Church – We Need A Miracle

What Did Jesus Mean?

October 22, 2025October 23, 2025Ken

“He that is not against us is on our part” (Mark 9:40 KJV). Jesus had just responded to His disciples forbidding others from casting out demons in His name, who were not followers and colleagues of theirs. Jesus is not interested in building our human organizations; instead, He glories in raising up His Spiritual Kingdom. We are not to quantify support for Jesus simply by counting membership in our group or following, because we are only fellow laborers with the larger Body of Christ. We ought to pray as an organization for all the endeavors of the Body, whether we are familiar with the other members or not. Our power is not in the superiority of our numbers at any given location but our connection with the entire Body of Christ. “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad” (Matthew 12:3). Our understanding and emphasis must be upon our connection to Jesus.

Yes, we have more connection to Christ’s Body than possibly we have appreciated; but, do we have more connection to OT Israel than also we have realized? Before there was an Israel, back at the Beginning, at the time of the Fall, the battle lines were drawn, when the LORD announced the conflict between Satan “and the woman, and between thy [Satan’s] seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Israel and the Jews proclaim, “We have Abraham to our father” (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8); and likewise, the Church acknowledges Abraham’s parentage. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).

What connects Israel and the Church? The Messiah. It is Jesus, who proclaimed, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), and further made known, “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (14:9). Both Israel and the Church are peculiar to the Almighty. “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye [Israel] shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine” (Exodus 19:5). “But ye [the Church] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1Peter 2:9).

Israel’s current status is “unbelief” (Romans 11:20) and “blindness” (11:25) for the past 2,000 years. But, God’s choice or election of Israel is unconditional, “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (11:29). All of this is consistent with the “purpose of God according to election [that it] might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth” (9:11). On the other hand, God’s Church has also been called, chosen, or elected (Romans 8:28) to fulfill His purpose of fulfilling His promise to Abraham of gaining for Himself “many nations” (Genesis 17:4), even while Israel sleeps. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).

If both Israel and the Church are to “declare His glory among the heathen; His marvellous works among all nations” (1Chronicles 16:24), then the Church does not replace Israel but explains the conduct of Israel “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). The Church is only doing what Israel should have done, but without the baggage of the ceremonial, Mosaic Law. It would appear the Fulness of the Gentiles concludes at the Rapture or Harpazō of the Church (1Thessalonians 4:17), when the prophetic program of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) would recommence, concluding with the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16; 19:19-21), the Spiritual Rebirth of the Nation of Israel (Isaiah 66:8), and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to begin the Millennium (Revelation 19:15).

To be remembered, the all important outpouring of the Spirit of God that defines the essence of the Church (Acts 2:38) was originally promised to Israel (cf. Jeremiah 31:31). Finally, the Blessing will come home to Israel! “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Only by unbelief has Israel been sidelined, God using the Church to stir up Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11). That God’s election of Israel might stand, He will pour out His Spirit upon Israel in one day (Isaiah 66:11) and will work out all the elements upon the Nation that once had only been received by a small number of Jews 2,000 years earlier at Pentecost (Acts 2).

Father, bring about all Your will for Israel and Your Church that You may receive the honor and praise for so vast, mighty, wise, and loving a work. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Pushing a String

October 7, 2025Ken

“You say, We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone. But what you have in mind will never happen” (Ezekiel 20:32 NIV). A friend of mine would often use the expression, pushing a string, when speaking of an impossibility. Ancient Israel was never intended by Yahweh to be anything but a Peculiar People and Treasure for the LORD (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18; Psalm 135:4). “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV). Almighty God never intended Israel to be replaced by the Church (Romans 11:1); however, “the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:8). Though Israel was politically resurrected from the dead in 1948, it will be spiritually given rebirth at the Second Coming of the Messiah. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). LORD, hasten the day when Your Church is Raptured Home to You that the events of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:24-27) may unfold and Israel will be finally saved at Your Son’s triumphant return at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Importance of the Rapture

March 21, 2025April 23, 2025Ken

Perhaps the most difficult doctrine to believe is the Rapture of the Church. If you can believe Israel was prophesied a coming Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Daniel 9:26), then you can believe the Church has been promised a Second Coming of that same Messiah. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 KJV). But, is that a picture of the Rapture? No, it is not the Rapture. Then, what is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are two separate events. Read on to see the difference.

