Late last night, unable to sleep, I decided to have a yogurt while I watched my local PBS station on television. The program was a documentary about a man, fifty-nine years old, who was in the advanced stages of ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). The program, taped in 2006, followed this man and his wife in his decision to commit assisted suicide.
The couple were Americans, living in England; a very intelligent, educated man -- who faced nothing but further deterioration, until he reached the point where he would not even be able to move a muscle to alert a care giver that he was in pain or needed anything. In other words, he would be just a living corpse, lying there, waiting to die.
The man explained that he did not want to put his family through this. And, he did not want to put himself through this. So, he had chosen to travel to Sweden, where Assisted Suicide is legal, and end his ordeal.
The man was not in obvious pain; but, he could not do anything for himself -- he could not feed himself, he could not brush his own teeth, he could not even lift his arm or hand. All he could do was to sit in the chair where his care giver, his wife, had placed him -- and talk. Yes, he could still talk. But, that was about all he could do -- and, soon, he would not be able to do this.
This program, and this man's situation, was very sad for several reasons. Yes, it was sad that he had chosen to end his own life. But, what disturbed me the most was when he told us, "I do not believe there is an afterlife." With that statement, he was saying that he did not believe in God. So, it was obvious that he was soon to enter the afterlife in which he did not believe -- without God. This broke my heart.
Was his choice to end his own life wrong? Yes and no. Some will say, "He should have waited, for who knows when a cure will be discovered" -- or "He should have had more faith in God." Well, for one thing, he obviously did not believe in God. That is the sad part. Several times during the show, he said, "I am scared." And, as his wife pushed his wheel chair toward the limo to fly to Sweden, we heard him say several times, "I am scared." That is very understandable; for he was entering the unknown, eternity, without God.
Was his choice to end his own life wrong? In 1938, doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed Lou Gehrig with a very rare form of degenerative disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Lou died in 1941.
The Phoenix Neurological Associates web site: http://www.phoenixneurology.com/als_cure.shtml tells us this about ALS:
As there is no known cause for the disease we do not have a cure yet. Once the disease begins the average life expectancy is 3-5 years. Patients pass away from an inability to swallow effectively or breathe effectively. At present there are numerous research trials looking to explore avenues to find cures.
So, I can empathize with this man. The world, and the world of science, has been acutely aware of this horrible disease since we lost the renown Lou Gehrig to it in 1941. Yet, we are told today that science still does not have any idea of a cure.
Could God have healed this man? Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind that God could have healed him. I have read about and personally seen and experienced God's miraculous healing. Yet, this man did not believe in God. So, how could he have hope that the God he does not believe exists -- will heal him?
I can understand this man's decision to end his life while he could still at least speak. I can understand this man's desire to not put his family or himself through the horrible final stages. And, most acutely, I can understand the man's fear when he said, "I am scared." -- for he was leaving this life without God.
So, was his choice to end his own life wrong? Suicide is most often wrong; it is a sin -- but, it DOES NOT separate a person from God, it does not cause a person to loose his eternal life with God, it does not cause a person to loose his salvation.
I know, I can hear many Friends, especially my Roman Catholic Friends, practically screaming, "Bill, how can you say such a thing?"
First, let me say that I do believe that suicide is wrong. For it really hurts the ones left behind. People are left with the unanswered question, "What could I have done to prevent this?" or "Why didn't I see this coming?" or "Did I do anything which caused him/her to do this?"
And, for the young children or grandchildren, it is even worse -- for they have yet to understand death. And, now, they have to face this self-inflicted death of someone they love. Suicide may solve a person's immediate problem -- but, it creates a mountain of problems for his/her loved ones left behind. For this reason, suicide is wrong.
Yet, for this man in the documentary, I have a level of understanding -- for he faced a hopeless future; his disease has no cure, just a continual deterioration; and he did not have God. So, this man had no hope whatsoever. Could a Christian have come to him, witnessed to him, and led him to the Lord? Yes, that is possible.
Yet, recall what happened to Pharaoh. In Exodus 8:15, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said."
And, again in Exodus 8:32 and Exodus 9:34, we are told that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God. And, finally, in Exodus 10:1, God basically tells Pharaoh, "You wanted to harden your heart against Me -- fine, I have completely hardened your heart." God allowed Pharaoh's heart to be hardened past the point of salvation. We read the same of King Zedekiah in 2 Chronicles 36:13, that he had hardened his heart against God.
There is a point where a person can so harden his heart against God -- that God will allow this to become permanent. Keep in mind that we are speaking about non-believers hardening their hearts against God and losing all opportunity for salvation. This does not apply when we are speaking of Christian believers.
When a person has become a Christian believer, a Christ Follower, he/she is indwelled, sealed with the Holy Spirit. And, no one or nothing, can evict the Holy Spirit. We have the promise of Jesus on this, in John 6:47.
And, I believe, from listening to this man in the documentary, that, because of his previous world view and mindset, solidified by his disease, that this man would have rejected any attempt to share God with him. Of course, only God knows that for sure.
The subject of suicide is very hard for most pastors and mature Christians to discuss; for very good reason. On the KWVE Christian Radio show "Pastor's Perspective" -- I have heard Pastor Chuck Smith, whom I admire very much, dance around the question when asked if suicide is a sin and will cause one to lose salvation. Over the past twenty-three years as a Christian believer, I have heard many pastors dance around that question.
Why? Because one never truly knows the person's reason for asking the question. Is he/she asking the question -- looking for justification which will allow him/her to commit suicide? If we say it will not cause a person to lose his salvation, will this encourage this person to commit suicide? It is a very difficult question.
Yet, as mature Christians, we are called to share the "truth" of God's Word. And, the truth is: As horrible as suicide is, as much as it hurts so many, many people -- it does not cause a Christian believer to lose his/her salvation.
In all my years as a Christian, I have only heard one pastor, Dr. Harold Sala, of Guidelines International Ministries, answer this question in a direct manner. In his Guidelines radio commentary, he said clearly, "No. Suicide does not cause a believer to lose his/her salvation." And, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever committed suicide leaving a note that Dr. Sala gave him/her permission.
On the other hand, I have seen harm come from answering the question wrong. About eighteen years ago, a visitor came to our Bible study, a young lady in her twenties. During the study, she told us that she recently had a friend who had taken his own life and she wanted to know how this affected his salvation, did he lose his salvation?
One of our members, a young adult in our College Ministry, immediately told her, "Yes, he did lose his salvation!" And, to support this, he quoted 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
This young man was right and he was wrong. Yes, he was right that our bodies, when we are saved and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is a temple of God -- for God, the Holy Spirit, is living within us.
But, where he was wrong was in not aligning that Scripture verse with other parts of the Bible. Scripture cannot contradict Scripture. So, when we build a theology, or a doctrine, upon one Scripture verse -- and there are other verses or passages which tell us something different -- we must align the two to more fully understand what God is telling us.
Yes, this Scripture verse is telling us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, is holy. Yet, we are also told, in John 1:12, that all who have believe and received Jesus Christ, are children of God. God does not adopt us and then renege on it.
We are told in John 6:47, "He who believes HAS eternal life." That means that we HAVE eternal life; not "could have if" or "will have if" or "may have if." No, it means that we HAVE eternal life in Jesus Christ. And, we are assured, in Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
We are told in John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Taking all these Scripture passages together -- we know that our body, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, is the temple of God and should not be destroyed; particularly by self destruction. Yet, we are also assured that when we believe and receive Jesus Christ -- we HAVE eternal life and no one, nothing, can snatch us out of His hands or out of the Father's hands.
So, how do we reconcile this difference?
We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and it is confirmed in Romans 14:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
One day, we will ALL stand before Jesus Christ in judgment; believers to a judgment of rewards, or lack of rewards; non-believers to a judgment of punishment. In the believer's judgment (Bema Seat Judgment), we will have to answer to Jesus Christ for every deed and every word committed in this mortal life. At that time, I feel sure, He will ask, "Why did you destroy your body, the holy temple of God?" Would you, could you, have a satisfactory answer for this question?
We are assured in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 that the Foundation of the Christian church, and the Christian believer, is Jesus Christ. And, depending upon how we build upon that Foundation, our Christian fruit, our Christian life -- either with indestructible stones, metals, and gems -- or with destructible wood, hay, or straw -- our fruit, our Christian life, will be tested when we stand before Jesus Christ.
It will be tested by the holy fire of the Refiner, Jesus Christ, and if we have built our Christian life upon destructible, worldly things -- it will burn up. Yet, we are told in 1 Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
So, while my College Ministry Friend in our Bible study was right; he was also wrong. And, this wrong answer hurt this young lady. That night, I could see the anguish in her face. And, what hurt most was -- she never again came to our Bible studies. Was she already saved? Was she only seeking? Did she find another Christian fellowship where she could continue to learn, grow, and mature in God's Word -- or to receive Jesus Christ? We do not know -- for she never returned.
