End times prophecy watchers have been watching for the signs of the end times for quite some time. More specifically, the signs that would indicate that the rapture of the Church would soon occur. The world was dramatically awakened to the signs of the times when in 1948, the nation of Israel was reformed in a dramatic fulfillment of the fig tree prophecy of Matthew 24. It was this dramatic end times sign fulfillment that all prophecy thereafter would be grounded upon – for without it, no one could realistically say that end times prophecy was coming to pass. But in the wake of its fulfillment, we now have a clear marker in time on which the end times signs can be observed in the watching community. For the Christian novice or for those with a casual curiosity concerning the end times who may never have heard of the concept of the rapture, the Apostle Paul, under the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, received a revelation that those who have personally received Christ will suddenly and dramatically be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air as the signs of war, political upheaval and general encroaching world chaos and darkness begin to grip the Earth in the times immediately preceding this dramatic event. Paul describes this dramatic event in two of the most prominent passages of New Testament scripture …
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
We see a parenthetical passage and description of this most dramatic event in Revelation 12. Stunningly, on September 23 in the year 2017, the world saw a much publicized sign called the “Revelation 12 sign” occur in the heavens just one month after the Great American Eclipse sign occurred.
As many readers of this site may be aware, I’ve previously discussed a hidden or cryptic prophecy found in the book of 2 Kings chapter 2 and its description of an historical event that witnessed the disappearance, or “rapture,” of the prophet Elijah as he was walking beside Elisha. For those unaware of the two previous discussions, we’ll do a brief review. As we read what happened in the text concerning events that transpired after his disappearance, we see a rather peculiar narrative and theme of two bears immediately emerge. His disappearance was accompanied with the theme of the bear – and more specifically, two she-bears (see those two previous articles here and here). After God raptured Elijah, we see that 42 mockers of Elisha appeared and began to mock him over the rapture of Elijah that had just occurred. Suddenly, two bears came from out of the woods and mauled and killed those 42 mockers. It is in this cryptic prophecy that we may find verification and authentication to the narrative that the war of Ezekiel 38 & 39 that many scholars agree will take place in the end times after the rapture takes place will involve Russia (its symbol of the bear) and NATO, led by the United States of America – with Israel in the mix, as is the general consensus.
In looking at the grand panorama of this cryptic prophecy and in any attempt to legitimize its authenticity, there are two foundational truths to be understood when it comes to God’s overall plan for the ages and the events that lead us there. Those two foundational truths, found in the book of Ecclesiastes, is vital to understanding what is taking place prophetically with the current conflict between the United States/NATO and Russia. In the Ecclesiastes passage of scripture, we read the following …
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us”(Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).
“That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15).
To make it short, history is going to repeat itself in the form of repeating patterns and typology. Just as the disappearance, or “rapture,” of Elijah was accompanied with the theme of a bear, so too will the disappearance or rapture of those who have personally received Christ be accompanied with the theme of a bear. Furthermore, just like the mocking spirit that occurred in the days of the disappearance/rapture of Elijah, we see the exact same spirit of mocking of the idea of the rapture in full force today alongside with the now-very-pronounced theme of the bear on the world stage. As mentioned in the first article of this “Bear Rapture Prophecy” series, this prophecy takes on an even more interesting legitimacy when you consider the fact that, as seen in prophetic biblical scripture, God raised up America and patterned it after ancient Israel. It is my contention that the prophecy of the Vineyard in Matthew 21 is either closely connected to America or the direct fulfillment of it. The evidence that suggests as much is quite impressive indeed (see that article here). That being the case, the bottom line of this fact is that the same pattern will play out in America just as it did in the original Vineyard of ancient Israel. This, of course, will have global consequences in announcing the start of the Tribulation, unlike the original bear attack in ancient Israel. The sum of the matter would be that if we see this bear theme emerging on the world scene today given that we are, in fact, living in the end of the end times since 1948, we have a clear indication that the rapture event is drawing very, very near.
That said, if you’ve not been in a coma for the last two years or so (especially since February of this year), you know full well that the threat of war between the United States/NATO and Russia is growing very intense as Russia has now invaded Ukraine. As you may also be aware, the entire “conflict” between the United States/NATO and Russia is very much scripted and orchestrated as both sides are controlled by the globalists and all world leaders are simply playing their part in the theatrical stage act. In fact, Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian president were both members of the World Economic Forum. The WEF (World Economic Forum) is a part of the global governance infrastructure that is involved in creating the New World Order in which the Antichrist will be the head over shortly after he rises. As many are also aware, it is these Luciferic globalists who are controlling both sides of the Ukraine conflict. So, the clear agenda here is the implementation of the New World Order. But that aside, it will have very real outcomes and consequences for the world.
