Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joel 1:1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

For five years I have associated this with the Pandemic. Obviously we have had viruses and people dying from viruses, but the point was we never had a global shutdown. But this time I am seeing Joel and the Pandemic as a warning of the coming seven year tribulation. Yes we have had famines before, but not global, we have had financial downturns before but not global, we have had genocide before, but not global.

3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

This verse also struck me because I am old enough to be a granddad, but if you look today there is a great revival among the grandchildren and even great grandchildren. This is the message that many are speaking, we have never seen what we are seeing now. Sure people have said the rapture was going to happen and they provided "Biblical reasons" but again, nothing like what we are seeing today. We didn't have AI, we didn't have Starlink, we didn't have Quantum computers, we didn't have the ability to implement the mark of the beast globally. We didn't have drones and robots that could hunt you down. We didn't have leaders of superpowers threatening nuclear war.

4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

These four bugs eat up agricultural products, but different ones. Some eat bark from a tree, or leaves from a tree, others eat all the green herbs in the field. Not only so but they strike at different times of the year, some at the beginning of the growing season, some in the middle and some at the end. This verse is describing a concerted strategic effort to wipe out the food supply using little bugs. Why do you think we have all these recalls? Little bugs. Five years ago we had a lot of food stored, but not today. Read the news people in China are starving, oil production facilities in Russia are being destroyed. We should all know that the oil production involves fertilizer and pesticides and without that crop yields drop significantly. We also know that Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe, so this war has hit Europe right in the breadbasket.

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

We should remember that the New Wine was poured out on the feast of Pentecost, it signifies the Holy Spirit being poured on the Earth in the form of the gospel. So yes, five years ago we had a bunch of things "cut off" but that was a warning. When the rapture takes place that is when the reality of the new wine being cut off will take place. The last five years we have been telling people to wake up, but when the rapture takes place that will cause everyone still sleeping to wake up.

6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

Again, I likened this to the tiny bug called "Covid19" which appeared to be a Frankenstein monster made in a lab by putting four little bugs together. But that was a warning that after the rapture the US will be invaded. We will have people from Venezuela, China, N. Korea, Russia, and the UN.

7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

This is how the Antichrist will take power, it is by giving people an offer they can't refuse. Obey him or starve to death.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

For those left behind they will lament like a virgin who has just been made a widow.

9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn.

If you remember this happened during the pandemic, but it was because the priests did not take a stand. Likewise for those who did not take a stand it will happen after the tribulation, only this time not by choice. Violent crowds will take out their anger on churches that lied to them.

10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

Again, this is a reference to those left behind that the Lord is telling to "be ashamed". Think of how many preachers have chosen to not talk about the signs and prophecies being fulfilled. The warnings were there but they have purposefully and intentionally ignored them. That is why when this happens they will be ashamed.

12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

We saw this in a figure during the pandemic. You were not allowed to have gatherings, you couldn't have a birthday party or a wedding. But that was a warning of what was to come during the tribulation. During the pandemic we saw how quickly things could change overnight, again that is a warning of what is to come.

13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

Imagine being a priest or minister who is left behind! Your entire ministry and life's work has been openly rebuked and rejected by the Lord Jesus.

14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,

This is the only correct response to being left behind. This is the only correct response to mocking and scoffing at the prophets and watchmen who have been warning day and night.

15 Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Once again the Pandemic was a warning, the reality will be right after the rapture. This will be the response of all those left behind.

 

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Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

If you look at the Pandemic several key things happened at the time of the Feast of Trumpets.

September and October 2020
During this time, the world marked a grim milestone of over one million deaths, and vaccine development and politics were at the forefront.

• Global death toll surpasses one million (September): The number of worldwide deaths from COVID-19 reached a tragic milestone of over 1 million people.
• Vaccine preparation begins (September): The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructed public health officials to prepare for a vaccine rollout by late October 2020.
• WHO backs steroids for severe cases (September): The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the use of corticosteroids to treat patients with severe and critical COVID-19.
• Trump tests positive (October 2): U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Trump was hospitalized for treatment and was discharged three days later.
• J&J vaccine trial paused (October 12): Johnson & Johnson halted its Phase 3 vaccine trial because a study participant became ill.

September and October 2021
In the autumn of 2021, the focus shifted toward booster shots and grappling with record-breaking case counts.

• U.S. death toll matches 1918 Spanish flu (September 20): The U.S. death toll surpassed 675,000, becoming the deadliest respiratory pandemic in American history by exceeding the estimated U.S. fatalities from the 1918 Spanish flu.
• FDA authorizes vaccine boosters (September 22): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for specific groups, including individuals 65 and older and those at high risk.
• U.S. deaths pass 700,000 (October 1): The United States officially passed the milestone of 700,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• WHO defines "long COVID" (October): The WHO established a clinical definition for "long COVID" or post-COVID-19 condition, defining it as a combination of symptoms that occur months after infection.

September 2022
As the pandemic continued, the focus shifted toward updated vaccine boosters and ongoing research.

• Updated boosters available (September): Following FDA authorization, updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech became available in the U.S. The new shots target the original coronavirus strain and the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.

This was a warning, but the reality will be the Feast of Trumpets that announces the start of the Day of the Lord.

 

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Who can abide it?

Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

There was an analogy made to the Pandemic. As the pandemic spread it shut down business, it shut down travel, it shut down churches, etc. Also, nothing did escape, even the President of the US and the Whitehouse got infected. But this was simply a warning of what is to come. Joel tells us "the day of the Lord is at hand" or that could also be translated "next door". The warning is that when the tribulation does come we will see this. We saw the pandemic sweep through the US, so the US has been warned, during the tribulation this will sweep through.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Perhaps, if you looked under a microscope this was true, but during the tribulation you won't need to look under a microscope. This is what John saw in the book of Revelation concerning the tribulation.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

Again, we had videos of people who were much pained, and many died of asphyxiation so there was this "all faces shall gather blackness". But again, those dead bodies piled up at hospitals, that was a warning of what is to come. Those incinerators working around the clock in China, that was a warning of what is to come.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

I likened this to the social distancing. I was lined up outside a Costco and the line stretched all over the parking lot, it was definitely more than a quarter mile long and it was just like this. They had boxes painted on the parking lot each six feet apart that you moved in a line through. There was no pushing, no touching. It reminded me of these long lines you see in war where prisoners are being marched down the road. That was a warning of what is to come.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

There was no escaping, even President Trump got sick.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

That is the sixth seal being opened and the rapture. So there were signs in the heavens, just as there are prior to the Tribulation starting, but during the Pandemic it was a warning whereas prior to the Tribulation it will be the real thing. The rapture will be accompanied by the greatest earthquake in human history that will impact the whole earth as the dead in Christ rise.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

 

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Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

We have been given five years to repent. However, many have chosen instead to mock, ridicule, slander and accuse the watchmen and those calling for people to turn to the Lord. They even went so far as to kill Charlie Kirk of Turning Point, USA. This demonstrates the utter rebellion and refusal to repent. You could argue that only a few people killed him, but look how many rejoiced, how many cheered. Not only so but dig a little and you learn the FBI was investigating the organization under Biden's administration, and leftist MSM like "The View" were slandering it.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

This is the right attitude. God knows the hearts, His word is able to separate the soul from the spirit. What we have seen these last five years is God discerning the hearts and revealing the motives.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

This is what Charlie Kirk was doing, it is what many of the watchmen have been doing, and it was the right response. Prophecy is designed to cause you to turn to the Lord and repent.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

We have seen massive outpouring of this sentiment these last five years on college campuses and now with this assassination of Charlie Kirk we are seeing these candlelight vigils worldwide.

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

 

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Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.

 

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Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

The former and latter rain refer to the apostolic age and the end of the age. Just as their was a great revival with thousands being saved during the apostolic age, there will also be a great revival at the start of the tribulation. What we are seeing now with the outpouring for Charlie Kirk is a foretaste of what we will see after the rapture.

 

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Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

 

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Joel 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

In 1948 God brought again the captivity of Judah, in 1967 He brought again the captivity of Jerusalem and then in 2017 three nations recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. Joel has been sharing that the worldwide Pandemic was a sign that the day of the Lord was at hand. Jesus said that the generation that sees the Fig tree sprout will not pass away. The fig tree can refer to the sinful nation, ie the UN and it can also refer to Israel as the nation that rejected their Messiah. A generation is 70 or 80 years, these are decades, so the decade would be 65 to 74, and 75 to 84. The Lord's word in the gospels corresponds to this word in Joel. Israel is 77 years old and will be 84 seven years from now. The UN is 80 years old and will pass away in the middle of the seven year period when the Antichrist sets himself up as god.

2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

To be gathered into the valley of Jehoshaphat is a reference to Armageddon. Why? Two reasons, everything that happened to Israel over the last two thousand years with pogroms, Spanish inquisition, and the holocaust. The second reason is that they "parted my land". This is what the UN will be voting on next week, to part Israel with a two state solution.

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

And this refers to human trafficking.

 

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And what about Palestinians?

Joel 3:4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; 5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

I do not know the history that well, but God does. This is why all judgment is given to Jesus Christ because He is omniscient. You can't simply look at this over the last 77 years. God is going all the way back to 70 AD and looking at this.

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.

So when you see how terrible it is for the Palestinians you have to also see that you reap what you sow. What you are seeing done to Palestinians is what they did to Israel. God is righteous. They have not harmed me and so I am in no position to harm them, I agree with those who are horrified by what they are seeing. However, you are looking at a very small portion of the whole picture, God is looking at the whole picture. People who do these things need to repent and that is what God is telling them, you did this, you need to repent.

 

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Joel 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Do you realize that Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022 and that Hamas invaded Israel in 2023? This was when Israel had just turned 75, that is the first year of the decade of Israel being 80 (if you round off 75 you would call it 80). This is a proclamation to the nations to prepare for war.

11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

Take a look, the entire UN is assembling and gathering round to vote on a two state solution for Israel thinking that will be a solution to the war, but this is a spiritual war and they are insulting the God of Israel.

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

This is what God has been showing us these last three years. The wickedness is great. We have seen much more about human trafficking, much more about the lies and corruption in our government, much more about the lies and corruption with the Pandemic and the vaccine, and with how vile and evil many people are who are rejoicing at a man being assassinated.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

This is what the tribulation is, it is a valley of decision. Will you choose Jesus Christ or will you choose the Antichrist?

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

There are theories about this, I suspect it is a reference to super volcanoes. They can spew ash into the air that blocks sunlight for years. We know at the time of the rapture there will be a great earthquake which has never been seen before. We also know when we have had great volcanic eruptions it has resulted in the sun being blocked and a whole year gone by without summer.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

When these things happen the Bible says the rich and powerful will hide in holes in the ground (Billionaire bunkers). There is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ, all other attempts at saving yourself will end in shame and ignominy.

17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

The tribulation will put an end to all these different religions and everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. After this anyone still alive will know for a certainty that Jesus Christ is Lord and King.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

The millennial reign will be wonderful.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel 2&version=KJV
God is righteous, vengeance is His, He will put things right and settle accounts.

 

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Jesus is Lord

I learned tonight that some Christians have a negative impression of the word "Lord". Perhaps it reminds them of a bad boss, or a bad king or a dictator or even a slave owner. I don't have a bad impression because my very first prayer was basically that I needed a Lord.

I was 12 years old. That year I had been on a Pee Wee football team, we have been undefeated, flew to Florida to play a bowl game and won that. In fact we beat almost every single team that year like a hot knife going through butter. We blew almost all of them out. As a result I was proud and arrogant. That Spring Mohamed Ali was fighting Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden so me and my friends organized a boxing match. Three kids were judges, one kid was the referee and we had three fights scheduled. The first two ended in the first three rounds each, but then I fought Michael Irwin and this fight went for 12 rounds 3 minutes each. I had never fought before, had no training, and was losing. My nose started bleeding in the third round and bled for the rest of the fight so I was covered in blood. I would go out and fight for three minutes, losing, not knowing what to do, and then I'd go back to my corner but my friends also didn't know anything about fighting. In my mind I was silently crying out, I need someone to help me, what should I do? If you have never boxed before you have no idea how exhausting it is, and of course how painful and brutal to get punched again and again for 12 rounds. I lost that decision and was physically as close to death as I have ever been in my whole life. Then the next year I was on that football team again, and again we were undefeated, blowing every team out of the water, then we flew to Dallas to play our bowl game and beat them. At that point I realized the reason we were so good was our coach, if I had a great coach I could be a champion and without a coach I was lost. So that was my prayer, I wanted a coach that could make me a champion. That is how I understand "Jesus is Lord". If I follow Him, listen to Him, do what He says, then I will be a champion, if not I will be like I was in that fight, life is beating me up and I have no idea what to do.

I like the analogy of Tom Brady because what one guy said was that there are other great players like Jerry Rice and Walter Payton and they would be great regardless of what team they are on. But Tom Brady makes all the other players on the team better. He can take a team of guys who are too old, too slow, too small and make them champions. That is what Jesus does. You let Him be your Lord and you could be the most un-athletic guy like Tom Brady and He'll make you a champion. He can take a group of cast offs that no one else wants and take you to the SuperBowl. Abraham did that, David did that, and Paul did that. This is why Jesus is Lord, He cares about you, He knows how to help you, and put your trust in Him and He will take someone that everyone else despises into a champion.

 

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The New Covenant

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

This is a marriage contract between God and His people.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

In the Old Covenant the blood of bulls and goats don't actually pay the price for your sins, they only are good to temporarily atone so that they must be offered repeatedly every year. In the New Covenant Jesus offered Himself once, and His blood is the full price so we are redeemed from the curse fully as a result.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

But being redeemed is not the goal. This allows us to enter into the sanctuary of God within the veil. We are washed in the water of the word and our conscience is cleansed from an evil conscience by the blood of Jesus.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

To sin willfully is a reference to three things, not holding the profession of our faith without wavering. Not walking in love and good works and forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. The New Covenant is a marriage contract, if you separate from your husband and go back to your old life of sin, that is to sin willfully. The first thing someone does is to begin to waver in their faith, coming up with excuses for why they want to quit. They will stop participating in the ministries that are expressing love and good works and they will ultimately forsake the assembling of ourselves together. They stop going to the meetings.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

In Once Saved Always Saved they emphasize the blood of eternal salvation. You receive that blood you are eternally saved. OK, but how about the blood of the covenant, the price that was paid so that you could be married to God? Do you think God is happy with a wife he married twenty years ago and hasn't seen since? That blood that saved us also sanctified us, meaning it allowed us to be separated from our old sinful life unto God. But if you think "oh, big deal" and walk out you are despising the Spirit of grace and you are treating that blood as an unholy thing, as though it were no different from the blood on the floor after killing a pig.

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

This is not talking about God taking vengeance on unbelievers, it is talking about the Lord judging His people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

We don't need to speculate, we have history of the Jews we can look at and we have the Old Testament histories and prophecies to see precisely what a fearful thing it was when God's people were not right with God. We can also look at human marriages. Are they loving? Perhaps. But what happens when they go bad which in the US many if not most do go bad?

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

This is what the marriage was like during the honeymoon. But then some Christians want it both ways, they want to be Christians but they also want to be members of the country club.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

We have a choice, we can be associated with people like James and Paul who were imprisoned, accused of being criminals and ultimately killed for their faith, or we can pretend we don't know them so that we can keep our good job in Sodom and be respected in this evil and adulterous age right up until God's judgment falls like fire from heaven.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Enough with the instant gratification. The things that you pay the price for, that you struggled and bled for, when you get those the joy is much greater.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

We are much closer to the Lord's coming than when this was written.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Once again, this is talking about believers. After that prayer twenty years ago that is not the end all and be all, that is only the beginning. From that point on we are to walk by faith. If you draw back, wavering in your faith, withdrawing from ministry and ultimately ceasing to meet with the saints, then you have drawn back and "the Lord shall have no pleasure in you". Do they tell you this in the OSAS doctrine?

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

That is right, the Catholics did not invent perdition, it is in the New Testament. When you received the blood of Jesus twenty years ago you were eternally saved from hell. But that is not the saving of the soul. To save your soul (mind, emotion and will) you need to walk daily with the Lord by faith. He will renew your mind, He will inhabit your heart, and your will day by day will become aligned with His will. The OSAS doctrine, if it is being taught in a Biblically accurate way, is about eternal salvation from hell, not about the salvation of the soul. Do not conflate the two. It is crystal clear from this chapter that the saving of the soul requires that you walk by faith, that you not waver in your faith, that you are active in ministry and that you do not forsake the assembling of yourself together with other believers.

 

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Like it or Not God has fulfilled this prophecy

Amos 1:6 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: 7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.

 

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“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).

The context of Matthew 10 is this

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

The unclean spirits are not going to leave without a fight. It stands to reason if they have infected people these people will be family members of other people.

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

This is what terrifies the enemy, people being healed, cleansed, and given new life. This is what can permanently cast out devils.

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.

If Jimmy Kimmel does not receive us we don't kick him out of his house, on the contrary we shake off the dust and stop listening to his show. Likewise with Facebook, Youtube and any other platform.

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.

If Youtube or Facebook or Kimmel behaves in a way that will bring down God's judgment on them, then leave that to God, vengeance is His. God does not forget. If you doubt that try reading Amos 1:4-6 to see if God forgets.

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

We need to know about cancel culture, we need to know about doxing, and about all the traps and snares of the evil one. But we are not to become serpents, we are to be harmless as doves. This is not our home, one day we will fly away. It is not our job to call down the wrath of God, it is our job to share the good news of the gospel that Jesus' blood can redeem us from all sins.

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

We were warned, no reason to be shocked or surprised. If you are on the front lines then you will be standing before the gates of Hell.

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

Again we have been warned, the world is infected with demons and devils. Not just people in other countries but your neighbors, even your family members.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

We were warned that we would be slandered, insulted, and accused of every crime under the sun.

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

This is the promise, stand on it. Is there anything they are trying to hide about the assassination, pray that it would be revealed according to the Lord's word and His will. Pray that the whole world would know the truth because the truth will set them free.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Pray that the Lord reveal things to you and be bold in your speaking, in nothing fearing these ones.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Don't be a wimp. We are ambassadors of the kingdom of the heavens, Jesus has conquered death, walk in that faith.

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

We are His witnesses, don't wimp out, don't come up with some excuse for why we need to tone down the gospel.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Do not listen to anyone who tells you that you are not a witness and that you are not called to confess Jesus Christ publicly.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

We were warned, we are seeing this today, this should not shock anyone.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Enough with the "Once Saved Always Saved" drumbeat. The free gift of grace has nothing to do with the prophet's reward or the righteous man's reward. You don't get a reward for receiving a gift. If you want a reward then take up your cross and follow the Lord just as the apostles did.

 

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Yesterday a man at church told me he was wavering at walking the straight and narrow path. I told him the Holy Spirit is like an electro magnet, if you are wavering what you need is for the magnetic attraction to be greater and to do that you need more electricity. Spend more time in the word, in fellowship, in worship and in gathering with the saints.

 

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The Rapture in the Dead Sea Scrolls | Ken Johnson | Repost

 

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What does it mean to walk by faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

People want proof, they want confirmation. But if you are walking by faith the only proof you will ever be given is the word of God. Doubting Thomas said that was not good enough for him, he needed to see the wounds and touch them with his hands. The Lord let him do that, but it was not to his glory but to his shame. This is what will happen to many who are left behind. It doesn't matter what you share from the Bible, until they see it with their own eyes they won't believe. That is why they will be left behind, and then they will see it with their own eyes and yes they will believe. There are many entrances to the heavenly Zion, that is one of them, but not the route I would advise anyone take.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

By faith they obtained a good report. Thomas did not obtain a good report, his story is a cautionary tale.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

This is first and foremost, you must believe that all things came into being through the word of God. A few years ago I learned about the Bible code. People using computers discovered incredible skip sequence codes in the Bible and they proved statistically that this does not exist in any other book. For example they were able to find hundreds of names of famous people throughout human history with this skip sequence code. So much so that they now believe you can find anyone. So, I paid someone to do a search and find my name. They wanted my full name (17 letters), my father's name, my mother's name, my son's name, daughter's name, wife's name, year of my birth and city of my birth. Altogether it was more than 30 letters. Sure enough they were able to find all this within the Bible and then they shared with me the Bible verses that had the letters of my name. They told an amazing story that was my testimony from the very earliest. But this is what we all believe if we have faith, that the worlds and all that are in them were framed by the word of God.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

We have had many martyrs throughout history for both the Old and New Testament. Stephen is recorded in detail in the book of Acts. Abel was the very first martyr recorded. What I like about this verse is how it helps me understand Charlie Kirks assassination. There is a battle between Cain and Abel, or in this case a debate between Charlie Kirk and Leftists. He has been accused of being a racist, a xenophobe, and an evil an injurious person. The amount of slander heaped on Charlie Kirk is absolutely incredible. Yet when he was assassinated it was a witness that he was righteous and the evil, violent people were those who had been slandering him for years.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch is the seventh from God. His name means "dedicated" or "consecrated". That means he was wholly given to God in all that he was and did. The name can also mean "trained". These two thoughts go hand in hand, God can't train you unless you are dedicated to Him. Samuel was dedicated to God and God trained him to be the high priest. The apostles were dedicated to the Lord and He trained them so that in Acts it says the rulers of the Jews took note that "they had been with Jesus". Enoch not being found but being translated is a picture of the church being raptured. Prior to being raptured you must have the testimony that you please God. No man can give that testimony, only God can give this testimony.

