Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
“The Golden Sequence” - How Jesus Perfectly Signed His Name in His Book

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
The cup of thy sister Samaria

Ezekiel 23:27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.

No one is more lewd than the US movie industry and music industry. The LGBTQ+ movement is simply the whoredom movement.

28 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:

This is judgement on the daughters of Sodom. In Ezekiel he is comparing these two daughters to the two kingdoms of Israel, the Northern Kingdom and the Southern kingdom. In that sense I would compare this to the USA (northern kingdom) and Israel (southern kingdom). So then who does the US hate, of whom is the mind of the US alienated? China? Communism? N. Korea? Venezuela?

29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

We have heard repeatedly throughout the Bible, and through the prophets, as well as the dreams and visions of many that this is coming to the US. We have shown from the Bible that the US is "mystery, Babylon the Great" whose destruction comes in one hour.

30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.

The US used to be a Christian nation. I lived in Europe for a year, I lived in Taiwan for eight years and I have visited many other countries. It was made so clear to me that the US was, compared to these other nations, a Christian nation. But the US has very clearly gone a whoring after the heathen. Transcendental meditation is chanting the name of some god. The whole drug culture of the sixties was a worship of the occult. I Love Lucy and other shows depicted how the US turned to the occult and games to summon demons. The Grammies and the Oscars are clearly worship ceremonies of pagan gods. Halloween, Christmas and Easter are all pagan holidays. The US government is completely dominated by FreeMasons as is the leadership of multinational corporations. The LGBTQ+ movement is simply the "gone a whoring" movement. Why has the US become so openly corrupt and lewd? It is because the US is polluted with their idols. They worship money and power, that is why abortion is such a big issue. If women didn't worship these things they wouldn't feel the need to kill their babies. Likewise, if men didn't worship these things they also would not feel the need to kill their babies. Obviously in the case of fornication and adultery you can see why abortion is necessary to those who worship money and power. But even if the baby is born to a married couple, if they are worshiping their career and financial standing you can understand why they would view a baby as inconvenient.

31 Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.

It wasn't just Sodom that was destroyed by God. Five cities were destroyed: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (also called Bela), which are collectively referred to as the "cities of the plain." Today it is not just the US and Israel that are this corrupt and lewd. Europe is also like this and so are some spots in Asia and in South America. Brazil, Amsterdam, Thailand, Israel and the US are all notorious.

32 Thus saith the Lord God; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.

Why do they call the whoring movement the pride movement? Because they can't stand being laughed to scorn. They have pushed many lies to promote the lewdness and whoring movement, but when the lies are exposed it will all collapse and they will had in derision.

33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.

Imagine how people felt when in the matter of a single hour these five cities were completely burned up to ashes. This is what will happen to the US, and also to all the other cities. Also, notice how Sodom and Gomorrah were not countries, they were cities. This whole lewdness and whoring movement grows like mold in the cities. It doesn't grow in small towns in the country. People need to feel anonymous, as though they could do what they want and no one would know. Hollywood and the Music industry were magnets for these people to come from all over the nation to sell their souls to these idols. Samaria was a mixed land, part Jewish part Babylonian. It is a fitting description of places like the US, Israel, Amsterdam, and Brazil.

34 Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
The cup of thy sister Samaria

Ezekiel 23:27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.

No one is more lewd than the US movie industry and music industry. The LGBTQ+ movement is simply the whoredom movement.

28 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:

This is judgement on the daughters of Sodom. In Ezekiel he is comparing these two daughters to the two kingdoms of Israel, the Northern Kingdom and the Southern kingdom. In that sense I would compare this to the USA (northern kingdom) and Israel (southern kingdom). So then who does the US hate, of whom is the mind of the US alienated? China? Communism? N. Korea? Venezuela?

29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

We have heard repeatedly throughout the Bible, and through the prophets, as well as the dreams and visions of many that this is coming to the US. We have shown from the Bible that the US is "mystery, Babylon the Great" whose destruction comes in one hour.

30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.

The US used to be a Christian nation. I lived in Europe for a year, I lived in Taiwan for eight years and I have visited many other countries. It was made so clear to me that the US was, compared to these other nations, a Christian nation. But the US has very clearly gone a whoring after the heathen. Transcendental meditation is chanting the name of some god. The whole drug culture of the sixties was a worship of the occult. I Love Lucy and other shows depicted how the US turned to the occult and games to summon demons. The Grammies and the Oscars are clearly worship ceremonies of pagan gods. Halloween, Christmas and Easter are all pagan holidays. The US government is completely dominated by FreeMasons as is the leadership of multinational corporations. The LGBTQ+ movement is simply the "gone a whoring" movement. Why has the US become so openly corrupt and lewd? It is because the US is polluted with their idols. They worship money and power, that is why abortion is such a big issue. If women didn't worship these things they wouldn't feel the need to kill their babies. Likewise, if men didn't worship these things they also would not feel the need to kill their babies. Obviously in the case of fornication and adultery you can see why abortion is necessary to those who worship money and power. But even if the baby is born to a married couple, if they are worshiping their career and financial standing you can understand why they would view a baby as inconvenient.

31 Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.

It wasn't just Sodom that was destroyed by God. Five cities were destroyed: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (also called Bela), which are collectively referred to as the "cities of the plain." Today it is not just the US and Israel that are this corrupt and lewd. Europe is also like this and so are some spots in Asia and in South America. Brazil, Amsterdam, Thailand, Israel and the US are all notorious.

32 Thus saith the Lord God; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.

Why do they call the whoring movement the pride movement? Because they can't stand being laughed to scorn. They have pushed many lies to promote the lewdness and whoring movement, but when the lies are exposed it will all collapse and they will had in derision.

33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.

Imagine how people felt when in the matter of a single hour these five cities were completely burned up to ashes. This is what will happen to the US, and also to all the other cities. Also, notice how Sodom and Gomorrah were not countries, they were cities. This whole lewdness and whoring movement grows like mold in the cities. It doesn't grow in small towns in the country. People need to feel anonymous, as though they could do what they want and no one would know. Hollywood and the Music industry were magnets for these people to come from all over the nation to sell their souls to these idols. Samaria was a mixed land, part Jewish part Babylonian. It is a fitting description of places like the US, Israel, Amsterdam, and Brazil.

34 Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
"We are not of the world"

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

This means we are to effect the world. It is like a tug of war. If we were of the world we would be pulling the rope in the same direction the world is pulling. We are not of the world and yet we are in the world, that means we are in the tug of war pulling the opposite direction of the world. We are not animated by the prince of the power of the air but by the Holy Spirit to restrain the world.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
God says to judge not lest you be judged for with what judgment you judge you shall be judged.

If Trump belongs in prison that is for the courts to decide. Christians are not here to judge but as witnesses.

I have seen the same people who judge Trump severely for the things he has said give Kamala Harris a pass for the things she has said. They will be judged with the same judgement with which they judge.

I have seen the same people who call Trump a dictator, give Kamala Harris a pass for the things she has said and done which would be defined as tyrannical. With what measure you measure it will be measured again to you.

The nations are not under the New Testament covenant. We are not voting for the pastor of a church. There is no requirement that the President be the husband of one wife, or even that he be a man. The nations are under the Noah covenant. The only requirement is that they deal with crime in a trustworthy and honest way. In particular Noah focuses in on murder. But you could include the border crisis, the deaths from fentanyl, human trafficking, war, giving a list of people who helped the US in Afghanistan to the Taliban, and most importantly abortion. That is the one and only criteria by which any Christian should be voting. This is what it means to Pray for peace that we could live a tranquil life.

Someone received $160 billion from US taxpayers that was sent to Ukraine for this war effort. Some was spent on villas for Ukraine oligarchs. Some was laundered through FTX for the 2022 election campaigns. War is big business and there are a lot of fat cats that profit from it and so love it. They don't say that openly because 97% of the people hate war. But don't look at what they say, look at what they do.

The cartels profit off of drug trafficking and human trafficking. No one will campaign saying they will open the border to drugs and human traffickers. But don't listen to what they say, look at what they do.

Corporations profit off of illegals coming into the country and doing their jobs. What many missed with the whole cats and dogs episode is that they brought in ten thousand illegals to Springfield, they pack them into the apartments like sardines, so instead of three people in a two bedroom apartment paying $1,000 they had ten immigrants in the same apartment each paying $200 so the owner got $2,000 for the same apartment. They all got jobs at the local factory and worked for less than was legally required. Most of these workers don't pay taxes. So the citizens can't get a place to live, can't get a job, but they are the ones footing the bill for the taxes. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum of justice vs compassion, the end result is there is no tranquility in Springfield.

Christians are commanded to pray for peace and tranquility. Trump has a four year record, and Harris also has a long record. Anyone who is honest can easily determine who was for peace and who was for war, who was for clamping down on drug trafficking and human trafficking and who was for opening the borders and flying these ones around the country. Who is for abortion being federally mandated, and who is for letting the states decide for themselves.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
STOP Ignoring These Clues In John's MEASURING the Temple in Revelation

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

The book of revelation describes the opening of this scroll and looks into it. This was in the first century of the church age. This is why I feel that this scroll was opened shortly after Jesus rose from the dead. It says that John saw a lamb as having recently been slain. When a prizefighter wins the belt they give it to him right after the fight. They don't wait 2,000 years.

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

However, John has to prophesy again. God will repeat the same message in multiple ways. Therefore I also believe that the last seven years is simply God repeating the same message that was given to us for the last 2,000 years in a different way.

So then spiritually speaking the white horse refers to the gospel going forth throughout the entire earth. We have a bow, but not an arrow because the arrow has already been shot and the war already won. Jesus is victorious.

But, after Satan and the fallen angels are cast to the earth we will see the counterfeit of this white horse with the Antichrist. This is why so many have had a hard time interpreting whether the white horse is Jesus and the gospel or the Antichrist and the false gospel. We also had the spiritual war. Read the book of Acts and it is clear there was a spiritual war going on. Read church history there was a spiritual war going on. But during the seven year tribulation people will see the spiritual war up close and personal as Satan and the fallen angels are no longer the prince of the power of the air, but have been cast to earth.

The same is true with the black horse of famine. The word of God has been bread and wine for the world for the last two thousand years. Without it people stumble in the dark, they are in a famine for spiritual insight, unable to understand what is going on. But during the tribulation people will experience the famine up close and personal. Their will be no need to tell them to lay up their treasures on earth, there will be no opportunity to do that.

Likewise with the pale green horse of the plague. Think about AIDS, think about all the plagues due to man's uncleanness and depravity. There is a spiritual warfare going on that includes the plague. But again, during the seven year tribulation people will get to see the prophecy from a very different approach.

The seven year tribulation is like summer school. You don't simply repeat the lessons the same way, you need a very different approach, a shortened version of the lessons to help those who didn't get it the first time.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
Jehu a type of Trump

I believe that all things came into being through the word of God and apart from the word of God nothing that has come into being has come into being. In other words the reason I can see Clinton and Obama and Trump in the story of the kings is because the story of the kings is the word of God that has caused them to come into being.

9 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

Elisha is very significant here. Elijah was caught up in the whirlwind as a type of the rapture. Elisha got a double portion of Elijah's spirit and represents the tribulation saints. The miracles will be like the time of the apostles during the tribulation. So then this gives us an idea of what will happen right after the rapture.

2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;

Jonathan Cahn does an excellent job of correlating Clinton, Obama and Trump to Ahab and Jezebel, Ahaziah, and Jehu. Jehoram would also fit in for Biden.

3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

This is a very strange description as though they are hunkered down in a bunker during attack. I think this is something that takes place right after the calamitous judgment on the USA as the Great Babylon. However, don't think that this would be Nov 5. It might be shortly thereafter, it might be December 17th when the electoral college is certified by each state, it might even be as late as Jan 6th when the certification is presented to the Congress.

4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain. 6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.

This may refer to the Christians having voted for Trump and thus "anointing" him to rule.

7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

The whole house of Ahab would include the Clintons, the Obamas and the Bidens. The reference to the dogs indicates they will be torn apart on the front pages of the newspapers by the paparrazi and it is also a reference to the pedophiles like Epstein and Diddy.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Lord Jesus, we remind you of this word, Kamala Harris has rejected the word that Jesus is Lord and Christ is King, so as she has done we pray that You also would reject her from being president.

Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Lord Jesus, we remind you of this word because all those who want to legalize and mandate abortion have not hearkened unto Your words, nor to Your law, but rejected it.

