The Nearness of the Rapture, part 2

IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER... 
 

• Featured Article: The Nearness of the Rapture, part 2 
• Man of Sin Arising 
• 20 Facts About The Emerging Global Food Shortage That Should Chill You To The Core 
• Born in a Manger, Crucified on a Cross 
• Daily Jot: The tragic comedy 
• Daily Devotion: The Tax Collector and the Pharisee 

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The Nearness of the Rapture, part 2 - by Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-nearness-of-rapture-part-2.html
 
8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2nd Corinthians 5:8-11)
 
(This part 2 of a previous sermon that the rapture is so very close at hand)
 
Wondering about the end times and the rapture can cause confusion, worry and fear for a lot of people, even Christians! For ages, people have tried to figure out the exact time that the prophecy of Jesus's return will happen. The best place to turn for answers about the rapture is Scripture! God tells us everything we need to know in the Bible. There are some things that God has left a mystery for us, but has given us enough information in His Word that we should have complete confidence and hope in the Hope of our Salvation, Jesus the Messiah. The above verses speak of a time when those who are found in Jesus Christ will stand before Him and receive what has been done in our body, either for Him, or for ourselves.
 
10 "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:10-15)
 
WORK TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED
 
As a Christian believer in Christ our Lord, our service is to be about our Father's business. Jesus gave us commands to follow and rewards will be coming for a job well done. I don't know about you, but I long to hear the words come from my Lord Jesus “well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord” This from what I can gather from scripture happens to each of us who are found with the robe of righteousness that only comes from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and working for the coming Kingdom of God, building on the only Foundation, which is Christ our LORD. That robe is not our righteousness, but we are clothed with His righteousness, and our ABBA Father only sees the glory of His Son found in us when we finally stand before Him.
 
THEORIES OF THE COMING "HARPAZO" OF THE CHURCH
 
Some question the timing of the return of our Lord Jesus and have all kinds of theories, being Pre-Trib, Pre-wrath, Post-Trib, or in the extreme no rapture at all, as Jesus will come to us and we, by our own endeavors create a utopia and we deliver the Church to Jesus when He returns. But what does the Bible say? Which belief is the truth? As I said, all the answers to this question are found in the pages of your Bible.
 
What I find among many believers, or even unbelievers, is a misunderstanding of what scripture is saying. The Bible has the concept of the removal of the Church BEFORE the coming tribulation all over its pages and a wise person in these last days, mines them out like precious jewels, or as a discovery of a vein of gold in the earth.. Let us take a journey down the verses that speak of this time of the “Harpazo” the snatching away of the Church of the Living God in what is popularly called “the Rapture” .
 
LET'S START IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH ISAIAH
 
17” Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:17-21)
 
For the believer in the pre-tribulation removal of the Church, this is where I like to start, as the prophet Isaiah saw the removal of God's people, both the living and the resurrected departed from their graves. Isaiah speaks of the dead rising to new life, even as dew on the herbs and the earth, its graves, casting out her dead in resurrection. The prophet sees judgment coming upon the earth and tells God's people to enter into their chambers and shut their doors to hide them from the wrath of Almighty God. God will punish the “earth dwellers” for their unrighteous acts and evil they have done in rebellion to His authority over all creation. And Jesus will stain His robes with their blood, as we see in Revelation chp. 19 when our Lord returns with the armies of heaven.
 
11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD: and his name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13)(my emphasis)
 
It is not His blood, but the blood of those He has trodden down in righteous wrath and indignation. One wonders what chambers that God is telling Isaiah that the people of God will enter into. Then I remember what Jesus said to His disciples, even saying it to us.
 
14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
 
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:1-4)
 
For nearly 2000 years, our Lord God has been preparing a glorious mansion for each of His brethren called the Bride of Christ, and God the Father's children. Jesus calls them mansions, and I can't imagine, even trying to envision the splendor of what God has prepared for us.
 
9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1st Corinthians 2:9-10)
 
But note in one passage, God tells us to shut our doors, and Jesus tells that we will come to Him, to be where He is, not coming to where we are. Question. Where is Jesus right now? Of course, the answer is at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus said He would come again, to RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF. Note that He will do the receiving. We will not receive Him, but He will receive us.
 
TWO COMINGS OF OUR LORD FOR AND WITH THE CHURCH
 
The Bible speaks of two comings, that many people cannot see, even written right in front their eyes, or they have not read the Bible at all, but take the word of others who convince them of this error.
 
As spoken of, many people have tried to pinpoint the time of the return of Jesus for 2000 years, and on a Christian forum that I host, I have had people proclaim that no one knows the hour of the Lord's return and use it as a reason to scoff that Jesus is not coming anytime soon. And though that is true that we don't know the exact timing of His return, we have been given many clues that point to the season of His return, not for judgment, but for removal of His chosen people, the Bride of Christ. So what are those verses that speak of the return of Jesus, most likely sooner than anyone of this world even thinks?
 
One of the most quoted passage of verses that points to the coming of our Lord is found in 1st Corinthians:
 
50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”(1st Corinthians 15-50-55)
 
This is Jesus coming for His church, and then later in Revelation chp. 19, He proclaims that He will come to rule and reign and the saints are with Him, clothed in linen, white and clean, a sign of the saints.
 
