Christian Freedom

2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:1[ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

James 1:25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Mark 4:19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Romans 1:24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Romans 8:5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 13:14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:16[ Life by the Spirit ] So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Galatians 5:24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Ephesians 4:22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Colossians 3:5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

1 Timothy 6:9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

2 Timothy 2:22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

James 4:1[ Submit Yourselves to God ] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

1 Peter 1:14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

1 Peter 4
Living for God 1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

2 Peter 1
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

2 Peter 3:3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

1 John 2:17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Jude 1
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Romans 8:5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 8:8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God

Romans 8:9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.


Galatians 5
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Colossians 2:10-12
10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,[a] not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the
body, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20

Crucify fleshly desires. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful
nature with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:24 It is a faith response to fleshly desires
that says, “I am dead to that. That’s not me anymore. It is Christ who lives in me. I will
make no room for that dead thing in my thoughts or choices. It’s dead and buried.

Conclusion: Picture the Spirit inviting you to follow as he leads you in the ways of Christ. Picture
the old you, the flesh, pulling you back and forth between the bondage of law and the slavery of
sin. Each step you take, you die to the influence of one and live under the power of the other.

Acts 5:32, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Be All the More Eager to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Love
Brotherly Kindness
Godliness
Perseverance
Self Control
Knowledge
Goodness
Faith-------------------------------------The Foundation

It appears that all of the qualities we need to posses are built up on the foundation of faith. From faith we see levels of refinement with the highest level of achievement being love, the way Jesus defines it:

1 Corinthians 13:3-5 (New International Version)
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

To him Who Overcomes

Revelation 2
7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'[b]— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3

5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

So Called Christianity

To the Church in Laodicea 14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

If this does'nt sound like today's christian charade, I don't know what does:
17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Proof that "Once Saved Always Saved" is False Doctrine

Colossians 1
22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

The word "if" is a conditional word. If does not mean something is definately going to happen. In the scripture above it says that we are reconciled to God the Father by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation "IF" you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. What happens if a person does not continue in their faith? Do you think they remain reconciled to God? The answer here is obvious...no way. IF IF IF IF IF IF is a conditional word..................

Universal Deceit

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
- George Orwell

Trying to fight the misdirection and even heresy in today's evangelical church while remaining a part of it will most likely prove an impossible task for anyone who tries. It isn't that there are not countless numbers of godly men and women who are part of this church and who fervently love the Lord and who are honestly seeking to do His will; it's just that they are a part of an institution that is, unfortunately, going in the wrong direction, and there is nothing they can do - other than tampering with odds and ends on the periphery - to change that. It's like someone who is walking west towards New York on a ship which is sailing east towards London and who thinks that by doing so he can with much effort at last reach New York. It's impossible!

http://www.antipasministries.com/html/file0000101.htm

They Will All be Taught by God

John6:45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[d] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

If there was ever a time in history when believers needed to be reminded of this ^^^^^^^ it's now. The level of deception and error dispensed by the so called pastors and preachers of today's apostate christianity is staggering.

The time to be fully focused on the Lord Jesus, to be taught by the Father himself is now. What an honor to be taught by the Spirit of the King of Kings, yet many people calling themselves christians look no further than their local hired hand (pastor). What a shame, what a waste.

Why Read the Bible Everyday?

Many if not most people in churchianity rely on their pastor/priest to spoon feed them the word of God each week, usually once or twice a week. My question to them is 1. Why rely on another man to feed you? It's like birds where the mother goes and gets the food, eats it, then comes back to the nest to regurgitate into the chicks mouths. 2. How often do you eat food and drink? Daily right?

Well, the Bible says:

John 6
55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

If a person does'nt eat he grows weak and eventually will die. Spiritually speaking it's the same. A person has to eat the real food which is the Word of God or they will spiritually die.

John 1
The Word Became Flesh 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Eating his flesh is consuming the Word of God. The Lord talks about it in terms of eating and drinking for a reason...we do it daily.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

I have written articles on this blog to outline why the pastoral system to which 99.9% of todays pastors belong is an idolatrous and antichrist system. Reason 1,001 to get out of churchianity is that the food being fed through the pastoral system is laced with poison. A person can obtain pure milk and real food for themselves from the Word of God but most refuse to. Why is that? My thought is that they really really deep down inside don't want Him, Jesus. Anything a person "really" wants, they go after persistently because they really really want it. Everything else is just a whim.

Why This is all So Worth it

I was thinking the other day about the things we are constantly barraged with in the media, the glitz and glamour of this world, and all the things that are so highly respected. Then I considered the promises of God to us, His children and I almost laughed out loud at how little this world understands. One of the promises the Lord has given us is that we will rule and reign with Jesus for a thousand years on this earth. Think about that for a moment. Someone like the president of the United States may have a political career that lands them at the peak of power for 8 years maximum. We will rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. Pretty incredible stuff. The other sweet thing about this whole deal is that when we are ruling, our Jesus will hold power with an iron fist, there will be no revolutions, no coups, no overthrows. Anyone who might think of doing such a thing will be overthrown and destroyed with such violence and certainty that its almost comical. Think about 1000 years man, its a long time. Compared to eternity its nothing however, we'll have a good full dose of ruling over this world before the Lord torches it and gives us something that's really worth having. The future is bright, and its right at our doorstep. Time is short, keep the faith.

Unlike So Many

2 Corinthians 2
17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.


We do not peddle the word of God for profit
We do not peddle the word of God for profit
We do not peddle the word of God for profit
We do not peddle the word of God for profit

Where are the "men of God" today who follow this example? Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has something to sell us.

Be in Christ and speak before God with sincerity, LIKE MEN SENT FROM GOD. If men sent from God do not peddle the Word for profit, then who are all these other imposters????

Antichrist on the Horizon

We servants of the Most High God are watchmen on the wall. We are watching continually for the return of our Lord and Savior and we are watching the approach of the Antichrist on the horizon. The recent release of the DaVinci code along with the programming on tv such as the shows: Medium, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X files, Invasion etc etc etc, as well as the other satanic movie releases have reached a fever pitch. When these things are combined with the coming new world order religion we see forming and the one world government coming together I can't help but think we are going to be out of here like SOON. The stage is set and only final adjustments have to be made to ready WW3 out of which will come the anti christ. It's time to get excited and do the things we need to do while we are still in this world because time is short short short.

Hell

I have been impressed recently by the increase in people who claim that there is no hell. One group that staunchly defends this is called the Universal Reconciliationists. They not only believe there is no hell, they also believe that everybody will be saved, even the devil.

What is so incredible about all this is that these people seem to know their bible yet they are completely blind and/or ignorant to what the bible is clearly stating. Now we know that sometimes the bible can be a bit vague about certain topics however hell is not one of these topics. In fact if there is any one thing the bible is painfully clear on, its the idea that there is a place of eternal punishment and people who don't know Jesus are going to end up there.

Consider the wording used in places like this:

Matthew 25: 41 “eternal fire”, 46 “eternal punishment”; Mark 9: 43-48 “into Hell, into the unquenchable fire”; 2 Thessalonians 1: 9 “pay the penalty of eternal destruction”; Heb. 9:27 “it is appointed for man to die once and after this comes judgement”; Rev. 14: 11 “…the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night…”; etc.).

I'm not sure what other wording could possibly be used to make the point clearer. The wicked will suffer eternal punishment and it's going to be really really bad. For people to read the bible and come away with any other conclusion about the reality of hell and the idea that not only will everyone not be saved, MOST people will not be saved, only a few will. Read Matt 7:14, how much clearer can it be. Jehovah's Witnesses and Universal Reconciliationists both teach that there is no hell. This is satanic power being displayed, showing how effective it can be at blinding the minds of those who refuse to love the truth. People indeed love the thoughts and words of men more than the word of God or they would not be caught up in such blatant, obvious and grievous error.

99% is Not Enough

Mark 12:30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

What does "all" mean? 100% right?

A person who is even 99% committed to Jesus has not committed enough. It appears that 100% committment to the Lord is the only level of committment that will enable us to "overcome" and enter eternal life. One reason for this is that any crack in our armor, and room under a nail's head is enough for the enemy to slip in a crowbar and pry us. The enemy is relentless and any cracks in our defenses will be explored and exploited. This is why we are told to love the Lord our God in this way:


Mark 12:33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Luke 10:27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

It will take everything we have to love the Lord the way we are supposed to. Anything less than everything is not enough. The bar is set unbelievable high. This is why it says

Matt 7:
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

~brother D

Rapture-Prewrath and Post Trib Positions are Indefensible

How did I come to this conclusion?

Today I was thinking about being prepared for the Lord's return and what we need to do to be ready. The thought occured to me to do a keyword search of the New Testament for the word "watch." Here are some of the results:

Matthew 24:42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Matthew 25:13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Mark 13:35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

Mark 13:37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

Luke 12:37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

Luke 21:36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Clearly the word "watch" in the above scriptures is talking about watching specifically for the Lord's return. Notice that there are no preconditions in the scriptures such as "watch when" or "watch if", it just says "watch" period. Here's where the prewrath and post tribber positions implode........

The bible clearly tells us to "watch," but are the prewrath postribbers "watching" right now? If the answer is no, then they are in clear disobedience to the Lord's command to "watch," right? If they answer "yes" they are watching for the Lord's return right now, then this nullifies their position that the Lord will return either at mid or post tribulation. Either way, their position is discredited.

Let's look at another, even more straightforward example of where the prewrath/post trib position is indefensible.

Luke 21:36 says : "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Are prewrath/post tribbers obeying the Lord's clear command here to "pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen?" If they are not praying for escape as the scripture clearly commands them to, are they not being disobedient to the Word of God? If they are praying for escape, then once again, they nullify their own position that we must go through part or all of the tribulation. Notice that the Lord's command is to pray to escape ALL
that is about to happen.

In both cases, the prewrath and post tribulation positions are discredited. People who hold prewrath or posttrib views are not watching for the Lord's return right now although the Lord clearly commands them to be watching (right now), nor are they praying for escape as the Lord commanded them to.

Why would a prewrath or post tribber pray for escape? They are to busy arguing with everyone that they are going through the tribulation. Praying for escape goes against everything they stand for, so they just disregard the word of God and hold on to the word of man.

What do you think is going to happen to servants who are not found watching when the Lord comes back like a thief as He said He would? If the Lord commands a man to pray for escape, that man better pray for escape, or he is a fool.

These things are worth pondering....

Only a Few Will Be Saved

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; (NOT a billion people, few, little) for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 22:14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Luke 13:
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Why? Because only a FEW will be able to enter.................

Matthew 24:12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

1 Corinthians 10:5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

Nobody ever became popular by telling people the truth.........................

Pre Wrath Contradiction

Here's an email I sent to one of my brothers who leans to the Pre Wrath side at the moment:

Hey brotherman, something popped into my head last night out of the blue (from the Lord maybe?) :-) and I wanted you to give me your thoughts on it.
It has to do with the rapture. Two of the bible verses that make me lean heavily toward the pretrib scenario are:
Luke 21:36-Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
and
Rev 3:10-Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Now, we've been through these before however....here's the thought.
Pre-Wrath(PW) folks argue that Rev 3:10 does'nt say we'll be taken out of the world, but rather we'll be somehow "kept" while still in the world. This argument is the rub. On one hand, PW argues that christians have no valid reason to be "kept"/protected from tribulation, but on the other hand they argue that in this one case, christians ARE to be "kept" or somehow protected while still on this world in order to debunk the idea that christians are taken out of this world. Now we know that during the tribulation, the enemy will overcome the saints:
Daniel 7:21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them
Daniel 7:25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
Revelation 13:7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
It seems clear from these passages, that the saints who are in the world during the time of the tribulation will not be "kept" from anything. They will be conquered, they will be handed over, they will be defeated. So what's the only other alternative to the idea of:
" keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole" in Rev 3:10?
See what I'm saying? Also, when we are told to pray for escape in Luke 21:36 this directly contradicts the idea that believers are bound to tribulation. The idea of praying for escape is precisely not to have to go through something very bad which negates the PW argument that christians have never gotten out of tribulations before or ever will in the future. I'm trying to approach this with the most open mind I can, do you see the perspective I'm looking at this with? Do you see the contradiction? What are your thoughts? Brother D

Walking With God

Is there any higher aspiration we could have than to walk with God?