Clear Signs that the Rapture Bear Strike Is Quickly Approaching
On Sunday, March 12, 2022, we have just seen what amounts to a significant escalation in the “war” between the United States/NATO and Russia. Almost shockingly, Russia launched a strike near the Polish border where just in the previous month, U.S. troops were training Ukrainian soldiers. The strike reportedly killed 35 people. The White House is considering Russia’s Sunday attack on Ukraine’s base at Yavoriv, which lies a mere 10 to 15 miles from NATO member Poland’s border, a dangerous escalation.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan responded with a warning to Russia that NATO stands ready to respond “with full force” if Russia attacks NATO territory. Sullivan stated …
“If there is a military attack on NATO territory it would cause the invocation of Article 5, and we would bring the full force of the NATO alliance to bear in responding to it,” he said to CBS News. Russia fired an estimated 30 missiles at the base which lies a mere minutes by car from Poland’s border. All I will say is that if Russia attacks, fires upon, takes a shot at NATO territory, the NATO alliance would respond to that.”
He further stated that the US was warning Russia directly against using chemical weapons, adding that if Vladimir Putin did deploy weapons of mass destruction, it would be a “shocking additional line” that he had crossed in international law. One cannot help but imagine that chemical weapons may be deployed, or at least “acted out” in front of a bunch of cameras that would surely make its way onto the propaganda news as being an attack on Ukraine (see here). This would, in turn, give the world the necessary “righteous indignation” to want to go after Russia. If this were to occur, one can easily see how the war between Russia and the United States/NATO could escalate into direct military confrontation. This would certainly set up the perfect avenue for the Bear Rapture Prophecy to come to pass.
Starting by Thursday and Friday before Sunday’s attack near Poland, it was apparently being reported that there were an alarming uptick in Russia striking targets in Ukraine’s West near the border with Poland in what can be considered a likely warning to the United States/NATO against outside intervention from Western countries. These attacks followed on the heels of the Kremlin warning NATO that its military will strike any external arms shipments that are inbound.
Further still, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state television …
“We warned the United States that the orchestrated pumping of weapons from a number of countries is not just a dangerous move, it is a move that turns these convoys into legitimate targets.” These remarks served as a severe warning to the West, particularly the United States.
To add an interesting prophetic view of events in line with this Russian attack, just hours previous, it was being reported that Iran attacked an American base in Irbil, Iraq. These two attacks occurring within hours of each other highlights the fact that there was possible coordination between Iran and Russia. As pointed out in the first “Bear Rapture Prophecy” article linked above, the symbol of ancient Iran (ancient Persia) is the bear. This certainly highlights the prophetic implications of “two bears” seen in the Elijah rapture narrative from 2 Kings chapter 2. To be clear, these incidents were not a fulfillment of the bear rapture prophecy (obviously since we are still here and the rapture didn’t occur), but to highlight the known alliance between Russian and Iran (two bears) and to highlight the emerging pattern and outline of the ultimate fulfillment of the 2 Kings 2 narrative once it occurs. The bottom line is that it seems clear that we are now seeing the pre-fulfillment pattern beginning to emerge – pointing us to its ultimate fulfillment in the very near future. One bear (Iran) attacked an American base while the other bear (Russia) is threatening attacks on America as well. Thus far, the threats are being contained within the scope of attacking American/NATO assets in Ukraine and abroad and not on the homeland of the United States. However, how long will it be before this globalist-controlled scripted war starts to see attacks on the American homeland and on Russia itself as indicated in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 prophecy of the Gog/Magog war – thus aligning more closely with the 2 Kings 2 Elijah rapture and the killing of the 42 mockers on ancient Israel’s territorial homeland. It should be kept in mind that when considering this emerging prophecy, they were killed within Israel, not outside Israel when the two bears struck.
We should find it more than a little prophetically interesting that we have now seen two bears that have now struck “at” or “near” American assets outside of the American mainland – possibly indicating that, eventually, it will escalate to within America’s homeland itself. The pattern seems to be swiftly moving in that direction in fulfillment of the 2 Kings 2 Ecclesiastes prophetic narrative. One scenario that should also be considered is that the “two bears theme” of 2 Kings 2 may play out in the form of “two missiles” from Russia striking America’s homeland when the time finally arrives for this prophecy to play out.
The missiles would not even have to be nuclear that would result in worldwide radiological pollution. It has been known that both the U.S. and Russia possess devastating weaponry similar to traditional nuclear weapons that will administer the same type of destruction without the radiological fall-out of traditional nukes. This could still fulfill the “fire” prophecy seen in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 Gog/Magog passages of end times scripture.
