The word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible, but it is a term used to describe the catching away of the saints of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The term “caught up” in 1 Th. 4:17 is also translated “pluck” (Jn. 10:28), “take by force” (Acts 23:10), and “pulling [out of the fire]” (Jude 23). It refers to a forceful seizing and a snatching away. It is used of the Spirit of God snatching away Philip after the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39). This is exactly what Christ will do to the New Testament believers before the onslaught of the Great Tribulation.
Notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
1. The Rapture is (1) a resurrection of the dead in Christ (v. 14-16), (2) a catching up and translation of the living New Testament saints (v. 17).
2. The dead in Christ are with Him in heaven (v. 14).
3. The Rapture is the believer’s hope (v. 13). It is what we are looking forward to.
4. The Rapture is certain. (a) It is as sure as Christ’s resurrection (v. 14). (b) It is the word of the Lord (v. 15).
5. The Rapture is a comfort (v. 18). If this translation did not occur until the end of the torments of the Great Tribulation, it certainly would not produce solace for the Christian standing on this side of the Tribulation.
6. The Rapture is before the day of the Lord’s wrath (5:1-5, 9).
This event is also described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.
2. The translation of the church-age saints is said to be a source of comfort and encouragement (1 Co. 15:58). Again, if this translation did not occur until the end of the torments of the Great Tribulation, it would not be a comfort.
Among those who believe in a literal Rapture of church-age saints, there are
three general positions. All of these pertain to the timing of the Rapture in relation to the Great Tribulation. The three views are (1) Pre-tribulational, meaning the church-age saints will be raptured before the Great Tribulation. (2) Mid-tribulational (also called Pre-wrath Rapture), meaning the church-age saints will go through the first half of the Tribulation. (3) Post-tribulational, meaning the church-age saints will go through the entire Tribulation period. THE EVIDENCE FOR THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTUREFor the following reasons we are convinced the Bible teaches a Pre-tribulational Rapture. In the following study, we are using the term “church” in a general, institutional sense:
1. CHURCH-AGE BELIEVERS ARE PROMISED SALVATION FROM WRATH (1 Th. 1:9-10; 5:1-9; Rom. 5:9; Rev. 3:10).
The Great Tribulation is expressly called the day of God’s wrath. Today the Lord is withholding His anger; He is seated upon a throne of grace, but the day approaches when He will take the seat of judgment. Then “
the day of his wrath” will be upon all the world (Ps. 110:5; Isa. 13:6-13; Rev. 6:16-17). It is true that in every century, Bible-believing churches have been subjected to persecution, but this is quite different from the Great Tribulation. The general persecutions of the saints are caused by the wrath of wicked men and the devil, whereas the seven-year Tribulation is a period especially pertaining to God’s wrath (Rev. 6:16-17; 14:10). Some feel that the church will not be saved out of the time of wrath, but will be saved through it. This cannot be true, since the Bible clearly reveals that those who are on earth during the Great Tribulation will not be delivered from wrath but will be overcome (Rev. 13:7). The Scriptures that promise church-age believers deliverance from wrath must refer to salvation out from the very presence of the wrath. Concerning the Great Tribulation, we are told that “as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Lk. 21:35). Therefore, church-age believers must either be physically removed from the earth, or they will be involved in the day of wrath. God promises removal. “… 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” (Rev. 3:10). This verse does not say that God will keep the church age saints through the temptation but from it.2. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO BE REMOVED BEFORE THE TRIBULATION (2 Th. 2:1-8).
In other passages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit is said to be the restrainer of sin (Ge. 6:3; Is. 59:19). The Holy Spirit came into the world in His present dispensation at Pentecost (Acts 2), when He came to empower the church for the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). He will remove the church-age believers before the time of God’s great wrath. This does not mean the Holy Spirit will not be present in the world at that time. He is God and is omnipresent. It means that He will not be present in the same sense that He is in this age.
3. CHURCH-AGE BELIEVERS ARE PROMISED MANSIONS IN HEAVEN (Jn. 14:1-3).
When the Lord Jesus returns to the earth at the end of the Tribulation, He sets up His Messianic kingdom. If the Rapture occurred at the end of the Tribulation, the promise to church-age believers pertaining to Heaven would not be fulfilled. Church-age believers are a heavenly people with a heavenly hope (Eph. 1; Ph. 3:20; Col. 3:1-3). Some dispensationalists teach that the church-age saints will live in heaven during the millennium. I believe they will live both in heaven and in earth. Jesus promised the apostles that they would reign with Him over Israel (Matt. 19:28).
4. THE TRANSLATION OF CHURCH-AGE SAINTS IS SAID TO BE IMMINENT (it could happen any time) whereas the Second Coming is said to be preceded by specific signs.
Christ taught this (Matthew 24:42, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:33). Paul taught it (Phil. 4:5; Titus 2:12-13). James taught it (Jam. 5:8-9). And Peter taught it (1 Pet. 4:7). The early Christians were living in expectation of Christ’s return (1 Th. 1:9-10). The apostle Paul instructed the church at Thessalonica that they did not need to heed signs and times, because the New Testament believer has been promised redemption from the “day of darkness” that shall overcome the whole world (1 Th. 5:1-9). The church is not waiting for the appearing of the Antichrist, but for the redemption of the Son of God.
5. THE CHURCH IS A MYSTERY UNREVEALED IN THE Old TESTAMENT (Eph. 3:1-11).
The New Testament church has no part in the chronology of events foretold by the Old Testament prophets. They clearly foretold the first coming of Christ, His miraculous birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The same prophets described Christ’s Second Coming in glory, preceded by a time of unprecedented worldwide tribulation, and followed by the establishment of the glorious Messianic kingdom centered in Jerusalem. But these prophets did not see the present church age–“
which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:5).Between the first and second coming, there is a time gap that was not seen by the Old Testament prophets. This gap is the church age. The prophets did not see that Israel would be set aside temporarily while God called out from among all nations a special body of people. After He has accomplished this purpose and the fullness of the Gentiles is come in, God will restart Israel’s prophetic clock and will fulfill all Old Testament prophecies in relation to His ancient chosen nation. “…
blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25).The Great Tribulation deals with Israel, not with church-age believers. This present mystery period will end with the removal of the church-age believers from the earth; and the Lord will then take up His plan for the nation Israel as He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the time of Jacob’s trouble, the coming of Messiah in glory, the regathering of the remnant, and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom.
6. THERE ARE EVENTS INTERVENING BETWEEN THE TRANSLATION AND RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH AND THE SECOND ADVENT.
According to 1 Cor. 15:51, EVERY saved person will be translated at the Rapture. Yet Mat. 25:31-46 shows that when Jesus returns to the earth at the Second Advent He will find many true believers in their natural bodies. There must, then, be a period of time between the Rapture of the church-age saints and the Second Coming to allow for these folk to be saved. It is reasonable to believe that this period is the seven years of the Great Tribulation.
7. THE BOOK OF REVELATION SHOWS THAT THE CHURCH IS NOT ON EARTH DURING THE TRIBULATION.
(a) The church is not seen on earth in chapters 4-18.
(b) The witness for God in the earth during the Tribulation is Israel, not the church (Rev. 7).
(c) The prayers of the saints in Revelation 8 are prayers for judgment. Only Israel prayed such prayers. The church-age saints are instructed to pray for her enemies, not against them (Lk. 9:51-56). These prayers of Revelation are those of the Psalms and are based on God’s promise to Abraham to curse those that cursed Israel (Gen. 12:1-3).
(d) The scorpion-like creatures of Revelation 9 are given freedom to hurt all earth-dwellers except those Jews who were sealed by the angel of Revelation 7; if church-age believers were on earth, they would be subject to this horrible judgment of God.
(e) Revelation 10 identifies the events of Revelation 4-18 with those foretold by Old Testament prophets–the days of the Great Tribulation, the “day of the Lord.” The church age was never in the view of these Old Testament prophecies; it was an unrevealed mystery. The church has a different purpose and program than national Israel. It is Israel that is in view in Old Testament prophecy and in Revelation 4-18.
(f) The ministry of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 identifies them with national Israel and with Old Testament prophecies of the “
day of the Lord.” The two witnesses minister from Jerusalem, Israel’s capital. The churches have no such capital, her hope being heavenly, not earthly (Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 3:17-21). The two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, typical of Old Testament Israel, not New Testament believers. Nowhere are the churches seen in sackcloth. They are told, rather, to “rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). The church-age believer’s judgment is forever past, and he is to keep his mind centered in the heavenlies where, in position, he is seated eternally victorious with Christ (Eph. 2:5-10). Revelation 11:4 identifies the two witnesses with Old Testament prophecy. Zech. 4:3, 11, 14 is a prophecy of Israel, not the church. Further, the two witnesses call down judgment upon their enemies in Rev. 10:5-6. Jesus rebuked his disciples for desiring to do just this and instructed the church-age believer to pray for the well-being of his enemies, not for their destruction (Lk. 9:54-56; Rom. 12:14, 17-21).(g) The devil persecutes Israel, not the church, during the Tribulation (Rev. 12). There can be no doubt that the woman in this chapter is identified as national Israel. Verse 5 shows the woman bringing forth Christ; it is obvious that Jesus was brought forth by Israel, not by the churches (Isa. 9:6-7; Rom. 9:5). Also, the symbols of Rev. 12:1-2 recall familiar Old Testament typology of Israel. She is referred to as a woman (Isa. 54:5-7). The sun and moon and the 12 stars of verse 2 remind us of Joseph’s dream regarding Israel (Gen. 37:9). The words of Rev. 12:2 are almost an exact quote from Micah 5:3, again referencing Israel’s delivery of the Messiah. These symbols are not used in the New Testament of the churches.
THE ATTACK ON THE PRE-TRIBULATIONAL RAPTUREThe doctrine of the pre-tribulational rapture is under severe attack today. Consider some examples from the emerging church:
Brian McLaren mocks the “fundamentalist expectations” of a literal second coming of Christ with its attendant judgments on the world and assumes that the world will go on like it is for hundreds of thousands of years (
A Generous Orthodoxy, p. 305). He calls the literal, imminent return of Christ “pop-Evangelical eschatology” (Generous Orthodoxy, p. 267) and the “eschatology of abandonment” (interview with Planet Preterist, Jan. 30, 2005, http://planetpreterist.com/news-2774.html). McLaren says that the book of Revelation is not a “book about the distant future” but is “a way of talking about the challenges of the immediate present” (The Secret Message of Jesus, 2007, p. 176). He says that phrases such as “the moon will turn to blood” “are no more to be taken literally than phrases we might read in the paper today” (The Secret Message, p. 178).Jonny Baker of Grace in London, England, rejects dispensationalism as “escapology theology” and “advocates that Christians need to invest themselves in the current culture, not live on hold until time runs out” (
Emerging Churches, pp. 78, 79).Tony Jones says that the emergent church, in contrast to the dispensational viewpoint, is characterized by “an eschatology of hope” (
An Emergent Manifesto of Hope, p. 130). He says: “What I mean is that the folks who hang around the emerging church tend to see goodness and light in God’s future, not darkness and gnashing of teeth. While that may seem obvious to some followers of God, pop theology today is facing the other way. … Those novelists and the theologians who provide them their material take the view that we’re in a downward spiral, and when things ‘down here’ become bad enough, Jesus will return in glory. But those of us represented in this book take the contrary view. God’s promised future is good, and it awaits us, beckoning us forward” (p. 130).N.T. Wright, who has a great influence on the emerging church, warns that the doctrine of an imminent rapture is dangerous because it interferes with kingdom building and environmental activities. “If there’s going to be an Armageddon, and we’ll all be in heaven already or raptured up just in time, it really doesn’t matter if you have acid rain or greenhouse gases prior to that. Or, for that matter, whether you bombed civilians in Iraq. All that really matters is saving souls for that disembodied heaven” (“Christians Wrong about Heaven, Says Bishop,”
Time, Feb. 7, 2008).Tony Campolo says: “I mean all of this stuff [about the imminent coming of Christ and a literal Tribulation] comes out of not only fundamentalism. It comes out of dispensationalism, which is a weird little form of fundamentalism that started like a hundred fifty years ago. … I think that we need to challenge the government to do the work of the Kingdom of God, to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. That whole sense of the rapture, which may occur at any moment, is used as a device to oppose engagement with the principalities, the powers, the political and economic structures of our age” (“Opposition to women preachers evidence of demonic influence,” Baptist Press, June 27, 2003).
Mark Driscoll refers to the pre-tribulational rapture as “pessimistic dispensationalism” (
Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches, p. 146). He has said that “eschatology-minded Christians” are not welcome in his church. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRE-TRIBULATIONAL RAPTUREThe doctrine of the pre-tribulational rapture is not a peripheral one. As we have seen, Christ, Paul, James, and Peter taught that the return of Christ was imminent and was to be expected at any time (Mat. 24:44; Phil. 4:5; Jam. 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 4:7). The early Christians lived in expectation of Christ’s return the literal fulfillment of the prophecies. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
The doctrine of a pre-tribulational Rapture is a great motivator for purifying one’s personal Christian life.
1. It encourages the believer in trials and persecutions. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).
2. It keeps the church’s focus on the Great Commission (Mat. 28:18-20; Mk 16:15; Lk. 24:44-48; Acts 1:8). It teaches us that preaching the gospel, winning people to Christ, and establishing churches as the pillar and ground of the truth is the most urgent matter. D.L. Moody had it right when he said: “I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, ‘Moody, save all you can.’”
3. It motivates us to be busy in the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58).
4. It motivates us to live obedient lives (1 Jn. 3:1-3; 1 Th. 5:4-7).
5. It motivates us to separate from evil (Tit. 2:13-14).
6. It keeps believers on the outlook for heresy and apostasy (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 2:24-28).
This is not a study on the breath of life which is the spirit that all that have life has, but a study of the two spirits and the two sources of wisdom that are manifest in that life/spirit. Explanation: When a spirit joins with another spirit they become one with each other. 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. See I Cor. 12:13, Eph. 2:18, Eph. 4:4, Phil. 1:27 also see Numbers 22:28 Balaam’s ass
“Iniquity”
(All underlining is added for emphasis.)
The subject of this tract is “Iniquity.” It is one of the main themes throughout the entire Bible. The subject is so vast it is almost impossible to write a short or concise summary that would explain the importance the Bible puts on understanding this word.
This is a brief attempt to do so and I have written a more complete book that covers this all-important word, with the scriptures, in detail called “The Book”, which is available, at no charge, to those who would like to get more detailed information about it. (Your very life, for all eternity, depends on you understanding this word, either for salvation by being redeemed from it or your treasure stored up in Heaven because of it.) Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
A cherub named Lucifer was first to commit “Iniquity” He covered the throne of God. He was perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him Ezel. 28: 15. He was not satisfied with being perfect because he wanted to be like the most High who created him.
His rebellion against his creator caused him to commit the first sin of the universe Isa. 14: 12-17. His sin caused him to become the god of this world, with many names describing his rebellion against God.
The Bible says in John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Lucifer became Satan, and as the god of this world, he became the spirit of this world I Cor. 2:12, and the wisdom of this world I Cor. 3:19, the spirit of antichrist, I Jn. 4:3, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2:2 and the epitome of evil who desires to be worshiped like God but not in truth, but in error because he has corrupted his wisdom, Ezel. 28: Verse 17 says thou has corrupted thy wisdom.
This iniquity is manifest in Adam and Eve as the wisdom of this world causing the entire human race to be in rebellion against God with this corrupted wisdom. James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. This is a great mystery, 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. & 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: that is explained in my book, in detail, that only the right Bible reveals. There are over 200 counterfeit corrupt bibles, that come from the god of this world, that will deceive you and lead you into the many broad and wide ways of death, Hell and destruction and an eternal lake of fire if you never learn the difference the Bible puts on these two spirits and these two sources of wisdom. Again, Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. To be precise, one spirit and one source of wisdom will take you up to God and Heaven and the other source and spirit will take you down to Hell and the devil and then to the lake of fire forever. Hence, the importance of God’s word.
There is no doubt that the Bible teaches that a world of iniquity has to do with the god of this world and the wisdom of this world.
There are two Gods, one with a small g. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
There are two sources of wisdom manifested by two spirits. One is the wisdom from above given and preserved in the King James Authorized Version of the English Bible, manifested by the Holy Spirit with the commission to preach this gospel to the whole world, Mk. 16: 15.
The other source of wisdom is the wisdom of this world which is foolishness with the creator God of the universe for it is from the god of this world, your world, described as the works of Satan, your father the devil. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. This corrupted wisdom is being manifest in your temporal life by his spirit, the spirit of error I Jn 4:6, the spirit of disobedience Eph. 2: 2, the spirit of anti-christ I Jn. 4: 3. Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;…vs 19. ….that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.(read Romans 3: 4-19.)
The wisdom from above is about you making the right choice of coming out of the darkness of the wisdom of this world into the light of the knowledge of the wisdom from above in order to have eternal life. Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
These two wisdoms are manifested in the life of a Christian as the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4: 6. A born again Christian has both of these spirits so that they can understand both and can choose to serve either or at any given time in their Christian life.
When you are first born into this world you have the spirit of this world. 1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. When you are first born into this world you start learning only the things of a man, the wisdom of this world by the spirit of this world. John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
When you’re born again you start learning the things of God by the Spirit of God. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The wisdom of this world is manifest in this world, in your flesh, and it is of the devil. Again.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
When you’re born again, the wisdom from above is manifest in your body, 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. God the Father, God the Son, the Word, and God the Holy Ghost, The Spirit, and these three are one I Jn. 5:7.
Your duty is to put off the old nature, the old man, the wisdom of this world, and the spirit of this world and put on the new nature. Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
The first time you are born is into this world of wisdom and it is a world of iniquity Ja. 3: 6. That is why the Bible says you must be born again by the wisdom from above.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
There is only one way to do that, not many ways. There are many ways that lead to your destruction into the depths of darkness that seemeth right unto man but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Choose life. As a natural man you cannot even understand the things of God until you are born again by him and have his spirit to guide you into all truth.
The rest of this tract will tell you how to do that with scripture from a King James Bible, which is the wisdom from above. Anything other than that is the wisdom of this world from the god of this world and is iniquity. You cannot get born again with the wisdom of this world by the god of this world and have eternal life given to you, but you can be deceived into believing that you can, by counterfeit Christ’s and different religions, for look at Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These people thought they were doing the works of God but were doing the works of iniquity because they didn’t understand what iniquity is.
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
All deception comes from Satan, for he deceives the whole world see Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
I mentioned above that Satan has over 200 counterfeit bibles to deceive the people of this world; each one of these bibles has a different Christ with many different religions because not the same thing fools everybody. Hence Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The Bible is not hard to understand, for it is written in six grade English, it is just hard to believe. Example: I have explained above that the wisdom from above is the King James Authorized Version of the Bible. See if you can believe this verse Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Did you know that 98% of the churches in America have departed from the faith of that book? How about your church, does it take an active stand for God’s preserved word, Ps 12:6-7, or does it preach some counterfeit of that book?
My book will give you the details. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
You will be able to not only find the right way but you can know you have the right way when you believe the right Bible, the wisdom from above, which has the right Christ.
1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. See 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
If you analyze these verses carefully you will determine that God’s plan of salvation is for you to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ simply by believing in him, and receiving his word by faith in that you want to turn from the wisdom of this world and the god of this world, which is the devil, and start serving the God of all creation who wants you to have eternal life because he has died in your place, shedding his blood for the forgiveness of your sins and is not willing that you should perish but that you are willing to come to repentance. When you do that you are putting your faith in the wisdom from above which is God’s word preserved in the King James Authorized Version of the Bible, which says it is impossible for God to lie. That’s why Jesus Christ who was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim.3: 16) said in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
There are thousands of more verses. All I can say to you is get a 1611 King James Bible, written in six-grade English, so that anyone can understand it and read it for yourself. Start with the gospel of John in the New Testament, which starts off like this John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. And John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
One more thing: The devil gave it all up and gained the whole world but lost his own soul and will spend eternity in The Lake Of Fire because he wanted to be like the most High. It must really be something great to be like the most High. See 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Before God makes a new heaven and a new earth, he makes us all like him so that there will never be a desire for anyone to rebel ever again. Revelation 21:1. That will be everyone that gets redeemed from Iniquity.
James 3: 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
II Tim. 4: 2 Preach the word; He didn’t say preach about the word. What people need to hear and become familiar with is the word itself. Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
The Bible is about the wisdom and works of God vs the corrupted wisdom and works of the devil, the god of this world. The more you involve your self with the wisdom from above, the more blessed you will be. Lk. 11:28, with Rev. 3:10, Ro. 10:17 with Heb. 11:6. And the less you will be involved with the devil.
Psalms 63:11 … but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
And if you have any questions you can Email me Henry Dickinson (nickname is Buzzie) at wellservice@charter.net or call 843-812-3229 cell or 843-525-6576 HP or if you would like more of these tracts. You also can request the free book called “The Book” which describes this subject in detail. See you in Heaven?
This is a track to help people get saved and learn what the Bible says about our future. You may want to have it printed to hand out. Feel free to change it, like putting your name or information on it. It fits on about the size of an index card, using both sides, making it easy to carry a lot of them with you. This is how you store up treasure in Heaven, sowing the seed, which is the word of God. Mark 4:14 The sower soweth the word. 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. See Rev. 3:10
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If I die today my soul will be in H __________________ forever. You make the choice and Christ will make the difference, in your life. Joshua 24:15 …choose you this day whom ye will serve. Choose Heaven forever by receiving Christ, or choose Hell and The Lake of Fire forever by staying as you are right now. Everyone enters this world with the sinful nature of Adam, not believing in what God said. The worst thing you can do is to stay in unbelief. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: The Bible says you must believe in Christ and receive his forgiveness of sin to be saved from Hell. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. To be made righteous, Jn 3:7 …Ye must be born again. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (The 1611 King James Authorized Version is the preserved word of God without error Ps 12:6-7.) It is the wisdom from above Ja. 3:17, everything else is iniquity, the wisdom of this world, from the god of this world, and is foolishness with God including all other versions of the Bible, which change his word in over five thousand places, and will come to nougth. 1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
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The unsaved are those who have not Believed or Received the Lord Jesus Christ even though they may be religious and attend church regularly John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The saved are those who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 1 Jn 1:7 …and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Do not put off the salvation of your soul, make your choice now 2 Corinthians 6:2 …behold, now is the day of salvation. Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts… Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. You have no promise of tomorrow but you do have promise of eternal life, in Heaven, or The Lake of Fire, forever, make your choice now!
Yesterday is gone, Tomorrow may never come, Today is the present, and it is a gift of God. Get saved now!!!
Henry Dickinson 843-525-6576 or 843-812-3229 wellservice@charter.net
Email me for my tract on “Iniquity”. It’s free, and is one of the main themes in understanding the entire Bible.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
You wrote:
7. THE BOOK OF REVELATION SHOWS THAT THE CHURCH IS NOT ON EARTH DURING THE TRIBULATION.
This is a true statement.
(a) The church is not seen on earth in chapters 4-18.
This is not true, but comes from a wrong idea of where the “day of the Lord” and the 70th week actually start in Revelation.
(b) The witness for God in the earth during the Tribulation is Israel, not the church (Rev. 7).
This is not true either, but comes from a misunderstanding of where the 70th week actually starts, and what is meant by the words, “great tribulation.”
Many people believe that the rapture is shown to us in Rev. 4:1 and the 70th week begins with the seals. This is not at all the intent of the author. First, it is very poor exegesis to find the rapture in Rev. 4:1. This probably came about because of desparation in not finding the rapture anywhere else. Any beginning reader would tell us that this scripture is only John being caught up to heaven. There is no need to attempt to read into this verse anything that is not here. Some people attempt to read extra meaning into the phrase, “after these things.” John uses similar phrases several times in his book, each time as a transitional phrase to go from one subject to another. We don’t attempt to read extra meaning into the other five times John used such a phrase, and neither should we here. It is simply poor exegesis to do so.
Next, a careful study of the vision of the throne room, will show the author’s intent: to show the timing of the first seal, was very shortly after Jesus arrived in heaven, after telling Mary not to hold onto him, because He had not yet ascended. John shows us that he, John, was allowed to see the very moment that Jesus ascended into heaven, after rising from the dead. The purpose of this was to show us the timing of the first five seals. They were broken very shortly after Jesus arrived back in heaven: so around 33 AD.
Next, a careful reading of the first seal, will show that it has NOTHING to do with the antichrist. Again, it would be very poor exegesis to read evil into what God meant for good. God used the color white to stand for righteousness, all through the bible. John used it I believe 16 times in Revelation to stand for righteousness. Therefore it would be unconscionable to think that in this one instance God used white for evil. It is just very poor exegesis. No, the first seal was meant to show us that the rider was righteous, or was to represent something righteous. The first seal is to represent the church sent out to make disciples of all nations. The next three seals are to represent the devil trying to stop the advance of the church. When we get to seal five, we find the first hint of an extended period of time. Therefore, we are now waiting on the 6th seal.
Next, consider the words of Matthew, in relation to the rapture of the church.
“The earth did quake….and the graves were opened.” Matthew shows us a precedent for an earthquake to happen at a resurrection. Think about it.
Finally, what did John mean by the words “great tribulation” as seen in chapter 7? JOhn said in his first chapter, “I John in THE tribulation….” (The KJV left out the “THE,” but it is there in all the Greek manuscripts. John is showing us that in the mind of God, the entire church age is “the tribulation.” Next, Jesus was not putting a title on the last have of the 70th week, when He said, “then shall be great tribulation.” No, he was only telling us what life would be like then. This is exactly what John is telling us: at the time of the rapture, there will be great tribulation around the word. What did he mean? He meant that Christians would be dying for thier testimony. Folks, that is happening at an alarming rate even today, and it will get worse. Therefore, John is showing us the raptured church, in this vison of the great crowd, too large to number, but so many have misunderstood. After John saw the great crowd, the 7th seal is broken, ushering in the 70th week.
Lyle
David Cloud is the author of this entry.. I copied it from his site.
His email is dcloud at wayoflife.org
e-mail him.
-Pat