The 21 Century has arrived and time
continues to run!
Consider if the Rapture with the meeting of
Jesus is this year,
you may have LESS than time than you think.
Are you ready?
How much time do we
have left before
the Coming of Jesus?
If you were to take 60 pennies with each
representing 100 years and start dropping them to count from the
beginning of time, you would probably have less than 1/3 a penny
left.
1. Creation = ab. 6,000 years ago /ab. 3972
B.C. = start with 60 pennies
2. Flood = 2319 B.C. = with 43
pennies left
3. Exodus 1462 B.C. = with 34 pennies
left
4. David ab 1000 B.C. = with 30
pennies left
5. Fall of Jerusalem 586 B.C. = with 26
pennies left
6. Jesus Birth 5 B.C. - 28 A.D. = with 20
pennies left
7. Church age 28 A.D.--- now = 59 =
today only less than 1/3 a penny left
"For as the
lighting cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man shall be" (Matthew 24:27) "Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be
ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:42, 44).
The Second Coming
of Jesus
"For yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night. ... But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief . Ye are all the children of the light,
and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness"
(I Thessalonians 5:2, 4-5.)
My purpose in writing this page is:
1. To warn unbelievers that time is
short and that there is a need to call upon the Lord Jesus today for
salvation.
2. To make Believers aware of and
stimulate their interest in prophesy concerning the End Times.
3. To encourage Believers to know that the
time of the coming of the Lord is near at hand.
4. To encourage Believers to live as
though the Lord will return very soon.
5. To exhort Believers to test the spirit
of today's prophets and their prophesies.
6. To encourage Believers not to be
discouraged that the Gospel did not reached all nations by the year
2,000 A.D.
7. To encourage Believers not to be
discouraged that the Lord did not return around the year of 2,000
A.D.
8. To inform Believers of some of the
basics of End Time prophecy that they may minister to others who may
not know about it.
The Cause
As a counselor,
I receive all kinds of email and counsel with people concerning almost
every problem imaginable. Since the year 2,000 A.D. has come, I find
many people concerned about end time prophets and prophecies. It
is becoming an important counseling issue. Often, I find that
many people fear going through the coming tribulation period.
Some even believe that the earth will soon be destroyed, if not by
atomic warheads, then by chemical or biological warfare.
Therefore, I feel a need to share some basics of what the Word says
about the end times and some characteristics of false prophets.
There are four basic views concerning the
Church and the End times. First, there is a view that the
Church is to become perfect, do her anointed work, and usher in the
kingdom of God. Second, is the view that sin in the world
is getting worse and worse and that the Church must go through all or
part of the seven years of tribulation. Third, there is a
view that the event of the tribulation all occurred with the fall of
Jerusalem in 70 AD and therefore the tribulation period has nothing to
do with the Church and the return of the Lord. Fourth, there is
a view that the Church will be taken out of the world by Jesus before
the tribulation period.
Each view has respective scriptures to
support its beliefs. Those who advocate the perfecting of the
Church may refer to Ephesians 5:27 where Jesus washes the church and
presents it without spot or wrinkle. We should note however that
Jesus does the washing in this context, not the Church. One may
also refer to such scriptures as Isaiah 44:3, Hosea 6:3, and James 5:7
concerning the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the end
times upon the Church.
Those which see sin in the world becoming
worse and worse may refer to scriptures like II Timothy 3:13 and
Matthew 24:12 to support their view. Those who support this view
also talk about the thousands and thousands that have been martyred in
this century. They generally believe that the Church must be
purified through tribulation before it can be received up into
glory. They may use scriptures like John 16:33 where Jesus
declared that in this world we would have tribulation. They may
also use scriptures like I Peter 1:7 to support the need for
purification through fiery trials.
Those which see what many call the
tribulation period as being fulfilled during the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD will use scriptures such as Matthew 24:2 where Jesus
said that one stone of the temple would not be left upon another. They
may also use Matthew 24:16 where Jesus said that those in Judea should
flee to the mountains. This view may also advocate that the
Church is not to become concerned about end time prophecy, but just
live for the day.
My View
I strongly believe in and take the
last position that Jesus will come to get his bride, the Church, prior
to the tribulation period.
Then the second coming will be at the end of
the tribulation.
Please allow me to raise and answer some basic
questions.
Explanation
1. Will the
Church be the bride not having spot or wrinkle? Yes!
The Church is and will be the perfect Bride of Christ. It is not
that she will have to become perfect, but that Christ has already
made her perfect. " ... but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of
Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I
Corinthians 6:11b). To say that we have to become perfect by our
efforts is to say that the work of Jesus is incomplete and that we must
work for our salvation.
2. Will there be
a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church?
Yes! Again, there is and will be an anointing upon the
Church. "But the anointing which ye
have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie, even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (I John 3:27). The real question is, "Will the
Church walk in the anointing?"
3. Will the
Church usher in the Kingdom of God? Yes! It has
brought, is bringing, and will bring people into the Kingdom on a daily
basis. The Kingdom grows with each new convert. Jesus
said almost 2,000 years ago that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand
(Matthew 3:2). However, for the Church to announce that it will
usher in Jesus' return is nothing more than pride. Furthermore,
there will be 144,000 Jewish converts that will spread the gospel
during the tribulation period (Revelation 7:3-4,9-14) after the Church
has been removed.
4. Is the sin in
the world becoming worse and worse? Yes! The news media
as well as scriptures validates this truth. However, after the
Church, which is the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) is removed (II
Thessalonians 2:7), then the Wicked One will be given full power to
deceive (II Thessalonians 2:10-12) the whole world.
5. Will the
Church suffer persecution in order to be purified? Yes!
The Church has and will suffer persecution. In many countries today,
the Church is suffering severe persecution! Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world" (John
16:33). However, the Church will not go through the tribulation
of the seven years because this tribulation is for the world, not for
the Church!!! (Revelation 3:10).
6. Is there a
reason for the Church to repent of its lukewarmness?
Yes! It is to see the value of suffering, the value of putting on
the righteousness of God, and the value of the anointing of the Holy
Spirit (Revelation 3:18). God calls the Church of today to
repentance (Revelation 3:19). However, the Word is silent on
whether or not the Church repents.
7. Was there
persecution in 70 AD when Jerusalem fell? Yes! History bears
record of this. However, Matthew 24:21 states, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of time, no, nor ever shall be." There is a difference between tribulation and
the great tribulation for the whole world (Revelation 7:14).
Furthermore, Jesus said that we would be blessed by studying the book
of Revelation. "Blessed is he that readeth
and they that hear the word of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3).
8. Will the
Church then be taken out of the world before the seven years of
tribulation? Yes! It will not be taken out based upon
its own merit (self-cleansing, self-anointing, self-witnessing,
self-purification, or self-rationalization). It will be taken out
because Jesus has already accomplished his work of perfection in the
Church, his Bride. "For by one
offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10). When the Father speaks to the
Son to go get his Bride, the Son will return to get the Church.
Paul wrote, "But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
|
End
Time Events
|
A study of End Time Events
and current news headlines
of the day
I would encourage you prayerfully
consider this information and number your days.
"But, Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,
that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day" (II Peter 3:8).
When will the Lord Jesus return? I
personally don't know the day or hour (Matthew 25:13). However, Daniel,
the prophet, marked time with the death of the Messiah (about 28 A.D.)
(Daniel 9:26) ( Also see Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 53:8, 12, Romans 7:1-4,
Hebrews 9:16-17 for the death of Christ being the division of the Old
Covenant and the New Covenant). Furthermore, the Word instructs
us to commemorate the death of Jesus (I Corinthians 11:23-26), not his
birth. Therefore, my belief is that the rapture of the Church will
occur somewhere around 2021 A.D. There will follow seven years of
tribulation. Then the "second coming" of Jesus will occur about
2028 A.D. (2,000 years after his death). The "second
coming" of the Lord would complete 6,000 years or six prophetic days.
This would leave one prophetic day or 1,000 years of time left after
the second coming.
Here is another interesting factor to
consider. If the "second coming" does occur in 2028 A.D., it would be
exactly 80 years from the year 1948 which many scholars consider the
date for the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Jesus said that this
generation would not pass away until the "second coming" was fulfilled
(Matthew 24:32-34). Eighty years is also the exact limit for a
generation according to Psalms 90:10.
Should we despise modern
prophesies? No! Absolutely not!!! Paul declared
that we are not to despise prophesyings (I Thessalonians 5:20).
However, the Church is to test the prophesies (I Corinthians
14:29). Should we stone a false prophet? God forbid!
We live in the age of grace. How then should we know a false
prophet? "When a prophet speaketh in the name of
the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing
which the LORD hath spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy
18:22).
How To Discern A False
Prophet
"Beloved believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye
the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that
spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and
even now already is it in the world" (I
John 4:1-3).
Many people are
living in fear because of a false prophet. One way that we know a false
prophet is by his confession concerning the person of Jesus. Let
us break down the passage. First, we are to look at the confession of
the prophet. He must confess that Jesus is the Christ.
Second, we should understand that Jesus is the I AM that came to save
men from their sin. Third, the word Christ literally means the Anointed
One, sent from God. Literally, Jesus is the Anointed One sent
from God to save men. Last, though being the Son of God, he was
also born of the flesh that he might die for us. Therefore, if a
prophet does not make such a confession, he is a false prophet having
the spirit of the antichrist.
Some characteristics of a
spirit a false prophet:
1. The reputation
of a false prophet will not be consistent.
a. He will exaggerate his successes.
b. He will minimize his failures.
c. He will say something one time then give
various explanations the next time.
d. He make statements that will only come part
true, part of the time.
2. He will
appeal to the people's desire for special revelation-knowledge.
3. He will claim
that he alone has that special knowledge.
4. He will use
empathy and flattery to draw people unto himself.
5. He will use fear
and intimidation to embarrass and control others once they draw near to
him.
6. He will threaten
people with the loss of their salvation.
7. He will advocate
a salvation based upon good works or service.
8. He will teach
people that he is the mediator between them and God.
9. His prophecies
may be general in nature.
10. He will use
enticing words to appeal to his audience.
11. He will
demonstrate strong emotions of acceptance and disapproval.
12. He will use
religious babble or jargon and attach his own meanings to the words.
13. He will not be
willing to be publicly questioned by his followers.
14. He will have
problems in submitting to authority.
15. He will claim
special divine encounters for himself.
a. A visit by an angel.
b. A death or near death experience.
c. He will claim strong visions and may hear
voices.
d. An alien encounter.
16. He is good
at using one Scripture as truth to the exclusion of the rest.
17. He will use
obscure (or little known) Scriptures to validate his teachings.
18. He will violate
principles of Biblical interpretation.
a. He will use historical statements as
allegory.
b. He will use allegorical statements as
literal.
19. He will only
associate with other people that are like minded with him.
20. He will paint
God as viewing man as being insignificant.
21. He may reference
extra Biblical materials as primary sources for his authority.
22. He will exhibit
pride and stubbornness in his authority.
23. His public life
and his private life will probably be dramatically different.
a. Publicly he will claim the righteousness of
God, but privately violate the Word.
b. Publicly he may be very peaceful, but
privately he may be a tyrant.
24. He will
personally be drawn strongly toward the miraculous.
25. He will be a
shepherd that enjoys shearing the sheep and using the wool for his own
pleasure.
26. He will
privately demonstrate greed and lasciviousness.
27. He will give an
unbalanced view of God, generally leaning toward God being a harsh,
vengeful, and angered God.
28. He will
generally give an unbalanced view of man, mixing Believers and
unbelievers together.
29. He will attempt
to isolate his followers from others that have a different view from
his.
30. He may lower
Jesus to being just a man and mix him with other prophets or teachers.