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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Why God’s Holy Spirit MUST Depart Prior To the 7-Year Tribulation – Bill Perkins – www.compass.org
Understanding the ramifications of a seemingly insignificant comment at Jesus’ last Bible study with His Apostles at the Last Supper When Jesus was just hours away from His crucifixion, He taught His last Bible study with His Apostles at what is referred to as the Last Supper. The Apostles had gathered at Jesus’ instruction in an “Upper Room” inside the southern walls of the city of Jerusalem near the Essene Gate. Jesus knew His crucifixion was destined for Him the next day—and it was a difficult death. But His focus was teaching several topics to His Apostles before allowing Himself to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. This Bible study must have been quite the dissertation by the Creator of the universe as He gave last instructions to the 12 men who knew Him best. Still in the dark about what was going on, the 12 settled in for the long Passover meal with Jesus as the host. Based on the content Jesus covered that night, it was probably the greatest Bible study He ever taught. Most of the doctrinal points He espoused are well-known to Believers today, but most Christians don’t realize all this was from His last Bible study. The following is a partial list of major Biblical topics covered by Jesus the night before His faithful execution. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;” John 14:2 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again”… John 14:3a …“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;” John 14:7a “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;…” John 14:11a “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 “…love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 “You did not choose Me but I chose you,…” John 15:16a “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18 “I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:19b “…A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;” John 15:20b “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” John 15:23 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 “…if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.” John 16:23b I’m sure to the Apostles, hearing all that in one Bible study felt like they were trying to drink out of a fire hydrant! And again, that’s only a partial list of what Jesus taught that night. But there was one more statement to His disciples that night. Referring to His death, resurrection and ascension, He said: “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7 Jesus said if He didn’t go away God’s Holy Spirit could not come to earth to indwell Believers. Jesus said He had to leave for heaven first. Only then the Holy Spirit could come to earth to indwell Believers. And as promised, God’s Spirit arrived 50 days after Jesus’ Resurrection at Pentecost, first falling on the 12 Apostles.(2) The time of the Holy Spirit indwelling Believers on earth is called the Church Age. When God’s Holy Spirit departs, that ends the Church Age. Now, since Jesus had to first depart before the Holy Spirit could come to earth, for Jesus to return to the earth to reign as King, God’s Holy Spirit must be removed from earth. God says “I will never leave you” (Heb. 13:5b). That means when He goes, Believers go with Him. We call that the Rapture.(1Cor. 15:51,52; 1Thes. 4:16,17) Why? But the question arises, since Jesus doesn’t come to earth to reign as king until the end of the Tribulation, why does God’s Spirit depart prior to the 7 years? Obviously part of the answer is since Believers are not appointed to wrath, God takes us off the earth prior to His wrath, which is unleashed in horrible divine judgment on non-Believers. Persecution happens to Christians worldwide every day. But God’s wrath is beyond anything we can imagine. Noah’s flood is an example of God’s wrath. But we also find there’s more to the answer about God’s Spirit departing in Revelation 7 and 14. In Revelation 7, we see 144,000 Jews being set apart and marked on their foreheads. It concludes with those Jews crying out: and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Rev. 7:10 These 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of Israel’s tribes (so much for the 10 lost tribes theory) are crying out praise to the LAMB, which of course is Jesus. In Revelation 14, we get a little more clarity about what’s going on with the 144,000: Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb [Jesus] was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. Rev. 14:1 Here we see Jesus on the earth, post-Rapture, and during the Tribulation. For Him to be there, the Holy Spirit had to have already departed at the Rapture. In the past we've shown the identity of these 144,000 Jewish male virgins who we refer to today as Rabbinical Jews.(1) Pre-Rapture, these Rabbinical Jews are a unique group. They don’t touch a woman until marriage, wear all black, are quite zealous for God and spend their days pouring over the Old Testament Scriptures from cover to cover. But they are spiritually blinded by God from understanding that the Jews crucified God’s Son, their Messiah, 2000 years ago. “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM.” John 12:40/Is.6:10 Imagine that scene on Mount Zion in Jerusalem when Jesus reveals Himself to them. They will immediately realize their forefathers had done the unthinkable and murdered their God-sent Messiah. Knowing well their Holy Scriptures, they will immediately understand Isaiah 53 and be cut to the bone. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. Is. 53:5 With all the Messianic Scriptures coming to life, the realization that their forefathers had killed their Messiah will cause crushing emotional pain. “…they will look on Me whom they have pierced [Hebrew means literally “pierced to death”]; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” Zech 12:10 Standing face to face with their risen Messiah, the coin will drop when they see the five (God's number for "grace") visible scars on the hands and feet which were pierced during His crucifixion. When Jesus lifts the veil, these new Believers will undoubtedly begin pouring over the God-inspired New Testament accounts of Jesus and the Epistles. These 144,000 will then become even more zealous for God… because they now will have Messianic understanding. As the Scriptures roar to life, they’ll be brokenhearted and overjoyed, all at the same time. Most Bible scholars believe they will become world evangelists. They apparently will all be in Jerusalem in the middle of the Tribulation when the Abomination of Desolation trigger-point happens (Matt. 24:15-21). Protected by God, the 144,000 will be in the group that escapes death by running to the wilderness.(2) All of this happens because the Holy Spirit was removed, along with His Believers, before the Rapture. Then and only then could Jesus come back to the earth to personally teach them during the Tribulation. This dispensational Bible truth of Jesus being on the Mount of Olives teaching the Rabbinical Jews during the 7-year Tribulation torpedoes any notion of a mid- or post-Tribulation Rapture. So rest in the fact that although Believers may be persecuted on this earth, God will whisk away those who are alive before His judgmental wrath is unleashed on an unsuspecting earth. His wrath on those left behind after the Rapture will be dumbfounding and painful to endure. I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth [Biden, Trudeau, Merkel, Johnson, et al.] and the great men [George Soros, Schumer, Pelosi, Clintons] and the commanders [Colin Powell, et al.] and the rich [Gates, Fauci, et al.] and the strong [Non-patriot players in the NFL, NBA, Olympics et al.] and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne [Jesus], and from the wrath of the Lamb [Jesus]; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Rev. 6:12-17 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. Rev. 9:6 That sounds awful! But Believers are comforted knowing that we will be raptured away PRIOR to His wrath that’s definitely coming on this wicked earth. PTL! Shalom! BP References: 1) https://compass.org/article-who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/ 2) https://compass.org/article-petra-prepared-by-god/ The Prophecies to Prepare for NOW? - By Bill Salus - www.prophecydepot.com (Article taken from The Pre-Tribulation Prophecies: A Prophetic Documentary) Presently, many people have become disenchanted with the fake news that influences the secular world view. They are also becoming genuinely concerned by the unchecked Internet censorship that is beginning to shape the global narrative and frankly, they don’t know which mainstream media outlets or social networks to trust anymore. If you identify with these concerns, then you will be pleased to know that you do not need to rely upon the secular world view, but can learn and understand world events from a prophetic perspective. This article is intended to acquaint you with the top twenty prophecies to be on the lookout for. As you read them and review the brief descriptions about them, you will see that these biblical foretellings are covering topics that are often in today’s news. These are the ancient predictions that are about to roll off of their parchments soon and pound down on the world’s pavement. These are globally impacting events that could happen before the biblical Seven-Year Tribulation Period begins. If you are unfamiliar with the Tribulation Period, it represents the final seven years on this present earth’s timeline. According to the Bible this present earth has an expiration date and it seems to be drawing dangerously near. During this final period, God will pour out His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting humanity. Thus, the twenty prophecies in this article are aptly called, The Pre-Tribulation Prophecies. It’s important to note that it’s possible the Christian Church might actually witness the fulfillment of some of these perilous biblical predictions before it gets Raptured. There is an increased sense of urgency to understand the prophetic perspective because many Bible prophecy experts are warning that all of the end times signs are converging. The required technologies are developed, the apocalyptic weapons are fashioned, and the evil political leaders and their wicked national relationships are in place for every last days Bible prophecy to find fulfillment soon. The Pre-Tribulation Period Before identifying the specific prophecies, it’s helpful to explain what the Pre-Tribulation Period consists of. As the ten-stage timeline image points out, the Pre-Tribulation period includes the Church Age and the Post-Rapture / Pre-Tribulation Time Gap. The Church Age ends when the Rapture happens. Then mankind enters into a pre-tribulational interval period of unspecified time. Some biblical scholars suggest that this time gap could last for several years. This mysterious time gap concludes when the Seven-Year Tribulation Period begins. The Top Twenty Pre-Tribulation Prophecies to Prepare for… The top twenty Pre-Tribulation Prophecies and their related verses are listed below:
Also, another Pre-Tribulation scenario worth mentioning are the three seemingly connecting Gaza, (ancient Philistia), prophecies that appear to predict the elimination of Hamas in Psalm 83, Zephaniah 2:4-7 and Ezekiel 25:15-17. These are all globally impacting prophecies. Although some of them are centered in the Middle East, they will likely increase international terrorism, lead to worldwide oil and gas shortages, fuel economic collapses, provoke geo-political upheavals and result in unprecedented humanitarian calamities. The top twenty Pre-Tribulation prophecies are the subject of a prophetic documentary produced by Thomas J Hughes ministries with Hope For Our Times and me. It is a 2-Disc DVD set that provides approximately 2 ½ hours of timely prophetic information. We encourage you to purchase a copy of this prophetic documentary to gain a greater awareness of what the future holds for you and your family. 5 Specific Reasons Why You Should Stockpile Food Right Now - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/5-specific-reasons-why-you-should-stockpile-food-right-now/ For decades, Americans have not needed to be concerned about food prices. Yes, prices would always go up by a little bit each year, but in general we have been extremely blessed for a very long time. Our supermarkets have always been packed with food, and we could always count on the fact that prices would be about the same a month or two down the road. Unfortunately, things are now changing, and not in a good way. A massive wave of inflation has hit agricultural commodities, and food producers have felt forced to pass those cost increases along to consumers. Unfortunately, many experts are anticipating that the price hikes that we are currently witnessing are just the beginning. So even though food prices have already become quite painful, they are never going to be any lower than they are at this moment. Looking forward, there are several factors that are likely to combine to cause food inflation to accelerate even more in the months ahead. The following are 5 specific reasons why you should stockpile food right now… #1 Supermarkets are feverishly stockpiling food, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that they are doing this in anticipation of “the highest price increases in recent memory”… Supermarkets are stocking up on everything from sugar to frozen meat before they get more pricey, girding for what some executives anticipate will be some of the highest price increases in recent memory. This only makes good business sense. If you can get inventory now for significantly less than you will be able to get it for later, that will help your bottom line. The Wall Street Journal is admitting that all of this stockpiling “is driving shortages of some staples”, but it is expected that these shortages will just be temporary. I can’t remember a time when we have seen anything quite like this. At this point, some companies are purchasing up to 25 percent more food than normal… David Smith, CEO of the US’s largest wholesaler Associated Wholesale Grocers, told the Wall Street Journal they have been buying 15 to 20 percent more goods – particularly packaged foods with long shelf lives. ‘We’re buying a lot of everything. Our inventories are up significantly over the same period last year,’ said Smith. At SpartanNash in Michigan, the retailer has bought up around 20 to 25 percent more than normal including frozen meat. #2 The U.S. government is going to continue recklessly spending money, and the Federal Reserve is going to keep pumping more giant mountains of fresh cash into the financial system. The Biden administration doesn’t seem to have an “off button”, and neither does the Fed. The U.S. national debt is moving up toward the 29 trillion dollar mark very rapidly, and the Fed’s balance sheet has more than doubled over the past year. Unless there is some sort of a dramatic reversal, and I don’t see why there would be, this continual flow of new money will continue to push food prices even higher. #3 Gas prices keep surging, and this is making it more expensive to transport food around the country. According to the AAA Gas Price Index, the average price of a gallon of gasoline is up 56 percent from what it was last May… Transport costs are also rising with gas prices rising 56 percent in May from a year ago. On Friday, the AAA Gas Price Index pegged the national average gas price at $3.086, up from $2.171 one year ago. #4 The endless “megadrought” in the western states just continues to intensify. If you look at the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, it is a horror show. We haven’t seen anything like this since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, and water levels are dropping dangerously low. For example, the water level in Great Salt Lake is expected to hit the lowest level in 170 years this summer… The lake’s levels are expected to hit a 170-year low this year. It comes as the drought has the U.S. West bracing for a brutal wildfire season and coping with already low reservoirs. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, has begged people to cut back on lawn watering and “pray for rain.” For the Great Salt Lake, though, it is only the latest challenge. People for years have been diverting water from rivers that flow into the lake to water crops and supply homes. Because the lake is shallow — about 35 feet (11 meters) at its deepest point — less water quickly translates to receding shorelines. Because there is not enough water, many farmers are having to dramatically reduce the amount of crops that they are growing. Small farmer Mindy Perkovich is only growing produce on one of her seven acres at this point, and she openly admits that she doesn’t know if she will even have enough water for that… Perkovich typically grows things like turnips, squash and tomatoes for the local market on seven acres. This season, though, she’s had to cut her crops down to less than a single acre. “We don’t know if we’re gonna have water to keep that alive,” she says. “Financially, I can’t really even express how dramatic it’s changed in the last couple years, water-wise, because without water, we can’t grow crops without crops, we have nothing to sell to our consumers.” Agricultural production in the western states will be lower than originally anticipated this year, and that will also put upward pressure on food prices in the coming months. #5 On top of everything else, an enormous plague of grasshoppers is now causing massive headaches for farmers in our western states. As I discussed on Sunday, the extremely hot and extremely dry conditions are perfect for grasshoppers, and they have been multiplying like crazy. In some areas, the swarms are so thick that “it can appear the earth is moving”, and there are times when the swarms are so large that they are actually appearing on radar. Seven states are being hit particularly hard, and the federal government is going to begin a large scale spraying campaign. The spraying may reduce the plague, but all of the experts agree that it will not stop it. Grasshoppers will continue to eat our crops on a massive scale for many months to come, and this is another factor that will be driving up food prices. So, to summarize, the outlook for the months ahead is rather bleak. A number of factors are going to combine to push prices significantly higher, and so if you can afford to stock up you should be doing so. Our leaders continue to insist that this bout of inflation is just “transitory”, and you can believe them if you like. But the truth is that high inflation is here to stay, and what we have experienced so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Spiritual Vision - By Grant Phillips - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/07/04/spiritual-vision-by-grant-phillips/ If we were to take a spiritual eye exam, what would the Great Physician tell us of our vision? Would we need spiritual glasses to improve our vision at a distance or close up, or is our spiritual vision at 20/20? Most of the world has a severe problem seeing at a distance … spiritually. They are spiritually nearsighted, in other words. What I mean by that is that there is little thought given to our eternal state, the far-off factor. We are only interested in what is happening in our lives today. The future can take care of itself … so we think. Only the wise realize there is an eternal state determined for every soul, and that eternal state may not be as far away as we think. It could be just around the corner. It could be today. The gamblers will take a chance. The wise will deal with it now. Even Christians, true born-again Christians, may need their spiritual vision corrected. For example, some Christians want nothing to do with prophecy, even though about 30% of the Bible is prophecy. Others may concentrate only on prophecy and ignore the “Go ye therefore” command of our Lord. Jesus expects His followers to feed on all of His Word (100%), not just the portion we choose. God’s Word, the Bible, is not a buffet where we just pick and choose what appeals to us. For our spiritual vision to be 20/20, we need to see well at a distance and also close up. Going back to the eternal thought, consider that the Bible, in the King James Translation (KJV), uses the words eternal or everlasting a total of 144 times. Eternal and everlasting both come from the Greek word aionios. The definition of aionios is: without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be without beginning without end, never to cease, everlasting Since only God is “without beginning,” numbers one and two cannot apply to anyone other than God. Therefore, only number three concerns mankind. Every person born will spend eternity in one of two places after the physical life ends, either Heaven or Hell. Due to that Biblical fact, eternity (aionios #3 above) should be foremost in all our minds. Unfortunately, and sadly, that is rarely the case. Those without Christ are nearsighted when it comes to their soul. Their eyes are set on the here and now, and little if any thought is given to eternity. They live like they will never die and have to face their Creator, but none of us are exempt. They shrug God off and give little thought about what awaits them down the road. The clock ticks as time marches on, but what lies ahead is never brought into focus. Only the present matters. As little children who live from minute to minute, so are those who are only interested in this world and its siren call. What happens at the end of life is ignored, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: …” (Luke 12:20). The one who has placed his faith in Jesus looks off to eternity, knowing that life is short. He does not play the fool but considers the welfare of his soul. He looks down the corridor of time and knows he needs to secure his place in Heaven now and not depend on tomorrow. “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:13-17, NLT). Many will follow the broad road and never trust Jesus to save them. The future is too far off in the distance to look upon it, and today is just another day of misery in their fallen world. Nothing appeals to them, either in the present or down the road. They just exist. Only the wise have secured their eternal future by recognizing they are a sinner and asking Jesus for His saving grace. They have everything to look forward to, and they enjoy each day serving their Savior and Lord. They can say with the Apostle Paul, “I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (Philippians 1:23-24 NLT). How is our spiritual vision? Are we looking toward eternity, or are we too involved in this world to care? The worldly man mistakenly thinks the man of God must deny all pleasure while in the flesh to reap an everlasting life with God. If they only knew. Actually, the man of God will enjoy this life many times more with Jesus Christ living within him. The Godly man gets the best of both worlds, but the fool just doesn’t see it … until it’s too late. Following are just a few verses among many that each man, woman, boy and girl need to seriously consider: “And these shall go away into everlasting [aionios] punishment: but the righteous into life eternal [aionios]” (Matthew 25:46). If you do not have Jesus in your life, the never-ending punishment of hell awaits you. That can be resolved in an instant by simply recognizing that you are a sinner and need a Savior, and asking Jesus Christ to save you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting [aionios] life” (John 3:16). Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son, paid with His blood the price we will never be able to pay. We will not perish if we turn to Him, but instead, we will live forever with Him in Heaven. “Who shall be punished with everlasting [aionios] destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). To deny Jesus is to spend eternity apart from Him in hell. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting [aionios] life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). God is love, and He is also holy. No one can enter His presence unless they are 100% righteous. In Jesus, we can be just that because He clothes us with HIS righteousness. He will judge sin, but if we belong to Jesus, all of our sins are paid, and we will never be condemned. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal [aionios] life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This last verse is only dark and gloomy for those who refuse to come to Jesus and be saved. However, for those who follow Jesus Christ, there is nothing but joy. This age is quickly coming to an end. In just one heartbeat, we could be standing before Him. Don’t wait. Grant Phillips Email: [email protected] Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html Daily Jot: The keys to surviving these perilous times - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Many people have written and asked how they are to survive if the times continue to worsen. Many look at the terrible division among families, friends, neighbors and wonder what is to become of us. Many see the arrogance and lack of response of those they elected to govern and wonder if there is any hope for the future. Many see what is in front of them and are matching it with what they know of Bible prophecy. They understand the signs of the times. Yet they are curious about their very own survival in these days which seem to have one bad thing after another occur. Those who once had control of their lives–good jobs, a retirement, a home, security for the future–but no longer do, are questioning what next. There are two things that I believe we can do: 1) continue to be salt and light to the world, and 2) seek the most intimate and personal relationship with Father God through Jesus Christ as you possibly can. In these two things, there is hope eternal. We cannot stop the march of prophecy, but we can determine our place in it–both as individuals, and collectively as a nation. As individuals we can do the work that God has instructed us to do until his return. And if we are doing that work diligently and with the passion of Christ–we will be making changes in our nation one heart at a time. All the while, we need to be in the word, in prayer, seeking the Lord continuously. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” This means that while others put their trust in the things of the world that give them security and strength, we will trust in God for these things. The prophet Isaiah gives us a clear warning in Isaiah 31:1, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord.” You see there is strength, security and comfort found in the Lord that cannot be found in the worldly powers. Jesus said in Matthew 6:28-34, “…Consider the lilies of the field…That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, should he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Put your trust in God, not in what you see and hear, and be encouraged! Daily Devotion: Our Rescuer - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. —Revelation 3:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/our-rescuer/ - Listen As believers, we’re going to go through hardships. In fact, trials are part of the Christian life. James tells us to rejoice when we go through trials (see James 1:2–4). And Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT). But there is a difference between these and the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is a seven-year period that is coming upon the earth in which God will judge humanity. And as a Christian, I do not expect to go through that time. In 2 Peter 2, we find an argument that Peter laid down for the fact that Christ will deliver us from the Great Tribulation: “And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. . . . Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. . . . But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. . . . So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment” (verses 5–7, 9 NLT). Peter was saying, “Look, God delivered Noah and Lot. In the same way, Christ will come for His church before this judgment falls upon Earth.” It’s important to note that we cannot find any instance in the Scriptures where God, when He was judging nonbelievers, also poured out His judgment upon His people. They always were spared and delivered. God will protect His people. The Bible tells us, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NKJV). He will rescue us before this time of judgment comes. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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