Note verse 52 in 1st Corinthians? In the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. Many people make an error, because they have a preconceived notion of a post Tribulation return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign for 1000 years and the 7th angel blowing his trumpet, and don't take the historical aspect that many Jewish people understand, but those who misunderstand are ignorant of Jewish terminology, because they don't believe that the Feasts of the Lord is still in effect for us today. What is the term that points to a Feast of the Lord quoted above? (see next paragraph). And note that the 7th angel of Revelation is not the same trumpet blown in this passage. Why? One produces joy, the other indescribable horror of the 7th angel's trumpet. They are NOT the same trumpet Paul and John describe.
 
THE COMING FEAST OF TRUMPETS
 
In Jewish life, since the giving of God's Law to the Hebrew people at Mt. Sinai, God also gave them appointed times in their calendar that would proclaim markers, or Holy Convocations that they were to observe. Even they did not understand, as it was for us, not for them but they observed in the letter, but we look at it in the spiritual sense of “God's Plan for Mankind” the salvation of humanity based on God's appointed times. If you follow, or have in the past, any of my messages, you know that there are four Feast unto the Lord in the spring, and three in the fall. We have established in the past sermons that Jesus fulfilled each of the spring Feast days, called Holy Days on the exact day of their observance. Let me recap what those days were completed by Jesus and then we'll look at what He will complete in the near future. To refresh your memory go here for that message:
 
https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2018/09/gods-end-of-days-plan-for-man.html
 
Summarizing the four Holy Days, or Feast days that were fulfilled by Christ in the Spring were:
 
Passover- Jesus became our Passover Lamb and was slain on the exact day of its observance.
 
Feast of Unleavened Bread-Christ was slain outside the camp and was buried along with our sins that He took upon Himself.
 
Feast of First Fruits-on the Sunday after Passover, the priest would wave a barley sheaf before the Lord in the Temple, as being the first fruits of their harvest. At the exact same time, Jesus was before God our Father, and became the first fruits of them born of the dead and completed payment in His own blood for the remission of the sins of the world and those who believe on His Name.
 
Feast of Pentecost-on the exact day, the Holy Spirit came to those in the upper room and the church was born.
 
Now for 2000 years or this Church Age, people have been looking for the return of Jesus, even the apostles thought He would return in their lifetime. But here we are, and each generation has thought Jesus was coming for them in their lifetime, and they have been wrong. Why? They lacked ONE ingredient to start the countdown of the final week of Daniel's 70 week prophecy. That ingredient that started the countdown for the return of Jesus was the founding of Israel again as a nation.
 
“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. “ (Isaiah 66:8)
 
But that is exactly what happened. In May, 1948, the one thing lacking in the return of Jesus Christ in prior generations was put into place. Israel became a nation again, after 2000 years of desolation of the land, and the scattering of the people of Israel to the four winds. Israel was REBORN. Why do I say Israel is a sign that was lacking in past generations? Let us quote what Jesus said concerning the budding of the fig tree.
 
32 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36)
 
Some say, how can we know that Jesus is close at hand for the coming for His Church? Note that Jesus said that this generation. MY GENERATION, of those born during or right after the forming of Israel as a nation will not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Let us review what a generation is, that Jesus spoke of.
 
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. “ (Psalms 90:10)
 
God has been shortening the lifespan of mankind down from nearly a 1000 years in Adam and Eve's time, to just 70-80 years in our modern time. Knowing that no man knows the exact day or hour, but we can know the season, as Jesus said, this generation will not pass till all things be fulfilled...what will be fulfilled? Jesus will be on this earth reigning and ruling for a 1000 years. All rebellion will be destroyed and the earth will be returned to the time of the Garden of Eden...
 
But let us observe one thing, if this generation born right after 1948 lives the outside of 80 years, that is 2028, which is 6 years from now. BUT..there is that word, but if we believe that we will not be on earth for that last 7 years of tribulation, then the number is 2022 approximately, not trying to pinpoint a date, but knowing the season is close, very close at hand. God is sovereign and He only knows when the last of the Gentiles will come in and be saved. So we can't be dogmatic about a certain year, but we know that the time of His glorious return is close at hand.
 
25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)
 
God is patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish:
 
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(2nd Peter 3:9)
 
That is why I say, we can look at the season, (which we are definitely in) but we can't know the day, as the Father in heaven can extend His mercy to Gentiles past what I have proposed above. We just watch and pray.
 
The next Feast day that Jesus, I believe will fulfill, on the exact days of its observance by Israel, and the Christian who understands their significance, is the Feast of Trumpets...some call the “Return of the King” and what Israel calls “No man knoweth the day or the hour”...coincidence? God is not about coincidences. Could Jesus come in the near future on a Feast of Trumpets? We watch and pray, and believe you me, I will have a trained ear listening for the sound of a trumpet any coming fall, till this Feast is fulfilled.
 
THE COMING TRIBULATION IS UPON US
 
But as I read rapture verses in your Bible, I am confident, and I am full of the Hope of Jesus Christ, that I'll not see one day of that coming Tribulation...oh, we will see tribulation in this life, but when I say the coming Tribulation, I'm talking about GOD”S WRATH. Many say they don't know when God's wrath will begin, but reading Revelation chp. 6, the 1st seal that Jesus opens unleashes the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first rider on a white horse is none other than the Anti-Christ who is revealed holding a bow but no arrows, meaning he conquers by deceit and lies. As you read this chapter, the nations know who is bringing this calamity upon them, and they know they will not escape.
 
15. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16, And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? “ (Revelation 6:15-17)
 
Jesus is using men to enact His judgment, much as He used men to bring judgment to Israel by Babylon, and Assyria. Jesus is causing events to come to pass, as each seal is broken. He is in control of making the earth ready for its redemption, that He has already bought with His own blood on the cross of Calvary. And after chp. 6 of this apocalyptic book, Divine judgment is enacted that no man can misunderstand.
 
So why am I full of Hope, and confidence that I will not see one day of this awful time? Because Jesus my Lord told Paul the Apostle, and John the Beloved a promise to each of them and to us:
 
4 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”(1st Thessalonians 5:4-10)
 
And the glorified Jesus, the Son of God told John the Beloved Apostle when He appeared to him: and spoke of what we can hold onto with both hands and know that Jesus will NOT send His bride through the horrors of the wrath of God that will cover the whole earth.
 
10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:10-13) (CAPS my emphasis)
 
Taking that emphasis above “I also will keep thee”, when you look at the Greek word for that phrase, it is the Greek word “EK”...which as I have pointed out in the past the meaning;
 
“EK, the word origin: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out, removal (of place, time, or cause)”
 
Note we are NOT appointed to God's wrath, and Jesus will keep us from the hour of temptation that shall try this whole earth. That is a promise from my Savior, and I pray your Savior.
 
So let's recap the nuggets that I am sharing with you. We are in the time of the end of days, the season of the return of Jesus Christ, in our generation since Israel was made a nation again.
 
We are bumping up to the end of a generation since Israel was made a nation 74 years ago, this coming May.
 
The Tribulation starts when the saints of God are taken out “by force” and snatched away from this earth. When? Could it be some future Feast of Trumpets, as "No man Knoweth the day or the Hour". A term for this day. But He could come at any time, this would just be another Feast fulfilled, that I believe God is a God of order and He changes not.
 
We are not appointed to wrath, but receive salvation from our Lord, but the earth will be purged of all rebellion and destruction will cover the earth and the dwellers who inhabit its land.
 
Note as I have mentioned in past messages, that the Tribulation is designed by God for two things, and that is the redemption of Israel through much Tribulation, that is why it is called “Jacob's Trouble” and the nations who have rebelled against God will be destroyed who do not accept Jesus as Savior during this time, from witnessing from the 144,000 Jewish Evangelist, the Two Witnesses at the Temple, and the angels who flies overhead proclaiming the Gospel. For the last almost 2000 years, God has focused on the church, but when the Bride of Christ is removed at the rapture, the focus will be upon Israel to bring them to repentance and accept their Messiah that their forefathers crucified out of ignorance and rebellion.
 
WILL YOU BE READY?
 
If Jesus would actually come this fall (or any fall thereafter), would you be ready to receive the glorified body that He has planned for those who have accepted His free gift of grace and mercy of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus provided by God our Father? Or would you be in darkness and not imagine that your world just got more dangerous than at any other time in history? Note I am not making any predictions of the day, but stating clearly and unequivocally, that Jesus return is close, right at the door. We don't know the exact day or hour, so its pointless to try and nail it down. BUT we know the season, and by all signs in the heavens, on the earth, and events of evil men and the forming right now of a One World Government just waiting for the green light to have a spokesman usher in the New World Order. Then the revealing of the Anti-Christ, that God said I will not see, that the Holy Spirit will be taken out along with those He indwells. And then the wicked One will be revealed...not before we are gone.
 
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8)
 
The One who is letting, is God's Holy Spirit and when He is taken out of the way, all who have that earnest deposit of His Spirit dwelling within them, will be removed as well.
 
Will you still be here, and in total resignation of your fate of enduring the tribulation. Or will you be those who have no clue, and have pleasure in their unrighteousness? Don't be counted among these that have little hope of being in heaven. Many will be saved during this time, yes, but also, many will die for the truth of God's salvation found in Jesus Christ. Many will be deluded with lies and false doctrines of devils, or many will just not care, as they think it's party time. Party is will not what it will be, but hell on earth for all who inhabit the nations.
 
As for me, and those like me, who have found redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord, I will present at the Bema Judgment seat of Christ (an appointed rewards ceremony) and will be at a feast in heaven, called the “marriage supper of the Lamb”...I will live for eternity in the glorious light of my God and do His will, whatever He has in store for those who love Him...
 
What about you? Will you be with me and those found in Christ, or will you be cast away into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, and the worm dieth not or is consumed? I pray you will not let that happen but embrace these next verses and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior..
 
8 “ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:8-11)
 
And the three verses that brought a 10 year old boy, to the realization that he needed a Savior..that little boy was ME...
 
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:16-18)
 
Make Jesus the Lord of your life today, while the time is there for you to make that decision in freedom of conscience and not in Tribulation, if at all. Don't miss the coming rapture of the church the Bride of Christ.
 
This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you will receive Jesus right now, and have confidence in the coming rapture...if you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, contact me at [email protected]  , God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET

 


 
Man of Sin Arising - By Charles Gray Adams Jr - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/04/02/man-of-sin-arising-by-charles-gray-adams-jr/
 
1 John 2:18
 
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” [1]
 
John, though he lived over nineteen hundred years ago, considered himself in the last time because of the rise of many antichrists. Therefore, it would be safe to assume this same sign is the perfect gauge of ‘when’ the world is now. Couple John’s statement with the warning of perilous times from Paul in 2nd Timothy chapter three, and a true prophetic picture begins to take shape. One need look no further than the headlines of any news source to realize the man of sin is on the rise.
 
Many will take the last statement as an affront to the pre-tribulational viewpoint, as the man of sin cannot be revealed until the restrainer is taken out of the way (2 Thess 2:7). While it is true that the lawless one, the antichrist, will remain in the shadows until the bride of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, is raptured—before the coming Tribulation—it is also true that those living in the last days can know they are because of the rise of many antichrists, just as John indicates. So, one must wonder, why the sudden rise of so many who oppose Christ?
 
