Revival - Do we Need to Pray for One?

 

I hear people say that the world needs a great “revival” and believers should pray for one. However, I find NO evidence in the Bible that believers are to unite to pray for revival.

What believers ARE to do is to pray in “private” and “by yourself”  for the soon coming of the kingdom of God .

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly…when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private…like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven...” (Matthew 6:7-13)

After praying that prayer, believers are simply to wait for King Jesus to come knowing that Jesus is the Savior of the world and trusting Him to do so. While waiting we are to mind our own business and treat others as we would like for them to treat us.

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with the expectation of that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, doing good deeds. These things share with others.” (Titus 2:11-15)

“God Himself has taught you to love one another…Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands…Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live... the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So, encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-18)

Only when King Jesus comes will there be a “spiritual awakening/revival.” Sometime after He comes, all humanity will be transformed from life in a perishable, mortal body into new, nonperishable, immortal, spiritual body. When finished, ALL humanity will have entered and seen the kingdom now in the heavens – the glorious kingdom of God.

“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Christianity long ago abandoned their commission as ambassadors of Christ on this Earth in favor of a self proclaimed commission to divide humanity into two groups – a few who join their churches group and go to heaven, and the multitude who will be eternally separated from God and tortured in hell.

In my experience church “revivals” promote that division, ignoring the unity of the true good news (gospel) that all of us, the just and the unjust, the good and the evil, are destined to become one new humanity born again into the image of Christ Jesus. This unified humanity is the guaranteed result of the blood Jesus shed on the cross to atone for, and take away the sin of the world. Paul tells us that…

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation…God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross…the secret that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the nations the glorious riches of this secret, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:15-28)

Again, institutional Christianity does not need “revival,” it needs to repent and believe the good news that Jesus has saved the world and will transform us into His image - and tell people about this good news. The teaching of the salvation of all will set people free from religious division. Jesus told the Jews…

““If you cling to my teaching, you are really learners. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Paul told all nations that..

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

It is also my experience that presenting the truth to the institutional churches brings reproach, just as it did for Paul. He taught it anyway!

“This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Grow in Grace

"...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18)

When I look around I do not see many growing toward those with which we disagree - whether in the political or religious arena. And I rarely encounter any growth in the "knowledge" of our Lord.  

When is the last time you learned something new about God's plan and purpose as revealed in the Scripture?

I attended a denominational church for more than 60 years and cannot remember anything new in its teaching during that time - just the same old traditions passed down in its statement of faith. Much of which I consider to be what Jesus said about traditions of men...

“You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition...you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” Mark 7:9-13)

At the end of each year I ask myself whether I have grown in grace and in knowledge of our Lord.  Those areas in which I have grown always show God to be more loving, merciful and gracious than I originally thought and I try not to forget that...

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:1-6)

My New Year's resolution is to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and not forget what I learn.

The Final Solutions

"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (II Timothy 4:4)

The Final Solutions of Sinful Humanity:

One: Hitler’s final solution was to eliminate the Jewish people who he believed were corrupting the world. 

Two: The final solution of institutional Christianity and Islam is to offer salvation from hell for sinners if they repent of their sin and join their religion. If anyone refuses they will die, and then be tortured in a lake of fire they call hell - forever in the Christian religion and until their sins are paid for in the religion of Islam.

The Final Solution of the God of the Bible:

God’s final solution is to ransom, save, redeem, and reconcile all sinners to Himself through the incarnation, death, entombment, and resurrection of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ.

My anger towards institutional religion's final solution seems well founded to me. HOWEVER, I think that most members of those religions who are involved in spreading the final solution of of hell for unrepentant sinners are just doing what they have been taught by those they consider “wise men”. 

Therefore, I do not blame them although the Bible teaches they will be ashamed at the the Great White Throne when they learn they were deceived. 

"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods." (Isaiah 42:17) 

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes:12:14)

"Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy  2:1)

Each human who has ever lived will stand on the Dias before the Great White Throne of God to give account for the things done in our mortal bodies. During the account all humans will rejoice when mistaken beliefs are burnt up as wood, hay and straw. 

At the conclusion of the accounting, all humanity will joyfully bow and acclaim that Christ Jesus is LORD (Yahweh), which will give glory to God the Father. 

Those who were not part of the “former resurrection” will die the second death in the lake of fire which will be an instantaneous, painless second death. They will die having faith, as I do now, that they will be made alive and transformed into a spiritual body that is immortal and capable of entering and seeing the Kingdom of God (The New Heaven and New Earth). That second death will seem to them to occur instantaneously, just as the “former resurrection will seem to those believers  now sleeping in death to have happened instantaneously.