Yes, the question of suicide is probably the toughest question a pastor or other mature Christian will ever be asked. But, we are obligated to share the "truth" of God's Word. However, beyond that, we are also obligated to further explain to this person asking the question, God's full view of this very wrong action and salvation -- and to help him/her through whatever caused the question.
What we should have done that night, in our Bible study eighteen years ago, was to forego the planned Bible study lesson -- and concentrate on this young lady, her question, and her anguish over losing her friend in this horrible way. We should have taken her hand and made sure she was walking with Jesus Christ. We did not. We just gave her a blunt, wrong answer -- and went on with our business of Bible study. One day, we will have to explain this to Jesus Christ -- face to face.
I pray that this sheds light on this very touchy subject; that we all have a better understanding of the issue and what God's Written Word, His full revelation to us, tells us about the sin of suicide and the need of the person asking the question.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Prophecy And The Rest Of The Bible
Earlier, I wrote an article titled "When Is The Bible Literal And When Is it Symbolic?" and posted it on the TimesDaily Religion Forum. As you might expect, I have had a few responses -- from believers and from my atheist Friends. The one below seemed to be a good segue into talking about prophecy.
If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing His Gospel with the world -- and looking forward to His imminent return.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
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Hi Tigrtrek,
You tell us, "Making a determination of what's literal and what's symbolic is part of what is called rightly dividing the word of truth. When the Bible says that Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected it does not literally mean he is a rock. This is easy to pick out, but prophecy, which is largely symbolic, is more open to interpretation.
Many people dedicate their lives to studying prophecy and still don't have all the answers. I prefer to focus on the Gospels, the Epistles and the Old Testament. Whatever the future holds God will work out."
That is a good example of Biblical allegory -- Jesus the Rock. Thank you.
Like you, I enjoy the Gospels, Epistles, and the Old Testament. However, since about 30% of the Bible is prophecy -- how can we not focus on this? True, many people spend their lives studying prophecy -- but, that does not mean that we lay people should not also study it.
Often times, the Holy Spirit will give us a special insight when studying His Word. I remember, about twenty years ago, when I first began to study the End Times prophecies -- I was totally confused about who would be in the Millennial Kingdom and where would Satan, who had been locked in the abyss for one thousand years, raise his large army of non-believers to do battle against Jesus Christ and the holy city, Jerusalem.
One afternoon, as I was driving home from work, I was sitting at a traffic light. My mind was on the traffic light and getting home; not on the book of Revelation or even the Bible. Yet, all of a sudden, a thought came into my mind: When Jesus Christ returns at the end of the seven year Tribulation -- even though many, many people will have been killed by the Antichrist -- there will be many people who have survived the horrible Tribulation. This group will consist of both believers and non-believers.
These people will stand in judgment before Jesus Christ -- the Sheep and Goat Judgment found in Matthew 25:31-46 for the Gentile nations, and the Judgment of Israel found in Ezekiel 20:32-38 for the Jews. Those who are not believers will "go away into eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:46). To those who are believers, He will say, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. . ." (Matthew 25:34). That kingdom is His Millennial Kingdom -- and, later, the eternal kingdom.
And, to the Jews, He will say, "'And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,' declares the Lord GOD. 'I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant'" (Ezekiel
20:35-37)
This will be the remnant of Israel, His chosen people, who, with the believers from the Sheep and Goat Judgment, will enter the Millennial Kingdom, God's Kingdom on earth, in their mortal bodies.
So, the inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom, ruled by Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, will consist of the Raptured church and the Old Testament saints in our immortal bodies -- and the believers who survive the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, in their mortal bodies. Those in their mortal bodies will continue to marry and bear children.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be locked in the abyss, so his demonic temptations will not exist on earth for that one thousand years. Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be believers. Yet, they and those born during the Millennial Kingdom will still bear the sin curse of Adam, they will have the Adamic sin nature curse. Only death or the Rapture can remove this curse.
And, having this sin nature -- the only way to have eternal salvation is still through Jesus Christ. Keep in mind -- He is the ONLY Way to God the Father. So, the people born during the Millennial Kingdom will still have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to be saved.
Even though the Satanic influence has been removed for one thousand years; there will still be people born during this time who will, for whatever reason, not invite Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. These people will not be causing death and destruction as we have on earth today -- for Jesus Christ will be the ruler of this world. Yet, some will choose not to follow Him and will not receive His imputed righteousness.
When Satan is released from the abyss after one thousand years; these people who have not made a commitment to Jesus Christ will be easy prey for him, as he lures them into his army. This is the army which will come against Jesus Christ and the holy city at the end of the Millennial Kingdom -- and they will all be supernaturally destroyed (Revelation 20:7-10).
Now, did the Holy Spirit reveal all this to me that day as I sat at the traffic light? No. He revealed to me about the people, the Tribulation survivors, who will enter the Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies. This so piqued my interest that I began my study of the End Times and Revelation in earnest.
And, over the years, layer after layer has been peeled back, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me more and more knowledge of the End Times. You might say that, although I had already been studying End Times prophecy -- that traffic light revelation birthed my desire to really understand End Time prophecy.
Another example of the Holy Spirit leading as we study Scripture: For years I had tried to read the book of Job -- and could not get past chapter one. One evening I was sitting on my patio studying the book of John. A cross reference sent me to Job 42:10, "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."
Once again, my interest was piqued -- and I began to read Job. For whatever reason, that night reading Job was as easy as reading an interesting novel -- it just flowed. That night I read and had a fairly good understanding of the book of Job -- and have since led a Bible study on it. Who or what led me to Job 42:10 that night? The Holy Spirit, of course.
John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
Tigr, no part of the Bible is insignificant; but, most especially not God's revelations which He sends to us through His prophecies. Do not neglect 30% of His Written Word.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing His Gospel with the world -- and looking forward to His imminent return.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi Tigrtrek,
You tell us, "Making a determination of what's literal and what's symbolic is part of what is called rightly dividing the word of truth. When the Bible says that Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected it does not literally mean he is a rock. This is easy to pick out, but prophecy, which is largely symbolic, is more open to interpretation.
Many people dedicate their lives to studying prophecy and still don't have all the answers. I prefer to focus on the Gospels, the Epistles and the Old Testament. Whatever the future holds God will work out."
That is a good example of Biblical allegory -- Jesus the Rock. Thank you.
Like you, I enjoy the Gospels, Epistles, and the Old Testament. However, since about 30% of the Bible is prophecy -- how can we not focus on this? True, many people spend their lives studying prophecy -- but, that does not mean that we lay people should not also study it.
Often times, the Holy Spirit will give us a special insight when studying His Word. I remember, about twenty years ago, when I first began to study the End Times prophecies -- I was totally confused about who would be in the Millennial Kingdom and where would Satan, who had been locked in the abyss for one thousand years, raise his large army of non-believers to do battle against Jesus Christ and the holy city, Jerusalem.
One afternoon, as I was driving home from work, I was sitting at a traffic light. My mind was on the traffic light and getting home; not on the book of Revelation or even the Bible. Yet, all of a sudden, a thought came into my mind: When Jesus Christ returns at the end of the seven year Tribulation -- even though many, many people will have been killed by the Antichrist -- there will be many people who have survived the horrible Tribulation. This group will consist of both believers and non-believers.
These people will stand in judgment before Jesus Christ -- the Sheep and Goat Judgment found in Matthew 25:31-46 for the Gentile nations, and the Judgment of Israel found in Ezekiel 20:32-38 for the Jews. Those who are not believers will "go away into eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:46). To those who are believers, He will say, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. . ." (Matthew 25:34). That kingdom is His Millennial Kingdom -- and, later, the eternal kingdom.
And, to the Jews, He will say, "'And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,' declares the Lord GOD. 'I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant'" (Ezekiel
20:35-37)
This will be the remnant of Israel, His chosen people, who, with the believers from the Sheep and Goat Judgment, will enter the Millennial Kingdom, God's Kingdom on earth, in their mortal bodies.
So, the inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom, ruled by Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, will consist of the Raptured church and the Old Testament saints in our immortal bodies -- and the believers who survive the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, in their mortal bodies. Those in their mortal bodies will continue to marry and bear children.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be locked in the abyss, so his demonic temptations will not exist on earth for that one thousand years. Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be believers. Yet, they and those born during the Millennial Kingdom will still bear the sin curse of Adam, they will have the Adamic sin nature curse. Only death or the Rapture can remove this curse.
And, having this sin nature -- the only way to have eternal salvation is still through Jesus Christ. Keep in mind -- He is the ONLY Way to God the Father. So, the people born during the Millennial Kingdom will still have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to be saved.
