Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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The beginning of the Christian life and the conclusion

There is a correlation between our salvation experience, the ten plagues in Egypt and the rapture. But here is how it works.

The tenth plague, when the firstborn dies, is our salvation experience. You don't get to be saved and still be the firstborn in Egypt. You die to the world so that you can live to the Lord. So it is the tenth plague that began our Christian life.

Prior to our salvation experience is the plague of Darkness.

Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

It is then the 9th plague, the plague of darkness that signifies the conclusion, the rapture.

Matthew 8:11-12 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

To sit down in the kingdom of heaven with the patriarchs is to be raptured, at the same time that some are being raptured some will be cast out into the outer darkness.

The same experiences that helped the raptured saints come to the Lord will be repeated to help the left behind to come to the Lord.

So then, from Revelation we know that when the sixth seal is opened there is a great, worldwide, apocalyptic earthquake. The dead will be raised, and the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood. All this happens at the same time as the rapture. People will hide themselves in caves and under rocks, this is the outer darkness. Therefore the three days of darkness coincides with the rapture. If you are left behind what will be your response after the darkness lifts? You will partake of the Passover lamb and put the blood on your door posts. You will realize you made a big mistake in your worship of the Lord, you will realize you had been deceived, and so you will have to go back to the beginning.

Luke 14:9 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.
 
Take heed to rebuke those who trespass against you

Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

For example, it was impossible but that Jesus would be betrayed. Too many prophecies of Him being betrayed and if He is going to be the healing cure for all the afflictions that many might go through it would certainly have to include betrayal. However, it was Judas' choice to betray the Lord, He didn't have to be the one through whom that offence came. Recently I heard someone, I think it was either Ilhan Omar or Ms. Crockett, saying that corruption takes place all the time in government, so this focus on Somalis defrauding Minnesota of $6 billion or more, it is essentially racist. No, this is a very ugly lie from hell. It is true that corruption in government is nothing new, but when it is uncovered you have a scandal like the Teapot dome scandal and those who are involved are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Previous government scandals were front page news, so no. this is not a racist response. So yes, it is impossible but that offences will come with government corruption, but woe to him through whom they come.

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

This is what people don't understand. Suppose I am in a Hindu country, or a communist country that doesn't believe in God. Why would God come in to judge the corruption? Doesn't Jesus Christ need prayers and appeals from believers? The Bible is clear that God is the God of the fatherless, of the orphans, and of the poor. If your corruption harms the poor and the children He will respond even if they are not praying in the name of Jesus Christ. Some harm is peripheral. They say that when they rob a bank the money is insured, the people who have money in the bank are not harmed. Perhaps insurance rates go up a little, but it is not a direct harm on children. In contrast street gangs that sell drugs do have a direct impact on children. However, it becomes somewhat complicated in that the leaders of these gangs are themselves victims as well. But when you are dealing with child trafficking when they steal small children and sell them to pedophiles and as slaves. There is no confusion. It is a black and white, clear as day crime that will bring God's swift judgment. Epstein Island is an example, the tip of the iceberg of this crime that brings God's swift judgment.

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

This is probably one of the verses that the vast majority of Christians ignore. Take heed to yourself is referring to the one who is harmed. It is your responsibility to rebuke your brother and if he repent to forgive him. You have two options:

1. You can choose to not view the supposed offense as a trespass. For example, you think you are being treated disrespectfully, but the disrespect is discreet, so that if you were to say something they will simply deny it and treat you as paranoid. So my first question is this "If I confront this brother what will it sound like?" If I am offended because someone didn't smile at me or some other thing, simply brush it off, and decide there was nothing there, and forget about it.

or

2. You can choose to confront the person. But know this, once you choose this path you must follow it through to the end. Suppose this brother won't listen to you, you are required to then take two or three other brothers. The offense must be so clear cut and undeniable that these two or three will stand with you. Then if this brother will not listen to them you must tell the elders. Then if they won't listen to the elders they must be excommunicated. Ask yourself, is this an offense I would want this person excommunicated over?