[This is intended as a more comprehensive read. Scan ahead to see how long. Come back later and examine the pivotal design of the Rapture.]

Question: What Scripture depicts the Rapture best?

Answer: The Rapture (Greek, harpazō) is described best in First Thessalonians 4:16-17: “16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, caught up, violently but firmly plucked] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Rapture and Resurrection are without debate, placed together by the LORD. This cannot simply be at the point of death of the individual saint. Prophecy demands more. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2).

Christ’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) portrays the Rapture of the Bride of Christ:

(1) In the Jewish custom, a marriage was contracted by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, where the parents of the bridegroom would pay a dowry to the parents of the bride. “Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest [Greek, arrhabōn, pledge, downpayment] of the Spirit” (2Corinthians 5:5). The Father has given His Holy Spirit as the downpayment for us to be His Son’s “bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Revelation 21:9). Both the “Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (22:17). Before the Rapture is consummated, there is opportunity for the Bride of Christ to be spiritually enlarged by new members of the Body of Christ.

(2) The betrothal of the Bride came through God saving us by the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 19). We are now in the stage of awaiting the Bridegroom to come for us. “Which is the earnest [downpayment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14). Though the actual coming of the Bridegroom is indeterminate, it is at hand, so the Bride must be careful to be ready. Christ’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25) depicts the Wise Virgins as those who are ready, and the Unwise Virgins as those who were foolishly unprepared. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). Readiness involves believing and walking “in the light” (John 12:36; 1John 2:7) free of known sin, and conducting our Master’s “business” (Luke 2:49).

(3) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb would be the next stage of the Jewish ceremony; however, even before the actual Marriage Supper, the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10) or Bema Seat Judgment (2Corinthians 5:10) would seem to coincide with the opportunity to praise the Bride to be wedded and feted. “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 [Greek, kakos, worthless]” (2Corinthians 5:10).

Question: You say you believe in the Resurrection of the Dead in Christ. When will the Marriage Supper of the Lamb take place, if the alive and remaining Christians are caught up “to meet the Lord in the air” (1Thessalonians 4:17), who then accompany Him to defeat the Antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), which is the Great Banquet of God (19:17 NET), feeding the flesh of the rebel kings to scavenger birds?

Answer: Scripturally, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) takes place directly before the Battle of Armageddon (19:16). What we know as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the Messiah’s return to defeat the Antichrist at Armageddon. “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16). The perceived difficulty is time. How can all these things take place? The answer is simple. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2Corinthians 5:8). We change from our present dimension to the dimension of eternity. Everything promised by God can easily take place, because time will have no restriction or effect upon the outcome. God can easily Rapture Christians prior to the Beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, conduct a Bema Seat Judgment, entertain the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, then complete the Second Coming Return at Armageddon, all within seven years. The catching up takes place before the Tribulation Week, while the completion of the Second Coming takes place at the End of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27).

Significance of the Rapture

First, the Literal Interpretation of the Word of God is the foundation of all doctrine, much less the Rapture. To be clear, the Literal Interpretation of the Word of God does not deny the use of figurative, parabolic, or poetic language; but, it insists that God is to be taken at His Word, meaning what He says, and saying what He means, as we allow for any other person. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good” (Numbers 23:19). God’s Word is absolutely efficient in accomplishing everything He says. “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

As the amillennialists, who deny a literal Millennium is intended by the words “thousand years” (Revelation 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7); because Peter used the comparative, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Peter 3:8); would they also fail to see the literalness of the Psalmist’s use of ‘thousand’ in Psalm 84? “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). The Psalmist did not demand a ‘thousand’ to be the equivalent of a single ‘day.’ Neither should we force Peter to promote a ‘thousand years’ to mean only a day. Nor should we conclude John’s use of ‘thousand years’ to also mean only one day. “The premillennial return of Christ to institute a literal kingdom is the outcome of the literal method of interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies. It is only natural, therefore, that the same basic method of interpretation must be employed in our interpretation of the rapture question. It would be most illogical to build a premillennial system on a literal method and then depart from that method in consideration of the related questions. It can easily be seen that the literal method of interpretation demands a pretribulation rapture of the church” (p. 193, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (1965), J. Dwight Pentecost).

