if it steals people's faith and hope in an event that is absolutely 100% surely coming? I can guarantee you there will be an escape from all coming, because the word of God clearly states there is an escape from all coming. Noah escaped 100% of the flood-true or false? Lot escaped 100% of the fire and brimstone-true or false? The cases of Noah and Lot are DIRECTLY APPLICABLE to the revealing of the Son of man-true or false? An escape from all is coming-true or false? No trick questions, no need to read your book or marvin rosenthal's book or anyone else's book to answer these simple, straightforward questions. If the pre-flood,pre-fire and brimstone, escape all position is incorrect, what does it matter? We are looking for the Lord's return EVERYDAY, you are not. Again, who is the obedient servant here, who is the rebellious one? Will the people who believe in an escape from all stop believing the bible is true when the anti-christ shows up, 2 witnesses start calling down fire and plagues from heaven, the abomination of desolation is setup in the temple etc etc. How ridiculous is that? To not look for the Lord's return each and every day is foolish. What happens when he shows up and you are not watching?

Luke 12
... 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Are you or are you not directly disobeying ^^^that command along with the command to pray for escape?

Mark 13:33
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For 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. 35 Watch 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: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

But I guess you don't need to watch because your doctrine is more enlightened than the word of God?

For everyone else....

Since I just recently figured out how to create a spot on this page that I can easily access and update posts, I'm going to add this one down to the "LINKS" on the right side of the page. I will update this page as time goes on with why I believe the mid-trib,pre-wrath, post-trib objections are not only off-base, but actually lies, theft..in short- evil. It will take awhile to complete because as you know, the agents of the enemy have been at work a long, long time. If you want to just skip down to the place where I explain why the pre-wrath teaching is satanic, go to point number 12.

In no particular order:

1. The day of the Lord/rapture cannot occur because Elijah has to show up first:

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6

This scripture above is used to "prove" that the Lord's appearance is not imminent, yet Jesus himself said this about John the Baptist:

“And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.” Matthew 11:14 (NLT)

Here's the fact of the matter: The bible says that Elijah would come before the day of the Lord. Jesus himself said that John the baptist is Elijah. Does that qualify for Elijah coming before the day of the Lord? It absolutely DOES.

Yes, I know the two witnesses to come during the tribulation are said to be Moses and Elijah, but that is speculation/guesswork. What is not speculation are the words that have come from the Lord's own mouth, which are: “And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.”

^^this will be debated along with every other point in the bible until the end of time as we know it. Jesus Christ came in the flesh as the savior of mankind and here we stand 2,000 years later and the Jews today still don't believe it...

Here's more:

(speaking of John)

Luke 1:17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before
... He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom

Then we have:

“This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, ‘Who are you?’ He came right out and said, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ ‘Well then, who are you?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No,’ he replied.” John 1:19-21 (NLT)

So let's think here: The Lord himself said "if you can accept this, he IS Elijah," The bible says he came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but when the Jews asked John if he was Elijah, John said "no, I'm not."

Now, lets pretend we are rocket scientists for a second.....If your name is Dave, and I ask you "hey are you Mike?" What would you say? Uhhh "no I'm not?"

2. The day of the Lord and escape/rapture cannot be imminent because first the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood.

Acts 2:20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON
... The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day .

It is well established by scientists as well as every other human from middle school on up, that solar eclipses produce dark suns, and lunar eclipses produce "blood moons." Do you have any idea how many solar and lunar eclipses have already occurred since Jesus walked this earth? I just skimmed the NASA website and there have been approximately NINE solar eclipses since 2006 and from 2006-2015 there will be eleven lunar eclipses with 3 of them occuring just this past year and a half.

Since science and history both tell us there have been so many black suns and blood moons that we can't recall all of them, which one is it that "counts" before the day of the Lord? Do men think they will look through a telescope and see some kind of handwriting inscribed on the moon saying "HEY THIS IS THE BLOOD MOON THAT COUNTS FOR PRE-WRATH TEACHERS?"

There have been many already, and there will be many more in the future, so what exactly do blood moons and black suns prove to us about Jesus' return not being imminent?

This argument proves nothing except for the fact that the people who use it disregard every solar and lunar eclipse that has occurred since Jesus walked the earth.

3. The pre-tribulation view is new.

Really? The idea that the coming of the Son of man would be like the days of Noah and Lot is new? The command to pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all is new? You can label this escape however you want (pre-trib or otherwise) to but it does'nt change the facts of the event in the slightest. An escape from all and the stories of Noah and Lot are foundational to what is being criticized here, and these are plainly stated in the bible. There's nothing new about the gospels of Matthew or luke or the book of Revelation which shows redeemed rewarded men in heaven in Rev 4-5 as well as the promise in Rev 3 that the church would be kept from the hour of trial coming on the entire earth. So this argument that the pre-trib view is new holds no water either. If this is an argument about the label attached to an event, who cares? The event (escape from all) is what matters, not what men call it.

4. Luke 21:36 isn't talking about the rapture or the tribulation?

Typically when I hear this one, the reason is just "because" with no evidence shown because simply put, there's no evidence to give. When we are told to pray to be counted worthy to escape all, we are told that after a lengthy discussion of what the "all" is we are told to pray to escape. What are the things included in "escape all" that we are told to pray to escape?

This is what preceeds the command to pray for the escape:
Luke 21: 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

This ^^ we are told to pray to escape...It's the entire time of "Jacob's trouble" also known as the tribulation period.

5. The Restrainer being removed can't happen as "pre-trib" teachers say it will

I somewhat agree with this. Within the pre-trib ranks there are all kinds of different views on how things will happen while maintaining a pre-trib overall viewpoint. How can a Spirit who is omni-present, that is, present everywhere all the time, go someplace where he is not? How will people be saved on earth if the Holy Spirit is not here? Think of what's about to happen as a reverse pentecost. The apostles were told to wait for the Spirit to be poured out on them at the beginning of the church. The Holy Spirit was around long before pentecost, what was He doing, how did he operate before pentecost? The same way He will/can operate after the church is removed from this world.

6. Who will witness to the people on earth if all the believers are removed?

This question shows a fundamental lack of understanding of what's going to happen at the escape. Most people who call themselves a christian today are "going" to church, "playing" church and in general doing everything except BEING the church. The church is not something we "go to" its something WE ARE. At the time of the escape, there will be millions of people who played around with christianity their entire lives without ever "being" the church. The will know the bible, they will be people who have been "churched" (excuse me while I gag....), and some of them will come to their senses when they see that they have been lied to by a babylonian system of churchianty for their entire lives. There will be angels flying through the heavens proclaiming the gospel, there will be 144,000 sealed Jews who will be proclaiming the gospel. There will be PLENTY of witnesses around after the escape.

7. God has some purpose for all of us during the tribulation so we cannot be removed otherwise God's purpose would be thwarted.

Umm, that idea comes straight from the mind of some man. The bible tells us what the purpose of the tribulation is:

Daniel 9:24 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.

^^^the church is not mentioned there....^^that (from the bible, not men) is the purpose of the tribulation.

8. The pre-trib rapture means there will be two "second comings" of Christ.

Another idea from the teachings and minds of men. Who said there would be any "second coming?" Men gave Jesus' return to the earth that title, not God. Jesus can come back to earth, or the clouds, or wherever he wants to, as many times as he wants to. Show me any legal restrictions in the bible for the number of times Jesus is allowed to show up here on earth......

9. The sign of the son of man will be in the sky "immediately after the tribulation" of those days?

A) Matt 24:29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky... (see also Mark 13:24 and Luke 21:25.)
B) Acts 2:20 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. (see also Joel 2:31)
C) Rev 6:12 And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

Since when is the "sign of the Son of man" = escape? Do you read anything in the books of thessalonians or corinthians (the rapture texts) that says anything about the "sign of the son of man" in the sky being equated to the rapture/escape? More of the assumptions of men, not the word of God. I don't see it.....next question?

10. Again....The "elect" are gathered (by angels) AFTER the tribulation of those days? This is the escape/rapture?

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

and

Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Now stay with me here....Saying that the event above is the rapture is more speculation and conjecture from the minds of men. There is a significant timing problem with their argument:

How will the known, factual rapture occur?: 1 Corinthians 15:52 ... in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet.

