tribulation

Blog for Podcast #28 (Olivet Discourse 4/6)

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960, and welcome to another podcast.

Today we will continue our look into the Olivet Discourse. Fair warning this particular broadcast will be a bit long due to all the information I am going to present.

Discussion

Signs of the Great Tribulation

As Jesus spoke to His apostles on the Mount of Olives. To answer the two questions, they had posed to Him. He began by describing the signs of the world and human behavior before the coming judgment. These signs were addressed in the previous parts of this series. Now Jesus tells His disciples of the tribulation itself.

Now it must be noted that he mentions the defilement of the holy area in a temple. At this present time there is no Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The fact that there will be is another sign that the coming tribulation is near or in effect. It must also be noted who the audience of the discourse is. They are all Jewish. At this time there is no one that is truly “Christian” in existence at this time.

Matthew 24:15-25 – “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. 23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

When this third temple is defiled those within Israel are told to flee from there immediately not even bothering to gather anything. For that moment to hesitate will be enough to mean their death. He says that this time will be far more arduous than at any other time in recorded history, and the only thing that will save the human race itself will be that God puts an end to it.

Then he shows that the anti-christ, the false messiah well have powers and abilities, as well as his prophet that will cause even those true to God to have cause to wonder and ponder. However, they will see the truth and overcome, for they will know the teachings of the Bible or the Tanakh and know that these humans are liars and are of the devil. Now as noted before this is directed to the Jewish people. There is evidence that at this time there will be no “Christians” presents during this time.

It is also important to note that at this point this is all He says about the tribulation period. He instead goes right to the point of answering the question probed by the twelve. His return.

The Second coming of Christ

Matthew 24:26-31 – “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Now there are those that see the events in verse 31 as the Rapture. However, this is not the case.

Revelation 3:10-12 – “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

It is this promise that shows that the rapture, or as I refer to it as the first rapture, and the events that occur at the return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation are two separate events.

As we look at verse 31 from Matthew in the KJV:

“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.”

We see that the term chosen ones goes to elect

Elect – G1588 – eklektos – chosen out, elect, choice, select: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians)

In this case though since the Christians are removed before the Tribulation, and finally at the midpoint of the Tribulation as is promised in Revelation 3:10, and completed in Revelation chapter 7. This must mean the Hebrews or Jewish people.

So, this is the third Rapture and is of the Jewish people. The First Rapture takes place before the Tribulation begins and is as shown above for those Christians that have been loyal unto to God through His Son Jesus Christ. The Second Rapture occurs at the midpoint of the Tribulation at which time the third temple is desecrated. It is here that those that are martyred in the name of Christ will be called up before the Throne of God. It is also at this time that 144,000 will receive the mark of God and will bear witness through the last half of the tribulation. Since it is clearly shown that the 144,000 are all Jewish adds more evidence that the third Rapture which happens as Christ returns is solely for the Jewish people. The chosen are the promised nation of God unto Abraham.

The Second coming will be an event that will be witnessed by the entire globe and will take at least a full day to accomplish as Christ appears at a fixed point in the sky above and the earth which rotates below Him and all will see that Christ is real and He has returned. None will be able to question this.

The parable

Now it is important that we understand the import of the parable. Jesus when He started His ministry to the Jewish people He would talk plainly and openly. However they rejected Him. His sole purpose was to be the true Messiah, the true King to Israel. Yet they turned their backs upon Him. When this rejection became all too clear to all involved Jesus stopped speaking plainly. Instead He started to speak in parables.

Now he is talking exclusively to his apostles, yet he gives them a parable. This is twofold. The main reason is due to the fact that even though they are His chosen twelve they too are blind to the full truth. The other is that when it is time that the gospels be written that this parable be included so that those with the eyes will see and the ears hear.

Matthew 24:32-33 – “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.

When these signs that He has mentioned, especially those spoken by Him in verse 4 through 14 then we will know that the return of Jesus Christ to this planet is near.

The sign of Noah

Matthew 24:34-39 – I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

He makes it very clear that life will be going on as usual, just as it was before the flood which destroyed the civilization in which Noah lived in before the deluge. Christ has given us signs to look for and they are now being fulfilled worldwide. Time is running out and too many don’t know nor care, for all that is important to them is themselves. It must also be noted that Christ is also speaking in a more direct matter as to how the people of the time of Noah and how the people at Christ return will be acting. The people in Noah’s time lived in an extremely sinful and selfish manner. Caring only for their own pleasures and desires having forgotten about God and His wants for humanity.

You must be ready and alert

Matthew 24:40-51 – “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Now I wish to show you this from 1 Thessalonians then we will discuss these passages:

5:1-11 – Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Just so you understand once again. There were two questions asked by the apostles to Jesus. There are two answers given, but in a way that gives details that has left many confused and mislead. From verse 4 through 31 of Matthew 24, Jesus described the end of the known world at this time. Verses 32 through 51 describe His return.

Now note that in the first part there is mentioning of signs and wonders. The darkening of the sun no light from the moon. The stars hidden. Those of evil perform signs and wonders. These are all things that none can deny for all will see them. So how can the return of Christ be like a thief in the night? A surprise. It cannot.

So even though the return is spoken of by Christ. It actually occurs before the events he has just spoken of in the previous section. Yet there is mention of a type of rapture in the first part which people will say and question at this point. Yes that is true, but the wording is very clear here as was shown earlier.

There will be three raptures. The first is what is being referred to by Jesus at this time. The second will occurs at the midpoint of the Tribulation period when the third temple is desecrated by the anti-christ. The third will occur as described in verse 31 and will deal only with the Jewish people.

How else can Jesus come as a thief in the night?

It must be at a time when no one is looking or expecting him. It is as like the times before the great flood. People will be living their lives as if nothing has changed. Nothing has occurred to give them pause or wonder.

Jesus Himself promised that those that are alert will not partake of the Tribulation (Revelation 3:10), but those of the tribes of Israel that have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah will. Why? Because they denied Him when He walked amongst them nearly two thousand years ago. It is those of the tribes of Israel that are called the elect that He will gather them unto Him upon His return. For further confirmation of this, read the following:

Revelation 7:1-7 – Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, 3 “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.” 4 And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel: 5 from Judah 12,000 from Reuben            12,000 from Gad 12,000 6 from Asher 12,000 from Naphtali 12,000 from Manasseh 12,000 7 from Simeon 12,000 from Levi 12,000 from Issachar 12,000 8 from Zebulun 12,000 from Joseph 12,000 from Benjamin 12,000

These are the select, the elect, and the chosen. All from the tribes of Israel. These are those that verse 31 is referring to and no others. For those that left when Christ returned as a thief in the night are already gone. So how can they leave a second time? Then this is prove there will be multiple raptures. One for those that stayed alert. One for those that were martyred during the first half of the Tribulation and the third will be as mentioned earlier.

This is referred to as the Partial Rapture Theory, which I happen to feel is actually true to the teachings of the Bible.

SPECIAL NOTE: There is a need to address those that form the second rapture. First, they are uncountable. (Revelation 7:9). Second, they are from the tribulation itself. (Revelation 7:14) The reason for this is the fault of those that are now here upon this earth as we near the soon return of Jesus Christ for the first rapture. It is the fault of those that removed God from the schools. It is the fault of those that call themselves “Christian” and make no effort to teach those they encounter of God and His Son and what Christ sacrificed for all of humanity. Many though will get their chance to redeem themselves for these errors when they find themselves left behind after the first rapture. That is why there are so many that finally awaken to the truth and turn to the Creator of all things. The Lord God Almighty. The only true down side will be the suffering they must endure in the first half of the tribulation.

In the next part of this series we will look into chapter 25 of Matthew.

God Bless

Special Note: The John F. Walvoord commentaries are the only commentaries I would recommend for anyone to read.

This said, I would warn those using it that it has one major flaw. The fact that he was Baptist and was of the group that believes in faith alone, grace alone, once saved always saved mentality.

Why recommend it at all then? Because it gives multiple views and is not limited to him being Baptist even though some text within it you can see that influence.

When weeding this out. Those using it get an overall image of prophecy. Prophecy that is now and already has been fulfilled.

Therefore, take it with a grain of salt and seek to discern the Truth that can be seen when using these commentaries as a aid to understanding the Word of God.

God’s promises

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Throughout the Bible God makes several promises. When God makes a promise, He keeps it.

There is one promise that many that profess to being a disciple of Jesus Christ deny or more accurately refuse to accept. Why? Because they are focusing on the wrong being. The Bible makes it very clear where our focus should be.

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

God and His promises are to be our focus. When God makes a promise, He ALWAYS keeps it. He made this promise:

Genesis 12:2-3 NKJV – I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 22:15-18 NKJV – Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

At this time there is approximately 8.2 billion people on the earth. The sand of the seashore and the stars in the heavens. At this time, there are approximately 2 trillion galaxies and within these galaxies are approximately 100 million stars. When God speaks He speaks the absolute truth. Therefore, His promise to Abraham means that the full earth population is a miniscule fraction to the reality of the promised descendants of Abraham alone is nowhere even near being approached.

This promise will be kept. This is why this occurs in the middle of the tribulation:

 Revelation 7:1-8 NKJV – After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

Anyone who teaches that Israel is not the promised people of God just called God Himself a liar and I truly pity them. For they have denied not only God, but Jesus Christ as well.

Matthew 10:33 NKJV – But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

It is truly sad how people desire eternity at the cost of twisting the Word of God to make them feel superior to another human.

It is true that at this time the tribes of Israel are the enemies of God, and yws they made themselves this by killing the Son of God. Why do I say this? Because the tribes must endure the tribulation. You see the word “tribulation” at its base definition is the punishment of an enemy. In the case of the great tribulation all that enter into this time frame of seven years are all enemies of God. This also applies to many that profess to call themselves “Christian” as well for that matter.

The tribulation for the tribes of Israel ends here:

Daniel 12:1-3 NKJV – “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

As for those that call themselves “Christian” that enter into the tribulation. You are in the tribulation of your own doing. Like say that the tribes of Israel are not the chosen people of God. This has never ended, it never will. For God is, was and will be, and so are His promises. Those that call themselves “Christian” and have made themselves God’s enemy should feel shame that they have made themselves this in the sight of God.

Now those that have done this must fix their relationship with God. They must speak out. They must tell the Truth, teach the Truth, live the Truth.

Never take the mark of the beast and preach against it. They must accept this:

Mark 13:11-13 NKJV – But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

For you must join the other martyrs that have been killed over speaking the Truth, under the altar, which will be fulfilled at the middle of the tribulation. For that is when all that can become and are “Christian” are removed from the face of the earth, but that is another topic for another time.

Celebrating the death of Truth

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During the tribulation the Truth will be given. It will be given to those that thought they were servants of God, but they will find they haven’t been.

During the tribulation there will be those that will celebrate and even be very happy about bringing those that profess to being “Christian” to those in power that will be and watch with glee as they are beheaded. Getting their revenge they have sought after for so long. All because they would rather live in the lie than in the Truth.

But this wouldn’t satisfy them. Especially when all hell breaks loose upon the planet itself. Then two witnesses will appear preaching the Truth and those that love the lie will seek to harm them and they won’t be able to till the end is near. Then they will finally die and once again people will celebrate the death of the Truth.

The only beings that celebrate the death of Truth are beings that worship lies and are content with it. They love their father and seek to further his desires. For it is their desires as well, which is why they celebrate so much when any that honor and follow the Truth die.

When someone celebrates the death of another know that most likely the one’s death being celebrated was someone giving Truth. Making those that do the celebrating worshippers of the father of all lies.

Blog for Podcast #271 (Come out of her My people) [Too many embrace false teachings] {a look at when there will be a rapture if any}

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

One of the things that causes most that profess to being “Christian” confusion and misunderstanding is the upcoming tribulation. What is worse is that many insist that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Most don’t read the “fine print” in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV – For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This is why I am careful when it comes to discussing the Tribulation. The only thing I have been led to fully understand is the upcoming rapture. There are those that insist there will be only a pre-tribulation rapture. On the other hand, there are those that insist there will be no rapture if any till the end of the tribulation. When they insist things like this and say all else is a false teaching it shows they haven’t read the verses you just heard or read a bit ago.

For the ones that insists there will be only a pre-tribulation rapture discounts Jesus Christ own parable.

Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV – “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Let us key in on the important areas of this verse:

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”

I have gone into detail about all the meanings of this in an earlier podcast (Podcast #29 -Olivet Discourse 5/6). What it boils down to in this discussion is that the majority that profess to being “Christian” are the foolish bridesmaids and find themselves left behind. Why do I say majority? Again, Christ Himself shed light upon this:

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Now what is it that made so many foolish? For that we need to understand the mentality that created the original Pharisees. Between the time Moses received the Ten Commandments till Jesus is approximately one thousand four hundred and fifty years.

Now for understanding. Two thousand years ago Jesus was actually around doing things. In five years He will start His ministry.

Now that we have established that several hundred years happened between both examples we start to see how false teachings and people turning to traditions of men and listening to false teachings can corrupt people when they don’t actually study the Word of God for themselves.

But let us start to look at those that state there will be no rapture till after the seven years of the tribulation. For those that teach this are those that teach damnation to those that listen to such a teaching.

Now how can I say this? First we must have a full understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9 NKJV – But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV – Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Now why point out that the Holy Spirit dwells within the followers of Jesus Christ? Because of this:

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

No one will know fully who the antichrist is until the Holy Spirit is removed from this world. However, we know exactly when the antichrist WILL be revealed.

Daniel 9:27 NKJV – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

“But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offerings. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.”

Christ speaks of making something an abomination and desolate as well, which has bearing with our topic:

Matthew 24:15-21 NKJV – “Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This is a clear teaching of the antichrist being revealed, which per Daniel occurs in the middle of the tribulation since it states “in the middle of the week.”

Since we are in Matthew twenty-four. Let us look a little later in this teaching from Christ. Understand that he end his tribulation prophecy at verse thirty-one. He then follows it with the parable of the fig tree as to look for the warning signs, which by the way are now present.

Starting in verse thirty-six this is said:

Matthew 24:36-42 NKJV – “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

This again speaks of a pre-tribulation rapture. Yet the Holy Spirit is not removed for the antichrist has yet to be revealed. Since this begins the first three and a half years. Why is the Holy Spirit required? That was answered in the parable of the bridesmaids. Those foolish bridesmaids that were left behind.

We live under free will. We can make choices. We can choose to follow God or follow damnation. Those that insisted that we must wait till the end of the seven years as hinted at by the verses about the Holy Spirit shows that those that follow Christ have the Holy Spirit within them. Therefore, we now go to what happens in the middle of the tribulation in the book of Revelation. We begin after the 144,000 of the tribes of Israel are given a special seal which actually allows them to retain the Holy Spirit within them. These, save the two witnesses are the only beings that will have the Holy Spirit within them beyond the Holy Spirits removal. No others will receive, retain or be welcome to the Holy Spirit. This said, no one that calls themselves “Christian” will exist. But where did they go?

Revelation 7:9-14 NKJV – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This is the middle tribulation rapture. Here also as established the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, this explains why this rapture is uncountable for all that have the Holy Spirit within them is removed from the face of the earth.

Yet Daniel speaks of the rapture as well and does not fit the mold of the pretribulation nor the middle tribulation rapture. In the eleventh chapter of Daniel the gathering of the forces of the antichrist is described. Then chapter twelve begins:

Daniel 12:1-3 NKJV – “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

This is a pre-wrath rapture. Since the Bible does not contradict itself. Then there are three. Let me say that again three separate raptures. Also. Since none that calls themselves “Christian” no longer walk the surface of the earth. Who is being raptured? The answer to this comes from how the book of Daniel was originally written down. The first chapter and part of the second were written in Hebrew. From chapter eight till the end, it was also originally written in Hebrew. The middle of the book of Daniel was written in Aramaic. Therefore, with this in mind. Chapter twelve is aimed directly at the tribes of Israel, and no one else. Therefore, this is showing a rapture of the tribes of Israel.

It is time to let go of false teachings. It is time to stop being Pharisees saying to other they are in the wrong if they do not embrace the lie you yourselves have embraced.  Will there be a pre-tribulation rapture? Yes. However, it will be very small, for the majority still live in sin, no matter how they profess to follow God. Any who insist there will be no rapture also embrace a lie. Except their belief will lead to billion upon billions, upon billions of years is the lake of fire. Where their worm that eats their flesh does not die, nor does the fire which burns their skin is not quenched.

Start to STUDY the Word of Christ for yourselves. Take no one’s word for it. Don’t read commentaries because they add to or take away from the Word of God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV – You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 Don’t even listen to me, but study on your own. For I do not seek fame or glory. I only seek to glorify Jesus Christ my Savior.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #229 (Tribulation Christians are to be like John The Baptist)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Matthew 3:1-12 NKJV – In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’ ” Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

I started today with these verses for a reason. The other day I saw on social media one of those guys that stands up before an audience and attempts to preach the Word of God. AKA a false teacher.

What clued me in was his scare tactic in the words he spoke in this media snippet. He said that if you miss the rapture, which most will. Look at most of my past teachings to understand why I say most. However, I won’t waste my time at this moment.

Anyway, He said if you miss the rapture. Go hide in a cave.

Let’s look at that last sentence. “Go hide in a cave.”

Revelation 6:15-17 NKJV – And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

These words are spoken by those that have denied God. Denied Jesus Christ. Therefore in essence this false teacher is speaking to non-believers. He is speaking to his own kind.

Also we must understand something else about these verses. The first six seals occur before antichrist is revealed. The mentioned verses earlier occur just before the antichrist is fully revealed. He is fully revealed when?

Daniel 9:27 NKJV – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

“In the middle of the week.”

This indicates that the seventh seal is in the last half of the tribulation. The sixth seal happens just before the last rapture of the those that are Christian and are uncountable.

Revelation 7:9-14 NKJV – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The last rapture occurs when the light of the sun and the moon is cut in half. When the antichrist is fully revealed. Therefore any left after the middle of the tribulation are not nor ever were Christian. Therefore, sure go hide in caves…. Heathens.

Now back on point.

Why mention John the Baptist? Because this is how those that truly seek to follow Christ and find themselves here after the first rapture SHOULD start to live. In the wilderness. Living in rags preaching the True Word of God. Pointing out the false teachers that live seeking what the world esteems.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

For clarity Mammon is defined as riches, money, possessions, property.

