Two types of Christian Current mood: grateful Category: Religion and Philosophy The Two Types of Christianity The religious. The disciple. For twenty two years I was a very religious man that believed Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I was very zealous, active in church and even went to Bible College to be a trained preacher. I said the sinners prayer, was baptized and on the church member role. I joined the fishersmens club, was an active soul winner, a tither and worked in many of the church ministries such as being a Sunday school teacher, working the bus ministry and singing in the choir. I was even a diligent student of the scripture. I wanted to know and do everything in appreciation to God, who loved me so much. It took me twenty two years to realize three important things. I didn't truly love God as I thought. This was proved by the next to points. I never truly repented of sin. I was still disobedient against God. I never took up my cross to follow Jesus. I wasn't willing to suffer the consequences of being a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was religious but still dead in my sins. I was told in the beginning that when I had said the sinners' prayer that I had just become a born again Christian and the Holy Spirit was now dwelling in my heart. After actually receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost 22 years later, I now know that was not true. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is only given to the true Disciples of Christ. These are the people who truly love God and the Lord Jesus Christ. They repent of sin to be obedient to God. They forsake all that they care about in this world, including their own life. They embrace death to teach the true doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ. It seems that the greatest enemies of the disciple are the religious. We love the religious and want to lead them the rest of the way to discipleship that they may receive the true baptism of the Holy Ghost and be saved, but they hate the true disciple. They don't want to know that they are insincere religious people also known scripturally as hypocrites. These are the hearers of the word but not doers. They claim to know him but don't keep his commandments. They have a great zeal for God but not according to knowledge. They profess that know God but in works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient and unto every good work reprobate. They have no understanding that they are religious but still lost in bondage to sin. If you are not sure that you are saved then you are not. If you are not sure that you have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then you haven't. How do I know? The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a literal and physical experience of meeting God. There is no mistaking what is happening and that it is God. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is being born again from above. It is the evidence given to every true disciple that they are the newly adopted child of God and their name is now written down in the book of life. How do I know? This is what I experienced three years ago when I met God. When the Holy Ghost fell on me, God was in me and all around me. I was immersed in His Spirit. This is why it is called the "baptism" of the Holy Ghost. No, I did not speak in tongues. If you haven't experienced this joy of meeting God, then you haven't met Him yet. This means that you do not yet love Him; you have not yet repented of sin nor taken up your cross to follow him to be a true disciple. I hope that all who read this will give yourself to understanding what I have just shared with you from the deepest part of my heart. I didn't understand either until my heart was so broken before God that I wanted to die than ever hurt him again. And then to my surprise, the Holy Ghost fell upon me. I promise you, I wasn't expecting that! But I did rejoice with God my Savior and I am still rejoicing with Him, three years later. I hope all of you will be able to enjoy this experience with God just as I did. I love you! Ken.

Repentence or Apology
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

There were two young men. One night, one of the young men went out drinking with his friends. Afterwards he jumped into the car to drive his friends home. On the way, he lost control of the car, ran off the road and hit a tree. His friends were all killed but he survived. The young man was so grieved by what he had done, he never took another drink the rest of his life.

The other young man also went out drinking with his friends. Afterwards he also went to drive his friends home. He also lost control of his car, hit a tree and his friends were also killed. The young man was so grieved by what he had done that he swore that he would never drink again. A couple of months later, this young man was in a bar drinking. Afterwards he got back into his car to drive home. He hit another car head on and was killed.

Which of the two young men repented and which just apologized?

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Scriptual Illiteracy Current mood: sad Category: Religion and Philosophy I have been thinking today about a christian heritage documentary that I had recently seen. The moderator made a statement that really troubles me. He said: "Christians in the church today are more "scriptually Illiterate" than any other generation for the last "200 years". That is so scary. If people are not studying the scripture, then where do their doctrinal beliefs come from? Are people just sitting in church and accepting whatever the preacher says as gospel truth? What if the preacher is wrong? How would you know? Please pray for our country. Without knowing the scriptures, how can people know and obey the truth of God and be saved?