Jeremiah 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

Lord Jesus, put all the talking heads, all the prognosticators, all the so called experts to an open shame. Let their wisdom become foolishness because they have rejected the word of the Lord. Kamala Harris spent $2 billion on her campaign, may that money go up in flames as a burnt offering and may fire fall from heaven on all those who have rejected You as Lord and King.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Lord we pray that the stones the builders have rejected would also be glorified in your rapture and glorious return.

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Lord Jesus, we remind you of Your word, may the words of the Bible judge those that have rejected You.

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Lord Jesus, there have been many who have attempted to sow dissension during these last four years. We pray they would all be rejected by You. You know the hearts, you are the one who searches us and knows our motives, so we give this to You because You alone are able to judge righteously.

Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Amen and Amen
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
A Great Shaking Is Upon Us! God Revealed These Powerful Details in His END TIME Dreams! #jesus

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
Why does God allow these things?

We often look at the events in our lives, the hardships, the unrighteous things that have happened to us through our eyes, but suppose we look at them through God's eyes. After all He is the one who created us, He is the one who is over all things. Think of the book of Job, you can say that it wasn't God who did the things to Job, it was Satan. OK, but it was God who allowed those things to happen to Job.

So let me begin by sharing a true story of my past. I was on a swim team for the Boyscouts. It was a relay race with four swimmers swimming four different strokes (backstroke, breast stroke, side stroke and freestyle). I had tried out and won the position to swim freestyle. No one disputed that I had won the tryout fair and square. However, the other three swimmers didn't want me to be the anchor because I did not do a flip turn, I did an open turn. It made us look second rate. (I had spent years on a swim team where we trained in the ocean, our floats were covered with barnacles and you had to do an open turn). So in our first race they all decided to protest. Each guy gave up two body lengths. After the first leg we were behind by two body lengths, after the second leg we were behind by four body lengths and after the third we were behind by six body lengths. Now it is possible to catch a guy who is two body lengths ahead, but not one who is six. The race was over before it started, I knew it, but so did the guy I was swimming against. The point the other three kids were making was "he may have won the tryout but we don't want him to be on our team". That is not fair. So why did God allow it?

Well I was all psyched up for the race and couldn't simply "throw in the towel". So I gave it everything I had. This was the first time in my life when I understood the expression "it is not whether you win our lose, its how you run the race". When the race was over I did not care if I had won or lost, I knew I had given everything I had and that was a good feeling. As it turned out I had beaten him by a fraction of a second. But now everything flipped. Now instead of me being the stone that the builders rejected, now it was the other three that had to prove they belonged on this team. They had all been put to an open shame because they knew if they had been in the same position, they wouldn't have even tried to win. In their mind it was impossible. So it caused them to repent. A week later we were in our next race and this time they handed me a three body length lead instead of giving the opponents a six body length lead. We went undefeated and after that first race from that point on I always had a commanding lead when I swam the anchor.

So let's go back to the question "why does God allow this?" Paul said it is no more I that live but Christ that lives in me. He has allowed the challenges we face in our life because He wants to go through them and He wants to bring you through them.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
Hosea Chapters 11 through 14 Israel vs America and Works vs Faith Alone and The Trinity or Godhead

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
What is hell?

I was always bothered by hell being eternal. It seems to be mean. But I think there is a reason. Each one of us came into being by the word of God. Since God's word is eternal so are we. So instead of thinking of hell as eternal punishment I see it more as a museum. Imagine we had a museum that shows you what happens if you reject God, reject the word of God, and reject the Holy Spirit? Each and every person in Hell would be a different story, but they would all be part of that museum and just like we go to a museum so that we don't lose the lessons we learned in the past, it is the same with Hell.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
I am not voting for Trump

I am voting against abortion, against the lies, against the deceit, against the corruption. This situation with FTX, Ukraine war, Afghanistan withdrawal, and giving the names of people who worked with the US to the Taliban, I am voting against all that.

I am voting against Kamala Harris being appointed the democratic nominee without winning any primaries. I am voting against the hypocrisy of Harris claiming she is "defending democracy" when she has been the most undemocratic candidate in US history.

I am voting against the assassins who tried to kill Trump. Liars, cheats, thieves, murderers and hypocrites are the enemies of Trump. I am voting for the enemy of my enemy, who is also a liar, a thief and a murderer.

I am voting not because I think either candidate is a model of Christian virtue but because it is my civic duty to do so. I do not expect the President of the US to be a testimony of Jesus Christ. However, I am here one with the Holy Spirit to restrain evil and and I am voting to restrain evil.

I have read all the posts of those arguing to not vote for Trump. I am not voting for him. But they never once gave me a reason to vote against him. He is a sinner, I'm not against sinners, I am praying they will be saved. He never started a war. I'm voting against war. That is not a reason to vote against him. He was trying to build a wall on the Southern border. So what, I lock my front door, what hypocrisy to condemn someone for trying to control their front door. He appointed three pro life judges that overturned Roe v. Wade. Well I am voting against abortion so that is no reason to vote against Trump.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
This campaign has been biblical in so many ways

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
This is why I don't call the Pre-Trib rapture the Pre-Tribulation rapture.


Matthew 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

When I first got saved I was stunned to learn that some Christians would not receive me. I could understand when I was unsaved, but here I was in the Bible an hour a day, in fellowship with Christians 4 or 5 days a week, and preaching the gospel everyday. Why would any Christians have a problem with that and yet from the very beginning there were those who did. That has been the story for over 50 years. Today I am with the Gideons and about half the churches in this city do not receive us. Why? Because we believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. The churches that don't receive us do receive Sodom and Gomorrah.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

This is something I also learned and saw for the last fifty years. Some of the scariest people are those you would think were the most holy. There are a lot of wolves that have infiltrated the church. We need to learn to heed our spirit because the Holy Spirit will react to such.

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Definitely have had that experience before. The first time it is like a complete shock, you are dazed and confused. But you go to your knees, pray, and the Lord will sort things out and then you put your full trust in Him. It is like being a professional fighter, the minute you step in the ring you must be anticipating being hit.

18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

This is of the Lord, all these things happening to you are of the Lord. Do not say "why me?" when you are thrust into that ring. Instead pray to the Lord that you would be faithful to Him.

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

The minute you start worrying about stuff like that you will become paralyzed because you know you aren't qualified. So don't worry about that. Instead my attitude was that I was a little lion cub, I am surrounded by hyenas, so make sure you are as close to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as you can get.

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Pray that the spirit of your Father speaks in you. That you express God the Father while in that ring.

21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Those who say there is no pre-trib rapture say the reason is that we must all go through tribulation. That is true. But the tribulation began from day 1 of the church age. Read the book of Acts and you will realize how stupid this argument is against the pre-trib rapture but also why that name is a very poor name. Instead, the Bible says the saints in Philadelphia are kept from "the hour of trial" which probably refers to the hour that Babylon the Great is destroyed.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

No one likes to be hated, but it is a joy to be faithful to the Lord. You read the word, you see verses like this while you are being persecuted, and it fills you with joy and is a great encouragement.

23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Big criteria for being raptured. Philadelphia is kept from the hour of trial. What do we know about them? When they are raptured they are told they will not need to go out anymore. That indicates they have had to go out previously. If everyone loves you and you have never had this experience of being persecuted in this city and having to flee to the next, then you are missing this key criteria. The church of Philadelphia is composed of those who have had to flee to another church.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,683
6,732
113
Who is the enemy?

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

There is an interesting verse in the book of Revelation where the apostle John is told that he must prophecy again. He has given us a view of the church age in a spiritual sense, but now the second time he gives us a view of the church age during the seven year tribulation with the beast, the Great Babylon, the mark of the beast, etc.

This is the problem that many have, they think that the spiritual realm is not real, they want to see people and guillotines. So, during the tribulation you will see them.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

I don't consider Russia and Iran and N. Korea to be our enemy any more than I would consider the belt your dad used when you were punished to be the enemy. They are simply a tool in God the Father's hand. Some people need famine and plague and war to repent and humble themselves. So in that sense the war that is coming to the US will be useful at accomplishing the will of God.

So besides demons I would say our pride and ego are the biggest enemies.

There will be soldiers, there will be tens of millions killed, there will be natural catastrophes like no one has ever seen, there will be plague and famine. But those are all designed to humble us and realize that apart from God we can do nothing.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: