End Times Ping
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He will Return indeed!
Maranatha!
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Bkmk
The devil is not stupid, and dresses his hatred of all things Godly in a way that appears good on the surface to us flawed humans. The fraudulent moral values of the present world focus on selfishness instead of acknowledgement of a higher power, and accepting our sinful nature instead of rising above it. Humanism and other atheistic beliefs deny the spiritual side of ourselves and assume that we are nothing more than animals, living by bread alone. And this leads to further destructive behavior that we see in the world today.
“Can we not see the satanic attempts to distort and pervert our understanding of the ‘Blessed Hope’? And be certain, it can only be a ‘Blessed Hope’, if we are removed before the world enters into the 70th Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). Going in, halfway, or all the way removes any sense of ‘hope’ if we are to be subjected to the horror Christ Himself said would not only be present but be unparalleled in all of history (Matt. 24:21-22).”
“Hope” is a word that, in English, conveys a sense of doubtfulness. But the hope of the Bible is assurance and confidence in the face of uncertainty.
It is a horrific lie for anyone (and this is not an accusation directed at you or anyone on this forum, but merely a general statement) to mix with the Gospel a promise of a life of ease, comfort, prosperity, riches, or God otherwise capitulating to all of our foolish desires.
Christ very expressly and emphatically PROMISES those who follow Him will, in a similar way, suffer as He did. God does NOT promise the believer a life free from tribulation, persecution, or affliction. Indeed all of these things MUST happen, according to the scripture.
John 16:33 NKJV
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Romans 8:35 NKJV
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
The blessed hope is the escape from God’s wrath:
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 NKJV
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
There is a clear distinction in scripture between Daniel’s 70th week and the Day of the Lord. Further, the Day of the Lord is the second coming. This time period begins with the rapture and ends with Christ’s subsequent return to the earth. That “Day” is the time when God’s fiery wrath and indignation are poured out on the earth.
Deception, war, famine, disease, and persecution are signs that precede Christ’s second coming. See Matthew 24 and Revelation 5.
What things must come BEFORE the Day of the Lord?
First, the Holy Spirit (which was already fulfilled at Pentecost). See Acts 2.
Second, Elijah.:
Malachi 4:5 NKJV
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Third, specific signs in the heavens:
Joel 2:31 NKJV
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
But Elijah comes during Daniel’s 70th week, not before it. And the signs in the heavens come AFTER the Great Tribulation according to Matthew 24 and other passages.
Fourth, the Apostasy, and fifth, the revelation of the Antichrist:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
The idea of a pre-tribulation rapture is rooted in a misunderstanding of the Day of the Lord and its distinction from the Great Tribulation, which comes first and contains the signs of the second coming. Christ will appear in great power and glory, and gather His elect, immediately AFTER the Great Tribulation, and immediately BEFORE the Day of the Lord (or as this time period’s initial event).
Very well said. Thank you for sharing it.
🙏🙏🙏