Second, the Doctrine of Imminency (coming at any moment) to deliver the Righteous, at Christ’s return for us, is reinforced with the Rapture, i.e., the Pre-Tribulational Rapture prior to the onset of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26). As far as can be known, the Rapture is the next thing that must be accomplished before the Tribulation Week can begin. “Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 1:7). “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5). “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “The Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). “I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20).

Third, a promise of judging the earth without harming the godly (as in Lot’s deliverance from Sodom) is the promise to be kept from the ‘hour of temptation’ — not simply overcoming temptation (1Corinthians 10:13) — was and is promised to the Church of Philadelphia, of whom Christ said, “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” (Revelation 3:10). Why such a magnanimous promise? Because He is the Most Generous Master and an Utterly Capable Judge. “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word [obedience], and hast not denied My name [faithfulness]” (3:8). Oh, to be counted among that number!

Fourth, pray that you would be worthy to escape all the events of the Tribulation Week, as a testament to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). Though Pre-Tribulation Rapture adherents defend the concept of salvation by grace through faith, they must consistently abide by the literalness of Christ’s Luke 21:36 commandment with promise to watch and pray that we “may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (21:36), i.e., through a Pre-Tribulational Rapture. Remember, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

Fifth, our hope is in the Lord (Psalm 146:5), but thank God, He has emboldened us through His promise of Rapture and Deliverance, as we see the disintegration of the world around us. “But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves” (2Timothy 3:13 NET). We shrink not from admitting the boldness and hope produced by the Doctrine of the Rapture. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Sixth, the Rapture solves a problem, not viewed by most as a problem. How does flesh and blood inherit eternity? Well, of course, God simply makes it to happen, when it is needed. Quite correct. But, can the Rapture be such an obvious solution? “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1Corinthians 15:50-53). The Rapture is the means to accomplish this inheriting eternity “in the twinkling of an eye” (15:52). Thank you, Chuck Missler, for reminding of this thought (from The Rapture: Christianity’s Most Preposterous Belief).

Seventh, the Church Age ends where Daniel’s Seventieth Week starts again. Most prophetic confusion comes from mixing or replacing the Church for Israel. When Scripture explicitly grants the New Covenant, made to Israel (Ezekiel 36:27) to be inherited also by the Gentiles, then no confusion takes place. But, when Daniel’s Seventieth Week begins, the Church Age has ended, since the Church has departed in the Pre-Tribulational Rapture. So, the Rapture returns the focus to Israel, who has been blinded since their rejection of Messiah Jesus (Romans 11:25). “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not” (Matthew 23:37).

Eighth, no Resurrection without the Rapture, and no Rapture without the Resurrection. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Debates about the Rapture would be reduced or eliminated, if the timing of the Rapture had to coincide with the Resurrection, which is what the above Sixth Point references.

Ninth, no Church in the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and no Seventieth Week of Daniel with the Church. Ekklēsia (Greek, church) does not appear outside of Christ’s Seven Letters to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3, except in the plural (22:16) as part of the epilogue at the end of the Revelation. The Church is absent from the discussions of the remaining 19 chapters of the Book of Revelation. Why? Because the Church has been Raptured. Immediately after the invitation given to the Church of Laodicea, the door promised to the faithful Church of Philadelphia, is offered even to Lukewarm Laodicea, of whom nothing good is said. To Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Notice, immediately after the invitation is given to Lukewarm Laodicea, Revelation 4:1 begins with, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1).

No guarantee that any or all Lukewarm Professors of the Christian Religion repented of their lukewarmness, but it is notable that Christ cared enough to make the offer, to make it with the same door of deliverance from the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” (3:10), then He opens the door with the Rapture. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (4:1). Also, notice the phrase, “Come Up Hither” (4:1), coinciding with a Pre-Tribulational Rapture, appears again in the Resurrection of the Two Witnesses, when they are Raptured into Heaven in the presence of the entire world (11:12). The Two Witnesses are first resurrected from the dead, then they are raptured; so, understandably, some term this a Pre-Wrath Rapture. And, their Enoch-like (OT, previously translated without physical death), Moses-like (called down plagues on Egypt), or Elijah-like (OT, previously translated without physical death) ministry of calling down judgments upon the earth are immediately positioned before the Seventh Trumpet Judgment (11:15). But still, notice the absence of the Church in the Tribulation.

Tenth, the Rapture of the Church accomplishes what the Apostle Paul said, “I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you” (Romans 10:19). In other words, the Gentile world, chiefly through the Church, will arouse the obstinate Jew to jealousy, because the Church escaped the Wrath of God of the Tribulation Week, which they now face. “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (11:11). Our Salvation and Rapture will ultimately provoke the Jew and Israel to jealousy and finally to repentance. This is part of God’s masterplan to win back Israel. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (11:33). Pray for all men; but especially, pray for the salvation of Israel. God most certainly will answer!

Eleventh, the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit will obviously be removed, when all the Spirit Indwelt people are removed at the Rapture. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will do so until He [the Holy Spirit] is taken out of the way” (2Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV). This will have the effect: (1) The right action promoted by the Holy Spirit with all humanity, will be felt less because the Christians are removed from the world, and (2) Satan will have to immediately offset this with “signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:8-9). Remember, the bizarreness and outlandishness of the imagination will be available to the Wicked One, since the Holy Spirit has withdrawn His people to represent truthful opposition to Antichrist’s lie, that He is the God of the Universe. “And then shall that Wicked [Antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him [Antichrist], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:8-9).

Twelfth, the Rapture clearly distinguishes between Israel and the Church. The initial difficulty of the Apostles to comprehend the nature and scope of their present circumstances, i.e., do you need to become a Jew first before you become a Christian, illustrated the learning necessary to function in this Church Age. Debate as to who is “in Jesus” (1Thessalonians 4:14) or “in Christ” (4:16) “which are alive and remain” (4:17), are determined by our appreciation of the nature of faith. But, Spiritual Israel is now part of the Spiritual Church. Paul understandably answered the concerns of the Early Church over the reluctance of the nation of the Jews to admit Jesus to be their Messiah. Israel is temporarily relegated to a status of Blindness — but, not forgotten. “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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). The Rapture is about the Church. The Second Coming is more about Israel. “And His [Messiah Jesus] feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:4).

NOTE: I have previously posted representing the Rapture as only a part of the Second Coming, which is more attractive to those who barely admit to the Rapture as an eschatological event. However, I would like to correct that emphasis. The Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:17) is a distinct and separate event from the Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-21), and both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Antichrist are well aware of the difference. A time separation between the two events of about seven years of a Tribulation Week (Daniel 9:24-27, especially v. 27) is sufficient for the prophesied events of Revelation 4 through 19 to take place. The Rapture is a Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13) for the Saints Departed and the Church Remaining to be reunited and gathered to their Lord, while the Second Coming is a fearful time of judgment and “fiery indignation” (Hebrews 9:27) upon those, who reject the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Honesty compels me to change my position, as often as I receive increased light or understanding to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18).

Father, Your plans for the Church are “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). Thank You for showing us how we rightly have this Blessed Hope of the Rapture. Fortify us that we may be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as [we] know that [our] labour is not in vain in the [You]” (1Corinthians 15:58). Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God’s Strange Work

February 24, 2025February 12, 2025Ken

It is strange work, when God must deal with His people in the same way He treated their enemies in times past. “For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act” (Isaiah 28:21 KJV). It is “strange work” (28:21) for God to turn on His own people. It was formerly at Mount Perazim that the LORD gave David victory over the Philistines (2Samuel 5:20). And, at Gibeon, Jehovah gave victory to Joshua over a confederation of kings (Joshua 10:10), but now He will perform a work that “ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Habakkuk 1:5). Israel will lose its military engagements. Why? Because of the wickedness of Israel’s conduct, God will allow Israel’s enemies to treacherously abuse and devour her (1:13).

By doctrine and tradition, both Israel and the Church have so absorbed the idea of their national and moral invincibility, they have forgotten what God requires of them to maintain that invincibility. “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). God will always find a way to deal with His people, though He will treat His people in the same way He dealt with their enemies in times past.

Father, it is You who are faithful to the uttermost, not we. You have never abandoned the kindness of Your Word of promise to Your people. But, You are to be exalted in Your work, Your strange work for dealing with our unfaithfulness. May You be praised for the wisdom of Your love in judging us. And, may You be held in the highest esteem for all Your actions regarding us. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen.

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 3)

September 14, 2024September 3, 2024Ken

The Rapture is possibly the most controversial and studiously ignored issue of the Church at present, “in the fulness of the time”(Galatians 4:4 KJV), simply because it represents the culmination of our Master’s End Times strategy to tie together all the disparate issues of the Church, as well as, addressing all the clear and present circumstances of the Almighty’s Unseen Realm. Consider that the LORD’s supernatural enemy has been preparing for the departure event of the my Rapture from ancient times, especially since Enoch and Elijah (Genesis 5:24; 2Kings 2:11) were translated, to the enemy’s horror, and to their inability to explain away the Almighty’s ability to control the narrative.

The necessity of the enemy explaining the disappearance of even a large minority of earth’s population involves carefully Articulating What the Crowd Already Believes:

First, justice from the supernatural. The suggestion of a Nephilim hybrid of angels with human females — “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4 ESV) — is rejected by most respectable, scholarly, biblical interpreters, yet most all historical human cultures have mythical traditions of such supernatural interaction with humanity, down to Hollywood’s incarnation of superheroes. What modern moviegoer doesn’t want to believe in justice finally from the supernatural?

Second, fascination with the supernatural. Christian theology typically explains demon possession as simply bad actor fallen angels spiritually and physically molesting us. What if we more precisely defined demons as the disembodied spirits of the multitudes of Nephilim destroyed in a worldwide flood of Noah (Genesis 6-8)? “So the devils besought Him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine” (Matthew 8:31 KJV). Much of the modern fascination with witchcraft, the demonic, poltergeists, etc. is based upon what the world believes is true, or is afraid to think is true.

Third, making things right through the supernatural. The fabric of the adversary’s explanation for the Rapture will unavoidably delve into the realm of UFO’s, since the Antichrist [a Nephilim] will supernaturally accomplish peace for Israel sufficient to allow for the building of a Third Jewish Temple, a presently unthinkable event. “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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2Thessalonians 2:3-4). Just as humanity senses a need for world justice, what human wouldn’t object to reaching out to the divinity in us all?

Summary of the Enemy’s Response to the Rapture. Lie. What’s the most direct strategy for the enemy to deal with the Rapture? Lie. The devil “is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). His Nephilim protégé, the Antichrist, Is also a liar. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:9). Those “lying wonders” of Antichrist will include resurrecting from the dead. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast” (Revelation 13:3). But, the Big Lie — for which Antichrist will kill the Christians — will cause their refusal to worship him as God, seated in the Temple at the middle of the Tribulation Week (2Thessalonians 2:3-4).

When you consider that Bible prophecy is so diligently avoided by much of the respectable Christian ministry, is it any wonder the Church is so ill equipped to defend the actions of our Lord in Rapturing His Church?

LORD, may Your people awaken to the challenge of giving “an answer to every man that asketh [them] a reason of the hope that is in [then] with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15). May we be ready for Your appearing. May we hasten Your appearing. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Come quickly and rapture Your Church. Amen.

Explanation: Name of Jesus

July 19, 2024July 15, 2024Ken

The name of Jesus is powerful because Jesus saves us from the sin separating us from God, whose holiness frees us from the sin separating us from Jesus. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 KJV). The adversary hates the name of Jesus both because he loses followers, and he can no longer be saved from his own sins. Jesus, meaning ‘Jehovah is salvation,’ seeks to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). OT Israel had a limited view of salvation for the gentile world, just as the NT church has a limited view of salvation as only delivering us from the penalty of sin, but not from the necessity of having to sin. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:23). The “name of Jesus”: (1) is essential to “receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38), (2) was used for a lame man to “rise up and walk” (3:6), (3) was proclaimed, taught, spoken, and “preached boldly” by early disciples (4:10, 18; 5:40; 8:12; 9:27), and (4) was used to command a demon out of a fortune teller, “in the name of” (16:18). Why such critical importance for the “name of Jesus”? Because Jesus is the tip of the spear, the point of the arrow, the edge of the knife that defeats our true “adversary the devil” (1Peter 5:8), who tempts us to sin. But, of more importance, Jesus has promised to save us from ourselves. “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Either sin separates us from God or God separates us from sin. LORD, You are the God of Salvation, who is able to save “to the uttermost” them that come to You through the name of Jesus (Hebrews 7:25). We do not want to waste our time with gods many and lords many, but only You. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). In Jesus name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Rapture: The Blessed Hope

April 20, 2024March 17, 2024Ken

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV). Sure, I’d like to go, if there’s a Rapture, but how do you know it’s so? Harpazō is the NT Greek for catching up or rapture. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17). Here, harpazō is understandably connected with the “coming of the Lord” (4:15). We will be “caught up” (4:17) to the Lord in the air to reunite with our predeceased brothers and sisters before we all return with Christ. Harpazō also occurs in Revelation 12:5, where the “woman” (12:1), representing Israel, brings forth the Messiah, who is “caught up” (12:5) to the throne of God. Likewise, the Church as the Body of Christ will be raptured to Heaven, after which Israel will be forced to flee “into the wilderness” (12:6). May the Spirit of Christ “comfort” you (1Thessalonians 4:18) with these words, but let us not be impatient or contentious with one another, least of all, about the Rapture. “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29).

Preterism: Apocalypse Past

March 6, 2024April 22, 2024Ken

The following is more than a quick entry, but a modest attempt to outline a study of Bible Prophecy by comparing preterism with dispensationalism.

Preterism or hyperpreterism (preter, Latin, past) is the position that all prophecy in Scripture has already happened, that is, all prophecies have played themselves out in the first century, specifically, when the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. Partial preterism modifies this to mean, the already fulfilled prophecies in Daniel, Matthew 24, and all of the Book of Revelation (except perhaps the last three chapters containing reference to the New Heavens and New Earth). An observation and opinion: Like modern dispensational prophecy teachers, when they modify interpretations to fit obviously failed predictions, partial preterists have done much the same to fit the context of the times, but on a much more limited scale. Remember, preterism maintains the Second Coming of Jesus Christ has already occurred, which is believed by Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well. Sadly, bitter disdain and uncharitable impatience often mark the rivalry of preterists and dispensationalists. Both the hyper-literal and hyper-figurative interpreters must learn to show the restraint of charity to one another, for “by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

So, what is the purpose of predictive prophecy? Why does a God who lives outside the boundaries of time and space share so volatile and combustible information, as what will take place in our part of the time space continuum? After all, if mortal man gets a copy of tomorrow’s news, he’ll engage in insider trading, discontinue preparing his children for the future, accumulate survival supplies and equipment, and spend his time online accumulating current events proving his assumptions. Or, perhaps it may result in longer vacations, better equipped outings, and earlier retirements without a great sense of need for others beyond a well earned rest from labor. J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy asserts that 27% of Scripture — one in every four verses — is predictive prophecy. What did the LORD say about predictive prophecy? “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Genesis 18:17). Since Abraham “was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23), it was only natural that God would share with Abraham what He was about to do. ‘Friends share with friends’ is what Jesus taught us. “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15).

“No question facing the student of Eschatology is more important than the question of the method to be employed in the interpretation of prophetic Scriptures,” J. Dwight Pentecost (dispensationalist, Dallas Theological Seminary) began Things To Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (1958). He found the main difference between the positions in biblical eschatology, which is the study of last things, is a literal as opposed to a more figurative, allegorical interpretation. A common axiom of hermeneutical interpretation is: “When the plain sense does not make common sense, then seek another sense.” In other words, take God’s Word at face value, much as you would take anyone else’s words. “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

For better understanding, dispensationalism is a theological system emphasizing a literal interpretation of Bible prophecy, recognizing a distinction between Israel and the Church, and organizing the Bible into different dispensations or administrations. Oikonomia is translated as dispensation, stewardship, and administration: “If ye have heard of the dispensation [oikonomia] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” (Ephesians 3:2 KJV), “stewardship” (3:2 ESV), and “administration” (3:2 NIV). Dispensationalism results in a premillennial interpretation of Christ’s Second Coming and usually a pretribulational interpretation of the rapture.

To a dispensational interpretation of Bible prophecy, our brothers and sisters at our non-fundamentalist universities and seminaries, may take exception, insisting that without a proper understanding of the Near Eastern mindset of the times and people to whom the Scriptures were originally addressed, we may not fully understand the Scriptures. In other words, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, the debate on the integrity of manuscripts, OT and NT times cultural ambiguities, and the complications of eschatology may require more than the plain reading of the English text of Scripture. This is completely understandable: (1) for ordinary disciples possess not the ability to translate the original texts, (2) must trust the integrity of biblical translators, and (3) may be profited by understanding the cultural, historical, and geographical context of OT and NT times.

However, to both the preterist and dispensationalist interpreters, we must remember, comprehending Scripture is more than understanding everyday speech or obtaining academic acumen, it is God communicating with humankind, where He will find the most direct way to commune with those created in His image. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1Thessalonians 2:13).

I believe the best solution for both the preterist and dispensationalist is to rely upon the Holy Spirit to teach us and manifest in us the person of Christ, who alone can perfectly commune with our Heavenly Father. This is the age old struggle spanning Old and New Covenants. Consider that: (1) From the beginning, heartfelt obedience has represented abiding love, i.e., “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27), (2) God’s Spirit working in us is the secret of subduing our iniquities, even before we get to Heaven, i.e., “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19), and (3) Our capacity to accomplish anything is totally reliant on the “power of Christ” (2Corinthians 12:9) working in and through us, more than figuratively or metaphorically, i.e., “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

If we do not find the “power of Christ” (2Corinthians 12:9) manifesting in us and working through us, then we are already losing the battle, which death will not cure. And, “if in this life only we [were to] have hope in Christ, we [still] are of all men most miserable” (1Corinthians 15:19).

Another dispensationalist, in his book, Every Prophecy of the Bible: Clear Explanations for Uncertain Times (1990), John F. Walvoord wrote, “Most significant is the fact that half of these prophecies — five hundred of them — have already been literally fulfilled, establishing beyond any intellectual question that prophetic passages in the Bible were intended to be interpreted literally. The evidence is overwhelming that God means exactly what He says as prophecy after prophecy has already been fulfilled. When history runs its course, every prophecy will be fulfilled.”

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1Corinthians 2:4).

End Times Prophecies: Various Stages of Fulfillment (from The Essential Guide to Bible Prophecy).

Since “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2Peter 1:20 KJV), the fulfillment of each of the following prophecies is subject to your estimation of whether they have been, are, or will be fulfilled, but most of all, whether the “Spirit of Prophecy” (Revelation 19:10) agrees they have fulfilled their purpose.

Spread of the Gospel and growth of the Church

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14 KJV).

“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister” (Colossians 1:23).

Increase of wickedness and the spread of evil

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12 KJV).

“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2Timothy 3:1-5).

“3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2Peter 3:3-4).

“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces” (Daniel 7:23 KJV).

“17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts” (Jude 1:17-18).

Rise of false prophets and false religions

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1Timothy 4:1 KJV).

“4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:4-5, 24).

“1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2Peter 2:1-3).

“13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2Corinthians 11:13-14).

Continuation of the “Times of the Gentiles”

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24 KJV).

“1 I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:1, 5).

“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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

“6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished” (Daniel 12:6-7).

Return of Israel to the Land

“And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out” (Ezekiel 20:34 KJV).

“12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 14 And shall put My spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:12, 14).

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land” (Ezekiel 37:21).

“5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 43:5-6).

“And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them” (Amos 9:14).

Conflict in the Middle East

“20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:20, 22 KJV).

“1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee” (Ezekiel 38:1-2, 5-6).

“2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land. 9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:2, 9, 14).

“6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:6-7).

Rapture of the Church

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36 KJV).

“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” (John 14:3).

“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” (Revelation 3:10).

“1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2Thessalonians 2:1-2).

“16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17).

“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” (1Corinthians 15:51-52).

“4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4-5).

Marriage of Christ and the Church in Heaven

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7 KJV).

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2Corinthians 11:2).

“25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6).

Rise of the Antichrist and the False Prophet

“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; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 8 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” (2Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8 KJV).

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1John 2:22).

“1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea [the Antichrist], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him” (Revelation 13:1-4).