Finally, one prophecy that we should not overlook is the fact that the Isaiah 17 prophecy indicates that the city of Damascus will be destroyed in one night after the rapture occurs. This is the event that will likely precede the Ezekiel 38 & 39 Gog/Magog war. If we are seeing the very obvious signs to the build-up of the 2 Kings 2 Elijah rapture narrative currently, then how much closer to the Damascus destruction prophecy must we be? In a previous article, it was demonstrated that, under the Divine inspiration of the Lord, the prophet Isaiah has cryptically chronicled the order of end times events that convincingly seems to show us that the rapture occurs before the destruction of Damascus (see that article here). Also take note of prophecy update number 2 for February 24, 2022 in that posting titled “RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE TWO DAYS AFTER SIGNIFICANT PALINDRONE DATE.
In looking at this long-simmering – albeit globalist contrived – conflict between the United States and Russia, it is safe to say that we can clearly see where this situation is headed in light of Bible prophecy. It is indeed a clear roadmap to the rapture. It is also a clear and unmistakable sign that the cryptic and hidden 2 Kings 2 rapture typology is being played out on the world stage – indicating the nearness of the end of the Church Age resulting in the removal of those who have received Christ before the judgment of the seven-year Tribulation falls upon the left behind mocking world. To reiterate, it is a biblical certainty that those born again in Christ will not see the actual bear strike on America just as Elijah did not see the bear strike upon the 42 mockers before he was raptured. What we will see, however, is the build-up of the signs of its soon occurrence in the form of the intensifying bear theme seen in the war threat with Russia. Then will the rapture occur. It may be that as the missiles are starting to head toward the mainland U.S.A. that the rapture will occur. Or it may be some time before that. But since the world bear theme is currently building toward that day, we can expect the rapture at any time now.
BEAR RAPTURE PROPHECY ALERT UPDATE 1:
The “Black Bear Diner” And Globalist’s Predictive Programming? Russia Conducting Nuclear Evacuation Drills And Demands Return of Alaska And Part of Northern California
March 20, 2022
In some late-breaking news from Hal Turner’s site, it appears that Russia is now engaged in an evacuation drill. It is being reported that globalist puppet President Vladimir Putin and his family have been evacuated. Between 4:00 PM and 7:45 PM eastern US time on March 20, 2022, a sudden and very noticeable surge in Commercial air traffic (AERFLOT) began, with a large number of flights departing Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia – almost all of them heading east to the vast heartland of Russia.
The fact that these flights are in the air very late on a Sunday night Moscow time is highly unusual. It appears that they are almost all heading into the deep interior of Russia, thus alarming some observers.
Moreover, the flights land, stay on the ground just long enough to unload and refuel, then turn around and head directly back to either Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Reports are now surfacing that Russia is now engaged in a “nuclear evacuation drill” that involves the removal of his family. This news looks to be at least fairly accurate if not entirely accurate based on reporting coming from an Indian news organization.
At 9:36 PM EDT on the same night, Russia’s Ministry of Defense Facebook Page has “reportedly” showed Russia rolling out it’s ICBM’s (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles). This is a rather ominous development in light of what the bear rapture prophecy of 2 Kings 2 is telling us. It tells us that this prophecy appears to be approaching the world like a freight train barreling down the tracks at full speed. It is telling us that those who have personally received Christ are getting ready to leave Planet Earth on a one way ticket to Paradise (sorry Eddie Money, I love that song, but you aint got nothin’ on this ticket to Paradise).
With all that said and planted firmly in your mind, it is here that I will tell you of an interesting event that occurred to me yesterday in relation to this approaching “bear rapture” event.
On March 20, just 6 days after I had initially published this article, I had some family members on my wife’s side of the family call us up because they wanted to take us out to get a bite to eat. They didn’t say what restaurant we were going to. I only found out when we arrived. Upon pulling into the parking lot, I was surprised to see the name of the restaurant. It was one that I didn’t know existed and had never heard of before. So, this would be the first time that I have ever been there before. It was called “Black Bear Diner.” They apparently have locations all over the United States.
Upon receiving the menu from the waitress, I was surprised to see that their menu was in the form of a newspaper that displayed the words “The Black Bear Gazette” on top of the first page of the menu (see the picture I took of my menu below).