Simply we are to live a needs-only lifestyle and spread the word of God. This will not be extremely easy after the first rapture. For it will become extremely difficult to sell and purchase. This is due to that fact that is when people will be given the choice to accept the mark of the beast thus allow them to buy and sell or be beheaded. Much like how John the Baptist died.

Matthew 14:1-11 NKJV – At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

Since we know those that refuse to take the mark will be beheaded as witnessed by this verse:

Revelation 20:4 NKJV – And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

But why were they definitely beheaded?

“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.”

This is verification that those that are left after the first rapture have a defined task they must perform. They MUST preach the Word of God and insist that only through Jesus Christ can salvation be achieved.

So any that tells you to run and hide in a cave are showing who they serve and it is not the Son of God. For it is made very clear that if we truly profess to being a child of God we will willingly and proudly profess the Truth of the Word of God unto their death. Thus making them worthy of the white robes they will wear when they stand before the Throne of God.

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Once again how are they going to wash their robes and make them white? By the action, by the works of teaching the Truth about God through Jesus Christ and calling a sin a sin. This is made very clear in the wording of the sentence. As verified when looking at how it is written in the KJV:

“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

This clearly shows that it is their actions that helps in how they wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. As we have shown earlier it is by preaching about Jesus and the Word of God.

This further shows that those that preach of only a pre-tribulation rapture are teaching a falsehood and so label themselves as false teachers. There will be multiple raptures. The first and the smallest will be the pre-tribulation. The largest will be the second rapture and the last for those that profess to being followers of Jesus Christ. AKA Christians. True Christians. Those that do not seek to hide in caves. But proudly stand before all saying that only through Jesus Christ can salvation truly be achieved. By saying these words:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #189 (A Study of the word “Tribulation”)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

We must come to an understanding of the word “tribulation.” Why this is, is because there are individuals that do not understand its true implications upon those that profess to be in the Body of Christ.

In the Septuagint, which for those that do not know, this was a Greek translation of the Old Testament. There are four meanings given of the word “tribulation.”

  • to constrict someone —- to cause distress, affliction.
    1. Constrict – to limit an action or behavior.
    1. Affliction – something that makes you suffer.
  • To afflict, oppress
    1. Afflict – to make someone or something suffer physically or mentally.
    1. Oppress – to govern people in an unfair and cruel way and prevent them from having opportunities and freedom.

To make a person feel uncomfortable or worried, and sometimes sick.

  • to treat someone with hostility
  • to constrict or harass someone; to press down.

These descriptions affected and occurred time and again to the tribes of Israel. If many look about them and actually think these descriptions can be seen happening to many that profess to being called “Christian” at this very time.

However, there are many that profess to being “Christian” that have not, nor ever truly encountered any of these definitions. Why will become clear as we continue on into this study of the word “tribulation.”

Why this word has importance to those that profess to being “Christian” is due to a prophecy that is comprised mainly in the last book of the Bible. The book call “Revelation.” There are other times within the Old Testament when a future global judgement is mentioned. We are not fully here to go into a rehash of these prophecies. We will hit upon them though in some form.

These definitions mentioned a short time ago have a common theme woven within them, but not truly stated outright. Those that suffer tribulation are seen as those that are an adversary. An adversary that has been defeated but requires to be punished more. In fact, to the point of breaking their spirits.

Please note this. For it is here that many that profess to being “Christian” do not understand. In fact, there are many that say Christianity must endure the coming Great Tribulation. Yet, who causes this tribulation to occur? Humanity? No, it is caused by God as part of His judgment against humanity.

Against humanity, for humanity is the adversary of God.

So those that insist that those who that profess to being a true disciple of Christ are His adversary. First this goes against what is taught within the Bible. Second it shows that none can ever attain to be a friend if not servant of God Himself through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now there is a time when those that profess to being “Christian” can be considered God’s enemy. This is taught within the Bible:

James 4:1-4 NKJV – Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

“Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

And how does someone make themselves an enemy of God?

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

So those that say that all of Christendom must endure the Great Tribulation are saying they have sold themselves to the world and thus deserve to be treated as the enemy of their Creator and Sovereign.

Now those that suffer tribulation now. Those that call themselves “Christian” and suffer persecution are in line with the teachings of the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV – Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

John 15:18-19 NKJV – “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These tribulations encountered now allows us to know where we stand with God. Feeling and experiencing these hardships allow those that confess to being followers of Christ to understand that they are on the narrow path.

Matthew 7:12-14 NKJV – Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“And difficult is the way which leads to life.”

This difficulty is encountered through tribulation within our lives as we seek to separate ourselves from the world. For the world despises and hates us. This is why Christ said this to us as he prophesied about the coming Great Tribulation.