Ok, and how will the speculative, not the rapture event happen in Matt 24, and Mark 13? Jesus will send angels, then the angels will go out and gather.....does that sound like an event that will happen "faster than an eye can blink?" Sorry, the argument does'nt wash

Men assume that because two or more events share mechanics or similar wording, they are in fact the same event? Yes, they do assume.....does that make it fact or truth? NO

The timing problem is not the only issue with this "angelic gathering" being used as the escape. The supporters of this theory have another huge problem with their theory, namely that Some israelites will go into captivity and exile AGAIN during the tribulation period, then have to be regathered:

<< Zechariah 14 >>King James Bible

1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

(NASB)For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

...next question?

11. explain where the fifth seal martyrs (Rev 6:9-11) come from? Gosh, that's a tough one! How about .....seals 1-4? AFTER the escape..and just before the first seal (on the same day), many will understand from their presence on earth after the escape that they have been living a lie, they have been "foolish virgins" Matt 25, and will start "being the church" instead of "going to church" They will pay for that decision with their lives.

12. 1 Thess 5:9, "For God has not destined us for wrath..."

Eze 6:11 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. 12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my wrath upon them

The "pre-wrath" teacher takes all kinds of liberties with the word of God. They are so liberal with it that they have even made up their own words in the name of God, like the "wrath of Satan" because if they did'nt make stuff up their entire argument would fall apart. The bible clearly says in Ez 6 that the sword, famine and pestilence are WRATH. Whose wrath? Our God's wrath.

The pre-wrath teacher treads extremely dangerous ground. In fact, I think there is an argument that their teaching commits the only unpardonable sin:

Pre-wrath teaching is not just error, its EVIL/satanic. Why? Do you know what the only unpardonable sin is? Ascribing the works of God to the devil.

Mark 3 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

The pre-wrath teacher ascribes the work of God (Jesus is the only one found worthy to open the seals of Rev. 6) and the pre-wrath teacher tells you that the seals Jesus opens (by the power of the Holy Spirit) are "satan's wrath"...the work of Satan! In effect, the pre-wrath teacher is telling you that Jesus is in league with the devil, EXACTLY like the jews accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of beelzebub...ITS THE SAME THING.

If you preach and teach the satanic "pre-wrath" doctrine, I suggest you check yourself and your doctrine carefully.

Seek the Face of the Lord

I seem to be constantly asking the Lord "what are you saying to us today?" I think its an important question. Over the past hour I believe this was what I received:

Seek the face of the Lord

That means you..personally, not your "hired hand" spiritual employees, aka paid clergy members. In ancient Israel the high priest was only allowed into the presence of the Lord one time per year. Now, under the new covenant purchased in our Lord's blood, he lives in us, 24/7, 365. Think about that...what kind of relationship is it that he wants when he send his precious Holy Spirit to live in us?

I know there are people who think "he hears from the Lord routinely? What kind of a freak is this guy, or ohhhh, he must be "special." Wrong and wrong again. Should'nt a people with the Spirit of their God living within them hear from their God? I mean, should that be some kind of unusual or "special" event? When I say hear from my God let me be clear that I do not hear audible voices. The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit, deep speaks to deep

Psalm 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

If you have read the words written at this site for any length of time, you know that a fire burns within me against the nicolaitan system of clergy/laity that 99% of todays so called christian churches have embraced. Nico=conquer laitan=YOU, Jesus says he HATES it. Re-read:

Revelation 2:6 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds
... But this is to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I alsohate. ... But you have this in your favor-you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing. ...
Revelation 2:15 'So you also have some who in the same way
... You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ... 'So you also havesome who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

How ridiculous would it be to attempt a close, intimate relationship with your wife/husband with some middle-man always in the way? Seek the face of the God of eternity. He let us know what kind of relationship he expects with us when he placed his Spirit within us. Stop seeking the advice and counsel of men, and start seeking the advice and counsel of GOD.

Proverbs 1:30 "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all ...
... "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. ... Theywould none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Proverbs 1:25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want
... And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; ....

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you ...
... Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days

Proverbs 8:14 "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am ...
... "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. ... Counselis mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. ...

Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of
... The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans ofHis heart from generation to generation.

Hearing from the Lord in your spirit should be a regular thing, not an extraordinary thing.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search
... You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart

Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently
... "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me

We live in a day of unparalleled deception and yet men extol other men more than ever. Men seek other men for the answers to all the problems this world faces. How foolish is that? Men created the problem so we should continually seek counsel from wellsprings of error?

How about we seek wisdom and counsel from the one being in the universe who has never made a mistake? If you seek to hear the Lord and you are not searching for him with all your heart, well....your results may be less than optimal..

The atheist and the critic, as well as those who love this world seek the word of the Lord only to use it as a weapon, not to seek truth. The fact is, they do not want to find our Lord because they know the first thing to happen will be conviction for thier sin, and their sin they will not give up. Reptentance, and a broken spirit are part of what it takes to know and draw near to the Lord our God.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

This is not rocket science folks, this is about really REALLY wanting something and doing what it takes to get it. The knowledge of the Holy One is the beginning of knowledge, which is why so many people don't understand the word of God today.

People read but do not have correct understanding because in order to "know him" you must "find him" and in order to "find him" you must seek him with your whole heart. Nothing worthwhile in this life comes easy..nothing. How much more is knowledge of the Holy One worth than anything you can compare it to in this world.

That's what I'm hearing today. Done for now, grace and peace

The New "Normal"

There's something curious about the way the Lord made us. Throughout history, humans have proven that they can adapt to almost anything. Leave a person in the same circumstance for a little while and they just adapt to it, it becomes their "new normal." This is where we find ourselves today. In spite of the constant drumbeat of bad news from the lame stream media, life goes on. In spite of the prognostications and predictions that many make and have made, life goes on.

This may prove to be problematic for the "powers that be" because bad news, like many other things, has a shelf-life. Propaganda has a shelf-life. For example, just after 9/11 GW Bush rammed the un-Patriot act down our throats without anyone in "Con"gress ever reading it. Why? The powers that be understand the message of the book of ecclesiastes, for everything there is a time and a season.

So we find ourselves today, the stock market has leveled off, and is even doing some slight climbs, the housing market is bad, but people expect that as part of the "new normal." There's a slick politician in the white house who promises the world and delivers nothing (as usual), again, normal. Aside from the 700,000 or so folks getting laid off each month, we appear to be stabilizing. So what?

The "what" is this: we should be on our highest alert, most ready for the escape in good days/normal days. Have you ever heard the saying "there are no atheists in foxholes?" When all hell is breaking loose, when times are really bad, people tend to seek the Lord for relief. When times are good/normal, people forget him.

Deuteronomy 6 :10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

No, times are'nt great for most people, but the days are becoming normal. The shock of the stock market collapse and the housing bubble bursting, and the daily rape and pillage of taxpayer funds by the elite are all "has been" shock items, now they are all in a normal day, day in and day out. With this "new normal" setting in, what should we keep in the forefront of our minds?

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

So guess what? It's going to be "business as usual" on the day that we have our Noah/Lot experience and all hell breaks loose. The day that Noah entered the ark....the same day that Lot left Sodom. Up till that day what was going on? Eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, planting, building...normal things, day in and day out regular things. What we do not see in the pre-flood, pre-brimstone days are the spectacularly bad events which are coming in the soon to arrive time of Jacob's trouble.

So this morning I ask the Lord "what is your Spirit saying to the churches today?" What do I perceive his voice to be saying? Do not be complascent in this "new normal" time the world has entered. Adopt the mind of a soldier, ask yourself what you can do today to improve your fortifications, how can you improve your fighting position, in essence, what can you do today that will advance the kingdom of God, even if it's only a microscopic movement.

I believe the Lord impressed me yesterday with the idea that there's no such thing as "small things." Consider the way the Lord brings men to their knees: microscopic bacteria and tiny little atoms. The tiniest of micro-organisms has wiped out millions of people in a period of days. The tiny little atoms that are the building blocks of all things, can be split to destroy cities in a matter of seconds. All of the most important things in life are invisible to the eye. Love, faith, peace etc etc. So we should seize the day..today to do the small things that really are not small at all. Consider the kind smile to a stranger that convinces them not to committ suicide today when they were on the verge of it. How much did that smile cost? What was its effect?