After ordering our meal and later coming back home, both me and my wife decided to bring our menus home with us. After looking over this menu after arriving back home, I noticed some interesting information concerning this restaurant. On the front page of the menu, it doesn’t actually have the listings of their food offerings. Rather, it features a full page news segment covering the plight of a bear cub in distress from the Dixie Fire in a remote area of Northern California that began a year ago on July 13, 2021. Firefighters that were battling the blaze were watching the bear cub to determine whether or not it needed to be rescued. By the time the bear cub was tracked down by the fire fighters, he was in the care of the Gold Country Wildlife Rescue in Auburn, a small town in the Sierra, Nevada foothills. The bear cub was suffering burns to his paws and ears among other injuries – which he was then treated for. The CEO of the Black Bear Diner restaurant chain, Anita Adams, stated that upon their initial call with GCWR, they learned that the facility now had two bear cubs rescued from these area wildfires in their care and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife wanted to send a third orphaned cub their way. The Black Bear Diner CEO, franchise partners and team members rallied around the cause and donated over $17,000 to help build and fund the appropriate enclosures for housing and rehabilitating the bears.
Now, for a few things that prophetically strike me about this entire incident is that on the front page in the left and right hand columns of this diner’s menu, you see a listing of the years and locations from the time the very first Black Bear diner was established to the present. As can be seen in the left hand column of the menu, the very first Black Bear diner was established in 1995 in Mount Shasta, California.
As can be seen in the google maps screen shot below, Mt. Shasta is in a wooded area in the northern section of the state.
Keeping in mind that the paws of the rescued bear were burned, it is prophetically interesting that in the future Gog/Magog war of Ezekiel 38 & 39, we read of a “fire” being sent upon the land of Magog (commonly interpreted to be Russia) and those that dwell carelessly in the Isle during this military exchange. So we have the theme of Russia (the bear) being burned along with the “isles.” When considering the part of the bear rapture prophecy wherein a bear strike will occur within the American homeland, it is a rather interesting statement that amidst the ongoing conflict between the United States and Russia, a Russian lawmaker recently demanded that America hand Alaska and part of northern California back over to Russia (see here). This is not to suggest that Russia will take over these American territories based on the bear strike prophetic theme of 2 Kings 2, but to only suggest that, perhaps, they will get militarily struck by Russia regardless of whether or not they fall into Russian possession.
Knowing that the Luciferian globalists control both sides of the “conflict,” is this a case of a form of pre-emptive programming wherein they are giving us the narrative of how they are going to play this conflict out in the form of a strike upon California and Alaska? For those who have read the very first bear rapture article linked in the beginning of this current article further above, you will recall a major comet named “Atlas” was discussed. It was first discovered on December 28, 2019. It was a comet that traversed the heavens and caught the attention of the world including major news media. It was a comet that would be seen with the naked eye at nighttime in many places on Earth. As the comet traversed its way through our part of the galaxy, it appeared that the comet was displaying some rather interesting prophetic hints and signs that highlighted the bear rapture attack prophecy in 2 Kings 2 – based on the fact that it was first discovered in the constellation Ursa Major, which means “The Big Bear” in Greek. What was rather telling about this comet was that it seemed to be displaying prophetic hints involving the state of Alaska, which is a wooded state just like the two bears in 2 Kings 2 came from the woods and attacked the 42 mockers. The clues were rather evident based on the constellations it traversed and the constellation where it was first discovered in (see update number 8 in that article here titled “THE COMET COMETH: ATLAS APPEARS IN CONSTELLATION URSA MAJOR – THE BIG BEAR”
Now, enter California. In the 2 Kings 2 Elijah rapture narrative, the number of bears that struck were “two.” Northern California is also a wooded area of the state. Could it be that northern California along with Alaska are two areas that will be struck by the Russian bear after the rapture occurs that correspond to the two bears of 2 Kings 2? Interestingly, the symbol of the state of California is also the bear.
When considering this point, take another look at the map of Mt. Shasta where the first “Black Bear” diner was first established and the part of the state that Russia has demanded back. Notice the geographic lines surrounding this area are in the shape of a bear’s head that has its mouth open and growling while looking in an upward direction.
Comparing the two images, the outline image on the google map sharply resembles the shape of the growling bear’s head on the right. Coincidence? Perhaps. A hint from the Lord of how this prophecy is going to play out? Perhaps. For the sake of argument, lets just say that we can dismiss the map above as being anything balaamically prophetically significant. The next question is, “What about the overall picture and event of this update and the fact that I visited a restaurant yesterday that I had no idea existed and had never visited before given the fact that I’ve been hammering on this bear rapture prophecy theme on my blog site?” Coincidence? Perhaps. On this one, I’m leaning toward Providential confirmation from the Lord. As it is quite often said, there are no coincidences with the Lord when dealing with the things of the Lord.
A Peculiar Occurrence Of 3 And 2020
In looking at the specifics of this restaurant, interestingly, it was started in the year 2020.
As you may or may not know, I previously posted an article titled “AMERICA THE VINEYARD AND THE YEAR 2020: THE 400 YEAR PROPHETIC CYCLE. America the Vineyard of Matthew 21 crossed that prophetically significant year in 2020 – the year that the global reset of the New World Order was set into motion with the emergence of the contrived depopulation scam called the Covid-19 “Pandemic.”