Luke 21:7-28 NKJV – So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”

Now I stopped at verse twenty-eight for a reason. It is here that these prophecies ended. Here Christ then speaks a parable for those that have eyes to see and hears to hear.

Luke 21:29-33 NKJV – Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

We are now seeing the budding of the fig tree. Along these lines Jesus then said this:

Luke 21:34-36 NKJV – “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This is a promise from Christ. That if we are watchful and endure tribulation now, we will not be considered an enemy of God and will not have to suffer the Great Tribulation, For only the enemies of God will endure those times.

However, we are also told that the Holy Spirit will remain present during the first half of the Great Tribulation to allow those that had made themselves an enemy of God the ability to repent and redeem themselves and be made worthy through Christ’s blood to stand before the throne of God.

Then when the Holy Spirit is removed from the face of the earth, these verses found within the seventh chapter of Revelation will be fulfilled:

Revelation 7:9-14 NKJV – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Very soon the Great Tribulation will begin. It will start when those that are counted worthy will be called into the sky to stand before Christ. Do not seek or continue to be an enemy of God. Repent now of your sins and seek to suffer tribulation now. Downsize now. Help others to find God now and help them to avoid the Great Tribulation as well. For that is our calling if we seek to be a disciple of Jesus Christ the Son of God our Savior.

God Bless.

Blog for Podcast #128 (For those that call themselves “Christian” and find themselves here in the Tribulation)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

The Holy Spirit had impressed upon me to address this podcast to those that will find themselves still here in this temporal plain of existence after the soon to occur rapture and now profess to being called “Christian” as this time.

Jonah 1:1-3 NKJV – Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

This is what those that now profess to being a disciple of Jesus Christ do. Thus, they like Jonah have turned their backs upon Christ’s directive given to all that profess to being a child of God.

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in my name, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Note: For those reading and not listening. Verse 19 actually ends with “in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.” See Philippians 1:19; Acts 2:38; 16:7 as to why I changed it the way I did.

They have turned their backs and run away from God. Trying their best not to do as God has instructed them.

Jonah 1:4-6 NKJV – But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

God is going to send a storm unto those that have fled from the Lord yet professed to being one with Him. It is called the Tribulation. When the storm occurs most that believe they are right with God, yet in reality they aren’t, will be asleep.

It will be someone that is starting to fear the events about them that will cause those that are asleep to awaken. They will insist that those left here and profess to being “Christian” to pray and fix what is wrong. Why? Because they are starting to realize that they could be wrong. That God could be real and they are looking to those that professed to being His followers will in some way fix the issue.

Jonah 1:7-10 NKJV – And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us. “So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you? “So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

There are those that deny God at this time. However, in the midst of the storm to be called the tribulation. They will come to those that had been asleep and found themselves left here. They will ask those that were left behind a piecing question.

“Why have you done this?”

But what do they mean by this question?

In the case of those that will find themselves still here. Unlike those the rapture takes. Like those that are dead but had truly lived a Christian life. As well as those that were prepared and living a Christian life at this time. They will be asking them why they didn’t follow the teachings within the Bible.

Those asking the questions will ask them. Why didn’t they downsize? Why didn’t they give most of their wealth to those in need and live off the least required to make it in this world? Why didn’t they preach the Word of God and spread the teachings of whom they professed to follow? Why didn’t they separate themselves from the world as we are commanded to do?

Then they may even ask the greatest question of all. How could you have abandoned He who created everything?

Jonah 1:11-13 NKJV – Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them.

What I am about to say will not fall into place with what transpires here in these verses of Jonah. But it will address the mentality of those in the first three and a half years of the tribulation. Many will still be going through confusion. Especially those that find themselves left behind. Some will ask humans how they should act or respond. However, that is not who they should be asking for help.

The more they themselves strive to accomplish any success in their withdrawal from the storm. They will find that they are fighting a losing battle. For the storm of the tribulation will grow ever deeper and stronger.

Jonah 1:14-16 NKJV – Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.

This is what is required for all those that awaken to the Truth. They are to turn to the Lord and first acknowledge that His is real and the Creator of all. Then they are to accept Him thought His Son Jesus Christ. Then do what is required.

Jonah 1:17 NKJV – Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

When this verse is taken in context with Daniel 9:27:

Daniel 9:27 NKJV – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

We can see that those that embrace the ways of the Lord must allow themselves to be swallowed by the fish. To suffer without protest what is to be endured for those three years. They must enter into the prayer that Jonah entered into.

Jonah 2:1-10 NKJV – Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

“I will pay what I have vowed.”

What is vowed is that they accept what will be the depths of their despair. They will not act in violence but in love. Receiving the pain and suffering that they had brought upon themselves just like Jonah had done. For they had run from His love for their own wants and desires over what is required to be a disciple of Christ.

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

In chapter 3 of the book of Jonah he goes to the city of Nineveh and finally does as he is instructed. Then the city repents even down to the animals per the Scriptures. Chapter 4 shows Jonah’s reaction.

Jonah 4:1-3 NKJV – But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

So, Jonah’s excuse for running from his called tasked was because he knew that God would win. As the chapter continues God gives Jonah an object lesson and that is where it ends.

Therefore, Jonah decided for himself to override the rule of God. He sought after his own personal desires and wants over the will of God.

This is the mentality that is full within those that will find themselves still here after the first and smallest of the raptures occurs. They will be angry. Not out of rage, but out of fear. For at that moment they will realize that God will win. They will realize that why they turned their backs upon the Creator of the Universe. Why they are angry. Is because they chose to run from God.

Their anger will not be at God, but at themselves. Now they must embrace the prayer of Jonah to God.

“I cry out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I call to you from the depths of Hades, and LORD, you heard me! You threw me into the depths, and I sank down to the heart of darkness. The mighty darkness engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves of the masses. Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves of despair, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my eternal life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.”

Amen

God Bless

Why are people starting to now doubt the timing of the Rapture?

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Now I understand from why from the fringe and from those that do not fully follow the teaching of the Bible, but from those that profess to being “Christian” and to so-called knowing the Bible.
Well let’s look to the Bible and to the last book of the Bible: Revelation. In the third chapter and the tenth verse of this chapter this is stated by the glorified Jesus Christ:
“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.”
Another version of the Bible states it this way:
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protest you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to the world.”
Now since I have witnessed this in person. There are those that call themselves “Christian” that in turn call the book of Revelation nothing more than a “fairy-tale” (Needless to say I never returned to that church). Unfortunately there are those that listened to this and belief it to be the truth. On this note all I can say is that if someone discounts one book of the Bible as “fake” or “fantasy” than they have no true belief in God as their Creator or that Jesus, who has been documented to have actually existed, was never real at all. Their own belief in the “fairy-tale” makes them out to be liars and have no concept of salvation or our Savior.
But on with the true topic of this article.
There are those that think the Rapture will not happen till either the middle of the Tribulation period, or till just before the bowl judgments or better yet till after the bowl judgments as Christ comes to stand upon the Mount of Olives breaking it in half.
Now there can be some argument due to the wording of the tenth verse of the third chapter of Revelation to in some way justify the middle of the Tribulation, but here is the thing. Even before the middle of the Tribulation is reached there will be judgments and disasters that transpire that cause the death of millions if not billions. This contradicts the above verse. So this leaves only possible answer to when the Rapture is to transpire and that is before the Tribulation begins. As it is commonly known as the per-tribulation rapture. Even looking at the other two options is voided by the evidence of this one so to even discuss them is a waste of time.
Now for clarification sake. Some will ask then: who are the 144000? This is a simple answer. These are the select from the twelve tribes of Israel. 1200 from each tribe.
There are two convent groups upon this planet at this time.
The Israelite and the Christians.
There will be those that argue this from other religions, but here is the difference. God in the Bible made a promise to Abraham and as a result we have the Jewish nation of Israel and the twelve tribes within it. Are some Israelite non-Caucasian? There is evidence in the Bible itself to support this.
Those that are Christian have been given a promise by the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The Israelites are to be the bride to God. The Christians are to be the bride to Jesus.
Since the first bride rebelled and sinned (see Hosea). They must endure through the Tribulation.
This is not asked of the Christians since they are covered by the blood that Christ spilled upon the cross.
Here is the kicker though and why I feel the debate as to when the Rapture is, is now taking place.
I have come to a sad realization. Most that consider themselves to be “Christian” that go to church, and send their praises unto God. The majority that consider themselves to be saved and covered by the saving blood of Jesus Christ. In reality, are not. They are the lukewarm. Those that at one point did ask Christ into their heart, but due to bad teaching, misunderstanding and not reading the bible they have been led down the wrong road. The one that is a wide and easy path and not the narrow and difficult.
This is the reason that suddenly there is a debate as to when the Rapture will truly occur in relation to the Tribulation. Why? For millions that count themselves as saved will be shocked to see that they have been left behind and so will listen with baited breath to those that offer up false reasons that there will be “another” Rapture since they missed out on the first and what in reality will be the last, except for those that chose to correct their errors and decide to choose martyrdom over the mark of Satan. Their Rapture is promised at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the antichrist chooses to desecrate the newly reconstructed Jewish Temple within Jerusalem. At this same time the 144000 Jews will receive their own mark. A mark that will protect them from all that will follow in the next three and a half years. For they are to be witnesses to the horror that is to befall all the rest of humanity that will be upon the earth at that time till the triumphant return of the glorified Jesus Christ.