Even though the Satanic influence has been removed for one thousand years; there will still be people born during this time who will, for whatever reason, not invite Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. These people will not be causing death and destruction as we have on earth today -- for Jesus Christ will be the ruler of this world. Yet, some will choose not to follow Him and will not receive His imputed righteousness.
When Satan is released from the abyss after one thousand years; these people who have not made a commitment to Jesus Christ will be easy prey for him, as he lures them into his army. This is the army which will come against Jesus Christ and the holy city at the end of the Millennial Kingdom -- and they will all be supernaturally destroyed (Revelation 20:7-10).
Now, did the Holy Spirit reveal all this to me that day as I sat at the traffic light? No. He revealed to me about the people, the Tribulation survivors, who will enter the Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies. This so piqued my interest that I began my study of the End Times and Revelation in earnest.
And, over the years, layer after layer has been peeled back, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me more and more knowledge of the End Times. You might say that, although I had already been studying End Times prophecy -- that traffic light revelation birthed my desire to really understand End Time prophecy.
Another example of the Holy Spirit leading as we study Scripture: For years I had tried to read the book of Job -- and could not get past chapter one. One evening I was sitting on my patio studying the book of John. A cross reference sent me to Job 42:10, "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."
Once again, my interest was piqued -- and I began to read Job. For whatever reason, that night reading Job was as easy as reading an interesting novel -- it just flowed. That night I read and had a fairly good understanding of the book of Job -- and have since led a Bible study on it. Who or what led me to Job 42:10 that night? The Holy Spirit, of course.
John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
Tigr, no part of the Bible is insignificant; but, most especially not God's revelations which He sends to us through His prophecies. Do not neglect 30% of His Written Word.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
When Is The Bible Literal
And When Is it Symbolic?
And When Is it Symbolic?
This is a question we often hear: When do we read the Bible literally and when as symbolism? Actually, it is not an either/or situation. Most often, we read the Bible literally. But, how do we handle it when it cannot be read literally?
My Friend, VP, is in a church which reads the entire Bible as symbolism and allegory. So, his question is meant to be a "trick question" -- a "gotcha!" But, this is a very valid question and, I am sure is often confusing to Christian believers -- and, even more so, to new Christians and to new seekers only beginning their Biblical journey.
I pray that this dialogue will be a wee bit of help to you. If so, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all we meet -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion which I began titled "An Open Letter From The Son Of Madalyn Murray O'Hair" -- my Friend, VP, tells me, "But I would really like an answer to the question -- WHO decides which parts of the 'literal' word of God is symbolic? When there is no mention of symbolism in the text. I am really trying to follow your logic. Help me understand."
Thank you, VP. That is a valid question -- and a very good question. Since we know the Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired (authored by God), inerrant (authored by God, and God does not make mistakes), literal (God says what He means, and means what He says) Written Word of God -- there must be a way to know when to read the Bible literally and when to apply symbolism and allegory to our interpretation. Yes, there is, my Friend.
When studying the Bible, first, as you begin your study, you interpret the Scripture passage or verse you are reading literally. If this fits, and, you can tell if it makes sense -- that is the proper interpretation. If not, then look at that same passage under the lens of symbolism or allegory. If symbolism is used; you will be able to find the meaning for that symbolism in other parts of the Bible. This may require some dedicated study -- but, then, you are studying God's Word to gain more knowledge from it; so, what's a wee bit more work -- when the rewards are so great?
An example: In Revelation 1:16 we read, "In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."
And, this symbolism is explained in Revelation 1:20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Another example is found in Ezekiel 37:1-10 when the prophet Ezekiel is given a prophetic vision by God.
Ezekiel 37:1-3, "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.'"
And, in Ezekiel 37:11 we find, "Then He said to me, "'on of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel;. . .'"
This passage is symbolic and allegorical -- and, at the same time, it is prophetic. It is prophesying about the future return of the nation so Israel -- which we have seen fulfilled in 1948, when the nation Israel returned to its homeland, the promised land given to Israel by God in the days of Moses and Joshua.
And, then we move on with Israel to the End Times, the seven year Tribulation, which is decreed by God as the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel. In the Tribulation, a remnant of Israel will come to faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ -- and God will bring them through the times of trial, Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation.
In Isaiah 10:20-23, we find, "Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them (the Antichrist), but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land."
This passage, while, at first, seeming to be symbolic, is truly to be read literally. God is going to put the nation Israel, and with them the Gentile nations, through a time of Tribulation. And, in this horrible seven year Tribulation, only a remnant of Israel will accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and be saved. Although the Tribulation is not for the Gentile nations; many Gentiles will also be saved during the Tribulation. All others will perish with the Antichrist.
In Daniel 9:27, we read, "And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (Israel) for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
This passage uses symbolic language and is verified by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24:15, we are told by Jesus Christ, "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand)." Here, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 9:27, the "abominations will come one who makes desolate."
This passage should be read literally; the Temple will be made desolate by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the seven year Tribulation.
The seven year Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace covenant with the nation Israel (Daniel 9:27). This will occur after the church has been raptured out of the world (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
During the first 3 1/2 years there will be an unusual peace, or seeming peace, throughout the world. The Antichrist will somehow be able to bring the Jews and the Muslims together in an agreement which will allow the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, where the large Islamic mosque now stands. It most likely will not replace the mosque; but, will share the Temple Mount with the mosque.
But, Israel will have her Temple once more and will be offering sacrifices to God in the newly rebuilt temple. However, in the middle of the seven years, after 42 months, the Antichrist will begin to show his true evil personality. It is my belief that this is the time when Satan actually enters and possesses the body of the Antichrist and all his evil is brought to the surface.
At this time, he will enter the Temple and declare himself to be God and demand worship. This is the "abomination of desolation" -- the "abominations will come one who makes desolate" spoken of in Daniel and by Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. From that midpoint on, the Antichrist will do everything in his power to completely destroy the nation Israel.
VP, do you see that so much of the Bible can be read literally -- and when He does use symbolism, He will give us an interpretation. He is not a God of confusion; He is not trying to hide His plan of salvation from us. He has given us His complete plan for our salvation and He has given us the Complete Christian User's Manual for living the Christian life. Believe me, there are no "trick questions" in the Bible. God says what He means -- and He means what He says!
And, that is the truth.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
My Friend, VP, is in a church which reads the entire Bible as symbolism and allegory. So, his question is meant to be a "trick question" -- a "gotcha!" But, this is a very valid question and, I am sure is often confusing to Christian believers -- and, even more so, to new Christians and to new seekers only beginning their Biblical journey.
I pray that this dialogue will be a wee bit of help to you. If so, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all we meet -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion which I began titled "An Open Letter From The Son Of Madalyn Murray O'Hair" -- my Friend, VP, tells me, "But I would really like an answer to the question -- WHO decides which parts of the 'literal' word of God is symbolic? When there is no mention of symbolism in the text. I am really trying to follow your logic. Help me understand."
Thank you, VP. That is a valid question -- and a very good question. Since we know the Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired (authored by God), inerrant (authored by God, and God does not make mistakes), literal (God says what He means, and means what He says) Written Word of God -- there must be a way to know when to read the Bible literally and when to apply symbolism and allegory to our interpretation. Yes, there is, my Friend.
When studying the Bible, first, as you begin your study, you interpret the Scripture passage or verse you are reading literally. If this fits, and, you can tell if it makes sense -- that is the proper interpretation. If not, then look at that same passage under the lens of symbolism or allegory. If symbolism is used; you will be able to find the meaning for that symbolism in other parts of the Bible. This may require some dedicated study -- but, then, you are studying God's Word to gain more knowledge from it; so, what's a wee bit more work -- when the rewards are so great?
An example: In Revelation 1:16 we read, "In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."
And, this symbolism is explained in Revelation 1:20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Another example is found in Ezekiel 37:1-10 when the prophet Ezekiel is given a prophetic vision by God.
Ezekiel 37:1-3, "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.'"
And, in Ezekiel 37:11 we find, "Then He said to me, "'on of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel;. . .'"
This passage is symbolic and allegorical -- and, at the same time, it is prophetic. It is prophesying about the future return of the nation so Israel -- which we have seen fulfilled in 1948, when the nation Israel returned to its homeland, the promised land given to Israel by God in the days of Moses and Joshua.
And, then we move on with Israel to the End Times, the seven year Tribulation, which is decreed by God as the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel. In the Tribulation, a remnant of Israel will come to faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ -- and God will bring them through the times of trial, Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation.
In Isaiah 10:20-23, we find, "Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them (the Antichrist), but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land."
This passage, while, at first, seeming to be symbolic, is truly to be read literally. God is going to put the nation Israel, and with them the Gentile nations, through a time of Tribulation. And, in this horrible seven year Tribulation, only a remnant of Israel will accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and be saved. Although the Tribulation is not for the Gentile nations; many Gentiles will also be saved during the Tribulation. All others will perish with the Antichrist.