Return to the fundamentals of the faith. Pray, internalize the bible. Do not make the mistake of thinking that tomorrow will be like today. If the sun is out this morning, realize that clouds and thick darkness are coming. If you hear laughter this morning, realize that a day is coming in which all merriment will cease. A day of thick darkness is coming. Yesterday I had a moment of grief, seeing in my minds eye the multitudes who will die in their sins. If we realized how final this all is, how long eternity is, I think many of us would change course quickly.

What has the Lord tasked me to do? Point out the apostasy and idolatry of today's "christianity." Remind people that he meant every word written in the bible. Not one promise will go unfulfilled. One of those promises has to do with an escape from all that is coming. And last but not least, Matt 7:14-28....put in right squarely in front of people's faces. Few will be saved, many will say to him on that day "Lord Lord" and he will call them evildoers and send them away saying "I never knew you." If you are reading this right now, you have been reminded of a time that is coming in the future. Because it is future, you have time to adjust course today. One of the most loving things one person can do for another is to warn them of future danger. I am not warning you today HE IS. I remind you of things he has written to men for over two thousand years.

I was reminded yesterday of a man who wrote a book saying that he had died and went to hell, then was revived to come back and tell about it. The only point I want to make from his story was this: he said that when he was down there, he knew (somehow..he was in his spirit body) that there were BILLIONS down there. Billions of souls crying in torment.

Put the puzzle together guys, every piece has a place that it belongs. Our God draws us to him with the carrot, and he pushes us from the backside with the stick. People have been warned today in every way imaginable. Bad news (even from the media) can serve us. Focus on what's important, forget the rest. We have entered a time when my spiritual radar is not piercing very far into the road ahead. I have no sense whatsoever today that time is short, or if we have years to go. That to me, IS A WARNING, because it is out of the ordinary (for me).

I have been burdened now for years with the message "time is short," and now I don't hear that. It's as if we've been motoring forward in a boat and the engines just cutoff. The noise and commotion that the forward movement made has ceased and now there is just stillness, quiet. Its an ominous quiet. What this means to me is: be ready, be watching, expect the Lord to do what he said he would do. Be ready for the sudden swift shock that will sweep people head over heals in fear and confusion. The time to get ready for a storm is before the storm ever gets here. The time to train as a soldier is before the first shot is ever fired. The time to get ready for that door in heaven to open (Matt 25, Rev 4) is TODAY.

Be ready to leave this earth today, while at the same time maintaining your patience to wait for years. We are called to daily watchfulness and readiness for our Lord's return. This is a stake in the heart of the mid-trib/pre-wrath/post-trib teacher.

If you want to shut down the argument with any mid-trib/pre-wrath/post-trib teacher in one question then ask them this:

Luke 21:36 commands us to pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all, are you obeying that command?

If they answer "no" then ask them why they are willfully disobeying the Lord's command?

If they answer "yes" then ask them to check into an insane asylum because a person who prays to escape all, when they teach, preach, debate and argue that there is no escape from all..is insane.

To be even clearer on this issue, the mid-trib/pre-wrath/post-trib person is in effect denying that Noah entered the ark before the flood. They are denying that Lot left Sodom before the fire and brimstone fell. Unfortunately it appears today that many people will be surprised when the Lord actually does exactly what he said he would do. Why...WHY will people be surprised? They did'nt believe him, they did'nt believe he would do exactly what he said he would do. There are many reasons why men choose to believe the bible like they eat at a buffett restaurant, take a little of this and a little of that, and leave all the rest. Unfortunately for these people, the Lord serves up his word in a take it his way or leave it restaurant.

Avoid the trap of this "new normal," while the world is falling asleep again, be in a state of high watchfulness and readiness. While others are looking for the anti-christ to show up, be looking for our Christ..Jesus Christ to show up. There will be no warning bells or whistles or anything else to signal the day of the escape. On the day the Lord told Noah to enter the ark, the world went about its business as usual. On the day that angels escorted Lot out of Sodom, the world went about its business as usual. A repeat of these things is coming soon.

done for today. grace and peace

Divisions Among You

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our ... Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, I urge all of you to be in agreement and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly...

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, so ...
... For divisions are necessary among you, in order that those who have God's approval may be clearly seen among you.

2 Peter 2:1 But FALSE prophets also arose among the people, just ...
... were also false prophets among the people, as there will be teachers of falsehood among you also, who will cunningly introduce fatal divisions, disowning even ...

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I
... may be fighting, hate, angry feeling, divisions, evil talk ... envyings, animosities,dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.

So which is it? Divisions or no divisions? Time to put your thinking cap on. Is the true church supposed to agree/stand in unity with the apostate church? Are you kidding me? Should "so called christians" and the true bride of Christ unite for the sole sake of unity? That's what this world would have you believe. The world is sloshing around in a giant mud puddle and we are attempting to stand outside of it and make our garments white for the bridegroom when he comes, should we jump back in so we can say we are all united?

Is'nt the message of the coming anti-christ one of unity over division? What about the old testament prophets? Did they go integrate into backslidden Israel so they could all be one big happy family? NO, the prophets stood apart. Holiness requires seperation.

Numbers 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Acts 19:9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Proverbs 20:3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
... It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels:but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

Isn't the problem with todays babylonian form of christianity that they have united at the expense of doctrine? Is every person who calls themself a christian my brother or those who are truly "in Christ." How do we know if a person is really "in Christ" or not (we don't know, Jesus knows).

Should we attempt to maintain peace? Yes. Should we accept every doctrine that comes down the road for the sake of unity? NEVER

Follow me on this reasoning.

If only a few will find the narrow gate that leads to life (Matt 7:14) then only a few on earth at any given time "get it." If there are only a few who "get it" would'nt you expect them to disagree with most people? What places of agreement do those on the narrow path and those on the broad path that leads to destruction have?

In a time of unprecedented deception, when the lies and fabrications around us are so grand that if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived, should we just throw in our lot with whoever comes along, swallow every doctrine and hope for the best? That is beyond foolish. Did Jesus unite with the religious leaders of his day? No, he condemned them. Are things any different today? The masses, especially the religious people are worthy of every letter of condemnation that the old world ever received plus some.

There is a place for unity and there is a place for division, and people need to figure out where each should be applied....soon.

Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The Lord has confronted people with the things they don't want to hear from the very beginning. This is not a popularity contest, its a contest whose prize is eternal life. The narrow way has few people on it. If you find yourself on a path that is broad, with many cheerleaders prodding you forward, you may want to re-examine your path.

Most people are on the broad path that leads to destruction. Why is that? Does that not grieve you? Where are the watchmen, the servants of righteousness who are stepping out and saying what needs to be said at the price of being despised and hated for it? Jesus never told you that speaking the truth will make you popular and win you the love of the world. He told you that the truth will set you free, but the world (and those of the world) will hate you for it. Our Lord was crucified for the truth, the prophets were killed for the truth. What does that tell you about todays "christian leaders" who find themselves respected by the world?

Deception is the hallmark of our day.

Should we unite with those we believe are deceiving mankind? Should we unite with people who willfully disobey the command of God to pray that we may escape all that's about to happen? Should we unite with men you tell you not to bother looking for the Lord's return today when we are told to be watching and ready for him at all times?

I am amazed at how a few words can say so much in the word of God. Here's more proof that debunks both the pre-wrath and post-trib teachers:

As you read this, take careful note of the TIME element of what is said:

Luke 21:34 And 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. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.

Lest at any time.....when? ANY TIME. When should we pray for the escape? After the abomination of desolation? After Jesus' feet touch down on the mount of olives? When?
Pray always..for what? That ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things.

Do you see any time qualifiers in there or does it appear to you that NOW is when you should pray for this escape? Why pray now? Because later the escape will have already taken place. How can you "escape all" if you go through half or more of "all these things that shall come to pass?" You can't, which proves that every theory and wind of doctrine that flies in the face of the word of God which teaches us that both Noah and Lot escaped all, and the day the Son of man is revealed will be EXACTLY like the days of Noah and Lot.