The Rapture

Part Three

Paul quotes the Revelations

 

I know that you are asking: how did Paul quote the Revelations when it wasn’t written until A.D. 90 and Paul was already dead. At least that is what most bible historians and theologians will tell you. But actually the book of Revelations was written around A.D. 40, which is 50 years earlier than most believe. I will show you from the scripture why I believe Paul quoted from the Revelations.

 

First of all let’s dispel the teaching of the A.D. 90 writing. There is nothing written in scripture to support that dating to start with. Also there is nothing in historical writings to actually support that date. It’s an assumption because John said that he was on the Isle of Patmos for the word of God. It is written in history that the Island was eventually turned into a prison Island toward the end of the 1^st century A.D. So you take that one fact mixed with one assumption, John was imprisoned on the island at this time, you come to the conclusion of the A.D. 90 writing of the book of Revelations. Beware of assumptions and pay attention to what is written in the word of God.

 

Why is this important to understanding the last day events? First of all, everything that is written is important. Jesus said to know the truth and the truth will set you free. So what will a lie do? It will keep you in the bondage of deception and leave you unprepared for what is coming. It also helps you to understand exactly what Paul is talking about when he speaks of the last days and the coming of the Lord.

 

My evidence begins with II Corinthians 12:1-5. This is a place where many theologians say that Paul was talking about himself being caught up into the third heaven known also as paradise. In verse 5 Paul clearly states that he is talking about someone other than himself. Paul will not glory in himself but he will glory in this other man. In verse 2 Paul says he knew a man above 14 years ago that was caught up into the third heaven. We only have one record of someone being caught up into the third heaven and that would be John. Now verse 3 corresponds with Revelations 4:2 about John being caught up to heaven in the spirit. And verse 5 corresponds with Revelations 10:4 where John had to seal up the revelation and not write it.

 

Now the writing of both Corinthian letters can be traced through following the time line given in the Book of Acts about Paul’s missionary journeys. We can’t be exact about this either, but is estimated to be about A.D. 55. Both letters were written about six months apart. So if Paul knew of a man above 14 years earlier that was caught up into heaven and this man is John, then the writing of Revelations would be around A.D. 40-41 approximately.

 

Now in I Corinthians 15:51 Paul said: Behold, I shew you mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in twinkling of an eye, at “the last trump:” for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This passage corresponds with Revelations 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Both passages talk about the mystery of God and the last trump. The seventh angel sounding is the last of the seven trumps in the book of Revelations. So how could Paul quote so many things from the book of Revelations if he had never read them himself?

 

If you now go to I Thessalonians 4:15-17 you will see a continuation of those being asleep will rise first at the sound of the trump of God. This is just as Paul stated in I Corinthians 15:51 and Revelations 10:7.

 

So what is the point? The first point is that Paul knew John, and the book of Revelations and that the rapture takes place at the last trumpet in Revelations. So let’s go back to the order of events from my first letter on the rapture.

1. The 7 year tribulation period.
2. The signs in the sun, moon and stars. Tribulation period is over.
3. Jesus with the angels for the gathering.
4. The gathering is at the last trumpet in Revelations.
5. Followed by the 7 vials of the outpouring of God’s “wrath”.

 

So when is the wrath of God that we are to be delivered from as stated in I Thessalonians 1:10? It is the 7 vials of the wrath of God in Revelations, which are not poured out until after the tribulation period and after the 7^th trumpets sounds for the 1^st resurrection.

 

Matthew 24 gives us a detailed order of events about the tribulation period, the man of sin, the great tribulation followed by the signs in the sun, moon and stars, followed by the coming of Jesus, with the angels, for the gathering of his elect. The church will go through the tribulation period. For what purpose?

 

^{Revelations7:9}After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ¹⁰And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ¹¹And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, ¹²Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. ¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

The Resurrection

Part Two

 

I want to start this discussion back at Revelations 20:4-6 on the two resurrections. This passage clearly shows that there is a resurrection, of the just, before the thousand years called the millennium reign, and another resurrection, of the unjust, after the thousand years. That’s only two resurrections. Again, there is one resurrection for the just and one for the unjust.

 

 In Luke 14:14 Jesus speaks of being rewarded at “the” resurrection of the just. Then in John 5:28-29 Jesus speaks of the two resurrections, “the” resurrection of “life” and “the” resurrection of “damnation”. Also in Acts 24:15 Paul speaks of both resurrections, one of the just and one of the unjust.

 

Why is this important, to show that there are only two resurrections. The popularity of the left behind series, books and videos, teach that if you miss the rapture then you still have a second chance to be saved. There is no scripture written to support that theology.

 

As we see in Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten virgins, when Jesus returns to gather his bride the door is shut. All others who come knocking afterwards are turned away. In Revelations 3:7 Jesus said he opens the door that no man can shut and shuts the door that no man open. There is no second chance. If you do not go in the 1^st resurrection, called the rapture, then you will go in the 2^nd, which is unto damnation. Revelations 14:14-20 also supports this conclusion. There are two angels with two sickles that reap two harvests. One harvest is gathered to the Lord and the 2^nd harvest to the wrath of God.

 

The scripture teach us that there are two roads, two gates, two lives, two deaths, two resurrections and two final destinations.

 

Acts 14:22 states that we must through much “tribulation” enter into the kingdom of God. Also in Ephesians 6:13 Paul warns us to put on the whole armour of God so that we can stand in the “evil day” having done all to stand. What do you think the evil day is?

 

Revelations 7:¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. ¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice. We are as sheep led to the slaughter. We are killed all the day long. The Lord delights in the death of his saints. You must ask yourself this question: Do you really love the Lord enough to be a living sacrifice for Him just as He was a living sacrifice for us? Are you willing to take up your cross and follow him.

 

^{Luke 9:23}And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. ²⁵For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? ²⁶For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

 

^{There is still more to come. May God Bless you.}

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rapture

My point of view

Of what the scriptures teach.

 

 

The scriptures teach of three comings or advents of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. When Jesus gave himself a living sacrifice for our sins.
2. When Jesus returns in the clouds with the angels for the gathering.
3. When Jesus returns with ten thousands of the saints to execute vengeance.

 

The rapture is a theological reference to the 2^nd coming with the angels for the gathering.  This is an easy order of reference because Jesus has already been sacrificed, and He can’t return with the saints until he first comes to gather them from the earth.

 

The details are very important here because in the rapture Jesus returns with the “angels” in the clouds and we, the saints or elect, meet Him in the air at the gathering. But in the 3^rd coming Jesus does not come back with the angels but with the saints. You have to pay attention to the details. I Thessalonians 4:15-17, Jude 14-15.

 

In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul declares that we are to wait for Jesus to return from heaven who delivered us from the wrath to come. This is a very important statement because everyone’s eschatology is determined by their understanding of “when” the wrath of God is to come. Is the 7 year tribulation period or any part of it, the wrath of God? I recently heard John Hagee talking about the tribulation period being the wrath of God and the 21 judgments of Revelations being revealed during the tribulation period. Well I have a big problem with that. Mainly because the tribulation period is over at the opening of the 6 seal in Revelations. If you look at Revelations 6:12 when the 6^th seal is opened, there is a great earthquake followed by the sun becoming black, the moon becomes as blood and the stars fall to the earth, followed by verse 17 the great day of Gods wrath. If you look at Matthew 24:29 you will see that this is exactly what follows immediately after the tribulation period. The sun is darkened, the moon shall not give her light and the stars fall from heaven. This is the same thing stated in Acts 2:20 the sun turned into darkeness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of Lord come. Then in Matthew 24:30 you have Jesus returning in the clouds, “with the angels for the gathering”.

So based on these passages so far:

1. You have the tribulation period.
2. Followed by the signs in the sun, moon and stars.
3. Followed by Jesus with the angels for the gathering.
4. Followed by the wrath of God.