In Daniel 9:27, we read, "And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (Israel) for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
This passage uses symbolic language and is verified by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24:15, we are told by Jesus Christ, "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand)." Here, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 9:27, the "abominations will come one who makes desolate."
This passage should be read literally; the Temple will be made desolate by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the seven year Tribulation.
The seven year Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace covenant with the nation Israel (Daniel 9:27). This will occur after the church has been raptured out of the world (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
During the first 3 1/2 years there will be an unusual peace, or seeming peace, throughout the world. The Antichrist will somehow be able to bring the Jews and the Muslims together in an agreement which will allow the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, where the large Islamic mosque now stands. It most likely will not replace the mosque; but, will share the Temple Mount with the mosque.
But, Israel will have her Temple once more and will be offering sacrifices to God in the newly rebuilt temple. However, in the middle of the seven years, after 42 months, the Antichrist will begin to show his true evil personality. It is my belief that this is the time when Satan actually enters and possesses the body of the Antichrist and all his evil is brought to the surface.
At this time, he will enter the Temple and declare himself to be God and demand worship. This is the "abomination of desolation" -- the "abominations will come one who makes desolate" spoken of in Daniel and by Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. From that midpoint on, the Antichrist will do everything in his power to completely destroy the nation Israel.
VP, do you see that so much of the Bible can be read literally -- and when He does use symbolism, He will give us an interpretation. He is not a God of confusion; He is not trying to hide His plan of salvation from us. He has given us His complete plan for our salvation and He has given us the Complete Christian User's Manual for living the Christian life. Believe me, there are no "trick questions" in the Bible. God says what He means -- and He means what He says!
And, that is the truth.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Friday, June 18, 2010
What Does The Qur'an Say Regarding Infidels?
While we, as Christian believers, are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to love everyone; we must realize that not all people are called by their religions to love us. Though I would never advocate hatred against any person or any group of people; we must be aware that there are a vast number of people in the Muslim world who hate us -- as both Christians and as Americans. This is a fact which will not change until our Lord returns to bring true peace to earth.
On the Religion Forum, my liberal, atheist, secular, and vanilla-flavored non-believer Friends will always challenge me, as a Conservative Christian, on most issues. In this case, it is because I have written that Islam is truly not a "religion of peace." That is not an indictment against all of the people in the Islamic religion; nor is it an indictment against Islam. It is just a statement borne out by the actions of the Islamic nations and the words of the Qur'an.
Yet, we are called to share the Word of God with our Muslim friends -- for many of us have seen faithful witnessing bear fruit in bringing friends out of Islam and into the arms of Jesus Christ. I know that my dear Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, has led several Muslims to Jesus Christ; I have missionary Friends who are working with Muslim communities and I have no doubt there will be fruit from their endeavors.
The best example, to my knowledge, of faithful witnessing bearing great fruit is Dr. Ergun Caner, President and Dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett-McConnell College, a Baptist school in Georgia. Both were Sunni Muslims who converted to Christianity as teenagers in high school. These two brothers are great examples of the result of faithful and persistent witnessing. Ergun Caner's teenage high school friend, a Baptist, is responsible for this blessing.
This article is not to knock our Muslim friends; only to respond to questions on the Religion Forum and to present facts which may be helpful to you. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled "Reports Say Obama Admitted He's a Muslim" -- Hay responds, "Mostly your information comes from one point of view and is only defended from the sources that give that one point of view. And in the end, what does it matter if Obama is a Muslim? Open your eyes and see that every Muslim isn't a terrorist, they are law abiding citizens just looking to practice their religion beliefs. We don't lump all Christians in with Fred Phelps or the many cults that continually pop up, do we?
You can sit here and say 'my religion is right, you have to be mine' all you want, but in the end, you have no more say about what is correct than anyone else. Just because you grew up a Christian, or were exposed to Christianity (more) than any other religion doesn't mean it is the 'end all, be all' of religions"
Hay, first, I did not grow up a Christian. I wish I had; but, unfortunately, I did not become a Christian believer until I was fifty.
Regarding Islam being a "religion of peace" -- you need to study it a wee bit more. No "religion of peace" will tell its followers to convert all the infidels (by the way, that is you and me) or destroy them.
Then, my Friend, Logical, asks me, "Have you actually read any of the Qur'an?"
Logical, while I do not make a practice of studying the Qur'an, I do have a copy sent to me by CAIR. In recognizing false religions or teachings, I prefer to use the FBI standard on how they recognize false currency. How are they taught to recognize false currency? By studying real currency until they know it like the back of their own hand; then, a false currency will stand out like a sore thumb.
The same with faith; study the Written Word of God, the Bible, until you know it like the back of your hand -- and, then, false religions and teachings will stand out like a sore thumb.
But, back to the Qur'an. In my Qur'an, Surah 9:5, I read, "And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God (Allah for them) wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet if they repent, and take to prayer (Islamic prayer), and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God (Allah) is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." Parenthetical emphasis is mine.
As you can see, when the Qur'an was translated to be distributed by the CAIR, they were careful to use the name God, and not Allah. However, in the online version below, you will see that it is still Allah and not God. And, contrary to liberal, secular, and atheist teachings, Allah and God are definitely not the same.
The verse below is from the web site: Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran, Published by Dar-us-Salam Publications http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/index.html
Surah 9:5, "Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikan (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
In my copy of the Qur'an, there are footnotes which tell us, "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" and "war is permissible only in self defense." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you very cheap.
Consider the history of Mohammed and his ravaging of trade caravans to fund his army -- consider the history of Islam's spread -- consider 9-11 -- consider the pubic beheading of the American journalist and many other kidnapped captives -- ask anyone who has heard the rantings of many Islamic holy men on television -- ask anyone who has heard Iran's president and many Arab leaders call for the annihilation of Israel and the Great Satan, America. Then, tell me that Islam is a "religion of peace."
Should we, as Christian believers, turn away from our Islamic friends? No. We should pray for them; we should, when possible, share the true Word of God with them. But, we must never be deceived into believing that the vast Islamic community, in America, in Britain, in Europe, across the Middle East -- wants to be friends with America or with Americans.
As I said, in those communities, even if it is not spoken publicly -- America is still the "Great Satan" -- the friend of Muslim's long hated enemy, Israel. If it were only a small minority of Muslims who feel this way; why do those who do not -- stay silent in support of the Militant Islamic Terrorists?
No, my Friend, this is the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac which will not be resolved in peace -- until our Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Then, for the first time since Ishmael and Isaac -- there will be peace upon the earth, ruled by the hand of Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the holy city of God.
Until then, we share the Word of God with our Islamic friends, and all our friends -- but, we do not destroy our weapons of war, our means of self defense against terrorism and those who view us as the Great Satan to be destroyed, until Jesus Christ returns to give us true peace.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
On the Religion Forum, my liberal, atheist, secular, and vanilla-flavored non-believer Friends will always challenge me, as a Conservative Christian, on most issues. In this case, it is because I have written that Islam is truly not a "religion of peace." That is not an indictment against all of the people in the Islamic religion; nor is it an indictment against Islam. It is just a statement borne out by the actions of the Islamic nations and the words of the Qur'an.
Yet, we are called to share the Word of God with our Muslim friends -- for many of us have seen faithful witnessing bear fruit in bringing friends out of Islam and into the arms of Jesus Christ. I know that my dear Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, has led several Muslims to Jesus Christ; I have missionary Friends who are working with Muslim communities and I have no doubt there will be fruit from their endeavors.
The best example, to my knowledge, of faithful witnessing bearing great fruit is Dr. Ergun Caner, President and Dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett-McConnell College, a Baptist school in Georgia. Both were Sunni Muslims who converted to Christianity as teenagers in high school. These two brothers are great examples of the result of faithful and persistent witnessing. Ergun Caner's teenage high school friend, a Baptist, is responsible for this blessing.
This article is not to knock our Muslim friends; only to respond to questions on the Religion Forum and to present facts which may be helpful to you. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled "Reports Say Obama Admitted He's a Muslim" -- Hay responds, "Mostly your information comes from one point of view and is only defended from the sources that give that one point of view. And in the end, what does it matter if Obama is a Muslim? Open your eyes and see that every Muslim isn't a terrorist, they are law abiding citizens just looking to practice their religion beliefs. We don't lump all Christians in with Fred Phelps or the many cults that continually pop up, do we?
You can sit here and say 'my religion is right, you have to be mine' all you want, but in the end, you have no more say about what is correct than anyone else. Just because you grew up a Christian, or were exposed to Christianity (more) than any other religion doesn't mean it is the 'end all, be all' of religions"
Hay, first, I did not grow up a Christian. I wish I had; but, unfortunately, I did not become a Christian believer until I was fifty.