Sure, there are many so called christians who claim that the escape will take place before the tribulation. Pre-trib teaching is popular for a backslidden church, but how many pre-trib teachers are teaching that only a FEW will be counted worthy of it? I have'nt heard it from a single mouth yet....I am not a "pre-tribber." I am a days of Noah and Lot"er" and an escape from all"er." Why? I don't see "pre-trib, pre-wrath, or post-trib" anywhere in my bible but I DO see the days of Noah, Lot and escape from all laid out clearly, in plain english, no interpretation required.

Should we unite ourselves with those who teach us not to do what the bible clearly instructs us to do (pray for the escape from all)? I'll let you answer that one yourself.

grace and peace

Why I Believe

As you read this please understand, that I understand that I am a nobody in this world apart from being a simple brother "in Christ." Please understand that I am irrelevant, of no importance whatsoever, but I write this because each of us has reasons for why we believe (or not).

Why do you believe what you believe? Why do I believe that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world? I can't think of any more important question to have answered today.

As far back as I can remember, he was with me. I remember speaking to the Lord from I guess around 7 years old? I remember as a young kid being intensely interested in going to heaven. While other kids most important consideration was which toy they were going to play with, I was concerned with going to heaven. Don't get me wrong, I loved toys as much as the other kids, but I was constantly thinking about the broad questions of life.

As I grew up, the circumstances I found myself in caused me to ask many questions. Through all my questioning I always felt the guiding hand of the Lord with me. It was'nt until I was maybe 17 or 18 that the Lord brought the first person across my path to introduce me to what being "in Christ" meant. That time really started the snowball rolling down the hill, gathering momentum as I consumed the bible like a starving man getting a meal for the first time in his life. As time went on, I did a "solomon," testing the things of life with the wisdom in the bible as a guiding light, both approving and dissaproving the things I tried. I proofed the words of the bible with my experiences.

When someone argues you into a position in life, you can be argued out of that position, but what happens when you've been experienced into your position? What happens for instance when an atheist tells you there is no God, and throws every argument known to the mind of man at you, and you think to yourself "hey, those are some great arguments, but how do they account for every prayer I've ever prayed being answered?" My experience has been one of love and mercy following me all the days of my life-how does the atheist account for that? My experience has been when I pray, my prayers are answered. My experience has been when I step out of the boat to walk on water (with my eyes on Christ) I am ON the water, not below the waves.

I have tested life the way Solomon tested it:

Ecclesiastes 2 :I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Let me say this, compared to Solomon, I'm a moron. I don't have the wisdom Solomon had, but who does? I tested the word of God and I have found it to be truth. As I look back on my life I see love, faithfulness, and answered prayer. I also see many MANY screwups, faults, and failures, and then a gentle, quiet voice speaking to my spirit pointing the way out of my own stupidity, ignorance and willfulness.

I am less than nothing, the least of the brothers who are "in Christ." I don't need to be "somebody" because I am "in Christ", one with the God of eternity. He is in us, we are in him.

The bottom line for me is this, arguments against the God of my life hold no water. Why? I have been "experienced" into the kingdom of God, not argued in. Try arguing with a man who just burned the flesh off his hand on a hot stove. Try arguing with him that "the stove was'nt really hot." Good luck with that.

In the days ahead, arguing and debating until blue in the face will be exposed as the useless excercise it really is. See for yourself how the brothers overcome the accuser:

Revelation 12: 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

How did they overcome the evil one? Through endless debate? No...by the blood of the lamb and their testimony.

I have been saying for the past week that this is a very strange time. I have never felt the way I have over the past week or so. The only way to describe this feeling is the word "holding". That word sums it up. Hold on today is what we are supposed to do. Why? I don't know. What does that mean "hold?" I don't know. Does it mean something terrible is about to happen? I don't know. I have no inkling, no sense of what's just around the corner. Do we really need to know what's just around the corner? No. We need to do what we have already been told to do now for more than a thousand years. Be watching, be ready, be faithful, be obedient, pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all that's about to happen and stand before the Son of man. Re-connect with the fundamentals of the faith, pray without ceasing, consume the word of God like a famished man. Pray for the brothers. Be ready to leave this world today, but also be ready to wait for years.

What do you believe, and why do you believe it? Are you a product of the traditions of men or the word and Spirit of God? Have you been argued into what you believe today or have you been experienced into it?

I have been experienced in. All around us we have evidence. Look at the universe, look at the human body, look at the laws (both visible and invisible) that hold everything together. Who established the laws? We can argue about the creation all day long but who created the laws that hold it all together. Men argue that we "evolved" except they cannot explain to us where the laws that dictates how things evolve came from.

An all powerful God who knows everything goes a long way in explaining all things. What's impossible for an all powerful, all knowing God? Nothing. How much does that explain? Everything...

grace and peace

Patient Endurance

Be ready for the Lord to show up today. Also, be ready to wait for years for his return. It is a trap to not be looking for the Lord today, we have been commanded to be ready for him whenever he shows up. It's also a trap to be so worked up by the events around us, that we grow weary of waiting. What happens when people get so excited about the Lord's imminent return that a week or a month from now, they say "bah! The Lord delays his return," and they turn themselves to other things besides being fully prepared, ready and waiting?

I believe the Lord has shown me with more than a few examples, how he has thwarted a number of attempts by the enemy to establish his satanic "paradise"/new world order/age of atlantis, etc etc here on earth. There's no question satan wants it, and he wants it now, but the Lord has a time in mind for when things will happen. Our God's time will not be hurried, even by a second, by the world's and the enemy's impatience.

Our task today is to be found "in Christ." We must find everyway, and anyway to maintain our readiness. I have no doubt that our Lord can come back for us, even as I write this. Then again, he can drag the holding pattern out for years. What is the Spirit saying to the churches today? Patience. Be patient. Don't read anything into that because the Lord could show up today. The word tells us that we are soldiers:

2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

(by the way, notice in the above statement that Paul did not tell them to commit his words to "pastors" he just said "commit thou to faithful men" who can teach others. Another deathblow to the idolatrous pastoral system....)

We are soldiers of Jesus Christ. Soldiers train for war every day, they train so they will be ready at a moments notice should they be called. Soldiers (in the past) have trained for a lifetime and never gone to war..ever. As soldiers of Jesus Christ we must adopt the soldiers mentality to be ready to be called up today, but also be ready to train again tomorrow.

The picture I have in my mind right now is of a storm breaking in the middle, the clouds clear a bit, the sun even comes out a little, but storm clouds are still visible in every direction. The foolish will take the break in the clouds and moments of sun to conclude that "good times are just ahead." The soldier will conclude that a momentary break in the weather is a good time to walk the perimeter, check the defenses, improve the fortifications, etc.

Take nothing for granted. Today might be our last day on earth. Do not make the mistake of thinking tomorrow will be like today. We have no idea how radically different tomorrow might be from today. Seize the moment, do what good you can today because the days are evil and only our God knows how many more days each of us has.

Focus your attention on the fundamentals of the faith. Read the word of God, it is your food. Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Pray, and when you have prayed, BELIEVE that you have received what you ask for in prayer.

Today is a strange day, I do not sense moving forward or backward, we are holding. So stand firm then, with the armor of God on you and the sword of the Spirit in your hand. Be faithful, pray for all the brothers. An escape from all is coming, pray that you and I and all the brothers will be counted worthy of it. We are dearly loved, grace and peace.