With this article being the “3rd” one in this bear rapture series, I will say that I find it rather interesting that I would suddenly and quite unexpectedly find myself at this particular restaurant discovering the prophetic clues (or at least what looks to be Balaamic-type prophetic clues) that lied in wait to be discovered. Why so? Because the number 3 is quite biblically significant in scripture. For the biblical novice or new Christian who may not be aware, the Godhead is comprised of 3 persons – which are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I landed at this restaurant on the “3rd” month of the year on the “20th” day of the month (the aforementioned 2020 400 year Vineyard America cycle article and the starting year for this particular restaurant). So, lets break this down shall we?
- Three 3s and three 20s connected to this occurrence (arrived at the restaurant on the 3rd month, arrived after the 3rd published article on this developing prophetic bear rapture prophecy situation, 3 persons of the Godhead (yep, that’s three 3s alright). Restaurant opened in 2020 (hearkening back to the 2020 article documenting the year America crossed the 400 year cycle mark like the ancient Israelites in Egypt), arrived at the restaurant in the year 2020, article published in the year 2020 (Yep, that’s three 20s alright).
- I arrived at the restaurant 6 days after publishing the 3rd article on this bear rapture subject/theme. In the panorama of Bible prophecy, the 6 days of Creation signify 6,000 years – after which, the rule of man on Earth ends and the rapture occurs and the Tribulation begins, which ushers in the 7,000th year or 7th millennium of the rule and reign of Christ on Earth.
Quite the nifty little wink and nod from on high if you ask me. And on that wink and nod note, be sure to read Lou Vega’s latest article in the “Recommended Reading and Viewing” section further below titled “SIGN OF THE BEAR: RAPTURE PROPHETIC CORRELATION – ASTRONOMICAL SIGN SUGGESTING A ‘TURNING POINT‘”
BEAR RAPTURE PROPHECY ALERT UPDATE 2:
GLOBALISTS DEPLOYING CHINESE TROOPS INTO EUROPE BACKING RUSSIA AS THE WORLD APPROACHES THE RAPTURE FIG TREE TIME FRAME
April 8, 2022
It is being reported on the Hal Turner website that on Friday night, it was being observed that China was deploying 4 Y-20 troop transport aircraft into southeastern Europe. They apparently began landing in Serbia. Shortly thereafter, the original four planes were joined by at least two additional Y-20 transport planes.
According to public sources, each plane is capable of carrying either three-hundred (300) troops or 110 paratroopers, each. Flight radar shows the first four.
These four planes landed in the Capital.
The final two were also seen doing “zig-zag” maneuvers at 3500 feet northwest of the Capital; exactly the type of maneuvers and altitude one might expect to see from planes deploying paratroopers.
For the first time in a long time, the world is now seeing China Communist Party (CCP) force projection. It is not known yet, why the troops have been sent, or what their purpose is. Intel Circuits are blaring with UNCONFIRMED and UNCORROBORATED reports Chinese military aircraft under the guise of a joint military exercise with Serbia may be transporting Russian troops into an area (Serbia) where said troops with equipment can move into Romania and into Poland on a “Thunder Run” to raise hell and create chaos from the west. Again, this is UNCONFIRMED AND UNCORROBORATED.
During the Balkan war in the 1990s, China stated that it considered invading and taking over Serbia as a jumping point into all of Europe. The only reason it didn’t happen was that Russian troops swooped in to stop it from happening because Serbia got word that it was going to happen, so they requested Russian troops to fly in and take control of all of their airports for a certain amount of time.
If the same scenario is playing out now, then its really bad. If China is swooping into Serbia to take control and create a military jump point into Europe, it means they expect NATO to attack Russia and that China is moving in to provide backup support to Russia. There are now over 100,000 US Troops in Europe, this is unprecedented in recent times. There is an on-going information war showing civilians allegedly being killed by Russians in Ukraine. They are providing the narrative to justifiably attack Russia.
To this backdrop we have the West/US/EU/UK overtly supplying the latest lethal weaponry to kill Russians. We already defacto declared war on Russia. No idea what is going on with those Chinese Troops. The fact their flight path is erratic suggests they think US/NATO is capable of anything.
Further, at 7:48 AM, the Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoli Antonov warned that “The West’s actions may lead to a military confrontation between Moscow and Washington.”