The short answer is the church is beginning to lose its salt and light. You see, God chose a marvelous method of restraint. He did not place a strong man in charge of things here on earth who would keep lawlessness in check. No, He chose to indwell the meek and humble of every nation, tribe, and tongue with His Spirit. Therefore, His restraining influence was shed abroad in the hearts of believers (Rom 5:5), just like salt that is shaken over a meal to season it. Though the salt does not represent the bulk of the meal, it savors it thoroughly.
 
Light works by the same principle. In fact, Jesus called believers the light of the world, a city on the hill which cannot be hidden (Matt 5:14). The chief problem is fewer are coming to Christ in these last days, which means fewer lights on fewer hills. Unfortunately, reduced light allows greater darkness which, in turn, affords the rise of more antichrists. The true cause of this spiritual lethargy is multifaceted.
 
The primary reason for the waning influence of the church is the fact that much of what calls itself the church is but a shell of what was once a magnificent restraining organism. Indeed, not long ago, the church was so influential that mankind had a great sense of right and wrong. This is no longer the case. In fact, one could argue that men are on the cusp of becoming just like those of the antediluvian period who, through continually evil thoughts, brought about the judgment of the flood (Gen 6:5). You could say that group had become very anti-God, just as those who live today are becoming the many antichrists spoken of by John. How did this happen?
 
The answer to this question is really quite simple. Many of today’s churches are busy as can be building the physical church. This church-centric focus often leads to doing whatever it takes to find attendees, regardless of their spiritual state. They can be just as worldly as they want for as long as they want as long as they come to church. While coming to church is not a bad thing on its own, the fact that those who do darken the doors are entertained into staying instead of being called to repentance means many only attend church while never being saved. Worse yet, in order to keep the lost in the pews, the leadership must avoid preaching, which calls for repentance and righteous living. Thus, the very establishment that is supposed to be set apart for the faithful has turned into the greatest enabler of fleshly living.
 
Perhaps the only good news that can come from it is this may be the group that will become part of the Tribulation saints, martyred for their faith. [2]
 
A biblical example is available, which will shed a great deal of light on this situation. Noah, after hearing the Word of God of impending judgment, also began to build. However, he did not focus on what would make him comfortable on this earth. Instead, he poured his energies into fulfilling the will of God by constructing a colossal boat that, due to the sheer dimensions alone, would have taken many years to complete. The ark is a perfect representation of Christ, who will call the faithful into the safe place just before great calamity strikes. In Noah’s day, this cataclysm was the flood. In these last days, the coming apocalypse is known as the Tribulation.
 
Noah is noted to have been a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). His preaching was, therefore, far different than the preaching of many so-called church leaders today. In fact, some of the largest churches are so far from preaching righteousness that they could be considered nothing more than social clubs. The truest danger of this type of religious organization is the attendees get just enough of God’s Word to cause them to feel safe, just like the recipient of a flu shot or any other vaccine. Invariably, when asked about their faith, these will always point to their church or ministry leaders as the reason for their hope. This is an unfortunate side effect of not having a true relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
 
Jesus spoke about these types of churches when addressing the church in Laodicea, the lukewarm church. This church is easily identifiable by the fact that, while they say they are rich and in need of nothing, they are actually, as Jesus put it, “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Rev 3:18).” The best news about this type of church attendee is Jesus is always ready to come in and sup with those who repent (Rev 3:19-20). Therefore, quickly turning from an errant path is crucial as it is very clear the Lord is coming soon. Besides, repentance has some truly exciting benefits.
 
True repentance will cause two things. First, the light of Jesus will once again shine brightly in the overcomer, which may provide much-needed illumination to those in close proximity. Second, Jesus promises those who come to Him in true repentance a seat in His throne with Him (Rev 3:21). With this in mind, examine your church and make sure it is God-fearing, Jesus-loving, and rapture ready.
 
Some may be saying right about now, hold on a minute; you are bringing the fire. Well, imagine for a moment, you are Noah and you are commissioned to build the ark. Since you are a preacher of righteousness, and you now know the Lord is about to bring massive judgment, what would you do? Undoubtedly, you said, preach with as much fervor as possible, warning everyone you come into contact with that the end is near. Now, consider how Noah felt as he neared completion of the ark. Surely, he knew a built ark meant that God’s judgment was truly imminent. Oh, but what about when the animals began to arrive? How do you think this affected Noah’s preaching? If you are honest, you would have to say you would be screaming from the rooftops that the judgment of the Lord is coming. This is exactly what the rapture-ready church is doing right now.
 
Those who have listened to God’s imploration to study and rightly apply His Word in order to not be ashamed (2 Tim 2:15) know the signs of the times, and they are busy warning everyone who will listen of the coming calamity called the “Day of the Lord.” For the saved, this brings encouragement that the rapture is ever closer. To the lost, this warning may be enough to cause them to at least listen to someone share the Word of God. The great thing about this is the very faith needed to be saved is garnered by just such hearing (Rom 10:14-15). [3]
 
One additional point should be made here. Though many churches are off task, this is not the only reason for the ‘apostasia‘ being experienced today. Invoking Noah’s story again may help. Noah, a preacher of righteousness, worked for years on an ark that he knew was the only salvation available. One would be hard-pressed to believe he left off from preaching during this time. Instead, as previously mentioned, his preaching would have become even more fervent. Yet, only his immediate family went into the ark. This indicates that, even though the faithful remnant church is feverously heralding the coming judgment, the hearts of men have grown cold toward God, and they no longer want to hear about the only name whereby they may be saved – Jesus (Acts 4:12).
 
Before leaving the narrative of the first worldwide judgment, one would be remiss to avoid one very important question. How did all but eight individuals come to be so anti-God that they missed the boat, literally? The simple answer is found in another highly debated passage:
 
Genesis 6:1-3
 
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 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.”
 
Two groups vie for preeminence in regard to whether or not ‘the sons of God’ are angels or men. Those who come down on the side of these being angels point to the coupling of angels and the daughters of men explaining the appearance of ‘Nephilim,’ which are commonly called giants. They also invariably attribute Noah’s being ‘perfect’ in his generation to the fact that the DNA of all others had been corrupted, which caused God to start over with the only pure DNA available, that of Noah.
 
The second group believes the statement ‘the sons of God’ refers to the line of Seth, who had begun to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26). They argue that those who were set apart by reverencing God once again, meaning these picked up the worship of God dropped by their forefathers, began to marry the daughters of the ungodly, which brought about the nearly universal moral pollution of mankind by the time of Noah. These two theories are far too expansive to cover in detail in the space permitted here. Therefore, a future article will deal with this fascinating clash of opinions.
 
Ultimately, either of the views just mentioned brings the world to the same point of judgment seen at the flood. Think of it this way: either way, mankind was so corrupt that they left the proper position of looking up to God and allowed their gaze to settle on something inferior to God, which unfortunately brought about their own demise. The main point of delving into the controversy is to show that no matter what the reason, man is responsible for how they interact with God. You see, God’s desire to commune with man has never changed. Therefore, it has always been man that has fallen away.
 
The severity of the current falling away is clearly on display. All one has to do is visit a church that preaches and teaches righteousness. Two distinct things will immediately come to your attention. First, the youth will be all but absent, and those who are in attendance (usually on their cell phones) are only there because their parents drug them there. The second sad fact that hits you are the many spaces in the pews or seats which were once filled with the faithful who are now gone on to be with Jesus. This brings up another point: those who are going on are not being replaced, which hearkens back to the point about fewer lights on fewer hills and less seasoning of society. Thus, the great falling away.
 
This brings us back to the main point of this study, the man of sin arising. Paul spoke of the much-debated ‘great falling away’ in his letter to the church in Thessalonica. This term has been considered by some of the greatest eschatologists, and two distinct opinions have seemingly formed. One group says this is to be seen as the rapture, and the other group sees this as a great rebellion against God. Let’s take a brief look at both of these conclusions.
 
The first group bases their belief of the great falling away being the rapture on the fact that the Greek word for this phrase is transliterated as ‘apostasia,‘ which can be translated into the word ‘departure,’ which leads to the obvious conclusion that this statement is placing the rapture in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
 
The second group, ironically, uses the same word ‘apostasia‘ as their key word. However, they translate this as ‘rebellion or defection,’ which is far different than the opposing group’s translation. This, in turn, causes this group to see the great falling away as the greatest rejection of God since just before the flood of Noah’s day (Gen 6). The age-old question is, which group is correct?
 
Perhaps the simplest way to determine this is to examine the text at hand:
 
2 Thessalonians 2:3
 
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
 
Notice, two specific events are described in this passage: A falling away will happen first, and the man of sin will be revealed after. Nothing in the passage says these two events will happen one right after the other. Indeed, the context of the entire passage from verse one to twelve suggests that the restrainer will be taken out of the way in between the two events. Here are verses 7 & 8:
 
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
 
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”
 
By considering the words of John the apostle, that many antichrists were already on the scene in his day, it is quite possible that the ‘apostasia‘ seen in verse 3 is, indeed, the great falling away of men from God, just like before the flood, which brings about the removal of the restrainer at the rapture, just before the judgment of the Tribulation.
 
God provided the perfect example of this in the narrative surrounding the first global judgment: Noah, the only remaining preacher of righteousness, could easily be considered a type of the church in function in the sense of being the restrainer before the flood since God did not bring the flood until he was safely in the ark. The best news about this is the rapture-ready church will be in heaven above the judgment, just like Noah rode above the floodwaters in the ark.
 
The obvious argument group one will present to counter this conclusion is that the church is not to be here when the antichrist is revealed. Again, the simplest answer is, the church is not. The long answer is, the reason the church is gone is an event that happens in between the falling away of verse three and the revealing of the wicked one of verse eight; the restrainer (the Spirit indwelt church) is removed from the earth in the rapture. You see, verses four through six describe the man of sin, not the falling away. Verse seven clearly depicts the removal of the church before the revelation of the antichrist in verse eight.
 
Therefore, the great falling away can be seen as the man of sin arising but not yet revealed, which is evident by the number of antichrists coalescing into a massive group that wants to have nothing whatsoever to do with God. These will readily receive the son of perdition, who will lead them into swift destruction. Sadly, many of today’s youth are being led astray by the antichrists already on the scene in every facet of society. Indeed, they are leading our young ones away from the church and toward an empty promise of utopia here on earth. [4]
 
By the way, parents—wake up, remove your children from the indoctrination camps known as institutes of higher learning where they are partaking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, just like Adam and Eve in Genesis chapters two and three. Most of these schools are teaching more about ‘what’ to think than ‘how’ to think critically. This explains why they are leaving the church in droves. They have been misled by the minions of Satan into believing they can be as God.
 