My first dream in a while.

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Now this is not to say that I have not remembered my dreams or that I haven’t been dreaming. This is my first Christ related dream that I have had in sometime.
I call myself in this blog “dreamwalker1960” for a reason. I am the fulfillment of Acts 2:17:
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
I am an old man and I have dreamed dreams and now I have once again.
This time though was different than any of the dreams I have ever had.
This time I stood beside Jesus Christ and proclaimed to those that looked on that was I His follower. Loudly and proudly, but yet it was still different. Christ stood upon the earth once again. We were in a city, but the city was decimated. The street was covered in dirt and debris. Cars and buses were in ruin, in fact I stood atop a bus as I made my declaration to those gathered to listen before us.
Then there was a roaring sound and I turned and coming down the street was a huge torrent of water at least twenty feet high, made higher has it pushed it way through the broken buildings.
Christ turned to it and shout: “ENOUGH!” and the waters immediately turned back and left the city and then Jesus started walking down the street and with the movement of his hand caused several crushed cars to go flying across the ground and then into a huge whole that was once a part of the sewer system.
My dream ended there, but there was no question. This was the earth after the Tribulation.

The unexpected debate: Part 2

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Yesterday I pointed out the transition between the third chapter of Revelation and the fourth chapter. I also pointed out that after the third chapter the last book of the Bible the word “church” is not mentioned again until 22:16. This showed that the church is a non-entity within Revelation and the focus of the book is where it belongs. Not on humanity, but on Christ.
There are those that wish to state though that the true Rapture does not occur before the Tribulation begins, but during in two possible points and after. Well let’s go to the next way point that is the theoretical Rapture point. The mid-Tribulation Rapture.
Now in all honesty I do belief there is A Rapture here, but I do not see it as the Rapture the of the Church, because to me as was shown yesterday the church is not mentioned after Revelation chapter three. Now there are people that do appear before the throne of God and their number is uncountable. Before they are mentioned standing before God they are mentioned under the altar and are mentioned as “souls” so during the martyrdom period they are not resurrected till this time is complete. This is why I say there is A Rapture, but these are what is call the Tribulation Saints. Those that came to know God during this first part of the Tribulation and had to demonstrate their belief in Christ through works since they did not perform these actions before they truly knew that Christ was real.
What takes place between the end of chapter three and the ninth verse of chapter seven is a tale that needs to be seen. If not fully, at least enough to get a grasp of just how tragic this time will be. There are many opposing views as to the true order of events that transpire during the seven years of the tribulation period. The scroll with the seven seals is the main document that controls all that occurs during this seven year period.
In Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 five aspects of human interaction comes into the light. The first will be the rise of false prophets who will lead many into apostasy then the anti-Christ shall rise to power. Then there will be war followed by famine and plagues. During this time those that come to the truth of God and truly accept Jesus as their Savior will be persecuted and martyred.
The key point of change here is when the 144,000 are marked by God and taken to safety, this will occur when the anti-Christ breaks his treaty with Israel at the mid-point of the Tribulation period. The 144,000 all agree are Israelites for they are those chosen to fulfil God promise to Abraham. My personal view is that beyond the rapture of the tribulation saint, which occurs at the mid-point, that no others will accept Christ beyond this point. For not only are the 144,000 sealed here and taken into the God’s protection but this is also at which point the two witnesses are to appear and stand in judgement over all that remains upon the earth. Because for any judgement there must be two witnesses. Form all indication the time period that the 144,000 are protected and ministry of the two witnesses lasts is the same and both are the last three and a half years of the tribulation period. This is signaled when the anti-Christ takes over Jerusalem and the new temple, again at the mid-point of the tribulation.
Now many think that this is also the point of the Rapture of the church. Now as we are witnessing there is already persecution of the church but as of yet the rise of the anti-Christ has not occurred, but we are overwhelmed by false prophets. Now Christ does warn us that Christendom will face persecution, but it is not promised to all or most as would be required by those that stand for God in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period. I just cannot see God placing that much upon those that have placed their faith and belief in Him through faith which is witnessed by their works. However, that is the standing point of those that state the Rapture is at the mid-point of the Tribulation.
Now that being said I do understand that many are facing some degree of persecution, throughout the world, and especially in the Middle East at this time. However, there needs to be a trigger that causes the persecution to escalate to such a degree that to cause global martyrdom and also this would require more works than faith by those that do profess to be Christian. Now if Jesus had made His presents more tangible then He has in the last two thousand years I do not see the requirement for more works to be needed. The only way to cause this type of requirement by true believers would be to have something grand trigger this factor beyond the rise of the anti-Christ. The only thing that fits this is a pre-Tribulation Rapture.