This is all occurring just as Germany has announced that it is reinforcing bomb shelters nationwide (Story HERE). Intel just received saying trains along the Trans-Siberian Railroad are loaded with “hundreds of Chinese Main Battle Tanks and other vehicles” headed northwest toward Russia/Europe Borders. Trains are said to be traveling full speed, with stops only for scheduled refueling and no other delays. The map below show the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
Obviously, I cannot verify any of this as I am not an “inside guy,” so take it with a grain of salt if you feel it needs to be taken as such. I report, you decide. But one thing is clear, the world is headed for war. Further still, this is all occurring just as we are approaching the month of May in the year 2022 – the month in which the rapture is approaching its fig tree outer limit year if 1948 is counted as the Psalm 90:10 80-year fig tree generation of Matthew 24. In my prophetic observation, this is absolutely no coincidence at all. As I’ve stated before, if 1949 is the year that we should be looking at when the fig tree Israel was officially recognized on the United Nations Security Council, then that would possibly push the rapture out until the year 2023. But whichever year is the more likely year for the rapture (if either one of them really is the magic year for the rapture), we are getting extremely close to the departure of the true, born again Church from the face of the earth no matter which year it ends up being – even if past 2023. We are continuing to see the intensification of the theme of the bear strike and the Vineyard just as it was in the days of Elijah’s rapture removal from Earth in 2 Kings 2.
Rapture Before Or After The Collapse Of The American Dollar?
For those who are watching prophetic developments on the world stage, there is much talk of the collapse of the American dollar-based world system as the global reserve currency. When, and if, this happens, the current American world order will give way to the hellish New World Order prophesied in scripture – specifically the set-up to Revelation 13.
With this thought in mind, many wonder about whether or not the rapture will occur before or after the collapse of the dollar, and thus the current world system. Many (if not most) of us who hold to a pre-tribulation rapture expect that we may not see world conditions deteriorate too severely before we are taken away, while some are of the opinion that we may have to endure a certain amount of hardship before we are raptured out. Could we see the collapse of the American dollar before the rapture occurs? In my opinion, the answer is no. However, this is a subject that I do remain open to as far as considering the possibility that we could see it go either way.
Some of us who recognize Revelation chapter 12 as being a parenthetical reference or allusion to the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church could well look at verse 4 and conclude that we, the true born again Church, may see the collapse of the current world system before being raptured. The reason one could conclude this is that we see the dragon standing before the woman which was ready to be delivered, but not yet delivered. Or in other words, not yet raptured. This would seemingly have some dire implications for the Church still being here during a dollar collapse of the current system in place. As we know, we see the woman “caught up,” or “raptured” in the very next verse (verse 5). Such is the consideration of Ty Greene in the video below.
Although not dogmatic about this view or position, he does hold out the possibility. In the end, this observation may prove correct. However, when considering the Old Testament’s rapture template account of Elijah’s rapture in the original vineyard of ancient Israel, his disappearance occurred without any hint or mention in scripture that Israel was undergoing any sort of economic collapse or calamity. In considering the Ecclesiastes narrative that history repeats itself, we can expect this to be the case with the rapture of the New Testament Church as well – especially given the fact that God patterned America after the original vineyard of ancient Israel and that the U.S.A. is the fulfillment of the new, or transplanted vineyard of Matthew 21 (see here). The events and patterns surrounding those events that occurred in ancient Israel we can likely expect to occur in the new. Since we do not see any mention of a national economic calamity at the time Elijah disappeared, it is likely that the Church will not be here to see America’s dollar collapse. This is speculation on my part, but I feel it is a speculation that has biblical merit and warrants serious consideration given the pattern. After all, according to the aforementioned Ecclesiastes narrative earlier in this article, pattern is prologue.
Further still, in all of the four raptures that have occurred in history, there is no historical account that any of them occurred during an economic calamity in ancient Israel. This bodes well for our departure from Earth before calamity strikes the world through the collapse of the American world order dollar system. Many have worried that we are going to have to see bad times as a result of this economic collapse, but in my opinion, the evidence favors a departure of those in Christ into Heaven before an economic collapse occurs.
If we see the signs emerging that the dollar is about ready to collapse now, then how much closer must we be to the rapture? But I would also stress once again that I cannot be dogmatic about it. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide based on the evidence – thus prepare or not prepare accordingly. It does seem more than obvious that America is living out its very final days as the hegemon that has shaped and ruled the world order such as it has been. She is coming to the end of her purpose as the lighthouse of the Gospel to the world – as the Vineyard of Matthew 21. The globalists are now seemingly at the end game and will soon initiate the new order.
We are going home soon.
THE RAPTURE AND YOUR ESCAPE
The demonstrably divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a coming horrendous seven-year Tribulation period of judgment upon Earth for all of mankind, no matter what your religion, belief or creed is, and even to those who don’t believe anything spiritual at all. In this approaching time of judgment, it is certain that the judgment of God will fall upon the earth as Revelation and other prophetic scripture declares it will. We can now clearly see the signs of this approaching nightmare. However, this same divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises an escape from this horrendous time of judgment only to a certain category of people …
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9).