“11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth [False Prophet]; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast [the Antichrist] before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:11-12, 14-18).

Development of a Global Economy

“16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17 KJV).

“3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived” (Revelation 18:3, 11-12, 23).

Formation of a World Government

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12).

“1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:1, 15, 18).

Sense of False Peace and Security

“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14 KJV).

“2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1Thessalonians 5:2-3).

Natural and Supernatural Weapons of Mass Destruction

“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword” (Revelation 6:4 KJV).

“12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places” (Revelation 6:12-14).

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2Peter 3:10).

“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up” (Revelation 8:7).

“16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:16-18).

Environmental Disasters

“8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise” (Revelation 8:8-12 KJV).

“2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give Him glory” (Revelation 16:2-4, 8-9).

Judgments of the Tribulation Period

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1 KJV).

“14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land” (Zephaniah 1:14-15, 18).

“21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).

“1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again” (Isaiah 24:1, 19-20).

“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1Thessalonians 5:1-3).

“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 6:16-17).

Conversion of Israel

“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8 KJV).

“7 So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken” (Ezekiel 39:7-8).

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).

“1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 6 And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends” (Zechariah 13:1, 6).

“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 fulness 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).

“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 7:4).

Battle of Armageddon

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16 KJV).

“1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left” (Isaiah 24:1, 6).

“2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter. 3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood” (Isaiah 34:2-3).

“12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour” (Zechariah 14:12-13).

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

Fall of Babylon

“2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come” (Revelation 18:2, 7-10 KJV).

“And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Revelation 18:21).

Judgment Seat of Christ

“10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10, 12 KJV).

“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” (2Corinthians 5:10).

“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” (1Corinthians 3:13-15).

“7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love Hs appearing” (2Timothy 4:7-8).

Triumphal Return of Christ and His Church

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV).

“25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:25-28).

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

“3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. 4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3-4).

“1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:1, 3-4).

“14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:14-16).

“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. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

Judgment of the Nations

“1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land” (Joel 3:1-2 KJV).

“31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: 32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:31-34, 41).

Millennial Kingdom

“1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

“2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

“6 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. 7 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).

Great White Throne Judgment

“7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:7-15 KJV).

New Heavens and New Earth

“17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (Isaiah 65:17-19 KJV).

“1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word” (Isaiah 66:1-2).

“1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:1-2, 9-11, 22-23).

Eternal State

“2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:2-3 KJV).

“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” (Isaiah 26:19).

“25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this” (John 11:25-26).

“24 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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” (1Corinthians 15:24-26, 54).

“1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: 4 And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

“3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

For those who have read or scanned this to the end, I have provided a link to a presentation by Dr. Chuck Missler (1934-2018), a well known Bible prophecy teacher, concerning The End Times Scenario (53:22) — a K-House TV production. Missler’s graphical Bible talk gives another avenue of understanding the basics of Bible Prophecy.

Father, grant us the teaching of the Spirit of Christ that we may understand Your plan for the Ages, our cooperation with You in the Church, and our personal involvement to fulfill our individual destinies. Especially, grant us your promised blessing, as we “read,” “hear,” and “keep” the things we understand from the Book of Revelation (1:3). In the All Powerful Name of Jesus we pray. Amen and amen.

Scoffers and Shirkers

December 29, 2023November 26, 2023Ken

Outside the Kingdom of God , scoffers attack the credibility and authenticity of Christianity. Inside the Professed Church, shirkers do whatever possible to keep their hope of Heaven, while doing as little as possible to differentiate themselves from the world. “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken” (Luke 12:45 KJV). Bible prophecy should warn the world to put their house in order, Jesus is coming. The Church must keep their eyes on Jesus and not look back to the flesh pots of Egypt. “Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full” (Exodus 16:3 KJV). Delaying Christ’s coming means different things to different people.

Prayer and Fasting

November 30, 2023November 26, 2023Ken

Diogenes looked for an honest man, but can one be found without the baggage of past sins? Jesus diagnosed His disciples’ failure to cast out a demon. “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29 KJV). Forgotten wrongs by family members, church members, community members, or members of a nation, must be acknowledged, confessed, repented of, forgiveness given (if being withheld), and restitution made (where possible), before God can bless. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6 KJV).