The Conclusion to the RaptureWritten by Michael Bradley
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Satan already knows he is defeated. He knows he will eventually end up in Lake of Fire and Brimstone forever and ever. He knows that this is his last chance for mass destruction and terror. He hates all humans and anything to do with God and heaven. If God would allow him anymore time than three and half years, I really believe Satan would set world up for mass destruction through nuclear weapons. He would then have satisfaction that he literally destroyed entire world before he goes to his final fate. But thank God, He will not allow this scenario to go this far. But God is going to allow it to go far enough to teach us all a lesson that we will never ever forget. He is going to show us how quickly humans can be deceived by Satan and his demons, and only thing that has kept this world in one piece for last 6000 years has simply been power and restraining force of God Father Himself operating through Holy Spirit. Bottom line - there is only maximum life with God or maximum death without Him. The last three and half years in Tribulation will show us what "maximum death" will really be like when God removes His Church off face of this earth, and he then allows Devil and Antichrist to do what they want with power that will be given to them. After we watch and see all of these events unfold, we will never, ever want to forsake our God again. We will come to full realization that without God in our lives - that we can never have or find true happiness, joy, love, peace or fulfillment in our lives. Without God in our lives, there is only eventual maximum death, and last three and half years on this earth is going to prove that point once and for all to all of us. It will be greatest history lesson that world will ever receive, and something that we will never ever forget for rest of our eternal lives. Will there be a Rapture? You will each have to decide for yourselves on way above Scripture verses are worded. My conclusion, after putting all above verses together like a "jigsaw puzzle," is that there will be a rapture, and that it will occur sometime before beginning of 7 year Tribulation. I feel Rapture is a "mystery" from God, and that it is "hidden" in above verses. God does not want rest of unbelieving world to have full access to this mystery, otherwise people will be accepting salvation for wrong reasons - to escape coming horrors of Tribulation and not with a true, repentant heart to want to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior for sinners that we all truly are. Again, you may want to put this article on shelf in event that we start to fast approach end time events in our lifetime. This article will make for good debate with other Christians who may not believe in Rapture.
Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible commentary and teaching. If you do not want to wait for the next article, you can go to our end times section. Copyright © 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
| | A Scriptural Look At SinWritten by Stephen Kingery
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As hard as I try, I cannot overcome human tendency to sin. It is impossible for us to live a life free of sin, perhaps even a day without some form of sin in our lives. However, as Christians we have two important items to consider: (1) Jesus died for our sins, and therefore, we have been forgiven of our past sins and our future sins (the shortcomings or "missing mark" so to speak); and (2) we must do everything in our power to control human tendency to sin. In other words, we must strive to identify sin in our lives and then get rid of it. I know that this is a difficult matter in relation to some sin. For example, there are those of us who have what we might call a "private sin." A "private sin" is that which we as an individual deal with each day to overcome but it still plagues us, it seems continuously. This "private sin" could be any number of things: lust, desire for money, pleasure, hatred for someone, a drinking problem and so forth. The key here is that we must always be on look out for it, and guard against it having an effect on our lives and relationships with friends, family and especially God. How can a Christian overcome sin in his or her life? Have you ever really stopped to consider this question? Have you tried to overcome sin and been forced to conclude that you just can't? Have you perhaps given up even trying? I really have two thoughts on this subject. First, I don't think that a Christian can overcome sin. If that were possible, we would not need sacrifice that Jesus made for us as it relates to our future sin. (Remember that before we became a Christian we were sinners and as such needed sacrifice of Jesus' dying on cross for us to receive remission of sin. That is not what I am talking about here.) When Jesus died on cross, He took ALL our sin to cross (not just sins we committed before we became Christians). If we were capable of overcoming sin, we would have just been forgiven of our past sins. The second thought I have is, even though we as an individual cannot overcome sin, we can through Jesus realize a victory over sin. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) In other words, we (by ourselves) cannot overcome sin; but we (through Jesus Christ and His strength) can realize a victory over sin. Is sin still going to be in our lives from time to time? Yes! Do we have to let sin control our lives? No! Can we control sin - through Jesus Christ? Yes! Now even though I have said that it is through Jesus that we are able to control sin, I need to make one thing perfectly clear. It is still up to us as to degree to which sin is controlled! We must take action! How does one go about controlling sin? Or better yet, how does one call upon strength of Jesus Christ to help us in this effort? The answer is really quite simple. The degree to which you are able to control sin in your life is in relation to degree to which you allow God's Word to work in your life. Allow me to explain. Perhaps you are a Christian, and go to church every Sunday morning and that's it. Are you allowing God's Word to strengthen you to overcome battles you will have to fight for coming week in relation to sin. Probably not! On other hand, if you are faithful to worship services to fullest extent possible, spend daily time in prayer and Bible study, faithful in your giving, faithful to Lord's Supper and so forth, you will find strength necessary to overcome temptations of sin. When you spend quality time in prayer and Bible study you receive strength that is in God's word to know what is right and strength to do it. How does it happen? I don't know. I just know that it does. I know because I have experienced it. When I am faithful in those areas mentioned above, I am happier and it is much easier for me to overcome temptations which come along each day. One of my favorite Scriptures is found in book of Joshua when he was giving a speech to Israelites just before they enter promised land. He is telling them that they are to choose which god they are going to follow. Joshua says. "... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,. . . But as for me and my house, we will serve Lord." (Joshua 24:15) We too in America today need to choose this day (and every day) whom (or what) we will serve. Are we to serve Lord - or will we serve sin? All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of Be Ye Doers Of The Word. Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org
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