This is proven out by the other vein of today’s study. Two types of churches are present on earth at the moment. The true, rapture-ready church, which teaches that Jesus is the only way, is seeing its numbers diminish, while the counterfeit church and there anything goes stance is growing exponentially. Sadly, many in the latter church will be left behind simply because their faith is not in Christ. Instead, they are trusting in church attendance or any other number of works for their salvation, all of which are pointless without first having experienced salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).
 
Conclusion
 
Men stopped calling on the name of the Lord before the flood. Likewise, the world in which we live is filled with those who reject God. Many antichrists have risen to power in every facet of society, and their influence is turning the masses away from God and toward man. Throughout history, this has always been the pattern: God blesses a people, and they, in their need-nothing state, turn from relying on God to depending on their own strength and wisdom.
 
This can be seen as the man of sin arising because sin is simply doing things ‘not’ God’s way. Incredibly, many songs and slogans have depicted this very stance. One needs only to remember the old song, I did it my way; or the lyrics, it’s your thing—do what you wanna do; or the fast-food slogan, have it your way—have it your way. Each of these expressions depicts the rise of the man of sin as they are rooted in the idea that man can be as God, which is the root of all lies. But that is for another article.
 
Remain Faithful…
 
Maranatha…
 
Website: In His Commission
 
[1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”
[2] For greater understanding, see the article, “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.”
[3] For greater understanding, see the article, “The End Has Come: What Now?”
[4] For greater understanding, see the article, “Heaven of Earth Bound?“


 


 
20 Facts About The Emerging Global Food Shortage That Should Chill You To The Core - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/20-facts-about-the-emerging-global-food-shortage-that-should-chill-you-to-the-core/
 
A very alarming global food shortage has already begun, and it is only going to get worse in the months ahead. I realize that this is not good news, but I would encourage you to share the information in this article with everyone that you can. People deserve to understand what is happening, and they deserve an opportunity to get prepared. The pace at which things are changing around the globe right now is absolutely breathtaking, but most people assume that life will just continue to carry on as it normally does. Unfortunately, the truth is that a very real planetary emergency is developing right in front of our eyes. The following are 20 facts about the emerging global food shortage that should chill you to the core…
 
#1 One of France’s most important government officials is telling us that we should brace ourselves for an “extremely serious” global food crisis…
 
France’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the EU must get to grips with the prospect that the war in Ukraine could prompt an “extremely serious” global food crisis.
 
#2 Joe Biden recently admitted that food shortages are “going to be real”, and his administration is now openly using the word “famine” to describe what is coming…
 
The Biden administration is worried Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will cause famine in parts of the world, White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse told CNBC on Friday.
 
#3 It is being reported that food prices at German supermarkets will soon go up between 20 and 50 percent…
 
Just days after Germany reported the highest inflation in generation (with February headline CPI soaring at a 7.6% annual pace and blowing away all expectations), giving locals a distinctly unpleasant deja vu feeling even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke what few supply chains remained and sent prices even higher into the stratosphere…
 
… on Monday, Germany will take one step toward a return of the dreaded Weimar hyperinflation, when according to the German Retail Association (HDE), consumers should prepare for another wave of price hikes for everyday goods and groceries with Reuters reporting that prices at German retail chains will explode between 20 and 50%
 
#4 Rationing has already begun in Spain…
 
In Spain, the country started experiencing sporadic shortages of different products like eggs, milk and other dairy products almost immediately following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. In early March, major supermarkets like Mercadona and Makro began rationing sunflower oil.
 
#5 Rationing has also already started in Greece…
 
In Greece, at least four national supermarket chains have started rationing food products like flour and sunflower oil due to critically low supplies caused by the crippled supply chains coming out of Russia and Ukraine.
 
#6 The head of BlackRock is warning that this will be the very first time this generation “is going to go into a store and not be able to get what they want”…
 
On Tuesday, BlackRock Inc. President Rob Kapito told an audience in Austin, Texas, hosted by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, that an entire younger generation is quickly finding out what it means to suffer from shortages, according to Bloomberg.
 
“For the first time, this generation is going to go into a store and not be able to get what they want,” Kapito said. “And we have a very entitled generation that has never had to sacrifice.”
 
#7 Since this time last year, some fertilizer prices have gone up by as much as 300 percent.
 
#8 Many farmers in Africa will not be able to afford fertilizer at all this year, and it is being projected that this will reduce agricultural production by an amount capable of feeding “100 million people”…
 
With prices tripling over the past 18 months, many farmers are considering whether to forgo purchases of fertilizers this year. That leaves a market long touted for its growth potential set to shrink by almost a third, according to Sebastian Nduva, program manager at researcher group AfricaFertilizer.Org.
 
That could potentially curb cereals output by 30 million tons, enough to feed 100 million people, he said.
 
#9 Russia is normally one of the biggest global exporters of fertilizer…
 
Russia is a key global player in natural gas, a major input to fertilizer production. Higher gas prices, and supply cuts, will further drive fertilizer prices higher. Russia is one of the biggest exporters of the three major groups of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Physical supply cuts could further inflate fertilizer prices.
 
#10 In a typical year, Russia and Ukraine collectively account for approximately 30 percent of all global wheat exports.
 
#11 Half of Africa’s wheat imports usually come from either Russia or Ukraine.
 
#12 Other nations rely on wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine even more than Africa does…
 
Armenia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Eritrea have imported virtually all of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine and must find new sources. But they are competing against much larger buyers, including Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh and Iran, which have obtained more than 60 percent of their wheat from the two warring countries.
 
#13 One Russian official is warning that his nation may soon only export food to “friendly nations”…
 
A Russian government official has threatened that Russia will limit its vital food exports to only nations it considers “friendly”.
 
Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian security official who previously served as the nation’s president, has threatened that Russia may soon cut off the West from food exports.
 
#14 On Friday, it was announced that another 5 million egg-laying chickens in Iowa would have to be put down because of the bird flu.
 
#15 The death toll from the bird flu in Iowa alone will be pushed beyond 13 million as a result of this latest incident.
 
#16 Overall, this is what the total national death toll from the bird flu currently looks like: “22 million egg-laying chickens, 1.8 million broiler chickens, 1.9 million pullet and other commercial chickens, and 1.9 million turkeys”.
 
#17 China’s agricultural minister has announced that the winter wheat harvest in China could be “the worst in history”.
 
#18 We are being warned that the winter wheat harvest in the United States will be “disastrous” due to severe drought.
 
#19 During a recent interview, one prominent U.S. farmer stated that most Americans won’t like it when “your grocery bill is up $1,000.00 a month”.
 
#20 The head of the UN World Food program says that what the planet is now facing is unlike anything that we have seen since World War II…
 
“Ukraine has only compounded a catastrophe on top of a catastrophe,” said David M. Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Program, the United Nations agency that feeds 125 million people a day. “There is no precedent even close to this since World War II.”
 
We have been warned over and over again that this day was coming, and now it is here.
 
Like I said at the beginning of this article, I hope that you will share this information with as many people as possible, because this crisis really is going to affect every man, woman and child on the entire planet.
 
In my entire lifetime, I have never seen anything like this, and conditions are getting worse with each passing day.
 
A truly nightmarish global food crisis really is upon us, and hundreds of millions of innocent people are going to deeply suffer as a result.

 


 
Born in a Manger, Crucified on a Cross - Nathele Grahams - [email protected]
 
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
 
Holidays come and go and we mostly follow traditions without thinking of what they are truly about. For instance, Christmas comes around and we get in a gift buying frenzy. We decorate our houses with trees and ornaments, put lights on the outside of our homes and city streets. We sing Christmas songs like “Deck the Halls”, and “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”, and obey the secular humanists by being very careful not to say Merry Christmas. I for one like to say “Merry Christmas”, because my Saviour was born and that’s what I celebrate. School children and teachers have a two-week vacation for “winter break”. When I was growing up it was called Christmas Vacation. We easily forget our Lord and Saviour who stepped into His creation to offer salvation to lost and sinful people who are dead in their sins. Sadly, many Christians fail to honor Him by celebrating His birth. It’s just a busy time of year filled with baking candy and cookies, buying gifts for family, friends, and casual acquaintances so we don’t slight anybody. There’s nothing wrong with these traditions as long as they don’t replace Christ. “For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9: 6-7. We read that on many Christmas Cards, but seldom stop and really think about what it means. That’s quite a responsibility to be put upon and tiny baby, but Jesus Christ was willing.
 
Jesus was the one who spoke all things into existence. The Apostle John describes Him as “the Word”. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4. John lets us know that Jesus was God, and that He created everything. This refers back to Genesis chapter 1 where God spoke and all things were created. God loves His creation, even though we treat Him casually. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. It would have been wonderful to be one of those Jewish men, and women, who walked with Jesus, heard His teaching, and believed His words. Today we have the writings of some who followed Jesus and know that their words were given to them directly by the Holy Spirit. Scripture is God’s truth. That baby boy born in a manger in Bethlehem fulfilled hundreds of prophecies. Because of Him the entire world was changed. God was humbly born in a manger. Probably in the fields which Boaz (a picture-type of Jesus) owned and where he met Ruth (whom he took for a Gentile bride), and became the kinsman redeemer for Naomi (a Jewish widow). Read about these people in the Book of Ruth. Angels proclaimed Jesus’ birth to shepherds who were tending to the sheep which would be used in the Temple for sacrifices. About 30 years later, John the Baptist would see Jesus walking towards him and say “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. John the Baptist was a part of the Essenes, and from the Dead Sea Scrolls, we know that these people studied prophecy. John was one who was looking for the Messiah, and therefore recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God. Perhaps we need to study prophecy more.
 
If you stop and really think about God, who lives in Heaven, surrounded by love and praise, choosing to confine Himself to a human body, being fully God and fully human, and knowing that He was born to be the sacrificial lamb and shed His blood in order to bring salvation to humanity who were dead in sin, you will be very humbled. He grew from a baby, and experienced the same skinned knees and temptations as anybody. He had to learn to take those first baby steps before He could walk on water. What wonderous and amazing love He showed by becoming a part of His creation. When Adam chose to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, all of creation fell and death became reality. The separation of man from God was a choice Adam made. That separation can only be bridged by faith in Jesus Christ. Adam sinned, but God’s love never died. God is just, and Adam knew the penalty of his action. God had told Adam that by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil he would die. Adam ate it anyway, and death affected all of creation. God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Still, God’s mercy was shown to them “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21. In order to make coats of skins, blood had to be shed. Today, God’s word reveals that the only way to bridge the separation from God is by placing your faith in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
 
God demonstrated that blood had to be shed in order to cover sin. Thus, the example of sacrifice for sin. After Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden, they began having children. First Cain, then Abel. These two boys grew and had to make their own sacrifices to cover their sin. “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” Genesis 4:3. It seems as if Cain didn’t care much about God’s ways and did what was easiest for him. That’s never a good choice. On the other hand, Abel was obedient. “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” Genesis 4:4-5. Does this describe you? Do you give the least you can to God and expect Him to bless you? Maybe you need to honor God by your sacrifices rather than doing as little as possible to honor Him. Cain was very unhappy and directed his rage towards his brother and killed him. Shedding his brother’s blood was sin and was never an acceptable blood sacrifice. God does not require human blood to be shed. Except in one specific sacrifice: the blood shed by Jesus on the cross. Other than that, shedding human blood, whether in the womb or not, is sin.
 