Put simply, an event is coming that will be so stupendous that it strains the mind to contemplate such an event happening. It is an event that will see millions upon millions of people across the globe suddenly disappear without warning. The millions of disappeared will have literally ascended into Heaven itself after instantaneously receiving a new glorified body fit for Heaven. A body that will be able to withstand the atmosphere and glory of Heaven. This event is known as the “Rapture.” But, as mentioned above, the promise of escape is only to those who are “born again” in Christ. This is why it is crucial to understand what Christ meant when he declared in no uncertain terms that only those who are “born again” in him will enter the Kingdom of God. For the explanation of this, keep reading below.
In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …
1. Agreeing – A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are before accepting his salvation. The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife. Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation. The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself. The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Bible describes these three kinds of death:
- physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies).
- spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally …
- the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell. He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.
It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul. But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4). So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.
2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to perish eternally in the torment of Hell because of your sin. Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you. Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin. Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him. Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God. Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort. Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you. The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26).
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you. You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope. You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised. This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers. Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it. Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.
The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.” It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The logical question you may be asking at this point is: “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?” The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God. To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals. God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms. In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …
“Dear Lord Jesus: I realize that I need you. I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin. But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness. I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf. I come to you and open my heart to you. I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child. I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be. I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved. I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer. The Bible makes it clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart, God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).
Recommended Reading and Viewing:
SIGN OF THE BEAR: RAPTURE PROPHETIC CORRELATION – ASTRONOMICAL SIGN SUGGESTING A ‘TURNING POINT
PROPHECY ALERT: COUNTDOWN TO WORLD WAR 3 – THE SOON DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS
ISAIAH CHRONICLES THE END TIMES – TIMING OF DAMASCUS DESTRUCTION SOLVED
RUSSIAN TV SETS STAGE FOR FURTHER INVASIONS: POLAND AND THE BALTICS
ARE YOU READY FOR THE GLOBAL CABAL’S PLAN B? PHASE 2 OF THE GLOBAL RESET
A LARGE SCALE FALSE FLAG CYBER ATTACK IN NOW IMMINENT
ON THE VERGE OF WORLD WAR 3: RUSSIA LAUNCHES FULL SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE
GOG AND BEYOND
So a question for you , as i enjoy your analysis of scripture.
Jelp me place in context the parable of two in the field and ome is taken. Most renderings say those taken are judgment.
And a false rapture to destroy our faith.
Projext Blue Beam?
Another take is Noah was left behind as the wicked were destroyed.
So the two in the field, get destroyed and will stay?
Matt.24 states after the great tribulation then the angels will from the four corners gather us up.
Wife and i are studying this and am short on clarity and answers.
Appreciate your time and consideration…..
Maranatha
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The Apostle Paul informs us that the Church shall “depart” before the Tribulation hits (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). That word “departure” is the actual correct rendering of the “falling away” seen in that portion of prophetic scripture – departure meaning a physical removal from one place to another. So that means that the Matthew 24 portion of scripture where Jesus is describing the “one taken and the other left” is a chapter of scripture pertaining to the Tribulation Period and is a message that is primarily given to the Jews, not the New Testament Church.
Some insist that it is referring to the Church being gathered at the rapture. However, upon closer examination of the scriptural evidence, the elect are revealed to be primarily the Jews who were left behind after the rapture of the Gentile Church …
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31).
Many point to the above verses of this chapter and conclude that the “elect” spoken of here is proof positive that the church will go through the Tribulation. But this would, yet again, contradict all of the other scripture that indicates a pre-tribulation rapture, such as the aforementioned Paul authored pre-trib rapture verse . The elect here in Matthew 24:31 are not Church saints but the people of Israel who have been scattered throughout the world, perhaps even more specifically the faithful remnant of Jews who have become believers in the Lord during the seven year Tribulation period and are still alive on the face of the earth at His Second Coming back to the earth immediately after the Tribulation period. He will gather together this faithful remnant of Jews from all over the world back to the land of Israel with the sound of a great trumpet.
The whole context of Matthew 24 is a Jewish context, not a Church context. Post-Tribulationists are guilty of overlooking some extensive revelation that is given to us in the Old Testament wherein God calls the whole nation of Israel “His chosen,” literally “His Elect.” Then there are prophetic promise passages in the Old Testament that reveal that in the end times he would gather together His chosen ones, his elect, particularly the believing remnant of Israel from all corners of the earth, gather them together even from the four winds, gather them together again so that they could go into the Millennial Kingdom with the Messiah whenever He reigns. A promise that God delivered to Israel through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 27:12-13 further confirms that the elect spoken of in Matthew 24 are not the church elect …
“O ye children of Israel, and it shall come to pass in that day that the great trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:12-13).
