Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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Why does Herod want to Kill Jesus?

Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Herod is a jew. He is also a puppet ruler over Israel installed by the Romans. He is able to do this by working together with the religious jews. Supposedly the Pharisees and Herodians were at odds. They are like Democrats and Republicans, pretending to be in two different parties when in reality it is all part of the kingdom of darkness. We know that the CIA has assassinated people in order to install puppets. We know that populist leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were assassinated because they threatened the political rulers of the day. We should not be ignorant of Satan's devices. Don't listen to what they say, look at what they do. How long is it going to be before Trump actually "locks her up"?
 
Everyone has fallen into a pit

In chapter 13 we saw a picture of the apostasy and tribulation saints. Herod seeking to kill them is a shadow of the Antichrist seeking to kill Christians during the seven year tribulation. Again, I am not saying that this doesn't apply to the entire church age, what I am saying is that the word of God is a two edged sword and so we can use this word to get insight into the tribulation and the rapture.

Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Dropsy is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the body, there are many different causes. Could be due to your kidneys, or liver, or heart, or malnutrition, etc. The physical ailments are a shadow of the spiritual ailments. In essence this buildup of fluid is like the dead sea. Water is supposed to flow through the body and then out. In most situations water will flow from the mountains to lakes and streams and rivers and then out into the ocean. In other words I read the word, I pray, I spend time with the Lord, I get the water from the word and then I share this with others. That is a normal flow. But this person is not speaking the word of God. Yes, they are taking it in, but they are like the dead sea. The water comes in but it doesn't leave.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

This seems like a simple question, like asking a person appointed to the Supreme court to define a woman. Imagine a woman who has been nominated to the Supreme court that is going to be hearing specific cases dealing with women not being able to define what a woman is! In other words everyone knows what the answer is, but they are afraid to say it because of intimidation from the political and religious leaders.

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

This was the problem. This man was afraid to speak, he was filled with the water from the word, but had been intimidated into keeping silent. In one gospel the question is "is it lawful to do good on the sabbath"? That is even clearer. Luke is a book with an agenda to those who are raptured before the tribulation. All Christians deal with the same threats and temptations. But before the tribulation it is more nuanced, after the tribulation the contrast between black and white is much clearer.

For example, one time I was at college in the cafeteria and I went up to the star football player, the "big man on campus" and I asked him "Do you want to know why God made you so big?" and I put down a tract "The purpose of Man". He did not touch the tract. He stayed there in the cafeteria until he was the last person left (other than myself and the other two brothers who had preached the gospel that day during lunch). Only when no one else was around did he take that tract and return to his room. Satan intimidates everyone, but after the rapture this will become law.

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

This is why we need to hear testimonies of how people were saved because we all were saved out of a pit. Just because someone is going to Harvard doesn't mean they haven't fallen into a pit. Just because someone has a very high paying job doesn't mean they haven't fallen into a pit.
 
Sitting in the lowest room

Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them. 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

When I got baptized as a freshman in college that was the lowest room. To be someone preaching the gospel on campus every day was the lowest room. I had been at the very center of the social life on campus and now I was leaving for the most despised corner of the social life on campus. But when you are in the lowest possible place it makes it very easy for people to talk to you. For three years we evangelized that campus and we were strategic (we had three brothers on the campus and one brother who was not a student). By my senior year the school's paper on April Fool's day dedicated their entire issue to mocking. our gospel work. That is how impactful we had become, every person on that campus was having to make a decision about the gospel and about their sinful life. When Samuel anointed David to be king David wasn't sitting in the highest room, he was sitting in the lowest room. Jesus is the greater David, He has not problem sitting in the lowest room.

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
 
Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

This is how the world operates. All the rich elites give dinner parties and invite each other.

Consider Charlie Kirk and TPUSA. Charlie picked college campuses, people who would not pay him back, had no intention of paying him back. This is what the Lord is saying. Many people are skeptical of Christians for good reason, all the scammers and false prophets making merchandise of people. By choosing to preach the gospel on campuses it eliminated all of the valid concerns about someone trying to make merchandise of others. His podcast grew to one of the most popular podcasts in the country and his campus ministry grew as well. But since he died look at what happened. The Memorial service for hundreds of thousands of people was a great dinner and they were actively seeking to be paid back. They invited the rich and powerful. Trump was the one that paid for that event and since that event TPUSA has collected $140 million in donations over the last three months. However, their podcast has gone from having 5 million subscribers to not even getting 10k views. Instead of being the ministry that challenges people to "prove me wrong" and lets those who disagree with him get to the microphone first, now they arrogantly reject answering questions from others, even the people who had previously supported the ministry.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

This is a major focus of this blog. Others debate pre trib or post trib or speculate on when the rapture will be. My focus is on who will actually be raptured.

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

The gospel is an invitation to a great feast being given by God. All these people who reject the gospel because they have other more important things to do, they are insulting God and making Him angry.

22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

This is strange, they say they are too busy to come to the dinner so why would God say they wouldn't taste my supper? I saw a docudrama about Queen Victoria and after they would hold a banquet the food left over would be given away to people in London. God is making sure there will not be anything left over. What is interesting here is that in another gospel He concludes that a man came into the feast without a wedding garment and was cast out. In this gospel the focus is to call as many as possible to the great feast of the Lord. Our view is prior to the tribulation. In another gospel the view is after the rapture and after some were kicked out of the feast, explaining why they were kicked out.

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

I discovered this fact. When you preach the gospel there are those who reject it but do so in a way they expect you to keep coming to them over and over. I learned to stop getting hung up on these people. Our responsibility is to share the gospel, what people do with it is up to them. Just because they don't get saved when you share doesn't mean they won't. Especially when it comes to family members you can pray for them. But don't let them stop you from moving on. For example, suppose you invite your family to an event and they give you all those excuses. You don't need to keep trying to accommodate them, move on, invite others. Our job is to be a witness, it is not our responsibility to convince anyone. A witness in a trial is not responsible for the verdict of the jury. Your only responsibility is to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
 
There are two options, you can live your life in defeat as a slave of sin, or you can forsake all to be the Lord's disciple

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

To bear the cross is to pay the price. How much does the cross cost? Everything you have, your life, your blood.

29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

There are a lot of Christians who started strong, then realized how much it would cost, and fell away.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

If you are going to be on team Jesus then you are going to be on the team that is outnumbered in every way. They will have more money, they will have more people, they will have more connections. However, you will have Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Father who owns the entire universe.

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

When you have heard the gospel there are two options, you can live your life in defeat as a slave of sin, or you can forsake all to be the Lord's disciple. There is no middle ground.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

How many Christians started off their Christian life with salt and then over time they lost the salt?
 
Midnight Hour Oil1 hour ago
AMAZING RAPTURE DREAM!!! A wonderful brother in Christ shared a Rapture Dream he was given LAST NIGHT, after attending a POWERFUL deliverance service. I Am Sharing This With Permission. Love & Blessings to ALL ~ Merry Christmas Melissa!!!!

I have an exciting dream from the Lord to tell you. Last night I went to a deliverance service at a church an hour away from my town. It was Powerful!!!!!! I believed I was delivered from many demonic spirits. I will not get into that, but there was great healing and restoration at that service for me and 3 of my brothers in Christ. Anyways I came home and went to bed. I began to dream when I fell asleep sometime during the night. I found myself in a room with some people I knew and some I did not. At first I wondered if I should be there, THEN the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the dream. He said these are all the people you prayed for that are in heaven or will be raptured. I went from room to room and saw many faces of people. I even saw big name celebrities. I used to be really into MTV and Hollywood. I even saw Madonna there as a prelude. I spoke to her and asked what changed her and she said there was just this emptiness and that could not be passed by anymore. I told her I would pray for her and her children. She said she was counting on that. Next Scene: This is where it gets good. I was shown a TV monitor. Someone began to sing a holiday tune but changed the lyrics. Basically the song said Jesus would come on the 23rd or the 24th of December of this year 2025. Then the words, "december 25th all their blessings would be taken away(those left behind)" Then I saw a calendar that showed me December 23rd and 24th and it read "September is December!" After that scene I was shown a few other rooms of people I prayed for. It was awesome!!! Anyways I had prayed for several years for God to give me a dream of confirmation just right before we go home. I hope this encourages you. It took away all doubt. TOOOO many voices on Youtube. Thanks for listening and see you in our glorified bodies either December 23rd or 24th. Blessings!
 

FATAL FLYING GUILLOTINE CHOPS OFF YOUR *?!%$ HEAD!!! WHEN´S THAT RAPTURE!!!
 
Celebrating faithful and true servants of the Lord

Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

The previous chapter readjusts the believers. We have all fallen into a pit, doesn't matter if we make a good salary or if we live on the good side of the train tracks. As believers it is the Lord's sovereignty that you must leave the first tables and sit in the lowest room, this opens the door for all others who have been excluded and shunned. Then we learn to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. All these people who are shunned and abused are sick of the lies that are told to prop up a corrupt regime. They see through the phony politicians pandering to them. They don't mind people speaking words very hard to take because that is how they can tell you are legit. Finally they are looking for those who are legit. They understand the cost to them, that if they turn to the Lord it will cost them everything. No one is going to do that if the guy bringing this word is not sold out. Mega churches were so incredibly popular because they had a message that you can have your cake and eat it too. You could live in the world, live in sin, and yet still be told you are saved and will go to heaven.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

This is true, in verse 1 we get Luke's perspective that all the sinners were drawing near. The difference between the Pharisees and the disciples is this. The Pharisees says "these people are dirty sinners, you can't receive them without becoming dirty yourself" whereas the disciples say "we are all dirty sinners who need to be washed in the water of the word". In the world they give this message that "you're OK and I'm OK" meaning that you can ignore your guilty conscience. What the church teaches is that "you can't ignore your guilty conscience, the wages of sin is death, but there is a savior and His blood can wash you clean."

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

The Lord is not denying that a person in prostitution, or a gang selling drugs is a sinner. He doesn't deny that they are a lost sheep. But what He does say is that they belong to the Lord, they belong to the flock, and He wants to find them and bring them home.

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

This parable is unique to Luke. This tells me that seeking the lost sheep and bringing them back to the flock is unique to the church prior to the tribulation. After the rapture they will be hunting down Christians. It would be very risky for the Christians to be seeking lost sheep at that point, perhaps impossible. I think the best way to understand this is Hanukah and the Maccabees revolt. The Jews had to flee to the mountains. That is how it will be during the seven year tribulation for both the left behind saints and the Jews.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The lost coin is like a lost treasure. During the church age we are all able to seek through the word of God for lost treasures, little coins we missed previously. Martin Luther discovering justification by faith was finding a lost coin. But this kind of research and scholarship is not going to be possible during the seven year tribulation. Again, indicated by the fact that this story is unique to Luke.

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Riotous living would include getting drunk, taking drugs, going to rock concerts, etc. The lost sheep is like someone who left the safety of the flock and now is among wolves, say a kid who is now in a street gang. The lost coin would be someone like Saul of Tarsus, if this one is saved they will bring a lot of treasure to the church. This prodigal son is like someone who has left the father and lives with the unbelievers and eats the swill they give him. Could be in a gang, could be in a cult, could just be fully in the world. Riotous living could refer to going to NFL games or NBA games or soccer matches. This story is all inclusive.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

The Lord uses famines to turn you and bring you home. The mightiest famine will be the seven year tribulation.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Right now, around the world, we are seeing this famine, and people come to realize their bosses are swine. I heard someone complaining yesterday about some woman who has no talent, no special skill or insight and yet overnight she becomes a billionaire. Others are pointing out that Ilhan Omar had a net worth of 65k and then three years later has a net worth of $30 million. The swine are getting fattened up with all the food they can eat while others would gladly eat scraps left behind. The famine doesn't just give you a whole new perspective on the Father's house, it also pulls the curtain back on the swine that you have been living with.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

To confess and repent of your sins requires that you not only see your sins, but see the consequences of them, see where this road leads that you are on.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

These are the testimonies that we celebrate and enjoy today. I am a Gideon and at all of our conferences we have these kind of testimonies given a prominent place.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

It seems in every message anyone gives on this portion they condemn this brother. But I find that hypocritical. The story doesn't condemn him. He asks a valid question, his father is throwing this big party for the son in riotous living that devoured his inheritance. On the surface it seems that the Father is blind towards the younger son and spoils him while despising the older son who has been faithful. It is a reasonable question and the Father doesn't deny it, instead he answers it.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Yes, there will be a big party with all of this brothers friends when they are raptured. That is the point. During the church age we are celebrating everyone saved from sin who comes into the church. During the rapture we will be celebrating all those who are "faithful and true" servants of the Lord.
 
More Advice for ministry

luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Here is a servant, he has been entrusted with the Lord's goods, and he has wasted them. Maybe they simply sit on the shelf collecting dust.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

This happened to me recently. I had tried to avoid tackling the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine of the Calvinists that is used to bring in the apostasy. I had put this off repeatedly and then the Lord gave me an ultimatum. Since that point I have focused on this. Then just the other day He spoke about how angry He was with the mixture of the celebration of Christmas in the apostate churches. Celebrating the Lord's incarnation from the gospel of Luke and Matthew, that is fine. By all means, worship the Lord Jesus. But when you add the leaven associated with Christmas to this story it becomes defiled. I thought this was no big deal, everyone knows those things are idolatrous. But I went ahead and again made that point only to discover there are several people on this Christian forum equating putting up a Christmas tree to worshipping the Lord's birth. The Christmas tree is a pagan altar, the gifts are placed under it to be blessed by this altar. If you feel you are required to do all this stuff for the celebration of Christmas that is equivalent to serving this altar and bowing down to it. The star on top of the tree depicts the star of Repham that Stephen mentions in Acts 7. The angel that they hang on the tree is an idol.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

We are holding onto this stuff that the Lord has given us when in reality He wants us to get it out to His children. If you need to put it on sale, do it. We always want to have the perfect word at the perfect time, like selling something right when demand skyrockets. But the Lord does not have time to waste like that.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

A lot of Christians who. get into ministry get hung up on this point. They are shocked at what is required when you first start a ministry and so will balk. This is why my signature is "freely you have received, freely give". This blog is a going out of business sale. After the rapture it is unclear if anyone will have access to genuine Christian ministries on the internet. Already the AI generated content and click bait is clogging everything up, imagine what happens if it is 10x worse and if all those who were genuine ministers of Christ are gone. This is another one of those stories unique to Luke. Prior to the rapture the Lord's word will be cheap, easy to obtain, freely given. After the rapture it will become precious. Mark and Matthew don't have this story. I have shared the Pdf's from this blog, they are free for the taking. After the rapture they will be precious.

9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

This is very specific, the "mammon of unrighteousness" is not an allegory, it is a reference to money. We are about to see a total collapse of the economy, how do you prepare. I want to be raptured, I hope that I will be raptured, but I am also aware that there are many that I know and care about who won't. I might be one of them, I don't know, but I feel very sure than many that I know and care about will definitely be with those who are left behind. The one thing that you can do with money is to help others today. Doing that may not save you from beheading or dying from the plague or famine during the tribulation. But it will make it so that when you do die you will be received into everlasting habitations. You can't buy salvation, that is a free gift of God. But what you can buy is friends who will testify when you appear before the judgement seat. God is a righteous judge. If you give money to a soup kitchen they will show up at your trial as a character witness. If you give money to a shelter or if you are partners with any Christian ministry, then they will be your friend when you appear before the judgment seat. Let the Lord lead you in how to give.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Again, this story starts out by telling us this man is a servant of the Lord. He wasn't using the sale to get salvation, he was using the sale to make friends who would then help him when he appears before the judge.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

You want to have a ministry where the Lord gives you treasures, OK, first you must demonstrate that you are faithful in the unrighteous mammon (money). Are you faithful to give and support other ministries?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

I use BlueLetterBible frequently. It is a free service on the internet. But they also ask for donations. So are you faithful in that which is another man's? If you use this forum or BlueletterBible are you faithful to help support them? You don't have to, but the Lord is looking to see if you are faithful before He gives you the real treasures.

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

This is the heart of the matter. Are you serving God or mammon? Many people claim to be serving God and yet they are so tight fisted with their money you wonder how can they claim to trust and love God when they are so clearly holding onto the unrighteous mammon.
 
Still more on putting the word of God on sale

Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

This explains the story. When the man put the items on sale he wasn't giving the Lord less, he was giving away his commission. He was serving the Lord without a paycheck, hence the Pharisees deriding Him because that was too close to home for them.

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

This is his point. You can't serve God and Mammon, how you handle your money tells God what your heart is. Why did they reject Jesus? Because they knew it would cause them to have to give up their paycheck if they received Him. Think about the 12 apostles, do you think they got paychecks? Clearly not at first, which is why Peter said he was going fishing. Clearly when they were being persecuted and imprisoned and martyred being an apostle was not as lucrative a job as being a Pharisee. But know this, God knows your heart, and you can't hide this from God. If you love what is an abomination in the sight of God He is not going to give you the true riches.

16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

In Matthew 11 the violent take the kingdom by force. But in Luke they press hard to get into it. Prior to the rapture you have to press hard to get into it, this whole OSAS doctrine is such a load of hogwash. Yes, they base the doctrine on Bible verses and yes, there is an element that is true. But if you are taught that you do not need to press hard to get into the kingdom of God, that is a load of hogwash.

17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

This is the problem with OSAS which is about the best false doctrine there is (by best I mean the hardest to debunk). They take some Bible verses and use them to make the doctrine, but they ignore others, they let others pass away, they let others fail. You can only be forgiven of sins by the blood of Jesus, that is the free gift of God, that is true. We are not saved by works but by grace. That said, you can only get into the kingdom of heaven is you are pressing hard to get into it. That is equally true. Being forgiven of your sins and being saved from hell is not equivalent to entering into the kingdom of heaven. Think of the Apostle Paul, he was the chief of sinners, he was forgiven, it was the free gift of God, it was nothing that he had done. But after being forgiven he pressed hard to enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

This word seems to thoroughly condemn divorce. But the Lord is very precise. He understands that divorce can be implemented by one of the two. This thoroughly condemns the one who demanded the divorce. There is another verse in the New Testament that says if the unbelieving spouse wants a divorce then you are not a slave or a prisoner. Let them go, you are free. Otherwise the enemy could use this verse to condemn Christians. Someone gets saved, the enemy works on the unbelieving spouse to make them want a divorce, and then the believer is condemned for that.

What I would say is this, if you are a Christian and were trying to reconcile the marriage but your spouse would have none of it and demanded a divorce, yes, you are free to give that to them. However, you should also go to the Lord to discover your errors in this marriage falling apart. First and foremost you should have prayed for the Lord to give you a spouse and then you should have received with thanksgiving the spouse He gave you rather than choosing according to what was good in your eyes.

OK, so what does this have to do with the first 17 verses? Jesus is telling us that if you want to follow Him you may have to start by serving the Lord for free. The Pharisees mocked and derided that. They rejected Jesus, not because they couldn't see that He was the Messiah but because they weren't willing to give up their nice secure job to be a poor itinerant preacher. So just like most divorces are a result of financial issues, these Pharisees are going to divorce God because of financial issues.
 
Only Luke and John speak of Lazarus rising from the dead

Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Compare the Pope with the Apostle Paul. The Pope is this man clothed in purple and fine linen who fares sumptuously every day. Paul was that beggar named Lazarus (indicating Eleazar a type of the Holy Spirit looking for a bride for Isaac). Paul is also taken care of by God, but is treated like a dog, eating crumbs that fall from the table.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

They both made their choice in life, Paul could have stayed as Saul of Tarsus and lived sumptuously, he chose to suffer with the people of God. Likewise the Pope could have chosen to preach the word of God, speak the truth, and also suffered with the people of God. But instead he chose the path that led to being Pope. They both appear to be servants of God, but once you get to Abraham's bosom and hell you can see who was truly walking by faith and who was walking according to the prince of darkness.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Everyone of us needs to lay our life before the Lord. We need to live with the judgment seat in view. How will my life today appear when I have to give account of myself to the Lord Jesus?

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

This is weird, in the book of John they record Lazarus rising from the dead, but it isn't in the synoptic gospels. The only hint of this is here. Suppose that this Lazarus is the same Lazarus that is raised in John. If Mark represents those left behind after the rapture it makes sense that it doesn't mention Lazarus because he was raised prior to that gospel. Likewise with Matthew if that is for the Jews as they are raptured in the end of the seven year tribulation and the rapture takes place before it. But Luke is giving us the picture of the church right up to the day they are raptured. So it would tell you about Lazarus in the tomb, but not about Lazarus rising from the dead. Luke ends with the disciples being continually in the temple praising God right up to the moment they are raptured.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
 

THE GREAT RABBI - LAST CALL FOR THE JEWS BEFORE RAPTURE ON HANUKKAH 2025
 
The opening of the sixth seal


Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

If you have a very big earthquake of Biblical proportions then volcanoes will also erupt and fill the sky with ash causing the sun to be black as sackcloth of hair.

Hebrews 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

The seven year tribulation is when the Lord shakes the earth. Those things that are made with wood, hay and stubble will be removed. Those things that are built upon the rock will remain. This verse in Hebrews is quoted from Haggai 2:6

Haggai 2:1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: 5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews makes it clear that this is referring to the second coming of the Lord. When the sixth seal is opened we see a great earthquake and everyone hides from the face of the Lamb. This proves they all know that this shaking, this earthquake is from Jesus, no other god is called a lamb. Therefore this is not just an earthquake, it is the rapture and resurrection from the dead. That is the one thing unique to the New Testament which would cause the whole world to know that this is Jesus' return. All nations will be shaken, this has never happened before, even the resurrection of Jesus only shook Israel. The goal is to transform the church, the house of God, to a house filled with glory. Now this word for shake is used to describe the church saying they could not shake the church because it was founded on a rock. It was also used to describe John the Baptist, he was not a reed shaken by the wind. And the Lord also says that if a town or city will not receive you, shake off the dust of your feet that clings to you. The rapture will shake off all those people who cling to the church but don't actually receive the word of God. We are also told that the powers of heaven will be shaken. The rapture is not simply a great earthquake. It will destroy the Great Babylon and with it the global economy. It will uproot three horns, most likely they are the US, China and Russia. This will allow the little horn, the Antichrist, to take power. We know that the construction in China is called "tofu dreggs" meaning they bribed officials and did not build up to code and so these structures are flimsy and will collapse in a great earthquake. Not only so but they don't install working fire suppression and so the fires will burn throughout these cities. Also, China has a tremendous amount of dams and these dams will be cracked and broken as a result of this earthquake destroying their entire electric grid. As for the US people in visions and dreams describe 500 foot and 1,000 foot Tsunamis that hit the coastlines of the US. Basically the entire East coast is devastated and on the west coast they have the big earthquake that will cause part of the West coast to fall into the ocean. Others have seen the US split right down the middle along the fault line associated with the Mississippi river. It will be so wide that all the bridges are broken stopping any traffic by car or truck.
 
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