Audio... Audio... Audio! The Rapture of the Church!

I found this audio of Dr. Bob Shelton. I was encouraged to find it and would be thrilled if you would give a listen. Here is the audio The Rapture of the Church by Dr. Bob Shelton.

Stay salty,
Brother John

Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the Best Position (2)

I got this idea from Dr. Bob Shelton when he came to our church many years ago. He is great speaker and his web site here I am not quoting him word for word, but the ideas are his, enjoy.

If I am right, and I believe I am the pre-trib position is the very best position to hold to. When Christ comes in the clouds and catches us away on our way up I will look over and smile at you and you will understand at that time I am thinking, “See I told you so!” Then we who have believed in Jesus for eternal life will finally enjoy fellowship untainted by sin, as we fix our gaze upon the prince of glory and are forever with Him.

If I am wrong, and I don’t think I am, but if I am and the seven year tribulation begins, and I am still here then I simply change my position to mid-trib. Three and a half years latter when we are gloriously ruptured, on the way up I will look over and smile at you as if to say “See I told you so!” Then we who have trusted in Christ alone for everlasting life will at last enjoy fellowship uncontaminated by sin, as we fix our eyes on upon the King of Kings and are with Him forevermore.

However, if I am still wrong and we are not taken up half way through the tribulation and we are still here, then I simply change my position again, this time to post-trib. Then after surviving the terrible time that will be so devastating… when God is pouring out His wrath upon this earth… men shrink back and ask the rocks of the hills to cover them to hide from God’s furry… Then we who were protected by our loving God, Jesus who died on the cross to save us from the eternal penalty of sin, will be lifted away in the twinkling of an eye and I will look over at you and smile, as if to say, “See I told you so!” Then we will enjoy the comforts of our new abode and in harmonious fellowship, free from the curse of sin, we will together praise the Lord and enjoy His companionship sin free, from then on.

I hope it is plane to see why the pre-trib position is the best position of all. ;-)

I need to make this last point. This last point is the one that could have the most impact in your life. It has the power to turn you life around. You may have enjoyed this little lesson on end times, or perhaps you have not, the fact remains... there will be a day of reckoning. Jesus is coming! You will be judged, if you have not believed in Him. That is a sobering fact. I do not take it lightly and neither should you. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sin, He rose again to prove that you may be forgiven of your sin and have eternal life through Him. He even promises that you will be resurected one day. Why not believe Him today, before the tribulation begins. (cf. 1 Cor. 15)

Soberly in Christ,
John

Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the Best Position

The idea of a pre-tribulation rapture is by far the best position to hold to.

For those who may not be in an eschatological frame of mind, allow me to bring you into this discussion. Eschatology is the study of the end times. When someone is discussing the end times, future events, and prophecy concerning “the end of the world”, they are discussing Eschatology. I am going to focus a bit in this theological discipline.

The word “rapture", is an English word which comes from the Latin word raeptius; which is a translation of the Koine Greek word harpazo, which is translated “cauht up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

To be clear, when I speak about the rapture, I am not speaking of the “second coming”, or a second advent. The Second Advent is the time when Jesus will once again come to earth. When He comes a second time He will not be a baby in a manger, or a “Lamb for the slaughter”, but a King, and as the Lion of Judah. Yes, I do believe in a very literal thousand year earthly rule of King Jesus. That is known as the millennium. The word millennium means thousand (1,000) and is used in Revelation 20. This period of time will begin at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will descend to earth with His host of saints that have been affirmed in holiness to rule and reign for one thousand (1,000) years. The rapture is not the second coming and the second coming is not the rapture.

The rapture is an event that will occur in history when as quoted above “…the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I intend to demonstrate why the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture is by far the best position to hold to, before I can, I need to make a few more brief clarifications.

When I speak of the tribulation I am speaking of a literal seven (7) year period of time when God will be actively pouring out “trouble” on the earth. This is also called “the time of Jacobs’s trouble” or the seventieth weak of Daniel. I will refer to it as the tribulation. Yes, I believe in a literal seven (7) year tribulation. I must make one more point before I can unveil why the best position is the pre-tribulation rapture view.

There are several views of the rapture in relation to the tribulation; one of the most profound is the partial rapture view another is multiple raptures. The latest view is the pre-wrath rapture view, which is really the old mid-tribulation view repackaged, I will not take time to explain these. I will be dealing with the three most prominent views which are pre-tribulation (the best view), mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation. You may have guessed it; pre-tribulation view (which is the best view) is that the rapture will occur before the tribulation. The mid-tribulation view is that half way through the tribulation the rapture will occur. Finally, the post-tribulation view is that the rapture will occur after the tribulation.

The best position is the pre-tribulation rapture view and I will explain why on my next post.

Always Reforming?

While genuine Christians are called to be transform by the renewal of their minds so that they may conform to the image of Christ.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

How does this article square with the selfish ambitions of a few to overthrow the life changing message of Christ in us the hope of glory? Why is this, an issue? Instead of always reforming why not really obey the Bible and come out from among them and be separate?

Stay bright,
John

Priorities (2)

I have made a list of every area of my life that is important to me, and I have tried to set them in order. “Why have you made a list?” one may ask. Good question! The answer is that a pastor/friend of mine from yesteryear Pastor Jerry Littlejohn told me, “…that when we write things down it gives them structure.” This is so true! Just as a “honey do” list this helps me to keep ideas to shoot for in order. Then I can set goals for each area to master.

The goals may change, and the ideas may vary (not much in my case), but it helps me to focus on the essential areas of my life and exposes, as under a spotlight, areas that are not moving me ahead in the direction I wish to be going. We also must remember to take joy, and enjoy all the blessings of God.

Keep focused,
Brother John

September 11, 2001

Remember.

Your Priorities

What is most important in your life?

The Imperative of Immediate Belief

“There are some of you standing in these aisles and sitting in these pews, who I feel in my soul will never have another invitation, and if this be rejected today, I feel a solemn motion in my soul--I think it is of the Holy Ghost--that you will never hear another faithful sermon, but you shall go down to hell impenitent, unsaved, except ye trust in Jesus now. I speak not as a man, but I speak as God’s ambassador to your souls, and I command you, in God’s name, trust Jesus, trust now. At your peril reject the voice that speaks from heaven, for ‘he that believeth not shall be damned.’ How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation? When it comes right home to you, when it thrusts itself in your way, oh, if ye will neglect it how can ye escape? With tears I would invite you, and, if I could, would compel you to come in. Why will ye not? O souls, if ye will be damned, if ye make up your mind that no mercy shall ever woo you, and no warnings shall ever move you, then, sirs, what chains of vengeance must you feel that slight these bonds of love. You have deserved the deepest hell, for you slight the joys above. God save you. He will save you, if you trust in Jesus. God help you to trust him even now, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Charles H. Spurgeon
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
Vol. VIII (1862), p. 564
(italics in original)

This was sent to me from Doug Kutilek who sends out a mounthly publication called "As I See It" Doug also has a web site KJV Only.

Blessings upon you,

Brother John

What is Biblical Love? (2)

I started to post on biblical love in the recent past and I am now returning to the subject. When we read the many times in Scripture that God demonstrates His love in this; that He sent or gave especially His Son, we should be able to muster the mental prowess to surmise that love is more than emotionalism, sentimentality, and romance. Those may be fine attributes, they may be part of having loving feelings and I do not wish to downplay or diminish these qualities. However, biblical love is more, much more. It is demonstrable, it is giving, forgiving, and it is gracious, among other characteristics that I may or may not get to (I want to do short posts).

A wise counselor gave me this definition of love and for no extra charge I will share it with you.

Love is giving of oneself to another/others for their benefit without demanding or expecting anything in return.

I wish I knew who originally said this because it is so rich. I do, on the other hand, know some one who put this principle into motion and He is none less that God Himself. Hear His Word, heed His Word. Here are some verses you can read on this topic.

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 3:16)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:1-2; and v. 25)

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1John 4: 9-11)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Love is the giving of myself for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return.

Please add your thoughts to this and help me to expand mine.

Be a blessing,
Brother John