Debunking Atheism

I was reading an article this morning by a guy who lays out the argument for the superiority of Christianity over atheism better than I can. Here it is:

by Rolaant L. McKenzie
http://www.gospeloutreach.net/whychristianity.html

Why do I believe that God exists and Christianity to be the only true religion? Why do I not accept the popular idea that one religion or philosophical worldview is just as good as another? These are important questions that deserve rational answers. The following is my attempt to provide them.
I will begin with atheism. There are a number of reasons why I believe that atheism is inadequate as a rational worldview. Atheism is inadequate as a rational worldview because it cannot adequately explain the existence of the universe. The majesty and order of the universe, and the wonder and complexities of life on earth, cries out for an explanation. The atheist, however, is unable to provide a consistent one. If he argues that matter is eternal, he is going against modern science which states that the universe had a beginning and is gradually running down. If the atheist affirms that the universe had a beginning, then he must account for what caused it. Either way, the atheist cannot adequately explain the universe and this world so full of complex forms of life.
The atheistic worldview is irrational and cannot provide an adequate basis for intelligible experience. An atheistic world is ultimately random, disorderly, transitory, and volatile. It is therefore incapable of providing the necessary preconditions to account for the laws of science and the universal laws of logic. In short, it cannot account for the meaningful realities people encounter in life.
Atheism as a worldview can furnish no rational basis for determining good and evil, or the human need for absolute moral standards. If there is no God who is by nature absolutely good, then there is no absolute standard for judging something to be good or evil. The atheist objects to the existence of God due to the presence of evil in the world, but can give no rationale on how he knows the difference between good and evil, much less provide a solution to the problem apart from God.
The law of non-contradiction is the foundation for all logical thinking. It is known by a couple different names: the law of contradiction, and the law of non-contradiction. No matter what you call it, this law is absolutely inviolable. The law may be defined as follows: a statement cannot be true and not true at the same time and in the same respect. For example: It cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time and in the same respect. It could have been raining yesterday, but not today. Or, it could be raining where I live but not where you live. But it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time and in the same place.
The law of non-contradiction is a very useful tool in helping to arrive at the truth regarding which worldview has more validity. For those familiar with the conflicting doctrines of the major world religions, it is rather apparent that they cannot all be true. Some are pantheistic, some are polytheistic, and still others are monotheistic.
Some teach a personal God, while others teach an impersonal one. Now it follows that if there is only one God -- if monotheism is true -- then all religions that teach polytheism and pantheism must then of necessity be false. And if it is true that God is a personal God, then all religions that teach an impersonal God must be false.
Christianity teaches that when a person dies, that person will go to heaven or to hell. Eastern religions say those who die will be reincarnated. Now a person could go to heaven or hell, or be reincarnated, but he cannot go to heaven or hell and be reincarnated at the same time. Both views cannot be right. One must be wrong. We could say the same about each of the doctrines of the various religions.
So it follows that either A) all of the major world religions are false, or B) only one religion is true. Now I will show you why I believe B), and why I believe that Christianity is that one true religion.
For Hindus, the highest of all truths is believed to be the truth of all religions. It has been already demonstrated above, in the paragraphs about the law of non-contradiction, this teaching cannot possibly be true. This is why I reject Hinduism. Also, Hinduism teaches that our individual identities are part of a large, divine illusion called Maya. In other words, we do not really exist as individuals. The irrationality of this can be seen by considering this question. How could anyone know if they were part of a dream? It is like two characters in your dream asking the question, "Do I exist?" How would they test such a thing?
Everything that they would measure to find out if they were real is not real itself either, only part of the dream. How could they have true knowledge of this? To put it most simply, does Charlie Brown know he is a cartoon character? Of course not. It is a ludicrous, incoherent concept. That is why in my view Hinduism is disqualified on its face. It is obviously false that individual people can have true knowledge that they do not really exist and are just an illusion. This is a contradiction and therefore Hinduism must be false.
What about Islam? Let's compare Jesus and His teachings to that of Muhammad. Jesus birth's was foretold in hundreds of prophecies. Muhammad has no prophecies foretelling his birth or mission. Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin. Muhammad, however, was born of the natural union of a human father and mother. Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21) and is considered sinless by the Quran (called an all-Righteous one). Muhammad, however was someone who needed forgiveness for his faults (sura 40:55, 41:19). Jesus performed many miracles to substantiate His claims (Luke 7:22), but nowhere in the Quran does it state that Muhammad performed any miracles. None of Jesus enemies could find any fault with Him, but even the Quran states that Muhammad took his son Zaid's wife from him (sura 33:36-38). Finally, Muhammad is dead today. His grave is in Medina. Jesus is alive forever. He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father.
Buddha also fulfilled no prophecies, was born of the natural union of a human father and mother, lived a less than perfectly moral life, and is dead today. Buddhism teaches that the question of God's existence is meaningless. Buddha believed in reincarnation. He taught that every evil thing we do ties us more tightly to the cycle of rebirth. Buddha taught that a person can escape the cycle of reincarnation and enter nirvana only by following the "Noble Eight-fold Path", a strict ethical system. Buddhist teachings include dedication to meditation. To the classical Buddhist, to attain nirvana is simply to be out of existence. Buddhism offers no personal salvation. It stands against sin and immorality, but it ignores the issue of God's existence and our need for redemption. At its root, Buddhism is a form of agnosticism or at least practical atheism. It provides no answers about the ultimate meaning of existence. Although its answers may be better than no answers at all, by denying the ultimate meaningfulness of life Buddhism provides its followers with little motivation to conquer evil or to work for justice. Jesus Christ, in contrast, confronts us with the need to become right with God and to introduce a new order into the world, an order He called "the kingdom of God."
Probably the oldest religious tradition is that of Animism, found mostly among the so-called "primitive" peoples of the world such as the Native American cultures. Animism teaches that the world is populated by a myriad of spirit beings that can be appeased and manipulated through ritual and magic. Animism is a large part of the Wiccan belief system and occurs commonly in occult and spiritism circles. It is also a large factor in the belief in "luck." The major weakness of animistic religion is that it is basically non-ethical.
The goal in this religion is primarily to procure the best advantage in the power struggle of the spirit world. There are no ultimate absolutes other than what the spirits of a clan prefer. These are the mores of the tribe. The spirits are finite and experience the same failures as humans. Animism also is ultimately subjective and irrational. Animists are not generally open to a rational examination of their beliefs. It is the experience that counts. Authority comes from tradition. "My ancestors did this for hundreds of years!" Animism leads to fatalism and despair because it provides no answers to the questions of life's meaning and significance, or purpose in history. There is no basis for human dignity in animism. Humans are on the same level as all other forms of life. It is essentially a religion of demons (idolatry). Missionaries who work on reservations in the American west often speak of the oppressive atmosphere as a result of spirit bondage. It is a religion of fear. Alcoholism and suicide are major problems in most animistic cultures.
Regarding Wicca, witches follow a principle of ethics known as the Wiccan Rede: "That ye harm none, do what ye will." Whether witches realize it or not, their views raise some very problematic issues even over and above those raised by animism above: (1) Where does the Wiccan Rede derive from? (2) If there is "no one right religion, way, or truth for all," then why is this rule (the Wiccan Rede) universal? How do we know that witches are not just trying to impose their rule on us to "shackle our minds and actions," as they put it? (3) How do witches account for the origin and existence of evil and suffering?
Since I believe that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, as I will show below, then automatically I must reject Rabbinic/traditional Judaism since they reject Jesus as the Messiah.
The only other great religious traditions that I know about are those of Taoism in China and Shintoism in Japan. These religions are pantheistic like Hinduism, but also have a number of animistic characteristics. Those teachings have been adequately covered above.
Regarding Jesus Christ, the tenants of Christianity are not based on some kind of blind faith -- as some people have claimed. In fact, Christianity depends very much on the testimony of eyewitnesses. A large portion of the Bible is just that: the eyewitness accounts of people who were actually there. Christians do not depend on a single individual's revelation of the truth (as, for example, in Islam and Buddhism). In fact, Jesus Christ, the object of the Christian's devotion and the focal point of all Scripture, did not write a single word of the Bible!
Some say that Jesus was a myth, that He was not a historical figure. These people maintain that no credible evidence exists that would substantiate His historicity. But nothing can be further from the truth. There is actually better historical evidence for the existence of Jesus and what Christians believe about Him than for just about any ancient historical figure. For example, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who was not a Christian, wrote in 93-94 A.D.:
"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders." Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII.iii.3
A Roman historian by the name of Cornelius Tacitus wrote in 112 A.D.:
"Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also." Annals, XV.44
While there are other references outside the Bible that demonstrate Jesus was an actual historical person, for the sake of brevity these two examples should suffice.
The teachings of Jesus Christ and the claims He made for Himself are well documented in the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in the Bible. But those claims would be nothing if He failed to rise from the dead after He was crucified, as He predicted He would. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is considered to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it, Jesus is a fraud and Christianity a false religion. So the question before us is this: "Did Jesus rise from the dead?"
The Christian Church is worldwide in scope. Its history can be traced back to Palestine around 32 AD. Did it just happen or was there a cause for it? These people who were first called Christians at Antioch turned the world of their time upside down. They constantly referred to the resurrection as the basis for their teaching, preaching, living, and -- significantly -- dying. The Apostle Paul summed up very well what the gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. There he defined it as Jesus dying for the sins of humanity and rising from the dead, according to the Scriptures. Paul also said, "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain". He said, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins". And furthermore, he said, "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished if Christ has not been raised from the dead." (1 Corinthians 15:12-20) The apostles preached this message because the resurrection of Jesus Christ proved that He was who He said He was -- the Son of God. It demonstrated that the blood Jesus shed on the cross had the power to save sinners, and that in the end, all will raised from the dead.
The testimony of the New Testament contains six independent testimonies to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Three of them by eyewitnesses: John, Peter, and Matthew. Paul, writing to the churches at an early date, referred to the resurrection in such a way that it is obvious that to him and his readers the event was well known and accepted without question. Are these men, who helped transform the moral structure of society, consummate liars or deluded madmen? These alternatives are harder to believe than the fact of the resurrection, and there is no evidence to support them.
Of course, there have been those who sought to cast doubt on the veracity of the resurrection. They have advanced various explanations to account for the open and empty tomb. But there is only one valid explanation for the empty tomb, and that is the one the Bible presents -- that Jesus on the third day rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples (also some 500 others) for a period of forty days.
The apostles of Christ were eyewitnesses to His resurrection. These men had been with Him before His death; a number of them had been with Him for about three and a half years. They had seen Him during the trial; some of them had seen Him die on the cross. After His resurrection, these men associated with Him for about forty days. They talked with Him; they handled Him; they saw Him. They had every reason for believing that the Christ whom they saw was the one who had been crucified.
In fact, at first, some of them, notably Thomas, doubted. He said, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Later, when Jesus appeared and told him examine His wounds to see that He really rose from the dead, Thomas said, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:24-28)
Now if Jesus was not really raised from the dead these apostles, were either deceivers or they were deceived. Is it likely that these men would be deceived, men who had known Jesus so well before His death and had been associated with Him after His resurrection? Would these men have had any reason to be deliberate deceivers? What was there to gain from preaching that Christ was risen from the dead if He really had not risen from the dead?
There was no financial gain; there was no social prestige; there was no political power to come as a result of their preaching the resurrection. The only prospect that they had insofar as human rewards were concerned was the prospect of peril and persecution, of imprisonment and death. Yet all these apostles went out and preached that Christ had been raised from the dead. And they all, save one, paid for this testimony with their lives. No one suffers peril, persecution, and a cruel death for what he knows to be a lie.
If the apostles of Christ were deliberate deceivers, why is it that not one of them under the most trying circumstances (e.g. imprisonment, stoning, and death) ever recanted his testimony? Men do not manifest this kind of steadfastness and loyalty to a known falsehood. They all asserted right up to the end that they saw Jesus after He was raised from the dead.
By their lives and deaths these men demonstrated that what they were teaching was the truth. When they preached the resurrection, they did not begin in Galilee; they began in Jerusalem where Christ had been crucified. When they began preaching the resurrection, it was not to men who knew nothing about the death of Christ; it was to men who had been guilty of crucifying the Lord (Acts 2:22-23). These men deported themselves as men who knew what they were talking about. They deported themselves as men who were under tremendous conviction. No one can account for the changed attitude of these men, for their restored hope, for their renewed courage, for their long lives of toil and sacrifice and suffering apart from the fact that they were prompted by the undying conviction that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. It is more difficult to believe that these men acted a lie, suffered for it, and died for it, than it is to believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
It was because of their powerful testimony that faith in Jesus grew in spite of detractors, competing religions and philosophies, and severe state persecution. This could not take place if the resurrection was a lie perpetrated by Jesus Himself or His apostles.
The Bible consists of 66 books written by some 40 different men spanning a period of over 4,000 years. It contains three distinct languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic). The writers were from a wide variety of nationalities; and their professions ranged from kings to fishermen to tentmakers.
I believe that the Biblical text in the original languages, as it was given, contains no errors. There are ample reasons for this, but let me summarize a few points:
The Bible is true historically. In spite of comments to the contrary, archeology continually has verified the validity of Bible.
The Bible is true scientifically. Nothing in Scripture has been invalidated by science. In fact, many scientific principles are found in the Bible. A sampling of these would include the roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40:22), the almost infinite extent of the sidereal universe (Isaiah 55:9), the law of conservation of mass and energy (I1 Peter 3:7), the hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7), the vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22), the equivalence of matter and energy (Hebrews 1:3), the law of increasing entropy (Psalm 102:25-27), the paramount importance of blood in life processes (Leviticus 17:11), the atmospheric circulation (Ecclesiastes 1:6), the gravitational field (Job 26:7), and many others. These are not stated in the technical jargon of modern science, of course, but in terms of the basic world of man's everyday experience; nevertheless, they are completely in accord with the most modern scientific facts.
The Bible is true prophetically. Click here to read the article, "The Bible: Proof of Its Supernatural Origin." For a detailed discussion of this area, also see the book, "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," by Josh McDowell. Jesus was the precise fulfillment of virtually hundreds of Messianic prophecies! A few examples are Messiah's humanity (Genesis 3:15); Messiah's Jewishness (Genesis 12:1-3; 28:10-15); Messiah's tribe (Genesis 49:10); Messiah's family (2 Samuel 7:16; Jeremiah 23:5-6); Messiah's birthplace (Micah 5:2); Messiah's life, reception, suffering, work at the cross, death, and resurrection (Isaiah 52:13; 53); and the details of Messiah's crucifixion (Psalm 22).
To illustrate this point further, below is a list of Old Testament prophecies and their New Testament fulfillment by Jesus Christ:

(you have to go to his webpage to see the chart, I could'nt get it here formatted correctly)

The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks (Moody Press, 1963) to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. Stoner says that by using the modern science of probability in reference to eight prophecies, we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in ten to the 17th power." That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing that "we take ten to the seventeenth power silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man."
Stoner considers 48 prophecies and says, "we find the chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in ten to the 157th power, or 1 in
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000."
The estimated number of electrons in the universe is around ten to the seventy-ninth power. It should be quite evident that Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies by accident. He was who He said He was: the only way (John 14:6).
It is due to the evidence presented here that I believe God exists and Christianity to be the only true religion, and why I cannot accept as rational the idea that one religion is just as good as another. Jesus is who He claimed to be, and He proved this by fulfilling prophecy and rising from the dead.

Make Sure Your Calling and Election

2 Peter1:10 (YLT) wherefore, the rather, brethren, be diligent to make stedfast your calling and choice, for these things doing, ye may never stumble, 11 for so, richly shall be superadded to you the entrance into the age-during reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Here it is again, you are being told to make your calling and election sure. Also, again, we see that conditional word "if." IFFFF you do this, then something happens. Ifffff ye do these things, then you shall never fall.

The literal translation tells us to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, yet the "once saved always saved" teachers tell us there's no need for us to be diligent in this matter. They say our calling and election were locked in during our 15 second "decision for Jesus" a long time ago. So who is correct? The bible or snake oil salesmen, so called preachers of righteousness?

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure. That command is given to you and me. If it was already sure, why were we commanded to give diligence to making it sure? This is straightforward stuff guys. Matt 7:14 tells us that few will be saved, why? The hired hand preachers of this world do not teach you that you must be diligent about making your calling and election sure. Don't you think that would be something important they might want to mention sometime? Anytime? Instead, you hear it from them...never. Kind of like Matt 7:13-28. People just don't want to hear it.

Today is still a pre-flood day. Today we are still in Passover, a time of remembrance of the Lord's mercy to us who believe, and wrath on the faithless world. Noah went into the ark on Iyyar 17, the second month of the hebrew calendar, which equates to May 11 this year. We are told that the coming of the Son of man will be just like/exactly like the days of Noah and Lot. What if the Lord comes for us on May 11th this year. Would that be exactly like the days of Noah and Lot? Yes it would. Could it happen? Yes it could, or it could happen today.

