Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

So far every chapter of Romans has presented the Gospel of God to us, but it is a progression. Paul shows us that forgiveness is only the very first part of our salvation. He points out that we are saved so that we would be free from sin and death to serve the living God. However, even if you are trying to do that you discover that sin is still there. You are grumbling and complaining, you gossip, you still have hate and unforgiveness in your heart.

Yesterday I was told about this woman who her whole life she lived with her high school sweetheart who she had married, she had been a very religious and supposedly devout woman and in her old age she developed dementia. Then when they visited her they would be shocked at what she would say. Every other word was a curse word, and much of her vitriol was focused on her husband. It was as though her ability to put on a mask and pretend was gone and all could see what was actually going on in her heart. This is what chapter 7 is all about. Sadly for many "Christians" this is where they get to in their salvation. Simply trying to be good Christians by acting the part while that root of bitterness is still in your heart growing and dominating your inward being.

But finally we come to Romans 8 where we discover the secret to living a Christian life without defeat, without condemnation, without that root of bitterness growing within us.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Every single person on earth is governed by the law of sin and death. However, after you get saved there is a higher law which is the law of the Spirit of life. One excellent analogy to this is the law of gravity, everyone on earth is impacted by the law of gravity. However, there is the law of aerodynamics which can overcome the law of gravity and as a result we can fly.

If your Christian life is an act, then you are a hypocrite. That is what a hypocrite is, an actor. People in the world are turned off by Christianity because they have seen many hypocrites. Here is the thing, if you are a hypocrite you can easily spot other hypocrites. In the world everyone pretends to be happy and loving and caring. That is the "platform" of the Democrats and that is also the platform of the Republicans though they pretend to be older and wiser. Hindus, Christians, Jews and Muslims all pretend to be happy and loving and caring. It can actually be true that a Christian is filled with joy and peace. But during the pandemic we saw right through that facade and you could see how many were in a panic, had no peace, and they didn't care what measures the government had to take for them to be able to pretend again. The point is if you are going to play a role in this play pretending to be something you aren't, unbelievers are not interested in playing the role of "Christian". That is why they are turned off of Christianity.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

So don't go down that path, there is an alternative route. We do not live this life by our own strength. When people first tried to fly one approach was to get big wings and think we could flap our arms and fly. That does not work. Another approach was to make an airplane powered by us pedaling and powering the propeller with our own strength. That also doesn't work.

Jesus Christ is the prototype. He said we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Now every word in the Bible came from the mouth of God so that is a very safe and sure fire way to be fed. Think of a train and you are the guy shoveling the coal into the engine. You can safely shovel the word of God into that engine. However, God is not limited to the Bible. He can speak to you directly, or He can speak in dreams and visions or even from what other people say to you not realizing that God is using them to speak to you. In other words you are walking after the Spirit. God is alive, He is present, He is active in your life and you should pray to be given a spirit of revelation to see that. Then instead of being bitter over things that happened to you in your life you can be full of thanksgiving and praise seeing that God is a good God and very wise and was working all things out for good.

For example a lot of people get offended when they don't get the promotion, they don't get the recognition, etc. What they don't realize is when you do get those things you show up on Satan's radar. It may be that God was protecting you. As Christians we are living on a battlefield. You may be completely unaware that Satan is wandering around as a lion seeking whom he may devour. So then, if you are not prepared for battle, then the next best thing is to remain hidden.
 
Those with a carnal mind are not subject to the law of God

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

We see this in the book of Acts. Satan is terrified of Peter and Paul, but he isn't scared of the seven sons of Sceva. Jesus Christ is not some magic incantation that anyone can use once they learn this. The angels and demons can all see the reality. If the reality is that you are walking after the Spirit then Satan can't touch you. But if you walk after the flesh and mind the things of the flesh you are fair game. Pretending to be a Christian does not scare Satan.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Think about that. Imagine Satan is coming at you with is full assault force and you are filled with life and peace. Anyone else is scared to death, but you are not. This is what happened during the pandemic. They were able to scare people into taking the experimental vaccine, even mandating it and firing people who said no. When you are scared the mask comes off. Everyone got exposed during the pandemic. That is why those who took the vaccine hate any discussion of that as it exposes them.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

They threw off all pretense of being "god fearing good people". Censorship was in. Fire anyone who doesn't go along and prohibit them from getting medical care as well. I had been diagnosed with cancer in 2021. After a biopsy was done confirming the cancer I was scheduled to have an operation done at the hospital. But you could only go to the hospital if you had been vaccinated. I was denied medical care because I did not take an experimental vaccine that was mandated illegally. I am not "anti Vaxx". I was a teacher in NYC school system that had all of my shots. I was a science teacher that taught about vaccines. The reason I chose not to get it was because they were lying and mandating it illegally. First, they were mocking HCQ which had been a safe and effective treatment of all viruses for 50 years. It is so safe you can buy it at camping supply stores, over the counter, no prescription. But they had to mock it because it is illegal to mandate an experimental vaccine if there are safe and effective treatments. Second, if you mandate an experimental vaccine you are required to provide all the research with it at the time you administer the vaccine. They didn't do that, they gave people blank paper.

When people panic they ignore the laws. Think of a crowd fleeing from some natural disaster. They may ignore stop lights, they may loot stores, etc. This is what happened during the pandemic, those with a carnal mind were not subject to the law of God.
 
As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

So then think of the pandemic as God's mercy. Those who deceive others deceive themselves. Perhaps you think you are a "good Christian" and yet your heart is filled with hate and judgment of others and you are bitter over things that have happened to you that you never forgave others for. If you are grumbling and complaining and murmuring against God how can you think you are a "good Christian". Everyone knows that so instead they are not complaining about God they are complaining about the government, which is of God. People complain about God putting sinners into positions of power. If every person on earth is a sinner then how does it make any sense that you are complaining about a sinner being put into a position of power? The government is not there to be a savior, only Jesus Christ is a savior. The government is there to enact laws which are good and the result of those laws is that you will see sin abound as it tries to get around those laws. The laws about fraud are good, what the government is doing in Minnesota is simply sin abounding so that we could all see that we need a savior.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Politicians can talk a good game, but if they don't have the Spirit of Christ it is all to no avail. We need discernment. Without discernment you will think that Governor Walz is a good guy, with discernment you will see it is all an act, he doesn't have the Spirit of Christ and so it is impossible for him to please God. Therefore our prayer would be for him to see Jesus and meet the savior, anything short of that will be pointless.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Now here is the wonderful contrast. You can be filled with the Spirit and as a result you will be full of life and at the same time your body of sin will be dead! So here is the progression, first you must set your mind on the Spirit, that is like making the effort to read the Bible, get up early for morning watch, go to meetings, seek fellowship and prayer. It is an effort. But if you persist you will have created a habit and so you will wake up at the right time for morning watch and your first thought will be to pick up the Bible and you no longer have to expend effort to do these things because now your mind is set on the Spirit. Now at this point the Spirit is dwelling in you. Think about the difference when you visit someone, and then you go from visiting them to staying with them. You still feel a little uncomfortable because it isn't your house. But then if you are dwelling in the house now it is your house. This is the progression that the Holy Spirit takes. Once the Spirit is dwelling in you and making His home in you it is His house too. That is where salvation should be, you are not your own, the Holy Spirit dwells and abides in you. At this point you are full of life because of righteousness. Unrighteousness is deadening. But sin and the Holy Spirit do not get along, so if the Holy Spirit is happy and in charge, then sin will be dead.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Then you will have this quickening. Before it was so much effort to serve in the church, to serve in the ministry. Every time you had something you had to do you sighed as though this was so much effort. But now it is as though you are walking on clouds, every step you take is invigorating, you are full of life and you get recharged by getting involved in these activities. Before the problem was that sin was dwelling in you and complaining and fighting against you every step of the way. Think of a farm where the land is filled with weeds. You come in with a machete and clear the land. You then have to turn the soil and dig up a whole bunch of rocks. You then plant your crop but even though you dug up all those weeds the soil is still filled with their seeds so they keep springing up and so you must diligently deal with the weeds. But if you do this work diligently you will see the amount of labor will decrease after three years because you have turned the tide, now the Spirit is clearly in charge and you are getting a good yield from your farm. At this point you get invigorated going to the meetings, there is nothing complaining or murmuring about this, you are not rolling over and trying to get thirty minutes more of sleep. Now your mortal body is being quickened by the resurrection power.

When I wasn't allowed to use the hospital to get my cancer operated on that was in 2021. You might wonder what happened, well the fact is I got healed. All the symptoms I had from the cancer disappeared and so it turned out better than if I had had that operation.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

This is huge, listening to the flesh will not help. That extra thirty minutes of sleep will not help. The secret is to put all those things to death as soon and as thoroughly as possible. In my mind I visualize a meat cleaver and the minute I realize something is not bearing fruit then simply cut it off. When I got suspended from Facebook because I was posting posts about the Lord Jesus and the Bible it forced me off of Facebook for 30 days. I was able to decide in the first day that this was not something that was bearing fruit, better to just cut it off and so I deleted my Facebook account. When I did that I felt liberated and released, I felt lighter, less weighed down. Sometimes it is hard to know the difference between defending the gospel and simply arguing. If someone asks me a question I answer it. Once it becomes clear that I have answered the question and they are simply refusing to listen to what is said, then I am done. I was sitting in a conversation and this woman said she was going to tell us something but we were not permitted to respond. I got up and left. I figured if I was not permitted to respond it was no longer a conversation, and I had more important things to do.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
 
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

What are people afraid of? This is how the world works, keep people in fear. Bloomberg told school administrators that they should do write ups of teachers so that at any time when needed they could fire 10% of teachers. Look for things to write up, not because you are going to fire the person now but so if you need to you can. The pandemic was a perfect example. Movies about global contagions laid the groundwork, then people like Fauci would give you that reassuring scholarly sound that "do what I say and you will live, otherwise you will all die". Feeding the fear and paranoia. Anyone asking questions was ridiculed and mocked by the comedians, then the news media was given a relentless barrage of fear and terror.

We don't get treated like this by the Lord. Instead we can pray. I shared my experience with three mile island on this. I was living in Houston, had not been watching the news or listening to any of that, so when I heard people talking about 3 mile island I asked them what that was. They couldn't believe I didn't know, apparently everyone had been watching this play out in the news for two weeks, terrified. But as it turned out, being in Houston there was absolutely nothing that I needed to have done differently. All of that fear mongering for what? I realized I was far better off focused on the Lord than being glued to the TV worrying about something that never happened.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

One reason I have spent so much attention on the prophecies is because it proves Jesus saw all this coming two thousand years ago. No one else saw it coming ten years ago. Jonathan Cahn published his book "Harbinger" about 911 and yet how many of us, even if you read that book, could have predicted the things that have happened since the pandemic? Even when Russia was massing against the border of Ukraine in December of 2021 people thought you were paranoid if you said they were going to attack. Even after Hamas attacked Israel people were still thinking the US would not use MOABs on the nuclear sites in Iran, even though the prophecies clearly state that the bow of Elam would be broken.

So if the Lord knew all this was going to happen and told us beforehand I think I will listen to Him and trust Him when He tells me what to do to stay on the path of salvation. Resigning your job, selling your house and moving is a lot of trouble. No one wants to do that for no reason. But if He says that is what you need to do then you had better do it and stop dilly dallying.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
 
The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

This blog is about the rapture and so we have come to that point here when discussing our salvation. The rapture doesn't mean that people who are not sanctified and are simply pretending to be good Christians are taken. The rapture does not snatch up the hypocrites, rather it exposes them. Because what the rapture does is manifest the sons of God. Right now they aren't manifested. They are not upset that they didn't get the recognition they deserved or the promotion they deserved. Instead they praise the Lord and are thankful that He kept them hidden under his wings while they were able to grow and mature.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Yes, the world is vanity, it is all a waste of time and everything you will do will go up in a puff of smoke. However, for those who are saved we are put into this world with hope. This hope includes the fact that we are going to inherit the earth and we will rule and reign. So everything we are doing now is not vanity, it is helping us to grow and mature as sons of God.

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
 
Learning patience

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

We should not be surprised at all the goaning and complaining. What is taking place is the creation is giving birth to the new creation. Women are in pain when they give birth, so we should not be surprised at all the people who appear to be in pain right now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Also, even the genuine believers are groaning because we are tired of living in this vanity. Think about a baby, it is in a placenta, that is it's world, and when the baby is born that placenta will go up in flames. It will be tossed in the fire with medical waste. All people today are either invested in the placenta or invested in the baby. This is why we can say the whole world is subjected to vanity, there is no future in investing in the placenta. However, if you invest in the Baby then you have hope.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

So we live in the exact same world that everyone else lives in and yet we are filled with hope. So one person can be living full of hope while all those around them are living in vanity with no hope.

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

If you can see the finish line you no longer need patience. God wants us to learn patience, so appreciate that this is a lesson from God.
 
Lessons on prayer

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

So this indicates two areas of growth that we all could pray for. We could pray for the sight and revelation to know what to pray for and we could also pray for knowledge and wisdom to know how to pray.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

This is another wonderful aspect to Christ dwelling in us. The spirit dwells in us, the spirit has a mind, and the spirit can pray for us and God can understand that prayer. So when Paul encourages us to simply be one with our spirit and groan if we don't know what to say is very encouraging.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This is a wonderful principle for prayer. Regardless of what happens if you are one with God you should see it as working together for good. So when I was forced to retire I saw this as God telling me it was time to pack up and leaven NYC.
 
Being conformed to the image of His Son

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This is the thing to understand, if you say "how can this be good?" Try asking "how can I be conformed into the image of His Son" by going through this.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

So this will help you review your life, the things you went through before being justified were things that God predestinated you to go through. Suppose you were in a street gang, look at this as God's predestination so that He would have someone He could send to other gang members to bring them the gospel. If you were abused as a child then you have empathy to minister to others. Jesus is not just the savior He is also the great physician. I heard someone who was saved out of the occult tell me the best verse for him was to hear that we have not been given the spirit of fear. I would never have guessed that those in the occult are kept there by fear and live in fear. So you were predestinated, you were then called to your ministry. With what comfort the Holy
Spirit comforted you then you can comfort others.
 
Spiritual warfare

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

This verse does not say that no one can or will be against us. On the contrary it is saying "who are they compared to God?" If you are a genuine Christian many will be against you and they can do you harm unless God is for us. That is a conditional statement: "If God be for us". The requirement for ministry and for spiritual warfare is whether or not God is for you.

For example, you may see there are many soup kitchens, God is obviously helping many who are doing this so you do that too. Just because God is for someone else having a soup kitchen does not mean He is calling you to do that. Other people have street ministries, prison ministries, evangelistic ministries, family counseling, etc. God has to call you, it has to be something that the Spirit has worked out in your life, preparing you to do. This blog is a great example, I would not encourage others to do this, I had no idea that this would appeal to more than ten other people. So the lesson I would share is follow the Lord's leading and don't worry about why, or how, or any of the other stuff people worry about.

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Remember, the first criteria, if God is for us. We are coworkers with God. If He wants you to do something don't worry about what you will need. Shortly after starting this blog I was forced to resign my job and my wife was also forced due to the vaccine mandate. Once we did that we were then forced to sell our house and move. But all our needs have been provided and by doing that I went from having 2.5 hours a day to 6 hours a day that I could dedicate to this blog.

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

A lot of people question a blog about the rapture as though I am totally focused on something that doesn't matter. I tell them it is not an item of the faith, it doesn't matter if you know eschatology, this blog is not essential to your salvation or Christian walk. So then, why do it? Because the Lord led me to do it, God is with me, He has provided and He is the one who will justify this in the end. I don't advertise, I don't take donations, I don't ask anyone to support this ministry. If it isn't for you that is fine with me. I do this because I am burdened and I believe the Lord is with me.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

The more I have gotten into this the more interested I have become in prayer and the Lord's intercession. This is very clear that we will be attacked, we will be criticized and they will try to condemn you. But when you are partners with Jesus Christ He will justify and He will defend you. I have been kicked out of two other forums, and Facebook and Youtube. This does not bother me, I was able to testify of the Lord and I simply see this as the Lord saying time to move on to the next forum. I have all my posts saved on Pdf's, so if I have to pack up and move again I will.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

This should be your concern. I don't care if I am separated from Facebook or Youtube or some forum. What I am concerned with is if I were separated from the Lord. I am approaching 16,000 posts. Where did that come from? Every morning I get up and I have nothing, but I open the Bible, open up to the Lord and let Him speak.

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

I feel like I am a cow giving milk, yesterday after giving milk I had nothing left but now this morning the Lord provides. Everyday is like another 2 minute warning. It is incredible that I have not missed a day since I started. What many people do not realize is during these years there have been many days when I was driving for 12 hours or more on the road. Regardless of what I was doing that day I still was able to post.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

This is what is so much fun to me is to see how some of these things were made by the skin of my teeth or by God's intervention. There have been a lot of buzzer beaters.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And this is what is fun and exciting and challenging about being a Christian in ministry.
 
After these things

Esther 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

If we view Mordecai as the church age then the two door keepers that Mordecai stood against would refer to Martin Luther nailing the 95 Thesis concerning the Catholic church and the second one would be the apostasy in the last 80 years since WW2.

Haman is a picture of the Antichrist. Now we get two pictures of him, Hitler would be one picture and "The Antichrist" would be the second.

I am looking at the book of Esther with the express purpose of wondering if Purim depicts the rapture. If you look at it this way then the King is God and when Mordecai is ready to stand against the Antichrist, after he has dealt with the corruption of the Catholic church and the corruption of the apostasy, then he is ready for "the Antichrist".

Notice that Mordecai is appealing through prayer for Esther, depicting the church seated in the heavenlies with Christ to bring His petition to God.
 
The rapture event in Esther would take place when Mordecai was honored before all the people. After that rapture event Haman is revealed. Haman's plot and position and power were given to him by the King prior to the "rapture event" and then he is revealed immediately after that event.

But what does God say to those left behind? The decree cannot be undone, they must fight. Mordecai depicts the raptured saints who stood up against apostasy and rebellion against the Lord Jesus. Many of the others were wall flowers, choosing not to get involved. They are left behind, but now they must imitate Mordecai to fight for the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

So you can certainly see the rapture in the book of Esther. Also, notice that yes, Haman is revealed as the Antichrist after the rapture, but that is to all the people left behind. Mordecai had a beef with him prior to the rapture.
 
What about our family?

Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

This is an amazing transition from our personal salvation which includes our being involved in ministry, prayer, and spiritual warfare to the church as a corporate body.

When I was first saved I shared my testimony with my family to the point they all could not take it anymore. That was the point at which I moved on and that has been my experience for fifty years. When it gets to the point that this "town" or "City" decides they have had enough and kicks me out I just move on to the next city. You might think this means I have forgotten about family and friends, but that is not true. On the contrary there is a heaviness and continual sorrow. I have learned the best way to deal with that is whenever someone is brought to mind to pray for them.

There is a promise that if we forsake family and friends for the Lord's sake then we will be repayed 100 fold in the next life. But at the same time I learned to trust the Lord for my family and friends and I realized that seeing my testimony that I had set my face as a flint to take this route would be a positive testimony. Forty years later I was able to see firsthand how the Lord was working in their lives and how they did consider my testimony. They might have mocked and ridiculed, but beneath that they were keeping all these things in their heart and it was a seed that had grown.

If I had continued to harass people it would have been just that, harassment, and there would have been no ministry. Instead in just the last few years there have been over 800,000 who have come to this blog and that doesn't even touch the thousands that I had ministered to prior to these last few years. I realized the Lord has a heart for all of them and he needs each one of us to help reach all the people on this earth.
 
Put your trust in God and put your trust that God has given each person a desire to know Him

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

We need to see this, very often it is not the person you expect that receives the Lord. In my experience the guy that is scariest one to approach with the gospel will be the one most receptive. He is trying to scare away phonies, so the fact that you didn't scare away will cause him to be open.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

So children of pastors and people who grew up in the church, they may simply be children of the flesh. You have to have trust in the Lord and you have to have trust in each person that they are seeking. Every single person has this God given desire to know God. They also each have their own defense system against liars, cheats and scam artists. Speak the word, be bold, be honest, and move on. Sometimes it takes years for a seed to germinate. You can't see what is going on beneath the surface, so put your trust in God and in the word of God to be living and active.

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
 
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated

Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Not only to we trust that God is working in each heart, but we also trust he is calling each according to purpose.

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

Very often it is not the one who everyone assumed was the leader who takes the lead. Think about Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

It is not fair to judge God on this one word without remembering the whole story. Jacob was the one that was hated, he was the one that was called a supplanter. His father preferred Esau, they were going to kill Jacob and he had to flee for decades before he could return without fear of being killed by his brother. People get all judgmental about God here and forget this is who they are. They are the ones who have their favorite and they have that child they hate. Many Christians were the "hated" one, the "ostrasized" one, the one that was disowned. Think of Jesus, look at what his brothers and his family did to Him and yet the truth is that God loved Him and that is what mattered.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Sure God loved us and that required Him to have mercy on us. That is the opposite of man, they love that kid that does not need mercy. They love that kid with the silver spoon who is a shoe in to become president or "most likely to succeed". God loved that one that needed compassion, the runt of the litter that would have been dead were it not for His compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

This is the fact, I would not be here if God had not shown mercy and I suspect my experience is common for Christians. I think this because for you to have a ministry requires you to have mercy.
 
Pray for those who need mercy and pray for those who need to be humbled

Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

God is using every person. The rich and powerful are pawns. How could we know how great the Lord is and what a great savior He is if there weren't those who were actively fighting against him? If you see someone that needs mercy and compassion, that person is in need of your ministry and you can show them the love of God. Those that are proud and arrogant and rebel against Jesus Christ, well don't be surprised if God hates them, and raises them up for the purpose of showing his power. So then pray for God to show his power concerning Epstein, and concerning the proud and arrogant leaders who thought they could rob the taxpayers and become millionaires from their grift.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Pray for the people who need mercy and pray for those who need to be humbled.
 
Why doth he yet find fault?

Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

We have pots we drink out of (cups, mugs, etc) and we have pots we poop into. They are both very necessary. Imagine going to a big fancy mansion with all kinds of wonderful cups but no bathroom. Even if we don't understand today we will understand one day.

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

We need tyrants and dictators for God to fully show His mercy and be revealed as a savior. You can't be brought into glory without a competitor. No one would know Tom Brady if he had not played against the Falcons, and the Chiefs, and the Eagles. Everyone knows to have a good movie you need a good villain.

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

This is what salvation is all about. You are without hope, in the world, and near death. You have no family, no one loves you, you have made all kinds of mistakes in your life, you see they are mistakes now, but now it is too late. On the contrary what you need now is a Savior. Before you were too proud and egotistical to "need" a savior, but now you have been humbled.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

You need to know both sides. How horrible you feel when you are ostracized, it seems like the end of the world, that you will die a horrible death. Then you are brought into the church and have a family, and have those that love you.
 
A fundamental lesson in the church

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

I have no idea what God's plans are or how many will go to hell or what happens to those who are not "saved". What I do know is that Christians do not get a participation trophy. If you want a crown you will have to take a stand and fight for it. This is what I really hate about Once Saved Always Saved doctrine that is typically taught. The emphasis is on the "free gift of salvation" while at the same time condemning "works based salvation". All of that is Biblical, but the heavy emphasis without any discussion of calling, or sanctification, or ministry, or any of the other things involved in the Christian life gives people a warped view. Justification, which is what they equate with the sum total of salvation, is a free gift. You do not get a crown as a reward for getting a free gift.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

So the picture that has been presented is only a remnant of the Jews will be saved, however, they are holding the rope that prevents the rest of the Jews becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah. This is a picture of the restrainer. Once the Christians are removed in the rapture those unbelievers who are left behind will quickly become Sodom and Gomorrah and then fire will fall from God as judgment during the tribulation.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

This is a very interesting question. The Jews think it is an advantage for salvation to have the law. There are advantages to having the law but clearly leading many to receive Jesus Christ as Savior is not one of the advantages.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

We have all been warned, pride goes before a fall. Just because you are a jew according to the flesh does not give you an advantage. Likewise, being the son or grandson of a pastor or preacher does not give you an advantage.

If you parents prayed for your salvation and if you received the ministry of the word of God as a child, that would be an advantage. The works of the law do not help you to get saved, seeking to know God by faith, that helps. This is the most important lesson in the church, we are prone to be respectors of persons. We are tempted to treat the son of some great preacher differently. The people who will not be ashamed are those who believe on Jesus. Those that respect man's person will be put to shame.
 

AND IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS ONE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN - FEBRUARY 17, 2026
 
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