Halloween has passed for another year, and it always a time of debate, division and others just having fun. A few years ago after hearing a sermon called Hells Best kept secret, I was challenged to see everything as an opportunity that can be turned to the gospel, so for the past 3 years Beth and I, at least for me changed my perspective on Halloween that rather that keeping the door closed and turning up the volume we decided to open the door, hand out candy greet people with a smile and a compliment and hand them a gospel tract. We have often had people come to our house just to get one of the novelty gospel tracts.
This year, after seeing the numbers last year of at least 200 children, not including adults Beth had an idea to show 'Whats your greatest Fear' on our projector screen, we then heard Alan at Church talking about Trunk or Treat encouraging us to put games on in our garden to draw more people to us. This was a great idea, we signed up for it and shared the opportunity with our Connect group and we were off. Our group is excellent by the way, they are a real blessing to meet with each week.
What is your greatest Fear is an evangelism documentary produced by my brother in law Nathan a dear brother Noah and a few other friends. I decided to edit its running time of 40 minutes down to 15, to create more chance of someone sticking it out the whole way through hearing the gospel. You know the gospel right? That which the Bible calls the Power of God unto Salvation.
Our group showed up, we had fishing games and rubber ducks in a paddle pool for a treasure hunt, stinky sock toss - we decided not to use my socks, as we actually wanted people to come :) As the evening went by it was really interesting to see the age groups progressing from the toddlers through to teenagers as the evening went on. One of the amazing things was our cul-de-sac had just been re covered and the audio of the video carried CLEARLY up most of the street, as kids were running here and there grabbing what must be their annual supply of candy, adults were hearing the gospel.
We had a few hundred people frequent our front lawn over a few hours and then the numbers dwindled and then there were none. The ripples of the Lords work from something easily put together that night will go further than we are aware of. Gospel tracts will find their way into broken homes with no daddies, poor homes, lonely people and people who are affluent, people who think they have it all together, people who don't think they are in need of a Savior, for those who will reap the harvest down the line, we rejoice together.
Romans 10:14-15
But how can they call on
him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in
him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him
unless someone tells them? 15 And
how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the
Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good
news!”
May the Lamb of God receive the reward of his suffering.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Explore God
I can't believe its been seven months since I last wrote my blog and I am sorry for the missed opportunity.
I wrote a few weeks ago that I was going to write a blog on 'Explore God'. If you live in Austin Texas you have no doubt seen the billboards and countless signs on churches and yards advertising 'Explore God' here, I wonder why they didn't call it Explore Christianity but that's a separate discussion.
The format of the evening was two video segments sandwiches by informal discussion on either side, the first video is people on the street being asked a question 'Why does God allow suffering' for example and the attendees answer that same question, followed by another video of 'experts' presenting their answer to the question. I think the format does a great job of opening up a topic for discussion but could do with a third video - that being some key bible verse and in the absence of that I would advise the host shares them to avoid it becoming an interesting discussion of opinion.
One huge positive about the acceptance to do the Explore God is it shows people in our town do want to reach the lost and do something positive. The video idea is a good one, because it takes allot of pressure off of people to put themselves out there to have allot of material prepared before hand to share competently. In that same thought, could you imagine the response to these same people if an Evangelist built them up in the ministry? If we read Ephesians 4 in context it tells us the gifts are for the benefit of the church so that we can ALL BE THE DOERS.
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Video based home groups are quite common in the UK with varying durations, I think they are a great tool and allow those who are hospitable to open up their home, serve a meal and discuss the meaty things of life, some curse material's are better than others, I have often toyed with the idea of making a one episode video which is only the gospel. I only see them as training wheels like a gospel tract may be a good ice breaker and seeing the response to Explore God I may revisit this idea once again. A ten week course is a big commitment to ask of someone, in the examples of Explore God, Christianity Explored God, Alpha course, Emmaus or the Y course - if someone misses or leaves the week the gospel is presented isn't that the purpose of these tools?
Presenting the gospel is the joy of the Church, compulsory for all believer's and for all ages.
I wrote a few weeks ago that I was going to write a blog on 'Explore God'. If you live in Austin Texas you have no doubt seen the billboards and countless signs on churches and yards advertising 'Explore God' here, I wonder why they didn't call it Explore Christianity but that's a separate discussion.
The format of the evening was two video segments sandwiches by informal discussion on either side, the first video is people on the street being asked a question 'Why does God allow suffering' for example and the attendees answer that same question, followed by another video of 'experts' presenting their answer to the question. I think the format does a great job of opening up a topic for discussion but could do with a third video - that being some key bible verse and in the absence of that I would advise the host shares them to avoid it becoming an interesting discussion of opinion.
One huge positive about the acceptance to do the Explore God is it shows people in our town do want to reach the lost and do something positive. The video idea is a good one, because it takes allot of pressure off of people to put themselves out there to have allot of material prepared before hand to share competently. In that same thought, could you imagine the response to these same people if an Evangelist built them up in the ministry? If we read Ephesians 4 in context it tells us the gifts are for the benefit of the church so that we can ALL BE THE DOERS.
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Video based home groups are quite common in the UK with varying durations, I think they are a great tool and allow those who are hospitable to open up their home, serve a meal and discuss the meaty things of life, some curse material's are better than others, I have often toyed with the idea of making a one episode video which is only the gospel. I only see them as training wheels like a gospel tract may be a good ice breaker and seeing the response to Explore God I may revisit this idea once again. A ten week course is a big commitment to ask of someone, in the examples of Explore God, Christianity Explored God, Alpha course, Emmaus or the Y course - if someone misses or leaves the week the gospel is presented isn't that the purpose of these tools?
Presenting the gospel is the joy of the Church, compulsory for all believer's and for all ages.
Friday, 29 March 2013
WinSum
Well, as you may know the Catholics have a new pope - meet the new pope, same as the old pope.
Anyway, I had been witnessing allot to Catholics and doing lots of research and wanted to draw your attention to this great Apologetic's website, the best I have come accross and used as a learning resource for years.
I wanted to share with you all this page here where you can learn about the false teachings of the Catholic Church in the hopes to 'win sum'.
http://carm.org/roman-catholicism
Have you any encouraging stories to share?
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under [a]the Law, as under [b]the Law though not being myself under [c]the Law, so that I might win those who are under [d]the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
Anyway, I had been witnessing allot to Catholics and doing lots of research and wanted to draw your attention to this great Apologetic's website, the best I have come accross and used as a learning resource for years.
I wanted to share with you all this page here where you can learn about the false teachings of the Catholic Church in the hopes to 'win sum'.
http://carm.org/roman-catholicism
Have you any encouraging stories to share?
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Tribulation Force II
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 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[a] had come. 3 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[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to him cannot happen until
So, as far as I am aware the man of sin has not been revealed yet, there is no abomination of desolation, and there is no temple, and there hasn't been 3 1/2 years of tribulation.
Why does there need to be a temple? Remember, when I said at the start, I worked at the end and came forward, it falls into place easier this way. We often want to jump in to the tribulation but there's plenty to happen prior to that.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+9&version=NKJV
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”
The Anti-Christ shall make a covenant with Israel for one week, a week being a period of 7, in this case 7 years. Mid-way through that 7 years, he breaks that covenant allowing their daily sacrifices . Where are the daily sacrifices? Only in a temple consecrated for worship would this occur.
This is where we align the 3 1/2 years of tribulation which follows 3 1/2 years of peace.
Lots of history going on here folks.
First , there has to be the Anti-Christ arisen to prominence to have some clout to 'allow' Israel with their temple worship, secondly there has to be even be a temple build for this - now I am not architect but Ive seen pictures of the temple and have some understanding of its dimensions and etiquette. It wont go up over night, but when they decide to rebuild it, they will begin as soon as possible and get complete it as soon as possible.
There's not only the temple, but the trained Priests of the correct lineage, skill, purification and all of the elements that go into temple worship.
Check out the Temple Institute and what they already have ready.
http://www.templeinstitute.org/ -Allot of items are already prepared.
Also, a great read where I learned allot about the temple is this book which I highly recommend.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Temple-Second-Coming-Generation/dp/1400071070 - The things that have happened that have been documented here are amazing. I'll just say one - they found with the dead sea scroll,s a copper scroll which contained a cryptic message akin to a treasure hunt. They followed that clue which spoke about a tree and a cave - and found a jar. The contents of the Jar have been analyzed to contain oil used to annoint which the Jews will use to 'anoint' in the ceremonial sense Jesus when they see him and accept him as Messiah. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/347306.aspx
The oil is described in the old testament, I will see if I can find the scriptural reference later but it only mentions a flower type such as Daisy, it does not mention the particular Daisy. Perhaps that's hard to understand why this matter, any Daisy would do, not so for Jewish temple worship, it must be exact as God has decreed lest they would consider it an abomination. So back to the jar and the gelatin block that used to be oil, its been analyzed and they know the exact ingredient list to make anointing oil now. Read that book above, its amazing.
Right so we need a temple and we need an Anti-christ and we need daily sacrifices and the most holy place where the abomination of desolation shall be placed to defile the temple and thus begins the great tribulation.
What could be the aod? - I am sure there are lots of ideas, could be an idol, could be an unceremonious animal slaughter, could be a murder of a priest or a multitude of things.
Many people have said the Dome on the Rock needs to be removed, I am going to say I am not convinced, they don't actually know where the temple MUST go until they excavate the old ruins, and they wont do that with proper cleansing and procedure and skilled priests do the work lest they accidentally stumble into the most Holy place and it needs to be cleansed and they wont do that unless all of the political and religious obstacles are removed. Did you know a secular Jew signed away the rights to the temple mount to a Muslim? He thought it would bring peace.
The Dome may even be in the court of the gentiles which is absent from the instruction John is given when told to measure the temple.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+11&version=NKJV
It is possible it can be tolerated to remain.
Again, lots of history to unfold here.
The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to him cannot happen until
- Falling away or great apostasy.
- The man of sin be revealed.
So, as far as I am aware the man of sin has not been revealed yet, there is no abomination of desolation, and there is no temple, and there hasn't been 3 1/2 years of tribulation.
Why does there need to be a temple? Remember, when I said at the start, I worked at the end and came forward, it falls into place easier this way. We often want to jump in to the tribulation but there's plenty to happen prior to that.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+9&version=NKJV
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”
The Anti-Christ shall make a covenant with Israel for one week, a week being a period of 7, in this case 7 years. Mid-way through that 7 years, he breaks that covenant allowing their daily sacrifices . Where are the daily sacrifices? Only in a temple consecrated for worship would this occur.
This is where we align the 3 1/2 years of tribulation which follows 3 1/2 years of peace.
Lots of history going on here folks.
First , there has to be the Anti-Christ arisen to prominence to have some clout to 'allow' Israel with their temple worship, secondly there has to be even be a temple build for this - now I am not architect but Ive seen pictures of the temple and have some understanding of its dimensions and etiquette. It wont go up over night, but when they decide to rebuild it, they will begin as soon as possible and get complete it as soon as possible.
There's not only the temple, but the trained Priests of the correct lineage, skill, purification and all of the elements that go into temple worship.
Check out the Temple Institute and what they already have ready.
http://www.templeinstitute.org/ -Allot of items are already prepared.
Also, a great read where I learned allot about the temple is this book which I highly recommend.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Temple-Second-Coming-Generation/dp/1400071070 - The things that have happened that have been documented here are amazing. I'll just say one - they found with the dead sea scroll,s a copper scroll which contained a cryptic message akin to a treasure hunt. They followed that clue which spoke about a tree and a cave - and found a jar. The contents of the Jar have been analyzed to contain oil used to annoint which the Jews will use to 'anoint' in the ceremonial sense Jesus when they see him and accept him as Messiah. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/347306.aspx
The oil is described in the old testament, I will see if I can find the scriptural reference later but it only mentions a flower type such as Daisy, it does not mention the particular Daisy. Perhaps that's hard to understand why this matter, any Daisy would do, not so for Jewish temple worship, it must be exact as God has decreed lest they would consider it an abomination. So back to the jar and the gelatin block that used to be oil, its been analyzed and they know the exact ingredient list to make anointing oil now. Read that book above, its amazing.
Right so we need a temple and we need an Anti-christ and we need daily sacrifices and the most holy place where the abomination of desolation shall be placed to defile the temple and thus begins the great tribulation.
What could be the aod? - I am sure there are lots of ideas, could be an idol, could be an unceremonious animal slaughter, could be a murder of a priest or a multitude of things.
Many people have said the Dome on the Rock needs to be removed, I am going to say I am not convinced, they don't actually know where the temple MUST go until they excavate the old ruins, and they wont do that with proper cleansing and procedure and skilled priests do the work lest they accidentally stumble into the most Holy place and it needs to be cleansed and they wont do that unless all of the political and religious obstacles are removed. Did you know a secular Jew signed away the rights to the temple mount to a Muslim? He thought it would bring peace.
The Dome may even be in the court of the gentiles which is absent from the instruction John is given when told to measure the temple.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+11&version=NKJV
It is possible it can be tolerated to remain.
Again, lots of history to unfold here.
Tribulation force
Well, we had family visiting and in the tidy up I have misplaced my notes, I have no doubt they will appear in some obscure place but I've been wanting to continue on my series on end times.
It wont be as well laid out as I intended but there you go. Please take the time to read the chapters I am posting, don't just read what I am writing, it has to be the Bible that talks to us and its that which will give us understanding.
Lets get stuck in, read Revelation 14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14&version=NKJV
It describes a reaping of the Church
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You[i] to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Then there is an outpouring of wrath
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
How do we know its one then the other? Well it says so, one Angel reaps one group and then the scripture mentions this peculiar word 'THEN'
Whoever are the first group are spared what is called the 'wine press of the wrath of God'.
This is consistent from what we read here
1 Thes 5:9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
So on one side there is Salvation; those who are born again, and on the other side there are those who shall receive the wrath of God.
We're still not clear on when this may happen right? The Lord is going to come 'like a thief in the night'. Well not so fast on that, lets look at it in context.
1 Thessalonians 5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 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.
When shall the Church be caught up and spared the wrath of God?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+15&version=NKJV
At the last trumpet, which is the last trumpet? The 7th trumpet.
The church is present will all proceeding trumpets, that's 6 trumpets.
We get more detail in Matthew 24, where it even tell us the great answer to the great divisive question, are the Church spared the great tribulation?
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
So AFTER the great tribulation, we see some physical manifestations
The Sun will be darkened
The moon will not give its light
Stars shall fall form Heaven
The powers of the heavens(small h - meaning physical realm that we can see, sky and space) will be shaken
Then there is the appearing of the Son of Man and he sends out Angels with a trumpet, this is the 7th one which we have been revealed to us, where he gathers the elect.
Who are the elect? The Jews? The Church? Both?
I refer to this neat little study
http://www.lastdaysmystery.info/who_are_the_elect.htm
The elektos, which means beleivers.
It seems impossible for these manifestations to happen secretly, lets not be foolish here, we have it placed after the events of the great tribulation.
But what about the Anti-Christ and what signifies the beginning of the GT? Heres where I had my notes as I hope not to forget to mention an important scripture.
Back to that meaty Chapter, Matthew 24.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=ESV
We read of an event which starts the beginning of the Great Tribulation
24:15 - When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel................(v21) For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
We will need to go see what the Prophet Daniel said but here we have a start part - the abomination of Desolation.
I will conclude this part and we will pick up from there and what proceeds this.
Isn't this fun?
It wont be as well laid out as I intended but there you go. Please take the time to read the chapters I am posting, don't just read what I am writing, it has to be the Bible that talks to us and its that which will give us understanding.
Lets get stuck in, read Revelation 14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14&version=NKJV
It describes a reaping of the Church
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You[i] to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Then there is an outpouring of wrath
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
How do we know its one then the other? Well it says so, one Angel reaps one group and then the scripture mentions this peculiar word 'THEN'
Whoever are the first group are spared what is called the 'wine press of the wrath of God'.
This is consistent from what we read here
1 Thes 5:9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
So on one side there is Salvation; those who are born again, and on the other side there are those who shall receive the wrath of God.
We're still not clear on when this may happen right? The Lord is going to come 'like a thief in the night'. Well not so fast on that, lets look at it in context.
1 Thessalonians 5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 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.
So, in writing to the church in Thessalonians, Pauls says to the believers ' Not so for you guys' because you are not in Darkness that it should overtake you, but be watchful.
When shall the Church be caught up and spared the wrath of God?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+15&version=NKJV
At the last trumpet, which is the last trumpet? The 7th trumpet.
The church is present will all proceeding trumpets, that's 6 trumpets.
We get more detail in Matthew 24, where it even tell us the great answer to the great divisive question, are the Church spared the great tribulation?
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
So AFTER the great tribulation, we see some physical manifestations
The Sun will be darkened
The moon will not give its light
Stars shall fall form Heaven
The powers of the heavens(small h - meaning physical realm that we can see, sky and space) will be shaken
Then there is the appearing of the Son of Man and he sends out Angels with a trumpet, this is the 7th one which we have been revealed to us, where he gathers the elect.
Who are the elect? The Jews? The Church? Both?
I refer to this neat little study
http://www.lastdaysmystery.info/who_are_the_elect.htm
The elektos, which means beleivers.
It seems impossible for these manifestations to happen secretly, lets not be foolish here, we have it placed after the events of the great tribulation.
But what about the Anti-Christ and what signifies the beginning of the GT? Heres where I had my notes as I hope not to forget to mention an important scripture.
Back to that meaty Chapter, Matthew 24.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=ESV
We read of an event which starts the beginning of the Great Tribulation
24:15 - When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel................(v21) For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
We will need to go see what the Prophet Daniel said but here we have a start part - the abomination of Desolation.
I will conclude this part and we will pick up from there and what proceeds this.
Isn't this fun?
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Escha-what?
As promised a few weeks ago, here is the first part of my end time study.
With this subject, one needs to find a starting point. Where I started in my studies was not the usual place but at what is called the Millennial reign of Christ. I will come to this later but I wanted to begin learning and not feel like I was spinning my wheels considering at what time the tribulation will occur.
I will try and teach some form of series chronologically and begin in the Church age.
There is going to be some debate as to when the church age ends and again when it began, depending on if you are dispensational. I see little point in debating this as it is not a critical tenant of the Christian faith. You may see it as beginning at Penetecost (Acts 2), you may see it at outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles (Acts 10) or even at the Ascension of our Lord Jesus(Acts1). There an awful lot of discussion and it doesn't get any more unified in terms of mass agreement form here on out.
Eschatology means the study from the time of the end, I use it to refer to a collective study of things which include - the rapture, the Millennial reign of Christ, The second coming of Jesus, Judgement, the False Prophet and the Anti-christ.
So where shall we begin? Lets look at Matthew 24, I encourage you if you are following this series to read the passages as I touch on them. Sometimes I will quote passages, other times, I am assuming you are reading them and give bullet points if the passages are long such as this one.
The bible is not like any other book, is unique amongst all what the world calls religious texts, it contains matters pertaining to physics, geology, biology, history, ecology, theology and a great many other ologies. Why is it unique? It is because on every matter it touches on, and especially in these areas which are not essential to the gospel it is proven as being accurate, it taught things hundreds of years sometimes before an area was found to be accurate, for example it teaches the earth is round, imagine if science then proved the earth was flat, this then creates a question of the supernatural origin of the Bible , can it really be trusted? It if it cannot be trusted on something observable then it cannot be trusted on things which are unseen. For some additional reading, check this out - http://evidencebible.com/witnessingtool/scientificfactsintheBible.shtml The bible is consistent over the thousand of years with multiple authors - can you get 10 people to agree on something controversial? Try separating those people, by culture, language and time add another 50 people - it all adds to the reliability of the scripture as being authored by God (I think I'll write another acticle on this later).
Matthew 24 - Jesus is asked what will be the signs of your second coming and the end of the world?
Jesus responds with a long list of conditions and events some of which I will touch on just now.
1 - Many will come in the name of Jesus deceiving many. These are false messiahs and false religious leaders saying they are Jesus (David Icke is an example of saying He is like Jesus)
2- Wars and rumors of wars - Global and regional conflict shall increase. Talk of wars kicking off, threats of wars, commentary of war its all what we see now and have done for some time.
3- Famines and Pestilences, earth quakes and natural disasters - I looked into this a while ago an 2010 was a record breaking year for earthquakes. We also live in a media age where we know and hear of disasters where 40 years ago we did not. Sure these have always existed, but an increase of them is something that can be quantified that even the secular world is noting.
These things are called the beginning of sorrows.
Labor pains in child birth increase in severity and get closer together, these signal the impending birth of a Child. This parallel is drawn here with pains upon the earth as the return of Christ draws closer.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
I think of the tolerance and mass acceptance of false teaching that we see. Money is a sign of godliness, God exists to serve mankind, a recent trend of the discussion on a universal path to salvation - these are not new lies but getting recent discussion which is leading to the deception of many. Entertainment is in the church big time, its the vehicle seen to grow the church.
Thanks for reading.
With this subject, one needs to find a starting point. Where I started in my studies was not the usual place but at what is called the Millennial reign of Christ. I will come to this later but I wanted to begin learning and not feel like I was spinning my wheels considering at what time the tribulation will occur.
I will try and teach some form of series chronologically and begin in the Church age.
There is going to be some debate as to when the church age ends and again when it began, depending on if you are dispensational. I see little point in debating this as it is not a critical tenant of the Christian faith. You may see it as beginning at Penetecost (Acts 2), you may see it at outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles (Acts 10) or even at the Ascension of our Lord Jesus(Acts1). There an awful lot of discussion and it doesn't get any more unified in terms of mass agreement form here on out.
Eschatology means the study from the time of the end, I use it to refer to a collective study of things which include - the rapture, the Millennial reign of Christ, The second coming of Jesus, Judgement, the False Prophet and the Anti-christ.
So where shall we begin? Lets look at Matthew 24, I encourage you if you are following this series to read the passages as I touch on them. Sometimes I will quote passages, other times, I am assuming you are reading them and give bullet points if the passages are long such as this one.
The bible is not like any other book, is unique amongst all what the world calls religious texts, it contains matters pertaining to physics, geology, biology, history, ecology, theology and a great many other ologies. Why is it unique? It is because on every matter it touches on, and especially in these areas which are not essential to the gospel it is proven as being accurate, it taught things hundreds of years sometimes before an area was found to be accurate, for example it teaches the earth is round, imagine if science then proved the earth was flat, this then creates a question of the supernatural origin of the Bible , can it really be trusted? It if it cannot be trusted on something observable then it cannot be trusted on things which are unseen. For some additional reading, check this out - http://evidencebible.com/witnessingtool/scientificfactsintheBible.shtml The bible is consistent over the thousand of years with multiple authors - can you get 10 people to agree on something controversial? Try separating those people, by culture, language and time add another 50 people - it all adds to the reliability of the scripture as being authored by God (I think I'll write another acticle on this later).
Matthew 24 - Jesus is asked what will be the signs of your second coming and the end of the world?
Jesus responds with a long list of conditions and events some of which I will touch on just now.
1 - Many will come in the name of Jesus deceiving many. These are false messiahs and false religious leaders saying they are Jesus (David Icke is an example of saying He is like Jesus)
2- Wars and rumors of wars - Global and regional conflict shall increase. Talk of wars kicking off, threats of wars, commentary of war its all what we see now and have done for some time.
3- Famines and Pestilences, earth quakes and natural disasters - I looked into this a while ago an 2010 was a record breaking year for earthquakes. We also live in a media age where we know and hear of disasters where 40 years ago we did not. Sure these have always existed, but an increase of them is something that can be quantified that even the secular world is noting.
These things are called the beginning of sorrows.
Labor pains in child birth increase in severity and get closer together, these signal the impending birth of a Child. This parallel is drawn here with pains upon the earth as the return of Christ draws closer.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
I think of the tolerance and mass acceptance of false teaching that we see. Money is a sign of godliness, God exists to serve mankind, a recent trend of the discussion on a universal path to salvation - these are not new lies but getting recent discussion which is leading to the deception of many. Entertainment is in the church big time, its the vehicle seen to grow the church.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
JFK
The other day I watched JFK by Oliver Stone. I recall the first time I saw it about 1995.
I remember my mind being blown that there could be such a thing as a conspiracy; that things are not always as they seem.
I remember being in Washington DC with my mum and walking around the monuments looking at people wanting if someone was getting a secret file that if anyone knew they had leaked the info they would be assassinated.
That was the turning point for me, where I became suspicious and its stuck with me ever since.
What stories or events do you believe are not as we have been told? Does holding such views make you fit in or do you think people think strange of people who think differently?
I've got to go, they are watching me.
Charlie Tango Sierra out
I remember my mind being blown that there could be such a thing as a conspiracy; that things are not always as they seem.
I remember being in Washington DC with my mum and walking around the monuments looking at people wanting if someone was getting a secret file that if anyone knew they had leaked the info they would be assassinated.
That was the turning point for me, where I became suspicious and its stuck with me ever since.
What stories or events do you believe are not as we have been told? Does holding such views make you fit in or do you think people think strange of people who think differently?
I've got to go, they are watching me.
Charlie Tango Sierra out
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