As time passed, after Adams’ sin, God first called Abraham out of his pagan life, and he became the father of the Jewish nation…God’s chosen people. Through this nation, the world would be blessed. God gave them the Law. That law included animal sacrifices to cover sin. Those sacrifices could never take sin away. “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:2-3. The Jewish Law also provided for a kinsman redeemer. If a person lost something of value, then a near kinsman was able to redeem it. That kinsman had to be willing. Adam sinned and paradise was lost for all of creation. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was conceived by the Holy Spirit so He was fully God. Therefore, His blood was not tainted by Adam’s sin. He was also fully human, since His mother Mary, was merely a human woman, not a goddess or in any way anything but human. She was willing to do all she could to serve God. Christ willingly entered His creation knowing that He would shed His blood to take our sin away.
 
As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, consider how you honor Him. “Easter” is a pagan celebration based upon astrological positions of the sun and moon. The pagan celebration was all about fertility, represented by rabbits and eggs. These things have nothing to do with God’s sacrifice and His victory over death. As you hide colored eggs and eat chocolate bunnies, be sure to share the Gospel. What is that Gospel? The Apostle Paul spells it out. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Eggs and bunnies won’t bring you salvation, only faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
 
He was born in a manger, and crucified on a cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” John 3:16-17.
 
God bless you all,
Nathele Grahams
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com                                                 
www.prophecyupdate.com                                                   
www.raptureforums.com
 
All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.
 
If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know.

 


 
Daily Jot: The tragic comedy - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com
 
Barack Obama returned to the White House Tuesday for the first time since leaving office to join forces with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and yuck it up with each other in some sort of presentation over extension of socialist healthcare. You remember the Affordable Care Act—of “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor” fame. The act was passed in midnight darkness without one Republican vote, promising to lower health insurance. Well, it was all a lie. Doctors were not really retainable and healthcare insurance soared as the government took its chunk of change over and above. And with COVID many perished because of government mandated treatments that didn’t work. That’s Obamacare folks.
 
Nevertheless, these intrepid defenders of physical and mental health met at the White House for a jolly good reunion to pay homage to the 2010 passage of socialist healthcare. Harris introduced Obama, who took the podium and opened with, “Vice President Biden, Vice President (laughter)–that was a joke. (Applause.) (President Obama hugs President Biden.) That was all set up. (Laughter.) My President, Joe Biden; Vice President Harris…I confess I heard some changes have been made (laughter) by the current President, since I was last here. Apparently, Secret Service agents have to wear aviator glasses now. (Laughter.) The Navy Mess has been replaced by a Baskin Robbins. (Laughter.) And there’s, there’s a cat running around (laughter)–which I guarantee you Bo and Sunny would have been very unhappy about. (Laughter.)”
 
Obama tooted his own horn about all he and “Joe” accomplished and joked about how the socialist healthcare website didn’t work when it was launched. In fact, according to a TVEyes transcription software search at MSNBC, Obama used the words “I”, “I’m”, “me” and “my” 33 different times. Obama used the word “I” 20 times. Some things never change. So then Biden takes the podium and begins with, “My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Barack Obama’s Vice President. (Laughter and applause.) And I’m Jill Biden’s husband. (Laughter.) By the way, the only reason Jill is not here today: She’s working. (Laughter.) She’s teaching. And so I just want you to know that’s why she’s not here.
 
“Good afternoon, everyone. Mr. President, welcome back to the White House, man. It feels like the good old days. (Applause.) Being here with you brings back so many good memories. We just had lunch together, and we weren’t sure who was supposed to sit where.” We can only imagine the real reason Joe didn’t know where to sit. And so the publicity stunt continued with the news media laughing and applauding all the way. It would be funny except it is so tragic. These people, full of themselves, bragging on all they did. Yet the economy is in a shambles. There is no border security. And US foreign policy is an international laughing stock. Isaiah 2:12 says, “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.” That day cannot come soon enough.

 


 
Daily Devotion: The Tax Collector and the Pharisee - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org
 
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ —Luke 18:13
 
https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-tax-collector-and-the-pharisee/ - Listen
 
This may come as a surprise to some people, but God is not mad at sinners. Rather, God is mad about us. He loves us.
 
What angers God is when someone who thinks they’re spiritual or call themselves religious stand in the way of a sinner coming to believe. We find a story in the New Testament about a sinner who went to pray. This man was a tax collector, and tax collectors were not loved a lot in those days.
 
But there also was another person who went to pray that day, and he was a Pharisee. He said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:11 NKJV).
 
Interestingly, the King James Version describes him as praying “thus with himself” (verse 11). I think, in reality, that his prayers didn’t go any higher than the ceiling because that wasn’t a prayer to God; that was a boast.
 
Meanwhile, the man who knew he was a sinner simply said, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (verse 13 NKJV). Another way to translate it would be, “God be merciful to me, the sinner.” He knew who he was.
 
Jesus said of him, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (verse 14 NKJV.).
 
Really, for the Savior to forgive you of all your sin, that’s all you have to say: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” You can know with certainty that you will go to Heaven when you die. You can be ready for Christ’s return. You can enter into a relationship with the God in Heaven who loves you; the God in Heaven who has a plan for you.

 


 


 
FROM THE HEART
    
Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left,
Count for ALL of Eternity!

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