Regarding Islam being a "religion of peace" -- you need to study it a wee bit more. No "religion of peace" will tell its followers to convert all the infidels (by the way, that is you and me) or destroy them.
Then, my Friend, Logical, asks me, "Have you actually read any of the Qur'an?"
Logical, while I do not make a practice of studying the Qur'an, I do have a copy sent to me by CAIR. In recognizing false religions or teachings, I prefer to use the FBI standard on how they recognize false currency. How are they taught to recognize false currency? By studying real currency until they know it like the back of their own hand; then, a false currency will stand out like a sore thumb.
The same with faith; study the Written Word of God, the Bible, until you know it like the back of your hand -- and, then, false religions and teachings will stand out like a sore thumb.
But, back to the Qur'an. In my Qur'an, Surah 9:5, I read, "And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God (Allah for them) wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet if they repent, and take to prayer (Islamic prayer), and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God (Allah) is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." Parenthetical emphasis is mine.
As you can see, when the Qur'an was translated to be distributed by the CAIR, they were careful to use the name God, and not Allah. However, in the online version below, you will see that it is still Allah and not God. And, contrary to liberal, secular, and atheist teachings, Allah and God are definitely not the same.
The verse below is from the web site: Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran, Published by Dar-us-Salam Publications http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/index.html
Surah 9:5, "Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikan (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
In my copy of the Qur'an, there are footnotes which tell us, "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" and "war is permissible only in self defense." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you very cheap.
Consider the history of Mohammed and his ravaging of trade caravans to fund his army -- consider the history of Islam's spread -- consider 9-11 -- consider the pubic beheading of the American journalist and many other kidnapped captives -- ask anyone who has heard the rantings of many Islamic holy men on television -- ask anyone who has heard Iran's president and many Arab leaders call for the annihilation of Israel and the Great Satan, America. Then, tell me that Islam is a "religion of peace."
Should we, as Christian believers, turn away from our Islamic friends? No. We should pray for them; we should, when possible, share the true Word of God with them. But, we must never be deceived into believing that the vast Islamic community, in America, in Britain, in Europe, across the Middle East -- wants to be friends with America or with Americans.
As I said, in those communities, even if it is not spoken publicly -- America is still the "Great Satan" -- the friend of Muslim's long hated enemy, Israel. If it were only a small minority of Muslims who feel this way; why do those who do not -- stay silent in support of the Militant Islamic Terrorists?
No, my Friend, this is the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac which will not be resolved in peace -- until our Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Then, for the first time since Ishmael and Isaac -- there will be peace upon the earth, ruled by the hand of Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the holy city of God.
Until then, we share the Word of God with our Islamic friends, and all our friends -- but, we do not destroy our weapons of war, our means of self defense against terrorism and those who view us as the Great Satan to be destroyed, until Jesus Christ returns to give us true peace.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
School Bus Driver Preaches Gay Agenda To
Young Children On School Bus - Video
Young Children On School Bus - Video
How would you feel if your young child came home and told you that the public school bus driver had lectured her about gay marriage and told one of her classmates, about her, "She is a stupid little bigot!" And, she told the classmate, "I will eat her alive!"
Then, the bus driver told the students that anyone who does not agree with her, in her words, "Belongs in a parochial church school" -- and, when she said "church" she spit it out like she had rotten food in her mouth.
Do you feel that this school bus driver was right to do this to young children riding on her bus?
This is what has happened on a public school bus in Indiana -- and, when the parents, educated professional people, complained to the school district -- they were told that the driver was well within the scope of her employment contract.
Do you think this is right?
Watch this video and judge for yourself. Then, ask yourself how you would feel if this were your daughter or granddaughter.
Then, try and tell me that the gay community does not have an agenda in our public schools. God has been evicted from our public schools -- but, the gay agenda is alive and well -- even on the school bus riding to and from school.
If our children are not safe from this kind of indoctrination, even on the school bus -- where are they safe? Who is next to teach the gay agenda to our children -- the school janitor? And, is this defined in the scope of his job also?
http://action.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147494982
Please, please -- do share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Our children are special blessing from God -- and He has charged us with protecting them from harm -- physically and spiritually.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Then, the bus driver told the students that anyone who does not agree with her, in her words, "Belongs in a parochial church school" -- and, when she said "church" she spit it out like she had rotten food in her mouth.
Do you feel that this school bus driver was right to do this to young children riding on her bus?
This is what has happened on a public school bus in Indiana -- and, when the parents, educated professional people, complained to the school district -- they were told that the driver was well within the scope of her employment contract.
Do you think this is right?
Watch this video and judge for yourself. Then, ask yourself how you would feel if this were your daughter or granddaughter.
Then, try and tell me that the gay community does not have an agenda in our public schools. God has been evicted from our public schools -- but, the gay agenda is alive and well -- even on the school bus riding to and from school.
If our children are not safe from this kind of indoctrination, even on the school bus -- where are they safe? Who is next to teach the gay agenda to our children -- the school janitor? And, is this defined in the scope of his job also?
Please, please -- do share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Our children are special blessing from God -- and He has charged us with protecting them from harm -- physically and spiritually.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Who Is "Left Behind"?
While none of us gain, or fail to gain, salvation because of our beliefs about End Time prophecies - how we view Biblical prophecies can, and does, affect the peace of mind of Christian believers. How can a person have peace in God when he/she does not believe what is written in the Bible authored by God?
The difference between the PreTribulation Rapture / PreMillennial Second Coming believer and the PostMillennial and Amillennial believers - is their view of Bible prophecies. A PreTrib/PreMillennial believer views the Bible prophecies through the lense of literal interpretation, i.e., hermeneutics. The Amillennialist does not believe there will be a literal Millennial Kingdom of God on earth and views Biblical prophecies as allegories and symbolism only. And the PostMillennial believer is somewhere in between.
The PreTrib/PreMillianial believer interprets the complete Bible as the inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God - and that includes His prophecies. Do we see every word of the Bible as being literal? No, there are often times in Scripture where metaphors, allegories, and symbolism are used. However, our approach is to first look at the passage as literal - and if the shoe fits, wear it. If not, look for a figurative meaning.
Most PostMillennialist and Amillennialist view the Bible as literal - except for prophecies. These they spiritualize and allegorize.
So Amillenial believers will say that we are living in the Millennium now. And as things get better and better - one day Jesus Christ will return, pass judgement, and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God. No Rapture, no Tribulation, no Millennial Kingdom - just keep doing what we are doing until He comes. And then the judgment. They view the Great White Throne Judgment as including all believers and non-believers. One general judgment - and then eternity, heaven or hell.
And PostMillennial believers say there will be a Tribulation and a Millennial Kingdom - but, no Rapture. Christ will stay in heaven. The church will stay on earth during the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom periods with Christ ruling from heaven. Then, at the end of the Millennium, He will return, pass judgement at the Great White Throne Judgment - and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God.
The big problem is that neither of these beliefs is Biblical. And, in the dialogue below I will be honest - for a while I have been having dialogues with my TimesDaily Forum Friend, Beter - and I have no idea whether he is an Amillennial believer, or just entrenched in a legalistic church, or just wants to argue. Many times I have suspected the latter. However, his questions and comments today lead to a good discussion of the End Times judgments which I feel could be a catalyst in bringing others deeper into their own personal Bible study.
So I feel the dialogue below which we had on the TimesDaily Religion Forum is worthwhile.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Beter,
In my earlier post, I wrote, "At the end of the Millennial Kingdom - those who died not believing in Jesus Christ will be resurrected and will face Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment - a judgment of punishment for rejecting Him all their lives. They will then join the Antichrist and all other non-believers in the Lake of Fire, hell."
And, you tell me, "Bill, the judgment you call the 'Great White Throne Judgment' is the same as the judgment described in Matthew 25. There, 'all nations' shall be judged (v.32). The righteous and the unrighteous shall be judged (v. 46). Jesus, in describing the judgment in Matthew 25, neither says, nor implies, anything remotely to suggest that this is anything other than THE judgment, the ONLY judgment. According to your theology, the judgment of Matthew 25 could only be a 'post-Tribulation' judgment and the only persons being condemned in that judgment will be those who survived the Tribulation."
Matthew 25:31-46 is describing the Sheep and Goat Judgment. When Jesus Christ returns, His Second Coming after the Tribulation, there will be those who survived the Tribulation. Although most who become believers during the Tribulation will have been martyred by the Antichrist - there will be a large number of believers still alive at the end of the Tribulation. And there will be many non-believers, those who took the Mark of the Beast and continued to deny Christ.
His main purpose in the Second Coming is to put an end to the Tribulation, the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel - and to establish His Millennial Kingdom, the Kingdom of God on earth. When Adam disobeyed God; he gave a "Quit Claim Deed" for earth to Satan. Jesus will come to redeem the Title Deed to earth - and to send Satan into the abyss, his jail, for one thousand years.
At the judgment described in the parable of Matthew 25:31-46, there will be two things asked: First, what did you do with My Son, Jesus Christ? Did you receive Him as your Lord and Savior - or did you reject Him? Second, what did you do with your fellow man? Did you display the fruit found only in the salvation of a Christ Follower and tend His sheep, the people for whom He gave His life - or did you care only for your own worldly pleasures and desires?
The first, those who received Him as Lord and Savior, His sheep, He will stand at His right hand. Those who denied Him, the goats, He will stand at His left hand. And, Matthew 25:46 tells us, "And these (the goats) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (His sheep) into eternal life."
But first, those on His right, His sheep, will go into the Millennial Kingdom of God, Christ's Millennial Reign on earth, in their mortal bodies. For one thousand years they will be marrying and having children. Yet they and their children will still have the sin nature inherited from Adam's disobedience. The sin nature can and will only be removed through death or the Rapture. All mortals going into the Millennial Kingdom will be saved, yet they will still have their sin nature - just at we believers today, before the Rapture, still have our sin nature.
Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom after the Tribulation are saved, they are Christian believers and have eternal life in Christ. However, those born during the Millennial Kingdom still having their sin nature and will still need to invite Jesus Christ into their hearts
(Revelation 3:20) to have eternal life.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan is locked in the abyss - so his temptation which has led so many down the wrong path during the Church Era (from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture) and even through the seven year Tribulation - will be missing. However, even though the temptation of Satan is absent; those born during the Millennial Reign of Christ must still, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ - believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.
Surprisingly, there will be a great number who will not, for whatever reason, apathy, etc., do this. These are the recruits Satan will find when he is released from the abyss after one thousand years. And from this group he will recruit his army of billions who will come against the Holy City and Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:7-10) where they will be supernaturally destroyed. This is the last battle of the End Times.
The Great White Throne Judgment is still pending at this point. It will happen after the Final Battle and after Satan has been thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and his False Prophet await their leader. The Great White Throne Judgment is God's final act in dealing with all non-believers.
From that point on -- it is the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem -- and eternal life with Jesus Christ, in the eternal presence of God the Father.
Then, you tell me, "Bill, your interpretation of the 'Rapture' is based on 1 Thess. 4. That passage teaches that both the righteous living and the 'dead in Christ' will be 'caught up together...in the clouds' and will 'ever be with the Lord.'"
That is almost true. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
This tells us that those who died in Christ, i.e., those Christian believers who have preceded us in death -- their bodies are still in the grave, but, upon death, their spirits went directly to be with the Lord -- will be raised first in the Rapture. Then, those of us who are still alive will follow them in being Raptured. However, we are talking about a very brief time between the two events; say, like the time it takes for a blink of the eye. So, technically, those dead in Christ rise first -- but, in reality, it will all happen so quickly that who can notice the time difference?
Next, you ask a good question -- and, you have answered your own question, "Who does that leave behind for the 'Tribulation'? The only answer to that is that only the unrighteous will be left. That being the case, one has to wonder just who John was writing about in Revelation 7:14: 'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'"
As we are told in Jeremiah 30:7, the seven year Tribulation is the "Time of Jacob's Trouble or Distress." It is God's time to bring His chosen people, Israel, through the Refiner's Fire -- to separate out the remnant of His people who will believe and receive their Messiah, Jesus Christ. While the Tribulation is primarily for the sake of Israel; many Gentiles in the nations will also believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.
Who is left after the Rapture? You answered correctly; only the unrighteous, only those who have not received and believed in Jesus Christ. However, there will be two great Revivals happening during the seven year Tribulation. First, there will be those who had knowledge of Jesus Christ, many who actually taught about Jesus Christ -- pastors, priest, Bible teachers, Sunday School teachers, deacons, deaconesses, elders, and many other supposedly mature Christians.
And, still, they never truly believed what they themselves were teaching. Yet, from what they have been teaching, they have knowledge of the Rapture, whether they believed it or not -- and when the Rapture does occur -- they will become instant believers. They will recognize the fallacy of the theology they have been following and teaching -- and, they will repent and become true Christ Followers. This will be the First Great Tribulation Revival.
The second will come from the 144,000 new Jewish Billy Grahams we find in Revelation 7:4, "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel."
These 144,000 zealous evangelists, 12,000 from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel -- will bring in a harvest of souls during the Tribulation unlike any that has ever occurred before this. We are told of this in Revelation 7:9, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands."
This "great multitude" is comprised of those who were saved in the initial First Great Tribulation Revival and those who heard and responded to the teaching of the 144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams. And, can you imagine -- a great multitude, the number so large, that one could not count them? That, my Friend, is one great Soul Harvest.
But, the reason they are standing before the throne of the Lamb, clothed in white robes -- is because, as fast as the 144,000 evangelist could bring them to belief in Jesus Christ -- the Antichrist was killing them, making them Christian martyrs.
These are the same martyrs we find in Revelation 6:9-11, "When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also."
Keep in mind that the book of Revelation does not read chronologically from time A to time Z. This is one of the reasons many folks get confused in studying Revelation. Yet, here, there is some continuity. First, in Revelation 6:9-11 we read of those slain, martyred, for their faith -- and then, in Revelation 7:9-17 we read of them standing before the Lord washed in the blood of the Lamb and clothed in His white robe of righteousness.
These were Left Behind -- but, now are saved and have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Then, you tell me, "If only the unrighteous dead and the unrighteous living were left behind at the 'Rapture' (as you believe), and and if, as you say, 'At the end of the seven year Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth, His Second Coming, where he will judge the nations, the survivors of the Tribulation: non-believers will go to the Lake of Fire, hell -- and believers will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies' -- then how did those allegedly unrighteousun-Raptured survivors of the 'Tribulation' somehow become righteous during the Tribulation?
Would they not, by your reckoning, have received a second chance? They were 'left behind' because they were unrighteous, and presumably in a lost state. Then, after the Tribulation, you assert that some of them were saved. But you also say: 'And, you are also correct that NO ONE gets a second chance. I have stated that so many times that I have lost count.'
Count this: One chance to be saved before the 'Rapture.' Another chance to be saved after the 'Tribulation.' I count two chances."
Once again, a good question which will help us clear up any misunderstandings. When we speak of "not having a second chance" to repent and receive His "free gift" of salvation -- this is referring only to this mortal life. In this life, one has until his last breath to repent and be saved. If, however, that person dies, breathes his last breath in this mortal life, without believing and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord, Master, and Savior -- there is no second chance. This person's eternal fate is sealed.
However, those who are Left Behind at the Rapture have not died, they have not breathed their last breath -- so, just as folks do now, they still have the rest of their mortal life to repent and be saved.
Yet, leaving repentance and salvation until the last moment, until just before that last breath -- is rather like trying to walk up an ice covered hillside wearing leather soled shoes. It is a mighty precarious position in which you could find yourself -- a mighty slippery slope. One never knows when that last breath will come.
That is true for us now. Can you imagine how much worse it will be during the seven year Tribulation -- when folks are being killed left and right -- for no other reason than it pleases the Antichrist? That will be a very precarious time in which to live -- and a very unwise time to put off your repentance and salvation until the last moment.
Beter, my Friend, I pray this clears up any misunderstandings we have about the End Times -- and that it encourages many of our Forum Friends to test what we write by comparing it with Scripture (Acts 17:11). And, I pray that our dialogues will be the catalyst which will bring many more to their own personal study of God's Word.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
The difference between the PreTribulation Rapture / PreMillennial Second Coming believer and the PostMillennial and Amillennial believers - is their view of Bible prophecies. A PreTrib/PreMillennial believer views the Bible prophecies through the lense of literal interpretation, i.e., hermeneutics. The Amillennialist does not believe there will be a literal Millennial Kingdom of God on earth and views Biblical prophecies as allegories and symbolism only. And the PostMillennial believer is somewhere in between.
The PreTrib/PreMillianial believer interprets the complete Bible as the inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God - and that includes His prophecies. Do we see every word of the Bible as being literal? No, there are often times in Scripture where metaphors, allegories, and symbolism are used. However, our approach is to first look at the passage as literal - and if the shoe fits, wear it. If not, look for a figurative meaning.
Most PostMillennialist and Amillennialist view the Bible as literal - except for prophecies. These they spiritualize and allegorize.
So Amillenial believers will say that we are living in the Millennium now. And as things get better and better - one day Jesus Christ will return, pass judgement, and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God. No Rapture, no Tribulation, no Millennial Kingdom - just keep doing what we are doing until He comes. And then the judgment. They view the Great White Throne Judgment as including all believers and non-believers. One general judgment - and then eternity, heaven or hell.
And PostMillennial believers say there will be a Tribulation and a Millennial Kingdom - but, no Rapture. Christ will stay in heaven. The church will stay on earth during the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom periods with Christ ruling from heaven. Then, at the end of the Millennium, He will return, pass judgement at the Great White Throne Judgment - and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God.
The big problem is that neither of these beliefs is Biblical. And, in the dialogue below I will be honest - for a while I have been having dialogues with my TimesDaily Forum Friend, Beter - and I have no idea whether he is an Amillennial believer, or just entrenched in a legalistic church, or just wants to argue. Many times I have suspected the latter. However, his questions and comments today lead to a good discussion of the End Times judgments which I feel could be a catalyst in bringing others deeper into their own personal Bible study.
So I feel the dialogue below which we had on the TimesDaily Religion Forum is worthwhile.
Hi Beter,
In my earlier post, I wrote, "At the end of the Millennial Kingdom - those who died not believing in Jesus Christ will be resurrected and will face Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment - a judgment of punishment for rejecting Him all their lives. They will then join the Antichrist and all other non-believers in the Lake of Fire, hell."
And, you tell me, "Bill, the judgment you call the 'Great White Throne Judgment' is the same as the judgment described in Matthew 25. There, 'all nations' shall be judged (v.32). The righteous and the unrighteous shall be judged (v. 46). Jesus, in describing the judgment in Matthew 25, neither says, nor implies, anything remotely to suggest that this is anything other than THE judgment, the ONLY judgment. According to your theology, the judgment of Matthew 25 could only be a 'post-Tribulation' judgment and the only persons being condemned in that judgment will be those who survived the Tribulation."
Matthew 25:31-46 is describing the Sheep and Goat Judgment. When Jesus Christ returns, His Second Coming after the Tribulation, there will be those who survived the Tribulation. Although most who become believers during the Tribulation will have been martyred by the Antichrist - there will be a large number of believers still alive at the end of the Tribulation. And there will be many non-believers, those who took the Mark of the Beast and continued to deny Christ.
His main purpose in the Second Coming is to put an end to the Tribulation, the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel - and to establish His Millennial Kingdom, the Kingdom of God on earth. When Adam disobeyed God; he gave a "Quit Claim Deed" for earth to Satan. Jesus will come to redeem the Title Deed to earth - and to send Satan into the abyss, his jail, for one thousand years.
At the judgment described in the parable of Matthew 25:31-46, there will be two things asked: First, what did you do with My Son, Jesus Christ? Did you receive Him as your Lord and Savior - or did you reject Him? Second, what did you do with your fellow man? Did you display the fruit found only in the salvation of a Christ Follower and tend His sheep, the people for whom He gave His life - or did you care only for your own worldly pleasures and desires?
The first, those who received Him as Lord and Savior, His sheep, He will stand at His right hand. Those who denied Him, the goats, He will stand at His left hand. And, Matthew 25:46 tells us, "And these (the goats) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (His sheep) into eternal life."
But first, those on His right, His sheep, will go into the Millennial Kingdom of God, Christ's Millennial Reign on earth, in their mortal bodies. For one thousand years they will be marrying and having children. Yet they and their children will still have the sin nature inherited from Adam's disobedience. The sin nature can and will only be removed through death or the Rapture. All mortals going into the Millennial Kingdom will be saved, yet they will still have their sin nature - just at we believers today, before the Rapture, still have our sin nature.
Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom after the Tribulation are saved, they are Christian believers and have eternal life in Christ. However, those born during the Millennial Kingdom still having their sin nature and will still need to invite Jesus Christ into their hearts
(Revelation 3:20) to have eternal life.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan is locked in the abyss - so his temptation which has led so many down the wrong path during the Church Era (from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture) and even through the seven year Tribulation - will be missing. However, even though the temptation of Satan is absent; those born during the Millennial Reign of Christ must still, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ - believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.
Surprisingly, there will be a great number who will not, for whatever reason, apathy, etc., do this. These are the recruits Satan will find when he is released from the abyss after one thousand years. And from this group he will recruit his army of billions who will come against the Holy City and Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:7-10) where they will be supernaturally destroyed. This is the last battle of the End Times.
The Great White Throne Judgment is still pending at this point. It will happen after the Final Battle and after Satan has been thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and his False Prophet await their leader. The Great White Throne Judgment is God's final act in dealing with all non-believers.
From that point on -- it is the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem -- and eternal life with Jesus Christ, in the eternal presence of God the Father.
Then, you tell me, "Bill, your interpretation of the 'Rapture' is based on 1 Thess. 4. That passage teaches that both the righteous living and the 'dead in Christ' will be 'caught up together...in the clouds' and will 'ever be with the Lord.'"
That is almost true. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
This tells us that those who died in Christ, i.e., those Christian believers who have preceded us in death -- their bodies are still in the grave, but, upon death, their spirits went directly to be with the Lord -- will be raised first in the Rapture. Then, those of us who are still alive will follow them in being Raptured. However, we are talking about a very brief time between the two events; say, like the time it takes for a blink of the eye. So, technically, those dead in Christ rise first -- but, in reality, it will all happen so quickly that who can notice the time difference?
Next, you ask a good question -- and, you have answered your own question, "Who does that leave behind for the 'Tribulation'? The only answer to that is that only the unrighteous will be left. That being the case, one has to wonder just who John was writing about in Revelation 7:14: 'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'"
As we are told in Jeremiah 30:7, the seven year Tribulation is the "Time of Jacob's Trouble or Distress." It is God's time to bring His chosen people, Israel, through the Refiner's Fire -- to separate out the remnant of His people who will believe and receive their Messiah, Jesus Christ. While the Tribulation is primarily for the sake of Israel; many Gentiles in the nations will also believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.
Who is left after the Rapture? You answered correctly; only the unrighteous, only those who have not received and believed in Jesus Christ. However, there will be two great Revivals happening during the seven year Tribulation. First, there will be those who had knowledge of Jesus Christ, many who actually taught about Jesus Christ -- pastors, priest, Bible teachers, Sunday School teachers, deacons, deaconesses, elders, and many other supposedly mature Christians.
And, still, they never truly believed what they themselves were teaching. Yet, from what they have been teaching, they have knowledge of the Rapture, whether they believed it or not -- and when the Rapture does occur -- they will become instant believers. They will recognize the fallacy of the theology they have been following and teaching -- and, they will repent and become true Christ Followers. This will be the First Great Tribulation Revival.
The second will come from the 144,000 new Jewish Billy Grahams we find in Revelation 7:4, "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel."
These 144,000 zealous evangelists, 12,000 from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel -- will bring in a harvest of souls during the Tribulation unlike any that has ever occurred before this. We are told of this in Revelation 7:9, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands."
This "great multitude" is comprised of those who were saved in the initial First Great Tribulation Revival and those who heard and responded to the teaching of the 144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams. And, can you imagine -- a great multitude, the number so large, that one could not count them? That, my Friend, is one great Soul Harvest.
But, the reason they are standing before the throne of the Lamb, clothed in white robes -- is because, as fast as the 144,000 evangelist could bring them to belief in Jesus Christ -- the Antichrist was killing them, making them Christian martyrs.
These are the same martyrs we find in Revelation 6:9-11, "When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also."
Keep in mind that the book of Revelation does not read chronologically from time A to time Z. This is one of the reasons many folks get confused in studying Revelation. Yet, here, there is some continuity. First, in Revelation 6:9-11 we read of those slain, martyred, for their faith -- and then, in Revelation 7:9-17 we read of them standing before the Lord washed in the blood of the Lamb and clothed in His white robe of righteousness.
These were Left Behind -- but, now are saved and have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Then, you tell me, "If only the unrighteous dead and the unrighteous living were left behind at the 'Rapture' (as you believe), and and if, as you say, 'At the end of the seven year Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth, His Second Coming, where he will judge the nations, the survivors of the Tribulation: non-believers will go to the Lake of Fire, hell -- and believers will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies' -- then how did those allegedly unrighteousun-Raptured survivors of the 'Tribulation' somehow become righteous during the Tribulation?
Would they not, by your reckoning, have received a second chance? They were 'left behind' because they were unrighteous, and presumably in a lost state. Then, after the Tribulation, you assert that some of them were saved. But you also say: 'And, you are also correct that NO ONE gets a second chance. I have stated that so many times that I have lost count.'
Count this: One chance to be saved before the 'Rapture.' Another chance to be saved after the 'Tribulation.' I count two chances."
Once again, a good question which will help us clear up any misunderstandings. When we speak of "not having a second chance" to repent and receive His "free gift" of salvation -- this is referring only to this mortal life. In this life, one has until his last breath to repent and be saved. If, however, that person dies, breathes his last breath in this mortal life, without believing and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord, Master, and Savior -- there is no second chance. This person's eternal fate is sealed.
However, those who are Left Behind at the Rapture have not died, they have not breathed their last breath -- so, just as folks do now, they still have the rest of their mortal life to repent and be saved.