Today is a day to remember the things our God has done throughout history, for us and those of us who have died "in Christ." Today is a day to give diligence to making your calling and election sure. The babylonian, so called christian church is to busy giving financial advise, teaching self-help classes and all kinds of other garbage to bother trying to wake you up to the tidal wave of darkness and distress coming to this world. Today is a pre-flood day....the ark is still sitting on the grass with the door open for those with the wisdom to get in it before the flood starts. Today is a pre-brimstone day, where the Spirit of God is urging us to walk out of the city before judgement falls. Today is a day to prepare hearts and minds, to establish faith, to root it deeply in the only ground that is fruitful, which is the ground of the Word of God, which is by definition Jesus Christ.

History has already proven to us that disaster can come in a single day. You don't have to convince people who have recently had their homes lost to tornadoes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes etc. They understand. What is the Spirit of God saying to the churches today? That is my question each and every day, it should be yours as well. A people should inquire of their God, should they not? Any time the kings of Israel had some important matter they needed advice on, they would consult the Lord (through the prophets) to figure out what to do. We now have the Holy Spirit living within us, we have no need to consult prophets. The spirit of prophesy lies within each of us along with every other spiritual gift we could ever ask for.

I don't know if you saw the recent earthquake in Italy but from what I heard from witnesses, it was horrific. They are still digging up the bodies. Anyone who has been through an earthquake will tell you its absolutely, terribly frightening. Our God tells us that he's going to shake this world like a ragdoll, along with a host of other terrifying judgements on the world. Be ready, be watching, an escape from all is coming. Most will not be counted worthy of it, and one reason for that is many people don't even pray to be counted worthy of it as we are commanded to in Luke 21:36. If you are reading this right now, you have been reminded, the command has been brought back to the fore of your conscious mind, that you must pray to be counted worthy of the escape from all that is coming. You must believe that you will receive what you ask for in prayer because a double minded man is unstable in all he does. Pray without ceasing, remember the brothers in all your prayers, I can assure you that you are in my prayers. I pray that all those "in Christ" along with my family and myself may be counted worthy of the escape from all that is coming. That prayer is built on the bedrock of the word of God.

Along with this prayer from Luke 21:36 I also pray the Lord's prayer.....Our Father....Give us this day our daily bread...thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth just as it is in heaven.

Only the Lord knows what tomorrow or even later today will bring to the minds and eyes of men. Walk across the grass, climb into the ark TODAY while the door is still open. Our ark of safety is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. May his name be praised throughout all eternity. grace and peace

The Ark

What do I hear the Spirit saying to the churches today?

Return to the fundamentals of the faith,

Return to a simple childlike faith in Jesus Christ.

The Ark: We do not have to wait for the day of the escape to get into the Ark. Jesus Christ is our ark of safety. Noah entered the ark before the flood started. You and I need to be in the ark, which is to say "in Christ" before the flood of our day starts.

Today is the second day of Passover. Today is a time to remember everything the Lord has done for us, and for those who have been "in Christ" from the beginning. Praise him today, worship him today. Be found in the ark today. People are running around looking for answers today from everywhere except the one place that counts: the Creator.

We are not of the world, we should not fear what they fear. We eat at the king of the universe's table, what is it we need that he cannot provide? We have access 24/7, 365 to one on one time with the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, what is it that we should concern or worry ourselves about?

Bring your troubles and concerns to him. Ask and you shall receive, seek (with all your heart) and you shall find. When you ask DO NOT DOUBT, and you will receive what you have asked for in prayer. If people had any idea just how real and powerful our God's promises are....if they had any idea just how immutable his laws are. When he says something, he means it. If it was written, it is fact. Time and experience has proven to me that the word of God is 100% right on accurate.

Trust in him, believe, build your faith, GET OUT OF THE BOAT and meet Jesus on the water today. My brother Jeff gave me that one a long time ago...walking outside the boat with Jesus. The fearful and the timid and the weak need to build their faith today. We are already in the storm, but we have'nt seen bad yet. If the mental picture the Lord gave me is correct, we will come so close to the time of Jacob's trouble, we will feel it in our bones, smell it, sense it, you name it. Does that make sense in light of what we know? The escape and destruction fall on the same day...just like Noah..just like Lot.

Withdraw from the mudhole that is this world. Take refuge in the King of Kings. Today is still a pre-flood day. Today is still a pre-brimstone day. Do not take today for granted! Complacency is creeping into people's lives again. Wake up, splash yourself with some cold water, slap yourself across the face, do whatever you have to but wake up! This world is singing a siren song, don't let it captivate you.

Get back on your knees in prayer daily, feed on the word of God daily. Pray without ceasing. Remember what our God has done and praise him for it. Build your faith, BELIEVE...cast your cares on him because he loves you.

done for today, grace and peace

The Duality We Live

It has been written here before that we must be prepared to leave this earth today. We also must be able to patiently wait as long it takes for the Lord to show up, possibly for years. We are ready to leave, we are ready to stay. Fairly simple in theory, not so easy in practice.

The word of our Lord tells us that he could show up for us at any minute. We are servants who must be ready for our master to return....right now. Those who tell you that you don't have to be ready right now are liars and thieves.

Luke 12:40 "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is
... So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you don't expect him

Matthew 24:44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the
... So you, too, must be ready, because at an hour you arenot expecting him the Son of Man will come

Matthew 25:10 "And while they were going away to make the purchase ...
... "While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready wentwith him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed

Luke 1:17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before
... of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient tothe wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord

And the list goes on and on and on...

Notice what these do not say....they do not say "be ready when.." they just say "be ready." That means now. Have you been watching the news lately? People are being shot left and right, there's death by wars, death by plane crashes, death by famine, but since it has'nt happened lately in your backyard, have you grown complascent? Which of the people who have died from gunshot, plane crashes, car accidents etc etc over the past 30 days saw it coming? You are to be ready now, today, not tomorrow, not next month, not at the mid point of the tribulation, not after the abomination of desolation..NOWWWWWWWWWWW.

How long with this "holding pattern" last? We are in a holding pattern just like a plane circling an airport ready to land, but without permission from air traffic control yet. I'll be the first to admit, I have no idea when the Lord will come back for us...none. And guess what? I don't need to know the day and hour because I, and you, and everyone else in the world has already been told to be ready NOW. If you are not ready today, shame on you. If your doctrine or theology tells you that Jesus cannot and will not come back today, then you have dug yourself a nice little pit with spikes at the bottom of it for yourself and everyone else you teach or talk to.

Our Lord told us to be ready. Our Lord told us that it will be well for the servants who he finds doing what they are supposed to be doing when he comes back at an unexpected time.

Matt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But 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. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

At an hour when YE think not. Ye? Yea, that means you..Not "they"... YOU

Passover started last night (April 8th) at sunset and will continue for 7 days. Could the Lord come back for us today or tomorrow, or any time during the days ahead? You bet he could. Be ready, be watching. Rekindle your sense of urgency. This world likes to sing you lullabies to put you to sleep. Whatever you have to do to light a fire under your rear end today..DO IT.

We also must be prepared to wait.

Rev 3: 10 Because 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.

We are patiently waiting, day in, and day out for our Lord's return.

A phrase that has been resonating in my mind that I have to get out now is "the growing irrelevance" of the things of the world, especially the news. Everyone is out chasing rabbit trails. If we want to know where we are in time, keep your eyes on the Lord. Keep your eyes on his time markers. Markers like the apostasy of the church, Israel being regathered in 1947, men being lovers of themselves, pleasure etc. I have no doubt that the restrainer could step aside today and release the hordes of hell on this earth. The trick is, the Lord is making people wait. People seem to sense that we are on the brink of something, but this holding pattern we are in really vexes them. People don't like to wait. The Lord is the most patient being in all eternity. We, as his children, must perfect our patience just as his patience is perfect.

The world is living in fear more and more everyday to pave the way for the arrival of anti-christ. Why don't we fear? Why should we fear when we are just like our Father in heaven? Would he punish himself? And if we are just like him, our love is made perfect and there is no fear in love.....We are in him, he is in us. Each day gives us an opportunity to perfect ourselves for the bridegroom. Yep, the word there is perfect..perfection is what we are called to, and as imperfect human beings that means the job is never done (as long as we are in these bodies).

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts
... because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ... becausefear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly ...
... So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

These people who tell you "yea, well everybody sins! And they do it all the time!" And these same people call themselves christians? Who are these people? Who is it that's pouring that poison into their ears? Where is the conviction within these people (that comes from looking into the perfect word of God) that tells them to RUN from the so called "preachers of righteousness..pastors" teaching them this garbage?

There's a reason that few will be saved:

Matt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I think it would be wise for us to remember today, and during the remaining days of passover, what the Lord has done for our forefathers in Egypt. "In Christ" everything that has ever been done for a child of the Most High God, has been done for us. We are one..."in Him." When the angel of Death passed over the people of Israel while they were in Egypt, it was a blessing for us, in love. Our Lord is the true passover lamb. We were promised an escape from all thats about to happen. Those who keep the word of his patience are promised to be kept from the trial coming on the whole world.

Thank you for all who said a prayer for our safe trip, we are back now and all went well. Please take a moment today..right now to remember all that the Lord has done for you, for those you love, and for our family "in Christ" back throughout history. The God we serve is a mighty and awesome king. He is worthy to receive ALL the honor and praise and glory now and forever. Do not forget the things he has already done. They were written for a reason, to bring to our remembrance who our God is, how he works. If we are to praise him for all eternity, then we need to praise him now. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people.

Time is short, I've been saying that for years, and in patience I will continue to say it. A fire burns within me to lay out day after day the message I believe he has brought to my remembrance day after day after day. The task the Lord has given this nobody (me) to do is to put in front of people what has already been written: Matt 7:13-7:28, and the apostasy of the church in the last days and the escape. Those are the "big three" that the Lord has given me, and they won't go away. Everything you have seen written here for years now, revolves around those three things. Others have different tasks from him, but those are mine. I am not alone with that burden, there are others in the world who tremble with the same task from the Most High. Confront the people of this world with the Holy One, whether they like it or not. Remind them of the things they like to skip over and evade in their "buffet style christianity." Our Lord did not give us the option to pick and choose the pleasant aspects of his word and skip over all the rest. Holiness, truth and justice, faith and obedience come before any blessing. This is not a buffet, this is sonship, the making of princes of the most high God. This is serious business. The angels watch in fascination at the unfolding drama and we are the stars of the show. Do not let our father down, serve him with fear and trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry and destroy you in your way. Some decision you made 10 years ago at summer camp will not be enough. WAKE UP and be ready. The Son of God is coming.

grace and peace

Pastors..Again

So I asked in my last post, what is a "pastor" because I don't see the word anywhere in my literal translation of the bible. I do see the word shepherd though, and about here is where all the "pastors" say "a pastor is a shepherd" at which point I ask "really? Who says they are shepherds?" And the answer to that question is quess what? Men say that pastors are shepherds, which is my point all along. Instead of allowing the word of God to dictate to us who does what, men have taken over, and anytime men try to outsmart God, trouble is the result.

The bible calls for a plurality of elders to oversee the church, not the one man show idolatrous pastors we see everywhere today. There is one shepherd of the flock, and his name is Jesus Christ. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd so they also know the sound of voices that are not their shepherd (pastors).

Judgement starts with the house of God, we see this clearly in what our Lord says to the churches in Rev 2-3. In Rev 2-3 we see something the Lord hates....the deeds of the nicolaitans. Many people have speculated on what nicolaitans are, but we don't need to speculate, just break the word down into its parts. Nico=conquer laitan=laity=YOU. Jesus says that this clergy/laity system he HATES and yet we see it on every street corner in every so called church today...why? The traditions of men, control, power, pride, lust, money etc etc.

In the true church Jesus alone is the head of the body, and all the rest of us are just different parts with no part more honorable than the other. Can the toes boast over the elbow? Or the shoulder over the leg? But men have setup a hierarchical system so one group (clergy) has set itself up over the rest of the body, in a place it should not be. To call another brother in christ a "layman" is the most insulting thing a someone could say. Not only does it insult the brother, but it is a direct insult to the Spirit of God WHO LIVES WITHIN US. The Spirit of the living God is within me and you call me (and everyone else not in their "clergy club") a "layman?"

The pastors themselves are part of the problem, the other part are those people who willingly submit themselves to that idolatrous system. Jesus says he hates the teachings and deeds of the nicolaitans, but men LOVE the teachings and deeds of the nicolaitans. We were told that judgement starts with the house of God. Go reread Rev 2-3 today. The nicolaitan problem is only one of the things Jesus had a problem with in the churches. We must make sure that we please him in every way. Why? Because we love him.

Time is short. My sense is that things will go on as they are today until the day that destruction falls and the escape takes place (same day). We are in a holding pattern, holding to see who will wake up, who will repent, who will seek the Lord with their whole hearts before destruction falls. I have no idea when the day will be, I don't think knowing the day is as important as being ready for the day when it shows up. Remain in him, grace and peace.

Pastors?

So what exactly is a "pastor" anyway? I can't find a single mention of a "pastor" in my entire bible, yet they are on every corner of every street in America. The reason I can't find "pastors" in my bible is because I'm reading a LITERAL translation of what our God said to us. Not some man glorifying nonsense that started in earnest with the KJV bible.

Although I cannot find a single pastor in my entire bible I do see shepherds....

Eph 4:11 and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,

Why is it that men have chosen to be called by the coventions of this world and not the word of God? You know the difference between a "pastor" and a priest? Two vowels...exchange the a, and o for an i and e and whammo, you've got the same word. They are identical, but in my bible it says we are all priests of the most high God, so again, who are these "pastors" I see everywhere in the world and nowhere in my bible?

I see shepherds and no pastors. What does a shepherd do? 2 primary functions, protect the sheep from wolves and guide them to pasture where THEY CAN FEED THEMSELVES. Does a shepherd feed his sheep? NO he does not, he leads them to pastures where they can feed themselves. Does the shepherd rip grass up and feed it to the sheeps mouth? You following this? What happens when the shepherds who are supposed to protect the sheep from wolves, are themselves wolves? What happens when the shepherds never lead the sheep to where they can feed themselves so they can keep the sheep dependant on some fraudulent spiritual food stamp kind of "food" that makes the sheep dependant on the shepherd to eat?

In the bible we see shepherds, in the world we see priests and pastors. Once again, men have decided that they know better than God how things should be setup in the kingdom and the world is now falling down around their heads.

1 Peter 4:17
... For the time has come for judgement to begin, and to begin at the house of God;and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God's Good

We can see with our own eyes that judgement is coming swiftly for this world, and we know for a fact that before the world is judged, we the church get it first. With the worlds judgement already at the door that means the church is being judged today. From top to bottom, so called christianity is corrupt. Todays "pastors" have not taken their charter from the word of God, they have taken on thier titles and positions within their idolatrous system from the traditions of men, passed down from generation to generation with nobody stopping to ask why?

What happens when men decide to do things their own way instead of our God's way? Trouble...
Churches and "pastors" on every corner yet the world is going to hell in a handbasket and nobody stops to ask why? Where is the salt, where is the light? Where are the servants who have searched the word of God instead of the traditions of men for their answers? The pastoral system is idolatrous, as is everything else about this babylonian religious system setup by men. Don't take my word for any of this, use your own eyes. We have come to the same place, with history repeating itself over and over again, men choosing their own ways, and a handful of faithful people, a small number, a few, a remnant holds on for dear life to the pure unadulterated word of God. A remnant is what gets saved. The masses choose to believe in the lies that their fathers handed down to them, they choose the broads paths that have many on it. They believe in comfort from numbers, as if the masses of humanity around them on the broad path can save them from whats coming.

The narrow path that leads to life has FEW on it (matt 7:14), so if you find yourself today standing on a path that has many on it, you might want to rethink everything. I believe the message that the Lord has given me for years now is a condemnation on this manmade system masquerading as the truth. From the very beginning the Lord put Matt 7:14 and MAtt 7:21 along with everywhere else we see the remnant and the few being saved in the front of my mind. Why? Because judgement starts with the house of God...

Time is short, keep the faith.

Travel

I'll be traveling tomorrow to go to a friend's wedding. I don't know if I'll have access to the web until I get back on April 8 or 9th. The days ahead could be huge. There's so much going on in the world right now...be watching and be ready for our Lord's return.

If you have 15-30 seconds to spare for a brother, please pray for me now as you read this that our travels will be safe.

You are dearly loved. I'll post if I can.

grace and peace