When I first got saved I lived in a brother's house and it was understood that we were not to have a TV in the house. Then something happened in the church where someone was excommunicated, we weren't told why. He was a close friend of one of the brothers in the house and he would continue to visit with him. This brother also had a small TV in his room. We had four brothers in the house and three of us talked to him. I then went to the elders with one of these brothers and talked to them. They advised us to move out and so the three of us moved out into a different apartment, effectively excommunicating this brother that was not compliant with the elders instructions. I did not realize it would go this far, I figured that brother would stop visiting him. But that is when this verse and the implication of it hit home. If you are going to go to a brother to rebuke them know this, you have started a process that may result in this person being excommunicated.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

I have a pet peeve and that is people who stand in doorways. When I was a teacher in school you are always having to move quickly from one room to the next. I considered it tremendously inconsiderate if someone stood in a doorway at the end of the period knowing thirty people would need to leave and they are blocking the way. Of course I would simply say "excuse me" and go by. This is about the only example I can think of where I might actually need to forgive someone seven times on one day. Obviously I am not going to start a process that would include potential excommunication over something this small, everyone would think you were a lunatic. On the other hand you would not have someone robbing a bank or committing adultery seven times in one day. The process of dealing with the first robbery or the first act of adultery would take days, maybe weeks or months to resolve. A person who robs a bank might have to go to prison even if you do forgive them and a person who commits adultery might have to be divorced even if you do forgive them. If someone is a drug addict you don't simply rebuke them, they say they are sorry and this goes on seven times in one day. You have to deal with the sin.

But let's be realistic, with most people there are small, little pet peeves that are bothering them and building up in them and causing a root of bitterness to grow within. In my experience it is all about ego. Someone is very bitter towards another person, you ask them why, and they can't give you an answer, but you dig and you find they think the other person is "uppity" or something like that. You do not have the option to let these things fester and grow into a root of bitterness. To me, it is far too much trouble to deal with these little perceived offenses, for me, just forgive and brush it off, even if you have to say "excuse me" seven times in one day.

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

If you practice this you will find forgiving others is easy, the hard part is when something is serious and you must be the one to confront them. There have only been a couple of times in my fifty plus years of experience where I have had to do this.
 
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

I have had this experience a few times in my Christian life. These are long stories, but in one case the elders and the church was biased treating those who were saved through the gospel different from their own children and this bias was taught, justified by scripture, and was like a malignant doctrine. They taught that children of believers are sanctified by their believing parents (this is in Peter) and that children of believers were more sanctified than people saved off the street. So if your parents were in this church you were called "second generation" and if your grandparents had been in the church prior to your parents you were third generation and even more sanctified. Now I was a new brother, saved off the street, and so I was first generation when I first heard this. I knew the Lord was greatly offended but I also knew that I could only address this through the Lord. This church excommunicated a lot of people, I would simply be seen as a disaffected person in rebellion. It took four years from the moment that word entered into me like a tiny seed to the moment I spoke to the elders and Bishops of this church (they had churches in many cities) to be plucked up by the root and planted in the sea. I did not simply address some offense against one brother or another, I went after the root, this doctrine of how some saints in the church are more sanctified than others based on who their parents and grandparents were. Let your faith grow until you have the word that will obliterate this. The word I had was a simple question: "Who is this that his children are so much more important than God's?"

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

We are commanded to do these things. This is not optional. When I took on the elders of that church everyone, I mean everyone was sure I would be destroyed, that they were too big and powerful, I was too small and insignificant. and they had seen this too many times as good brothers get excommunicated. I was not the first to see the problem, I was not the first to realize what was going on, but too many had made the excuse that they could not do anything. We are the Lord's servants, He has given us the command to take heed that we rebuke sin. You do not have the right to ignore sin, close your eyes to it, close your ears to it and keep silent about it.
 
He fell down on his face, at his feet, giving Him thanks

Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

According to the context they have not heeded what the Lord said about dealing with offenses. Either they have a root of bitterness growing inside over offenses they have not forgiven, or they did not rebuke clear cut sin that the Lord had told them they are to rebuke. Leprosy signifies rebellion against God's commands. Your skin is a protection to your entire body, leprosy is eating up that protection and it is contagious. The people guilty of this always are justifying their actions to others, trying to get them to agree with them.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

In other words, He is telling them to do what he had told them to do originally. Someone trespassed against you, that was the root cause of your bitterness or that was the thing you refused to rebuke. Present this to the priest. For example, I was once asked what should you do if you hear others whispering about you after a meeting? My response was that I am hard of hearing. If they aren't talking to you, there is no obligation to try and listen to what they are saying. I heard something Tom Brady said which really hits home. No one believed in him, no one. So what they believe and think doesn't matter. What does matter is what you believe. If you are drafted first in the draft you are sitting in the best seat at this feast. Brady was drafted 199, he was sitting in the lowest seat. During his career his chief rivalry was with Payton Manning who had been drafted first. You have this fantastic rivalry between the least respected quarterback and the most respected. No one cares what the pundits think or say. The only thing that matters is what happened on the field. When you let people know that what they think is inconsequential that is the best response to someone trying to trash talk you.

On the other hand there have been real trespasses I have brought to the attention of the elders. They assisted me in dealing with these genuine trespasses.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Like I said there are two different things that need to be dealt with. Some of us get our feathers ruffled over perceived slights against out ego. We allow a root of bitterness to grow. When you deal with this you are showing them how to recognize that the problem is not the perceived slight, the problem is their ego. They are puffed up with pride, thinking they should be sitting at the first table when in reality they should go to the lowest table and start there. No one comes sharing a testimony glorifying the Lord with a loud voice when they realize the problem was their own ego. This is the problem with 90% of the offenses in the church. But for 10% they are real trespasses, and these almost always occur against the low man on the totem pole. The guy who was drafted 199, people think they can trespass against him with impunity. The word that I first heard and realized what was going on with this bias in the church was this elder stood up and testified saying "These are our children, this isn't just someone who walked in off the street, they are our children!" Now I knew that when he said "this isn't just someone who walked in off the street" he was talking about me. I also knew that all the elders and everyone else in the congregation heard this testimony and no one rebuked it. Four years later when I confronted this head on the betting odds on me succeeding were easily a 99:1 longshot. So when that entire doctrine was uprooted and cast into the sea, I was stunned. I was sure when I dropped the letter to the elders in the mailbox that three days later I would be excommunicated. Instead, three days later when they got the letter the leading elder pushing this was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died within a couple of months. The uproar that took place as that tree was uprooted is very hard to describe, but it led to one of the biggest crisis that church ever had to deal with (and they had to deal with a few). So yes, in a situation like this you do fall down on your face and loudly give glory to Jesus.
 
When the last person rejects the gospel, then the Lord will return

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

When you speak to the sycamine tree and it is uprooted and cast into the sea, that is the kingdom of God coming. This is within you, like a little mustard seed of faith. Don't ignore it, water it, care for it, let it grow.

22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

If you want to see light and can't see it, then that is night. We even have a period of time during the church age called the "Dark ages". Then we also know that the conclusion of the church age will conclude with three days of darkness. At this time you will have the rapture of the church. Those left behind after the rapture will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man and they won't see it.

23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

This has happened throughout church history but will also be a prominent event right after the rapture with the great delusion.

24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

The Lord's second coming will be to the entire earth, not so some cult living in an remove compound. This word helps you see through their false doctrines and delusions. It is also a major sign. Prior to fiber optic cables and CNN reporting the Iraq war live as the bombs were dropping we never had events happening on earth seen worldwide at the speed of light.

25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

This is a prerequisite to the tribulation. A lot of people teach that when the last person gets saved that is when the Lord returns. But here, it is when the last person rejects the gospel that the Lord returns. When we preach the gospel we want to lead people to turn to the Lord, and it is wonderful when they do, a joyful occasion. But that does not mean that when they reject the gospel your preaching was a failure. On the contrary the promise is that God's word will not return void, it is doing what it was sent out to do. Some will receive it and be saved like the lost sheep, and others will reject it, but either way we are one step closer to the end of the age.
 
TV and the prophecy: As it was in the days of Noah.

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Here is the account in Genesis 6 concerning the days of Noah. This word is a continuation of the Lord's prophecy about the lightning shining from one end of the earth to the other, a prophecy fulfilled when CNN was sending us live video of the bombs in Iraq at the speed of light.

6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

So it begins with pictures of women who are fair. Magazines, ads, movie stars, TV stars, etc. The days of Noah are a reference to Pictures of women, and that has grown into movies and TV and internet porn.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Photojournalism began in 1901. By 2021 it had been 120 years.
The Oldest Purpose-Built Cinema in the US -- The Plaza 1907 Cinema in Ottawa, Kansas, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest purpose-built cinema that is still running. Opened: It opened its doors on May 22, 1907, specifically for the purpose of showing movies. So the Cinema in the US will be 120 years old in 2027. Since that time with TV, and the internet pornography has exploded. Prior to the 1900s you would have erotic images on pottery and in paintings. But a much smaller problem than it is today.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Mighty men, men of renown, giants. Today we call them billionaires, presidents and kings. It is stunning when you get into genealogy how all these "giants" turn out to be interrelated and interconnected.

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

When I was growing up I would play with my friends outside until dark. It wasn't until I was about ten or twelve that TV actually became something we watched and at first it would be around two hours. Shows like Lost in Space and I Love Lucy. Usually we would start after dinner, around 7 and it would be turned off at 9. Today kids spend 8 hours or more of screen time a day. So our minds were not continually on evil, but year by year the amount of time spent on this has increased more and more. It used to be you went to a restaurant and everyone was sitting there talking with each other. Now, everyone is sitting there looking at their phone. We did not have the internet, we did not have algorithms designed to hook you in and make you addicted. The reality is this has really exploded since 1901. First TV came out, it didn't have great reception, didn't have great sound, the screen was small, families only had one TV and there was very little content. But by the 1970s it had grown to where many families had two TVs, they had color TVs, and kids were spending hours every day on the TV. By the year 2000 we had the internet, and soon Youtube and other services had kids hooked. My point is that yes, this has always been a problem, but no one was ever continually on these things until now.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Not everyone is hooked. My senior year in HS I went to England and didn't watch TV that year. I also didn't watch movies. The next four years I was in college and didn't watch TV then either. I then became very active in the church and did not have a TV in my home for over twenty years.

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

So there have been many questions as to why the earth has become so violent. They blame TV and video games for desensitizing people to violence. They say that having a thrill from a vicarious experience of violence is like a "gateway drug" to real violence.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

In other words they were mesmerized by the TV right up until the day the flood came and destroyed them all. They get hooked into TV with pictures of women and then the TV becomes a tool to manipulate and brainwash the people.
 
The same day Lot went out of Sodom fire destroyed them all.

Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

The word also means this is a second aspect to what is about to happen. The economy is humming along right up until one very big event.

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

When Lot leaves, everything collapses. The world is like a big Jenga tower. It is filled with liars, cheats, and corrupt people. The only thing holding it up are the righteous. When the Lord pulls out the righteous at the time of the rapture, the whole world's economy collapses.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

The first time this word revealed is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall G601 not be revealed; G601 and hid, that shall not be known. It isn't just sin and corruption that gets revealed, it is also the Son of Man. Paul said that the Son of Man was revealed in him. Galatians 1:16 To reveal G601 his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: During the rapture the Son of Man will be revealed in the saints who are raptured. A society that is built on corruption and liars and thieves cannot operate unless there is someone to rob and steal from. Take them away and the whole society collapses. Ancient Egypt was a great empire right up until the Israelite slaves left, then it collapsed.
 
Remember Lot's wife

Luke 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife.

His wife made it halfway out, but then turned, her heart was still in Sodom. The story of Lot describes several types of believers. Lot's wife is the one who goes to church because her husband goes to church, but her heart is in Sodom, I think she depicts the church in Laodicea, (Modern LGBTQ+ churches). The ones who are pulled out as fire falls from heaven, these are the raptured saints (the church in Philadelphia). Then you have Lot who gets drunk on the worldly wine. The Bible says he is a righteous man, but he is not listed in Hebrews 11 as a man of faith, and he is so befuddled by the worldly wine he sleeps with this two daughters. The two daughters conceive two children of incest, I believe they refer to the church in Thyatira (Catholic church) and the church in Sardis (Protestant church).

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Our mission is to witness concerning the Lord. In order to do that you will need to lose your life as far as the world is concerned. You die to the world to live to Christ.

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

The word translated "taken" means to take to yourself as a close companion. The word "left" is also used for a husband divorcing His wife. Now according to the New Testament there is only one valid reason for a husband to divorce His wife and that is for adultery. Imagine you are married and your wife spends Her evenings and weekend with friends, coworkers, etc. She goes to their parties, hangs out at restaurants with them, goes to the movies with them and when you say something her response is "there is nothing wrong with doing this". I say this because this is the way many Christians act towards the Lord. Also this term "bed" is often a reference to the way they would be seated at a meal.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

That could be. reference to work, or it could be a reference to those who minister the word of God.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

This also could refer to work or it could refer to the gospel field.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

During the church age we are walking through the wilderness, a desert region. Vultures will be following us. They can signify satanic witchcraft attacking believers and the church and they can also refer to the vultures waiting to feast on those who are left behind. We begin this chapter with being told by the Lord to take heed to rebuke those who trespass against us. The very center of this chapter is the man cured of Leprosy who falls down on his face and gives thanks to God. Then this is the conclusion. Vultures are looking for signs of death. A root of bitterness growing in you is a sign of death. A person who is too scared to deal with real sins and trespasses is also a sign that this one is weak and about to die. The Lord's word to us was critical command for us to be able to be raptured and not left behind.
 

Epstein Island' was REAL:LY About Elites Worshipping Fallen Angels in Exchange for ...
 
Praying to avenge me of my adversary

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

In chapter 11 the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray and it begins with seeking intercession and deliverance. From there He teaches us to pray for others. From there we pray for light and that includes seeing the signs, the fulfilled prophecies, and praying for all the hidden things to be revealed. Some of these hidden things are all those who are guilty of sin, all the religious and political leaders and the ways they try to cover up their sins. He even reveals churches to stay away from. He also reveals the hidden motives of the heart, we see why Herod wants to kill Jesus. But once you have seen this it leads to Jesus advising us on ministry. The foundation of your ministry begins with prayer. Lazarus is the Greek name for Eleazar, the servant of Abraham, and that is a picture of the Holy Spirit rising from the dead. That is what your ministry must be, a ministry of the Holy Spirit in resurrection and as a faithful servant of the Lord, walking by faith. But then we come to chapter 17, take heed to rebuke those who trespass. This is spiritual warfare. This involves thanksgiving and worship that the man healed from leprosy gave. When you enter into the spiritual warfare then the experiences of the men of faith become ours. We experience Noah, building the ark, and being rejected and we experience Abraham, praying for Lot, his wife, his daughters and for God's righteous judgment tempered with mercy.

And that leads us to this widow asking to be avenged of her adversary. This is not the start, there is a long road to walk before you get here. Before you get here you need to be sitting in the lowest room, and you also need to be fully aware of what you are asking. Noah's flood was horrific and the fire falling on Sodom and Gomorrah was also horrific.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

God is fully aware of how horrific His righteous judgment will be. He needs to be absolutely sure that you are on the same page. We are not doom and gloom prophets. What we are praying for, what we are seeking is a city in which righteousness dwells.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

We need to understand the unrighteous judge and we also need to understand the heart of God. If you are not mature in the Lord you will equate warring in the flesh with spiritual warfare. Pray for your eyes to be open. Visualize Jesus Christ battling with Fallen angels over man. You have been freed from the grasp of the prince of darkness and are now one with the Lord Jesus Christ. You are not fighting against the other slaves of sin, rather you are fighting to break their bonds and free them from the grasp of Satan and the fallen angels. If you see that then you see that Ananias and Saphira falling down dead is not nearly as impactful as Saul of Tarsus having the scales fall off his eyes and becoming the apostle Paul. We need both, but the impact of someone fully given to the kingdom of darkness being saved and becoming a faithful servant of the Lord is by far the greatest way in which we can be avenged of our enemy that is seen in the book of Acts.

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
 
Making the experience of Job real to us

Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

This is going to offend many people, but Paul said that a thorn in the flesh was given to him to keep him from being puffed up with pride. There is nothing in this parable where God disagrees with anything the Pharisee says. In fact if Job had said this it would explain why God would repeat the very same thing to Satan. The Lord begins His lesson on Prayer teaching us to pray to be delivered from temptation. As you can see this Pharisee who feels he is so mature and perfect in the Lord is not praying for deliverance. He definitely needs to be taken down a notch in his pride.

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Instead of seeing them as two completely different and distinct men, I would say in my own experience they are both me. The publican is who I was when I was first saved, and the Pharisee is who I am now after forty seven years in the word of God.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

To be fair I am thankful for the work the Lord has done in my life. I know that but for the grace of God I too could have become an extortioner, unjust, adulterer, or any other sinful outcome.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

This is also true and the Lord does not deny that any of this is true.

What is missing from this prayer is to pray for mercy that I would be delivered from evil and that I would be forgiven of my sins which from this prayer would be pride, even as I forgive others who are also given over to pride. Everyday I am on the internet commenting on this forum on different issues and the prideful comments that are extremely offensive, they proliferate like stepping into a thorn bush.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Again, Jesus does not dispute any of this, both of these men are being honest and telling the truth.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This is what happens in the book of Job. We begin the book and he is not the Publican, he is the Pharisee. What we are seeing in the book of Job is how we can transition in our Christian life from a life that is focused on our growth and maturity to one that is focused on the spiritual warfare. The main concern in the second stage is not that he would be an extortioner or unjust or an adulterer. The main concern in the second stage is pride and arrogance and self righteousness.
 
New believers love to play cops and robbers

Luke 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

When I first got baptized and entered the church there was a big crisis taking place, a schism in the leadership of the church (this church was international with churches in many cities and countries and the schism was also international). I had nothing to do with any of it of course, I had just been saved. But while talking to a few other brothers I boasted that if I had been involved I would have done the right thing. That offended them and they said I would have been just like them and been manipulated. I never forgot that so a few years later when I also was forced into the same situation, do the right thing and lose everything or else do nothing and everything stays the same that word I gave a few years earlier haunted me and I knew I had to do the right thing. Let the new believers play with spiritual warfare, don't rebuke them, because this is where we get that little mustard seed about doing the right thing regardless of the cost.
 
Charlie Kirk

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

The context here is of spiritual warfare and paying the cost.

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

The man does not disagree so we have a ruler that is calling Jesus God, but being discreet about it.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

This man knows the word of God.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

This man is keeping the word of God for his whole life. He is just like the Pharisee who was thankful he had not become one of those other things that those who live their whole life in the kingdom of darkness will become.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

So let's bring this into the 20th century. This is a pastor. He has spent his whole life learning the word of God and keeping it, he is confessing that Jesus is God, He is discreet, and He is called a ruler, which is what a pastor of a church is. But even though he has cut the cords of sin he is still controlled by one cord, and that is all the things he has. A 501c3 church will have a board of directors. The people on this board are the ones who are most influential in paying the bills of the church. When you see a church with a multi million dollar construction budget and a million dollar sound system, that money did not come from the congregation. These people come in with millions of dollars, get on the board of directors and then direct the church to focus on growth and avoid anything that will scare people away. Don't talk about hell or sin. Don't talk about the Antichrist or prophecy being fulfilled. Instead focus on the power of positive thinking, focus on blessings, etc. This pastor is still a puppet on a string. Now if you were to sell this church and all it has the money and assets must go to another 501c3. So Jesus is telling him the only way out of this is to sell all, give it to a soup kitchen which is also a 501c3 and come follow Him.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

The Lord's advice is the path that leads to salvation. Don't be sorrowful, pray for discernment, pray for your eyes to be opened to see the wisdom in this advice. For example, it seems clear to me at this point that this is what happened to Charlie Kirk. He got to the point in his ministry when he realized the most important thing was inheriting eternal life. Getting some politician elected was not it, and being manipulated by the mega donors trying to direct his ministry was no longer tolerable for him. Can you imagine if he had to sell all, that was a very big ministry he would have to give up. But instead he wanted to reform it from within with a DOGE style audit. He thought the problem was not that he was being manipulated by the mega donors but rather he was being manipulated by a few of the mega donors. This is the guy refusing to sell all, give to the poor, and follow the Lord. There was a mixture and it was hard to see until the Memorial service. You might have thought he already was following the Lord, but at the Memorial you saw how the political powers that be had their hooks in that ministry.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Do not think that if you are going to be faithful to the Lord that this means you must be assassinated like Charlie Kirk. Instead think that our ministry must thread the needle. In order to do that we can't be a camel weighed down with a giant ministry that is like a big tree with foul birds roosting in the branches. Paul is a great example, if you count every single person he names as a coworker or colleague it is less than 20, I count 17. If you count up all who abandoned him it is four people by name and also "all who are in Asia". I don't think any of us could have a more impactful ministry than Paul. Now of those who actually were accompanying him in his ministry it is six. My dad told me if you have twelve one will be a Judas. Paul had six.

When I was younger I did a lot a hiking and camping. You did not want to bring food that would attract bears, mountain lions, etc. So we would eat freeze dried food. You don't have to, you can use a rope to hang your pack from a tree high enough that bears and lions can't reach, but then you have to carry rope and you also will attract these animals to your campsite. My point is that I see ministry the same way. It is best to not have any money involved, because money will attract the beasts like the son of perdition. But if you are sure that is the way the Lord is leading you then you must take all these other things to make sure the wild animals don't get to the food. It seems to me that Charlie discovered the wild animals had gotten to the food.

Second, six people are really the best for a hike. You don't want to go alone, if you were to break your leg you are alone. Two people is hard because one goes for help and leaves the other alone. Three is better, four is better still, and six is ideal. But eight people would be better off as two groups of four.

I realize just about everyone who reads this will think I am nuts. Pray about it, lay it before the Lord. Do you want to hire a security team or would you rather have angels as your security team? On the Sabbath day you don't collect manna because it will breed worms. In my experience if you have a 100 million dollar endowment to your ministry it breeds worms.

26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

I am not talking about salvation. Charlie can be in charge of a multi million dollar ministry and still be saved. However, he will not be able to avoid the worms, and the wild beasts. I remember the bank robber who was asked why he robbed banks and he said "because that is where the money is". The easiest way to repel thieves and robbers from your ministry is to not have any money.

28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

What a wonderful promise. But look at what He is saying, Jesus understands that if you take this way He is suggesting, selling all and giving to the poor, that it will mean forsaking houses, and perhaps family members will also abandon you. It is very possible that your wife would be happy to live with you as long as you are the pastor of a big church, but if you sell all and follow the Lord she may decide that life is not for her and leave you.
 
Threading the needle

Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

This is what it means to thread the needle.

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

They understood none of these things. This means that they are the blind man. I suspect there are many eager young believers who want to get involved in ministry. They read the post prior to this about Charlie Kirk and they also will not understand any of these things.

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

How many ministries are like this, so pathetic. A blind man, sitting by the wayside, begging.

36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Clearly this beggar is a believer. This is a believer who is a blind beggar. If you run a ministry that takes donations you are not necessarily a beggar. By definition a beggar asks for money. So if you are asking for people to subscribe to your channel, give a thumbs up, buy your book or your merchandise, then you are a beggar. Like I said, this word is going to offend a lot of people, don't blame me, blame Luke! :LOL:

40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

All I ask is that you also pray the same prayer.

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
 
The US is in end time prophecy. But it has several names in end time prophecy.

1. Ephraim -- This was the younger son of Joseph who became greater than the older son. The blessing to Joseph was the blessing to scientists. The older son, Manasseh, was Germany, the first center for scientists and the younger son is the US which is now the world leader in science. Ephraim was the name given to the northern tribes of Israel. Right now 49% of the world's Jews live in the US and 49% live in Israel, so just like it being divided into two kingdoms in the OT it is divided into two kingdoms in the NT.

2. It is the Great Babylon. If you gather every single verse concerning the Great Babylon some can refer to Iraq, some can refer to Jerusalem, some can refer to the Vatican and some can refer to London. But the only place where all of them apply is the US with Washington DC being the city that reigns over the kings of the earth with the US dollar.

3. It is the great eagle. There are other countries that have an eagle as the national symbol, Mexico for one. But if you put them all in a list only the US would be "the great eagle".

4. In Daniel the US is one of the three horns that is uprooted prior to the little horn, Antichrist, taking power.
 
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