Yet, leaving repentance and salvation until the last moment, until just before that last breath -- is rather like trying to walk up an ice covered hillside wearing leather soled shoes. It is a mighty precarious position in which you could find yourself -- a mighty slippery slope. One never knows when that last breath will come.
That is true for us now. Can you imagine how much worse it will be during the seven year Tribulation -- when folks are being killed left and right -- for no other reason than it pleases the Antichrist? That will be a very precarious time in which to live -- and a very unwise time to put off your repentance and salvation until the last moment.
Beter, my Friend, I pray this clears up any misunderstandings we have about the End Times -- and that it encourages many of our Forum Friends to test what we write by comparing it with Scripture (Acts 17:11). And, I pray that our dialogues will be the catalyst which will bring many more to their own personal study of God's Word.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Is It Unchristian
To Support Strict Immigration Laws?
To Support Strict Immigration Laws?
Am I being unChristian when I support stricter immigration laws? No. In no way. For all illegal aliens who want to go home and enter America legally; I will welcome them with open arms.
However, I get very bothered by those who break America's laws by sneaking across our border -- and then march through our cities in protest marches, demanding "Their Rights!" What rights? They are criminals; because they are breaking our immigration laws. The only right they have is a ride back to the border -- and let them or their government pay for the bus fare.
Why am I writing this tonight? Because I just watched the news and saw the massive preparations Los Angeles is having to do to prepare for the Immigration Protest March tomorrow in downtown Los Angeles. Supposedly 100,000 will march to City Hall in protest of Arizona's newly passed Immigration Law. And, tomorrow, the Los Angeles Police Department will have to assign 800 additional police officers as crowd control and protections for these protesters.
So, let's examine the facts: (1) 100,000 marchers, many of whom are illegal aliens, will march in Los Angeles tomorrow, (2) Los Angeles has to spend a bundle of money in preparation for this demonstration, (3) and, the LAPD has to spend a bundle of money to put an extra 800 police officers on the streets of Los Angeles, to protect these illegal aliens. Am I the only one to see that something is wrong with this picture?
Wouldn't that money be spent more productively if given to the Education Department, the Fire Department, and the Police Department to make them more effective?
With all the money being spent today in preparation -- and all the funds it will cost to put an additional 800 officers on the street -- at a time when Los Angeles is having to have lay-offs, having to curtail hiring new officers, having cut backs in funds for education, etc. -- we are spending a fortune to protect those who are guilty of crimes, while they march to protest against our laws which they are guilty of breaking. Isn't this picture out of focus?
It would be much cheaper to replace those LAPD officers with ICE officers from the Immigration Department who could check for legal identification -- and, then have buses waiting to take those without legal papers back to the border crossing.
And, then, the U.S. government can send a bill to Mexico City for reimbursement of the cost of transporting their citizens back to the border. Now, that sounds like a plan to me.
Why am I so irked? Is it because these people are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families -- by coming to America? No, that is the history of America. But, if you recall, those early immigrants from Europe, etc., came through Ellis Island -- they did not swim across the border.
What really irks me is that they come into America illegally, making them criminals -- then, they march in protest against the laws they have broken -- demanding "Their Rights!" -- and tomorrow they will be chanting the motto: "First there was Jim Crow! Now there is Juan Crow!" Forgive me, my Friends, but that is crock of baloney! If I were not a Christian; I might say it a wee bit more strongly.
First of all, this shows either their ignorance of Jim Crow -- or that they are downright lying, attempting to piggyback on the plight of the Africans who were kidnapped and brought to this country.
What is Jim Crow?
"Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-Black laws. It was a way of life. Under Jim Crow, African Americans were relegated to the status of second class citizens." http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm
The blacks in America today are descendants of African blacks who were KIDNAPPED in their own countries and brought to America as slaves to be sold. They are descendants of blacks who, even after being freed, were treated very wrong.
Does anyone know of ANY Mexicans or ANY other Hispanics who were KIDNAPPED and brought into America? I do not. To the best of my knowledge; all 12 to 20 million illegal Hispanics in America came of their own accord, illegally, into America. None were kidnapped and forcibly brought to America.
If I were an African-American, I would be very insulted that these people are trying to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of early African slaves by using their history and their plight -- as leverage to force America to grant amnesty to illegal Hispanics today.
Am I being unChristian in writing this? No.
I have great disdain for the same-sex marriage crowd who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.
I have great disdain for the abortion supporters who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.
And, I have great disdain for the illegal aliens who want to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of African-Americans.
Personally, I give Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, and all the Arizona legislatures who stood with her, a really big "ATTA GIRL!" and "ATTA BOY!" for having the courage to do what is right and what is best for America. America needs more politicians like these who will take a stand, even if he face of great adversity -- and do what "We The People" voted them into office to do; what their constituents want to see them do to protect us, our families, our communities, and America. Too few politicians can even remember "We The People" -- much less recall what it means.
This November, in the elections -- let's give them a reminder they will not soon forget.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
However, I get very bothered by those who break America's laws by sneaking across our border -- and then march through our cities in protest marches, demanding "Their Rights!" What rights? They are criminals; because they are breaking our immigration laws. The only right they have is a ride back to the border -- and let them or their government pay for the bus fare.
Why am I writing this tonight? Because I just watched the news and saw the massive preparations Los Angeles is having to do to prepare for the Immigration Protest March tomorrow in downtown Los Angeles. Supposedly 100,000 will march to City Hall in protest of Arizona's newly passed Immigration Law. And, tomorrow, the Los Angeles Police Department will have to assign 800 additional police officers as crowd control and protections for these protesters.
So, let's examine the facts: (1) 100,000 marchers, many of whom are illegal aliens, will march in Los Angeles tomorrow, (2) Los Angeles has to spend a bundle of money in preparation for this demonstration, (3) and, the LAPD has to spend a bundle of money to put an extra 800 police officers on the streets of Los Angeles, to protect these illegal aliens. Am I the only one to see that something is wrong with this picture?
Wouldn't that money be spent more productively if given to the Education Department, the Fire Department, and the Police Department to make them more effective?
With all the money being spent today in preparation -- and all the funds it will cost to put an additional 800 officers on the street -- at a time when Los Angeles is having to have lay-offs, having to curtail hiring new officers, having cut backs in funds for education, etc. -- we are spending a fortune to protect those who are guilty of crimes, while they march to protest against our laws which they are guilty of breaking. Isn't this picture out of focus?
It would be much cheaper to replace those LAPD officers with ICE officers from the Immigration Department who could check for legal identification -- and, then have buses waiting to take those without legal papers back to the border crossing.
And, then, the U.S. government can send a bill to Mexico City for reimbursement of the cost of transporting their citizens back to the border. Now, that sounds like a plan to me.
Why am I so irked? Is it because these people are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families -- by coming to America? No, that is the history of America. But, if you recall, those early immigrants from Europe, etc., came through Ellis Island -- they did not swim across the border.
What really irks me is that they come into America illegally, making them criminals -- then, they march in protest against the laws they have broken -- demanding "Their Rights!" -- and tomorrow they will be chanting the motto: "First there was Jim Crow! Now there is Juan Crow!" Forgive me, my Friends, but that is crock of baloney! If I were not a Christian; I might say it a wee bit more strongly.
First of all, this shows either their ignorance of Jim Crow -- or that they are downright lying, attempting to piggyback on the plight of the Africans who were kidnapped and brought to this country.
What is Jim Crow?
"Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-Black laws. It was a way of life. Under Jim Crow, African Americans were relegated to the status of second class citizens." http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm
The blacks in America today are descendants of African blacks who were KIDNAPPED in their own countries and brought to America as slaves to be sold. They are descendants of blacks who, even after being freed, were treated very wrong.
Does anyone know of ANY Mexicans or ANY other Hispanics who were KIDNAPPED and brought into America? I do not. To the best of my knowledge; all 12 to 20 million illegal Hispanics in America came of their own accord, illegally, into America. None were kidnapped and forcibly brought to America.
If I were an African-American, I would be very insulted that these people are trying to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of early African slaves by using their history and their plight -- as leverage to force America to grant amnesty to illegal Hispanics today.
Am I being unChristian in writing this? No.
I have great disdain for the same-sex marriage crowd who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.
I have great disdain for the abortion supporters who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.
And, I have great disdain for the illegal aliens who want to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of African-Americans.
Personally, I give Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, and all the Arizona legislatures who stood with her, a really big "ATTA GIRL!" and "ATTA BOY!" for having the courage to do what is right and what is best for America. America needs more politicians like these who will take a stand, even if he face of great adversity -- and do what "We The People" voted them into office to do; what their constituents want to see them do to protect us, our families, our communities, and America. Too few politicians can even remember "We The People" -- much less recall what it means.
This November, in the elections -- let's give them a reminder they will not soon forget.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
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