 

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wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God

This is why I am sick of the OSAS doctrine. Do they ever address this, about God being ashamed to be called someone's God? Yes, they may be saved eternally from hell, but God is ashamed of them?

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

They claim this is a "works based salvation". It is despicable what they teach. So we want to please God and it is impossible to please Him without faith. That means you must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The Calvinist and many who push this OSAS ignore the emphasis on diligently seeking God.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Here is an example of what it means to walk by faith. Noah was warned about things that he could not see yet. He prepared according to God's warning and this included being a preacher of righteousness to the rest of those in the world.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Here is another example, Abraham was told to go out from his home and follow the Lord, He did, He obeyed, without knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

At the same time Abraham is dwelling in a tent his nephew Lot is living in a house in Sodom. We should not assume that dwelling in a tent was common. He could have moved into one of the cities at the time but he was looking for a city that God was building.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Having a child at this advanced age was also an act of faith.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

To confess that you are a stranger and pilgrim on earth is "the good confession".

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

We are all witnesses of Jesus death and resurrection, of the good news of His redemption, and we should have a very clear testimony that we seek a country where Jesus is Lord.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Hebrews has covered this repeatedly, you can be saved eternally from hell and still become a backslider. Calvinists will tell you that these ones were never really saved, but that is false. The New Testament is clear, they were forgiven but then backslid.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Every single one of us will have our faith tested to see if we will backslide. Those who are raptured are those that God is not ashamed of. Do not think that just because twenty years ago you prayed, that because of that God is not ashamed of you. Are you walking by faith? If you are then these first sixteen verses of Hebrews 11 should be your experience as well.

 

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What does it mean to live by faith?

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

To walk by faith means that you express God. We are made in the image and likeness of God. In this story Abraham is in the image and likeness of God the Father and Isaac was in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, the Son.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

God is omniscient, He alone can tell the end from the beginning. To walk by faith means you are one with God and that He can speak through you.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

We are mortal, Jacob here is dying, he is weak in the flesh, and yet here he is blessing and worshipping right up until the end.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

If you are walking by faith you have eternity in your sight. Joseph was clear that the Israelites would be delivered from Egypt as a nation and that taking up his bones would be a prophetic shadow of the dead in Christ rising at the time of the rapture. The Christian life, the spiritual race, it is a relay race. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all understood that. This race depends on the resurrection life, they all understood that. In this race we must be one with God, express Him, be according to His image and likeness and be His mouthpiece. They all understood that. This is what it means to walk by faith.

 

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Faith is passed down to us

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

The faith of Moses' parents is imparted to Moses

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Moses was with his mother until he was weaned. During that time she imparted faith to him so that many years later under the indoctrination of the world he still stood strong.

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Without a vision the people perish. You have to have a vision in order to choose to suffer affliction rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. To walk by faith means you have a controlling vision.

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Once again, Moses was looking towards the recompence of the reward. There is no reward for receiving the free gift of grace. We are justified by the Lord's blood, but it is our diligent seeking after that which results in a reward. This is not works based salvation, there was nothing we could do to save ourselves, this is simply common sense. Those that love the Lord will pursue Him.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

How can you not fear the wrath of Pharaoh and his army and his chariots unless you are seeing Him who is invisible? You can claim you are seeing Him who is invisible, but this is the proof. We are not saved by works, on the contrary the work of faith is the evidence that we are saved.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The destroyer went through the whole city killing all the firstborn, not just people but also of animals. The night was filled with cries and screams. What protected Moses and the rest? Simply faith in the blood that was on the doorpost.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Their back was against the wall, God tells them to step into the sea, like lemmings walking in to drown. This was faith, doing whatever God tells you to do regardless of whether or not you understand.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

The walls of Jericho were formidable. If Israel was stuck there for a long seige it would have ruined the entire invasion plan. This was a battle plan that depended completely on faith that God was fighting with them.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Rahab knew in her heart that Israel was the army of God and that they were there to dispense God's justice for crimes committed by the inhabitants of the land. To help the spies would be certain death if they were caught. She had to have faith in the spies and then have faith that not only would they defeat and destroy the city but that while doing that they would save her alive.