The Bible makes it clear to me that God is in the process of making a new immortal humanity in the image of Christ Jesus. Their eternal citizenship will be in the New Heaven and New Earth, also known as the Kingdom of God.

The Law and the Prophets Ended With John the Baptist

 "Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion.” (Matthew 5:17)

The Old Testament contains the Law and the Prophets. Whatever the Law and the Prophets said was completed when Jesus came to Earth.

“The Law and the Prophets continued until John came; from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.” (Luke 16:16)

John the Baptist was the final Prophet to Israel. The message found in the Law and the Prophets ended with John the Baptist. Jesus presented the good news message of the Kingdom of God – and all humanity started forcing their way into it. By force is meant they were opposed by the Jewish leaders who refused to believe that their God was also the God of all other nations (gentiles). The last Prophet was Paul, who was given the secrets of the Kingdom of God, one of which is that the God of the Jews in also the God of the Gentiles.

“Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also, unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith. Do we then by means of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing.” (Romans3:29-31)

Another secret revealed to Paul was that both the Jews and the Gentiles will be acquitted (pardoned), not by obedience to the Law and the Prophets, but based on their “faith” that the requirements of the Law were completed by Christ Jesus, and therefore ALL humanity will bow before Him, and affirm He is Lord, and enter and see the Kingdom of God.

“He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Himself the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross. It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other,  in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee shall bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld, and that every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:7-11)

If you want to know what God is doing today, better read the Scripture written through the Apostle Paul. The era of the Law and Prophets is completed, and now we need to start focusing on the Kingdom of God. When that good news is presented everyone will force themselves through the doctrines of religious men and into the Kingdom of God.

What are we to Pursue?

 "...pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are calling upon the Lord from a clean heart." (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

Righteousness: Pursue things that are right for yourself and those around you.

Faith: Expect things God has promised to come to pass even if you cannot see how they could happen.

Love: Do for others what they cannot do for themselves, and do it without requiring anything in return.

Peace: Attempt to get along with others, and get away from those you cannot.

There will be Universal Reconciliation

 Jesus had this to say about the predominant views of the influential rabbis….

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9)

And the Apostle Paul had this to say about the teachings of those Rabbis…

“These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility…” (Colossians 2:22)

The truth about the reconciliation of all sinners to God was given the Apostle Paul by Christ Jesus, the Son of God…

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence.” (Colossians 1:3-21)

The members of the early churches had an excuse for following the doctrines of men. Few of them, if any, had a complete copy of the Scriptures. Today humanity has no such excuse. The bible clearly teaches that God through Christ Jesus will "RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross".

More Tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah

"And those not be receiving you, and refuse to hear your words, come outside of that house or city or town, and shake off the dust from your feet. Truly, I am saying to you, it will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judging than for the people of that city." (Matthew 10:14-15)

The judgment will not be "tolerable' for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, but it will be "MORE tolerable" than for the people who hear about and reject the good news about Jesus. 

When the grace of God in saving humanity is revealed to unbelievers at the judgment of the Great White Throne, the shame will be greater for those who heard the gospel of Christ Jesus and rejected it than for those who never heard about him. 

YET, all at the Great White Throne will bow and acclaim that Jesus is Lord. Yes, they will have missed out on the thousand year reign; but will have slept through it, unaware it is was going on. Then they will be cast into the second death, to awake to eternal life in the Kingdom of God - to them instantaneous - such is the glory of the grace of God!

"As in Adam all die, thus also, in Christ all shall be made alive...death is abolished...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22,27-28)

Loose the Four Messengers - The Bad News

 

“And the sixth messenger trumpets. And I hear one voice out of the horns of the golden altar which is before God…

The One voice is…

…saying to the sixth messenger who has the trumpet, "Loose the four messengers who are bound at the great river Euphrates. "And loosed were the four messengers, made ready for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they should be killing a third of humanity…

Wow, think about that!

The Current World Population Clock as I write this post today says there are 7.942 billion people in the world. A third of them would be 2.647 billion people.

So, who kills them, and how?

…And the number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred millions-I hear their number. And thus, I perceived the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having cuirasses fiery and amethystine and sulphurous; and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths is issuing fire and fumes and sulphur. By these three calamities were killed a third of humanity: by the fire and the fumes and the sulphur which is issuing out of their mouths.”

Again, if the Bible is true, there are four messengers currently bound at the Euphrates River who will lead a cavalry of two hundred million troops in red, blue, and yellow armor riding on horses with the sole purpose of killing a third of humanity by fire, fumes, and sulphur. (Revelation 9:13-18)

If this is not true, then none of the Bible can be trusted! So, look out humanity, here they come - the bad news!

And the good news? Here He comes!

"He Who is testifying these things is saying, 'Yea, I am coming swiftly.'" "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints! Amen! (Revelation 22:20-21)

Spiritual Gifts

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Are these gifts still active within the Body of Christ today? 

I was raised in a church who taught that only the spiritual gifts of pastor-teachers and evangelists remain today, however I do not think that any of these spiritual "gifts" found in the first century church remain active today in the Body of Christ because we have the COMPLETED word of God in our Bible. We just need to read it or have someone read it to us.

"I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and am filling up in my flesh, in His stead, the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the church,  of which I became a dispenser, in accord with the administration of God, which is granted to me for you, TO COMPLETE the word of God - the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory." (Colossians 1:24-27)

The word of God was completed when Christ Jesus finished revealing to Paul the secrets which had been previously "concealed" from humanity. We can read it for ourselves, unlike those of the first century church. So, in my view, the gifts present in the first century church are no longer active. We should share our thoughts about what we find in the Bible with others and compare thoughts without fighting over them. 

Discussing those differences would be good, but that ceased to happen in the institutional church long ago. The pastor, teachers and evangelists of those institutions are now considered the source of truth. 

The last time I voiced my differences within that church my long-time friend and pastor suggested that I start my own church. He told me he would not allow my views to be heard because it was his job as pastor to protect the members from opinions he deemed false. I simply told him there is only one church, and Christ is its head.

"For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body." (Ephesians 5:23)

"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Colossians 1:18)

As for the spiritual gift of tongues among those of the charismatic institutional churches, I do not think that gift is active today. I have never spoke in a different language that I had not previously learned so I cannot know what it would be like. Yet I do not personally believe that those who have are using the spiritual gift that Paul was referring to. Not that such speaking in tongues is demonic, just not the "gift" present and needed in the early Church. Just my thoughts, I am not intending to argue about it. 

Although I have never experienced speaking in tongues, I have been so overwhelmed by the knowledge of the truth in reading the Scripture, or simply been so overwhelmed with the presence of God while observing a sunrise or sunset, that I was speechless, and totally humbled before my Creator.

The only gifts of the spirit that are important to mew are "faith, hope and love". 

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing...And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13)

My thoughts have been confirmed over the years when members of the Church who hold themselves out as evangelists or pastor/teachers disagree on the meaning of Scripture. How am I to know which one has the Spiritual gift of teaching?

“Studying to show myself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

His Mercy is Everlasting

  “To you the command is given, you peoples, nations, and populations of all languages, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:4-6)

Millions of people across the world get up on Sunday and go worship a god who they believe will everlastingly torture most people in a lake of fire.

And there are a few who stay home worshipping the LORD whose "mercy is everlasting" and whose "faithfulness is to all generations".

"Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with jubilation;

Come before Him with rejoicing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

And His courtyards with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting

And His faithfulness is to all generations." (Psalm 100)

Reconciled to God

"We cannot conceive of a Creator who knows the end from the beginning, one who is Love, who has infinite wisdom, and infinite power, giving to any being life, life which is never to end, but to continue in suffering to all eternity. The Bible does not teach it anywhere in the original languages. God’s punishments are remedial and take place within the span of the ages during which He is accomplishing the making of man in His image and likeness. Punishment will last no longer than is necessary to bring man to hate his sin and be reconciled to his Savior."

G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945)

The Cross and the Ages to Come

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18)

"Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)

"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." (Ephesians 1:10)

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." (Colossians 1:21-22)

"For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29)

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

August 10th - Be Commended For Your Faith

”These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40)

Who were those “all commended for their faith"? The list is the hall of fame of the Bible…Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel.

They were commended for their faith but did NOT receive immortal life that God has promised.

God has promised to make us perfect… but not in this age…for now we all die. Now we can only believe the promise of God that….

“…as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” for “just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man” and these earthly bodies will be “buried in weakness and raised in power; buried a natural body but raised a spiritual body…The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-53)

Only the joy of having faith in God’s promise will make a sinful man good, and a religious man humble.

Look Up!

"Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him." (Isaiah 1:2-4)

The "LORD" is Yahweh who became flesh and dwelt among us, He is Jesus, "the Holy One of Israel" that Israel turned their back on and had crucified when He came the first time. They are no longer the people of God but are termed "not my people".

"And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9)

But there will come a day when Israel will again become His people.

"...and I will sow her for myself in the land. And will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” (Hosea 2:1)

Two days (two thousand years) after they rejected Jesus, He will return and heal them. Listen to Hosea, Peter and Paul.

"Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence. So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)

"I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created...But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day...This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters." (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8, 15-16)

"I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israeli away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.” Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn." (Romans 11:25-29)

As best as I can tell, Jesus was crucified on either Wednesday April 28, 28 AD or Wednesday April 25, 31 AD. We are nearing 2,000 years from that  day - watch the events taking place in the world, then look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh!

"For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE, STAND UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.” (Luke 21:22-28)

When Will the Antichrist Be Revealed and the Rapture Occur?

"Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for HE CAN BE REVEALED ONLY WHEN HIS TIME COMES." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-6)

The "man of lawlessness" Paul is speaking about is the Antichrist. There will be a final government of humanity during "his time" and he will begin as one of the "seven heads" of that final government. The book of Revelation calls this government a "beast".  The Antichrist will become the leader of the "beast" government in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel. I believe the "day of the Lord" that Paul is speaking of is the final year of the 70th week of Daniel, a 7 year period of time immediately before the return of Jesus. Many refer to this seven years as the Tribulation. I will use this term hereafter.

"Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns...and the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:1-2)

This final powerful government comes to great power during the Tribulation. It gets its power from the dragon/Satan who will be "throne to the earth" together with his angels in the middle part of the Tribulation. 

"Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." (Revelation 12:9)

The Antichrist is revealed as the "man of lawlessness" sometime after he receives a deadly wound and miraculously recovers. He takes total control of the beast government with the help of a strong religious leader called "another beast" and the "false prophet". The seven leaders that at first share power in the government are reduced to one  - the Antichrist.

"I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”" Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made." (Revelation 13:1-8)

"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life." (Revelation 13:11-14)

It seems to me that until the middle of the Tribulation, the seven headed beast government is the "white horse rider" of what is known as the four horseman of the apocalypse. They most likely establish policies that bring the world together into a new world-wide order - these policies seek to establish peace, heath, environmental protection and equal financial prosperity for all humanity, ignoring national boundaries, sexual preferences, and racial differences.

"I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory." (Revelation 6:2)

The process is greatly helped when this final government body negotiates a seven year alliance between Israel and its enemies. Daniel tells about this so we know the "alliances" have to do with Israel and its place of worship. These seven year alliances begins the Tribulation. 

"Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.’” (Daniel 9:27)

And then all hell breaks loose bringing in rapid succession the last three horsemen of the apocalypse, war, famine, and death. Under the afflictions brought on by the Antichrist, the pale green horse rider (death) kills one-forth of humanity by the the sword, famine and disease. Another one-third of humanity are killed by the "Four Angels" God has prepared for that purpose when He pours out His wrath on the kingdom of the Antichrist.

"I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals." (Revelation 6:8)

"The sixth Angel trumpeted. I heard a voice speaking to the sixth Angel from the horns of the Golden Altar before God: “Let the Four Angels loose, the Angels confined at the great River Euphrates.” The Four Angels were untied and let loose, Four Angels all prepared for the exact year, month, day, and even hour when they were to kill a third of the human race." (Revelation 9:15)

That means one out of every two people on earth will die during the Tribulation. Jesus Himself said unless that time was cut short everyone would die and that one of every two will be taken.

“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place."...For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones." (Matthew 24:15,21-22)

"When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day...People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes." “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.  “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming." (Mathew 24:37-42)

As best I can tell from the chronology recorded in the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, the 6,000th year from the creation of Adam to the return of Jesus will be 2035 AD.

The beginning of the Tribulation would then START in 2028 AD.

INTERESTING NOTE: The last US President's administration negotiated what is called the Abraham Accords: The Abraham Accords are a joint statement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States signed on Septembe15, 2020, three days before Rosh Hashana 2020.  Something broader will have to be accomplished by the beast government in the fall of 2028 AD for my views to be accurate, at least as to the exact date of the beginning of the Tribulation.

If the start of the of the Tribulation turns out to be 2028, the Antichrist will be revealed between 2031 and 2034 AD. And I think believers will be Raptured to meet the Lord in the air during 2034, one year before the return of Jesus to earth.

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:1-5)

From this point on is what the Bible calls  "the favorable YEAR of the LORD" for the people of God. It will be “a YEAR of retribution” against the kingdom of the Antichrist.

Again, Paul is speaking to believers when he says “God has not destined us for WRATH”. 

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep (dead or alive when Jesus returns), we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

Therefore, in my view, the Rapture will occur during the “half an hour of silence” just before the “YEAR of retribution” when the wrath of God is poured out on the Antichrist. And I think it will occur in 2034 AD.

Watching, Counting and Waiting

A few days before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples about His return...

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,  but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “THEREFORE KEEP WATCH, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:32-44)

For those of us who watch for signs of the return of Jesus, there has been a thought that the Bible implies that God will tolerate humanity trying to govern themselves for six thousand years, a thousand years for each day of creation.

"A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4)

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8)

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. AFTER TWO DAYS He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:1-3)

In my retirement years I have had time to meditate on the above Scriptures, and others, watching for His return. I no longer attend church services or bible studies but occasionally I feel that sharing my thoughts may be beneficial to others who are "watching" for His return.

I began to think that if God is in fact going to allow humanity 6,000 years (a thousand years for each day of creation) there should be some evidence of such in the Bible.  Below is my thoughts after searching the Scripture for that evidence. The Bible has some interesting chronological passages that I found...

Creation of Adam to the world wide flood:                    1656.00 years  (Genesis 5:3-32; 7:6, 11; 11:10)

Flood to birth of Arphaxad:                                                  2.00 years   (Genesis 11:10)

Arphaxad to birth of Abraham                                          350.00 years  (Genesis 11:12-32; Acts 7:4) 

Abraham's age when he entered Canaan                             75.00 years  (Genesis 12:4)

Length of time in Canaan and Egypt                                 430.00 years  (Exodus 12:40-41; Galatians 3:17)

Exodus from Egypt to start of Temple                               480.00 years  (1 Kings 6:1)

Reign of kings of Judah to Babylonian captivity               419.25 years  (1 Kings 6:1through 2 Kings 24:8) 

Years in captivity                                                                  70.00 years  (Jeremiah 25:11)

End of captivity to birth of Messiah Jesus                          483.00 years  (Daniel 9:24-25)

TOTAL years from creation of Adam to birth of Jesus:   3,965.25 years

Years remaining to add up to 6,000 years                         2,034.75 years

                                                                                           6,000.00 years

Today we are in year 2021 AD (AD refers to the year of the birth of Christ). So, we are 14 years from 6,000.  That would be in the year 2035AD.

Another interesting thought I had was about why God instituted the 50th Year Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-12) celebrated on the day of Atonement. That Jubilee came in 50 year cycles at the end of which all land returned to the original owners, all debts were cancelled, and all slaves were set free. 120 Jubilees would be exactly 6,000 years (120 X 50=6000).

Passover in 2035 AD would be almost if not exactly 2,000 years from the crucifixion of Jesus! See Hosea 6:1-3 above. If Jesus returns around that time it would fit nicely into my thoughts!

I was going to keep this to myself since most people think such meditations to be foolish - but in case you don't, Jesus also said...

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near...Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:27-28; 36)

July 24th -None Shall Perish

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

It appears obvious to me that the word “perish” as used in Scripture simply refers to a person staying dead after becoming deceased. If there is no resurrection then death wins and nothing follows. However, the above Scripture says that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish” and that all “come to repentance”. There will be "victory" over death, our last enemy.

So, what is God saying in the above verse? He says that NONE will perish and that ALL will come to repentance….because it is the WILL OF THE LORD as Paul tells Timothy...

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL…For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED…For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL...” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

There is a term for those who do not agree with what God says in Scripture…the term is “unbeliever”, and there are many unbelievers, even those with their names on various church roles.

Yet though they do not believe now, they will, when in fact God has seen to it that none “perish” and that all have “come to repentance” at the "resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous" as Paul explains…

“And I have a hope in God…that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous…” (Acts 24:15).

 “…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people…” (1 Timothy 4:10).


“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be all in all…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “death is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-54)

Do Not Be Afraid

“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not be afraid…for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)

Before they entered the promised land Israel was told they would do battle with their flesh and blood enemies, but not to fear for the LORD would “save” them…and He did.

Today we are told that the struggle of mankind is with another kind of enemy…

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Again, however, mankind is not to fear the "forces of darkness" for the LORD has promised to save...and He will.

“In the world you have tribulation, fear not for I have overcome the world… put on the full armor of God…take up the shield of faith…take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. …it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (John 163; Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Timothy 4:9-10)

Mankind can only "take up" the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation because it is our free gift from God.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

How to Pray

Jesus instructed humanity on how to pray.

”But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

“...when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

"...when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11:25)

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

"...bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:28)

Until humans do this, the joy and peace that comes from believing in the God of the Bible will remain an enigma. As Paul says...

"For at present we are observing by means of a mirror, in an enigma, yet then, face to face. At present I know out of an installment, yet then I shall recognize according as I am recognized also. Yet now are remaining faith, expectation, love - these three. yet the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)