 

That might appear a little confusing to you in the order but if we are to be delivered from the wrath to come then the wrath must follow the gathering, not precede it. The main points so far are that the tribulation period is clearly not the wrath of God. At the opening of the sixth seal the tribulation period is over. The seven trumpets and seven vials are not part of the tribulation period. They actually follow after the tribulation period is over.

 

Now let’s transition over to II Thessalonians 2:1 concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our “gathering” together unto Him. If you read thru to verse 4 it say that that this day “the day of Christ” doesn’t come until the man of sin is revealed. You will remember that the “day of the lord”, “the day of Christ” and the “great day of his wrath” are all the same day. Acts 2:20, I Thessalonians 5:2, II Thessalonians 2:2, Revelations 6:17.

 

Now this is important; if the man of sin must be revealed before the coming of the Lord and our gathering unto him, and that doesn’t happen until he breaks the covenant in the middle of the tribulation period when he goes into the temple and claims to be God, then the rapture could not take place prior to the tribulation period.

 

Now if we turn back to II Thessalonians 2:8 Paul says that this man of sin will be destroyed with the spirit of his mouth and with the brightness of his coming. What coming you asked. Go back to verse 1, the coming of our Lord Jesus and our “gathering together unto him”. This creates a dilemma. The man of sin continues 42 months after he breaks the covenant and defiles the temple to make war with the saints. That is 7 full years. So if the man of sin is destroyed at the coming of the Lord and our gathering unto him, this could not take place until the end of the tribulation period.

 

Now let’s transition again to Revelations 20:4-6 about those that take part in the first resurrection. The scripture say that these people were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. All these things take place during the second half of the tribulation period which is called the great tribulation period as stated in Matthew 24. If these people came out of the great tribulation period and were partakers of the 1^st resurrection which is “the gathering”, then again, the rapture could not take place until after the tribulation has passed.

 

As you can see, I have barely touched on all the scriptures about the last days, but this is just the start. Let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

words and phrases Current mood: frustrated Category: Religion and Philosophy Sticks and stones may brake my bones, but words will break my heart! Words and phrases can lift someones spirit or break it. Words can enlighten or decieve. Words can give clarity or confusion. Words can cause wars or bring peace. There is nothing more important or powerful in society than the words used to communicate a thought, feeling, idea or concept. Words can be a blessing or a curse. It seems that in our society today, people have forgotten the power of words and the affect they have on everyone. My main concern at this time are the words, terms or phrases used in religion today among the different denominations. There are so many undefined words being used today. One church defines a term one way and another church defines it totally different. We can now say the same thing and mean something totally different, or say something totally different and mean the same thing. The confusion continues to get greater and broader with each generation. Repentence used to mean to turn away, change of course or direction. Today among many churches it only means to apologize. So when someone says repent, what do they really mean? I was searching the internet earlier today on "easy believism". There was a thousand sites to be found and several different explanations for it. Much of what I read was "monkey see, monkey do", just repetitive mush on both sides of the argument. What ever happened to "it is written", or "thus saith the Lord". Most of the terminology, definitions and doctrines that I hear being preached every day on TV, radio and books have nothing to do with what is actually written. So what is your take on this confusing delimma?

God’s Plumb Line Current mood: creative Category: Religion and Philosophy ..> ..> Noun 1. plumb line - a cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given point I want to discuss for a moment "God's Plumb Line". A plumb line is used in construction to keep things level, balanced or straight. A leaning or unlevel building will collapse. This is most important when laying the foundation. God has given us a plumb line in the scripture to know what His will is and to show us what manner of person will be saved. It is actually found in the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses and has never changed. Look at Exodus 20:5b-6 for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that "hate me". And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that "love me, and keep my commandments". Jesus reiterated this in John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. So what is God's plumb line for eternal life? It is to love Jeus and keep/obey His commandments.  In fact, the only people who will receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost are those that will obey God. In Acts 5:32 Peter said: And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him. In contrast to this John wrote in I John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. So what is the reason for this letter? It's so you can discern the difference between true christianity and hypocrisy. You may be one of those people that declare you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. But the proof of your love is not in your words, but in your obedience.