Genesis 5:24Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Genesis 6:9This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

What are the requirements that must be met in order to walk with God? We have to find out, then do what is necessary. There is nothing better we could aspire to during the days we walk this earth than to walk with the creator day in and day out. What greater honor could a man have than to walk side by side with the creator of the universe every day? It's an awesome thought. Lord, may we be counted worthy to walk with you.

~brother D

The Rapture-Part 8

I have read an argument some mid and post tribulationists hold for:

Matthew 24
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Their argument is that the people who are taken are the wicked, not the church.

Spending time with the Lord this morning in His word, the refutation to that argument lept off the pages at me.

Immediately following Matt 24, Matt 25 is the parable of the ten virgins which clearly states that those who were not ready at the time the bridegroom shows up are the ones who are left. The virgins who were ready went into the wedding banquet with the Lord.

It's amazing that I never saw this before, even after reading through it so many times. Truly, we can only understand the Word of God with the illumination of the Holy Ghost.

~Brother D

The Rapture-Part 7

If the "escape" talked about in Luke21:36 is going to occur before the tribulation as I believe it will based on the information discussed in previous posts on this blog, then when would the most likey time be for the Lord to catch people by surprise, or unexpected as He says in His Word?

Seems to me, it would be at a time when things are going relatively well for people. When things are going well, people tend to forget about the Lord. When things are hitting the fan left and right, when terrible events are rocking the world, people are looking for the Lord.

I imagine that any day now would be a good day for the Lord to reveal Himself to His people and catch us up in the air to be with Him forever. He specifically told us to be watching for Him, as an ongoing command. The better things are going in the world, the more complacent people become, the more vigilant we should be. Its at times like these that He is most likely to show up. Brother D

Dead Man Walking

Why are we not concerned with the things of this world? Because we are dead men (and women :-) walking...................

Romans 6:8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Colossians 2:20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:

Colossians 3:3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules????????????????

We are ambassadors and members of an otherworldly kingdom, not this world's kingdom. When I hear people who call themselves christians getting all wound up about politics or any of the other lies this world tries to feed us, I wonder: which spirit lives in those people?

People who follow the spirit of this world have their minds set on this world and this world's desires...

John 8:23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 12:25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 15:19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

The world calls the day Jesus died "Good Friday", you ever wonder why? John 16:20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

John 17:14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

John 17:16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

John 18:36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Corinthians 1:21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

1 Corinthians 2:12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness" ;

2 Corinthians 5:16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

2 Corinthians 10:3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

2 Corinthians 10:4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Galatians 4:3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.

Galatians 6:14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Ephesians 2:2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? I guess the TBN crowd is out of luck.....

People who call themselves christians yet are not only friends with the world, but lovers with the world, better re-evaluate their life...
James 4:4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

1 Peter 1:1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

1 John 2:15[ Do Not Love the World ] Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 3:13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. Does the world hate the televangelists (or those who follow them) we see on TV these days? hardly....

1 John 4:5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. This represents the vast majority of people calling themselves christians today. They know who they are by the people they call their "leaders", birds of a feather flock together...

1 John 5:19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. People talk about taking the goverment back for Jesus, guess they have'nt read this in the Bible yet. Jesus will take the Government back, but not for someone like George W. He'll come back, take it by force, and rule it Himself....

Revelation 12:9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with
him.

Those who believe in the "real" Jesus are dead to this world and all its ways. We are alive to Christ however, and we have our minds set on our Father's kingdom, not this one that we presently live in.

9"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly