Category: ThinkAbout

Job 13 (KJV) 15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Hab 3: 17-19 (KJV) 17 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, & the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, & there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, & he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, & he will make me to walk upon mine high places. —Have you ever wondered WHY bad things happen? This is one of Satans weapons – causing us to question WHY. Have you ever said, “WHY did you do this Lord” or “WHY did you let this happen?” There are many who will never get their answers this side of heaven! – and yes it IS OK to ask. But we must not become bitter if our answers do not come. The one thing Job, and Habakkuk did was to keep trusting in God – No matter what. He who endureth to the end shall be saved. —Jn 6:68 (KJV): “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” — There is nowhere else to go! So stay the course & stand strong in adversity. Let it make you better, not bitter. Love Mel

Sir Isaac Newton said “if I could explain God, I would not worship Him”. Isaiah 55 (KJV) “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Can we ever know what God will do? He reveals to us only what He wants us to know. He hides many divine secrets. He loves us and He is faithful but He remains sovereign and no one can fathom His depths. He will get all the glory and He is entitled to it. Whatever we do correctly is only by His grace. Many great giants of the Faith have gone to glory not knowing all the ways of the Lord, and many believed things that just were not so. When does He heal? Why does He sometimes not do what we think He will or should do? Why does He not stop all the things we consider harmful or evil? Why does He allow all that He allows? How does He answer prayer? In response to Job’s complaint regarding the terrible misfortunes that God allowed upon Him which satan instigated, the Lord responds – in Job 38 (KJV) – 

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

The Lord makes the point rather well, wouldn’t you say? So how should we act and react with the reality of such a God? Well, the best approach is to stick to what scripture actually says very closely when possible. When it’s not possible because something is not explicitly stated as an answer we seek, then we should utilize some of the cardinal principles laid out in scripture. 

Some examples follow. First, He is always there with us no matter what happens or what it looks like from our foxhole – so keep praying and believing as best you can. Second, He is faithful to His children and He can always be counted on to be with us when we call – so believe that He hears you. Third, He loves to be pursued and the most awesome relationships are given to those who take God very seriously – so spend time with Him. Fourth He answers prayers in His ways in His time – yes, no, or wait. Fifth He will be glorified through the ultimate destruction of evil, so while He did not create evil (evil came by the choice of His created beings) – it is through evil that He is glorified and that His ultimate plan will be achieved in every individual life as well as overall. Sixth, He prizes humility and integrity in His children very highly.

Most significantly, He expects obedience and faithful perseverance from the true believer – albeit never perfectly attained – and even though success in these matters is also really from Him. There are many more principles to be lived by than these, but these are a few of the ones I think most important to remember. What do you think some other of these principles are?The message to us in conclusion – Never, ever quit. Rejoice in all things because He is there. Even our worst circumstances when encountered can allow us to experience and learn more about God. Just keep going.

Some of the ideas in this article are borrowed from Nelson Walters end times ministry. I am writing it from memory as I fully accept and share this point of view. There are others who espouse it as well. But I recommend you check out Nelson’s excellent materials on YouTube.

There is a rule that leaders in the US created and followed after the events of Sep 11, 2001. It is called the 1% rule. It basically says that if there is even a 1% chance of a catastrophic event occurring, it should be treated as a certainty and planned for in advance. So, if we put that in the context of Jesus return and the eschatological events of the end times, what should we be thinking about?

There are several theories of end time events that can be well supported by scripture. No one theory can be categorically proven to be a certainty. The reader should look at Mt 24, Lk 21 and Mk 13 as well as 2 Thess and Revelation.

There are those who believe in a rapture or calling away of the church before the time of the tribulation – which is of course the last seven years of Daniels 70^th week, and the final period of time before Christ’s rule on earth (The Millennium). In this (“pre-trib”) theory the church will be pulled out by God before the terrible prophesied events of the tribulation take place. If true, this means that the church will likely not face great persecution nor all the other horrors listed in the prophetic books of the Bible destined to occur during that time.

Others believe the theory that the church will remain on earth throughout the entire final 7 years until after the tribulation period, with a rapture occurring at the very end of the tribulation, followed by an immediate return with the Lord for the Battle of Armageddon. Believers in this category (“post-trib”) understand that there will be horrific events all over the earth during the final seven years which they will endure with others, and may be stocking up on some food and water and medicine – not to only to use – but to share with others in need during the terrible events of those days. They also know there is a high likelihood of death and martyrdom, and they will know the “signs of the times” and be ready to share the gospel.

Then there are those who believe that we as the church will be here for a portion of the tribulation but we will not endure “the wrath of God”. That means we as the church would be here for a large portion of the events in the final seven years, but we will be rescued prior to the unleashing of the worst part – the “seven bowls and 7 trumpets” which is the wrath of God – which occurs at the opening of the 7^th seal in Revelation with the first trumpet.  Believers in this category (“pre-wrath”) know they will not experience the most horrific portions of the final seven years – the wrath of Almighty God – but they also know they will experience the famine, false prophets, disease and death that are represented by the 4 horsemen. These believers will, just like the post-trib theorists, prepare in advance via knowledge and physical preparation.

Before getting into the main point, I will briefly mention that many respected Christian theologians, like NT Wright and others, do not believe in a rapture at all – just a surprise second coming at some point. The reader can evaluate that argument if desired. Such an eventuality would not surprise me at all, however we will continue under the strongly supported assumption that there will be a rapture, followed by a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth.

The purpose of this article is to apply the 1% rule and ask ourselves “what happens if the post- trib or pre-wrath theory is correct and I am here during the tribulation”?  Many people in the pre-trib camp won’t have a clue as false prophets and false messiahs arise and real or false anti-christs arise. They also will not be prepared to help anyone during the time of crisis when people are most ready to receive the gospel and to avoid things like the mark of the beast. This is the great risk of theologies that may not be entirely correct.

The Bible tells us many false messiahs and false prophets will arise in the last days. How will we know which one is the real Christ? But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, Mk 13 (KJV) tells us “25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” This is also described in Matt 24 and Lk 21. That is the only real Christ that will appear in the last days!! Remember that. Don’t worship any other miracle doer or ‘super loving person’ and thereby don’t accept the mark of the best which will, according to scripture, damn you forever!

What about the anti-Christ? The only sure identity of the antichrist is found in 2 Thess 2:

“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. 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

When the true antichrist comes, he will reveal himself by sitting in the temple and declaring himself to be God. This is the only scripturally supported sure sign of the tribulation and it happens about half way through the 7 years. Following this halfway point is the “great tribulation” (the final 3 ½ years). The argument that a peace treaty occurs at the start of the 7-year tribulation is spurious and cannot be fully relied upon. But this event is indisputable. Mt 24 strongly indicates this “abomination of desolation” event occurs before the rapture of the church, so we would be on earth to observe this event which precedes Gods great judgement of the earth. So, the point is this – know the signs – in case you are here during all or a portion of the great tribulation. Be prepared to lead others to Christ and to help the church and those in need in His name. And don’t be shocked if you, as a saved believer, will be right in the middle of many terrible events. Be ready, do not be deceived and accept the mark, and be able to know the timelines.

This is the season of the Fall Feasts of The Lord. Just like many Biblical principles, these high holidays go largely unnoticed by the mainstream Christian church. But these days not only are commemorative of things which have occurred, they are rehearsals for things yet to come. That is why God commands us in Lev 23 to celebrate these days in some form. The fall festivals consist of the Feast of Trumpets; the Day of Atonement; and the Feast of Tabernacles. These all happen in the seventh Biblical month which is normally the Sep or Oct timeframe on the Gregorian calendar. According to Rev 12 and the gospels of Luke and Matthew, Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles – during the month of Sep of 3 BCE. Tabernacles first commemorates the Tabernacle in the wilderness in the time of Moses and Israel getting out of Egypt when God lived among the people. It also commemorates God tabernacling with us when Jesus came to earth in the first century and lived among us in the flesh. Finally, it very likely foreshadows the time of the second coming of the Lord when He will rule and reign on earth during what is called the millennium. We miss so much by not fully appreciating the richness and fulness of these God ordained holidays. If we are not familiar with them, it would be wise to learn more as the end time events will no doubt be in accordance with these days. Lev 23: ²⁴ Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ²⁵ Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁷ Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁸ And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹ For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. ³⁰ And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. ³¹ Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. ³² It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. ³³ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ³⁴ Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. ³⁵ On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. ³⁶ Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. ³⁷ These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything upon his day: ³⁸ Beside the sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the Lord. ³⁹ Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. ⁴⁰ And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. ⁴¹ And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. ⁴² Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: ⁴³ That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

ROM 12:2 (KJV)” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ³For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” I watched an “After Skool” special the other day by David Foster Wallace – it was a commencement address and the the topic was the mind as a servant not a master. In it he talked about “the skull sized kingdom”. He said the Jesuits were famous for the saying “give me a child until age 7 and I will show you the man”. WOW. You are programmed by age 7. And for most of us that is not good news. So, we have to “reprogram”. How do we do it? Repetition. Of what? Of scripture. You have to do it. If you do it enough you will begin to think better and your mind will be your best friend. But it takes effort. Phil 4:8 (KJV) tells us “⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”