Here, God was promising that in the end times he is going to re-gather His scattered people of Israel from many different places around the world and will do it in conjunction with the blowing of the great trumpet. We see in Matthew 24:31 the very same statement regarding his elect being gathered with a great sound of a trumpet …
“He shall send his angels with the sound of a great trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:31).
In light of those Old Testament parallels, there is no doubt that the elect here in Matthew 24:31 are not Church saints. Furthermore, the New Testament Church, made up of some saved Jews but primarily Gentiles, wasn’t yet revealed when Christ gave the Matthew 24 prophecy to these Jews that he was speaking to. The Church did not actually start until the upper room in the book of Acts.
Jesus, as we saw in verse 15, speaking ahead of time to Jews of that future Tribulation period, said …
“When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place …” Who had the holy place? The obvious answer is that the people of Israel did. This is a reference to a temple of God in Israel, “standing in the holy place, then let them which be in Judea [these are Jews living in their own land of Israel] flee unto the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house,” etc. He then says to them that they really ought to be concerned that their flight not be on the sabbath day, verse 20, “but pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”
Here, he is clearly talking about Jews and how this will affect Jews. The whole context is a Jewish context, therefore, the elect are Jewish people whom he will gather together through His holy angels from the four winds. The idea being expressed is from all four directions, under the heavens here on planet Earth back to their homeland of Israel in conjunction with His Second Coming.
Now, as to the context of “one taken, the other left,” one has to ask the question, “who are the “they” that are eating and drinking in this text and what exactly are they “eating and drinking?” This answer goes down some deep dark rabbit holes, but suffice to say, some have concluded that the “they” is referring to the fallen angels that were cohabiting with human women and producing offspring called “Nephilim,” or what we call the “giants” of old. They will return to Earth during the days of the Tribulation Period. In Old Testament passages of scripture, we find that these Nephilim, which used to be in bodily form of the giants, were eating the inhabitants of the land of Israel before the Israelites were allowed to conquer and take the land. As you may recall, the Israelites came back with “an evil report” when God told them to go and spy out the land before conquering it and taking it …
“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:30-33).
So too is it highly suspected that the “they” in Matthew 24 is speaking of the return of the Nephilim described in Joel chapter 2 when “they” return to Earth. They (demonic entities returned in physical form) will be “eating and drinking” something that is not typical food. The horrible reality is that, just like in Numbers 13, they (these demonic entities) will be “eating and drinking” human flesh and blood. The point I wish to make is that the Matthew 24 context of “they” has nothing to do with the saved, born again Church Age body of Christ (or even people in general) eating food and drinking in the “let’s be merry/care free life” context that so many ministers of the Bible erroneously tell us. The same holds true with the “giving in marriage” aspect of the passage. It has to do with what the Fallen Angels were doing with human women.
When Jesus speaks of “one taken, the other left” (given that this chapter is a Jewish centric context of left behind Jews,) it is speaking of those Jews who are allowed to enter the Kingdom reign of Christ on Earth that begins after the Tribulation has ended and those who are not allowed to enter – in other words, “one taken” and burned in the fire, “the other left” to be allowed to go into the Kingdom. This hearkens back to what Jesus said when speaking of “outer darkness” in Matthew 22 when some of the Jewish guests invited to the wedding and ceremonial celebrations show up to the wedding without the proper wedding garment on. They are then cast into outer darkness. Outer darkness is exclusion from the festivities. Outer darkness is the place outside of the wedding festivities. The weeping and gnashing of teeth indicates they are angry and some are sorrowful. They (being Jewish) thought they had the right to show up to the festivities without the proper wedding garment of salvation on just because their forefathers (Abraham, Moses, etc.) were of the faith. They thought that they, by virtue of being their descendants, could be a part of the celebration along with their righteous ancestors without being saved. Or said another way, without having ever received Christ. They show up at the end of the Tribulation Period and want to be a part of the kingdom that Christ is going to establish, but they are not allowed to go in because they rejected Christ – as seen in the earlier verses when they made light of the invitation and rejected Christ. So they are cast out. Again, they are cast out because earlier on the parable, they made light of being invited to the wedding feast. That means they are Jewish unbelievers.
Now, lets go back to the Matthew 24 “some taken, the other left” passage. It’s quite simple. Those “taken” are those unsaved Christ-rejecting Jews that are “taken” and cast into the fire (Hell) in the sheep and goats judgment after the Tribulation expires and the Second Coming of Christ occurs, whereas the “left” are those saved Jews that are let inside the banquet, or inside of the coming millennial kingdom that, again, Christ is going to establish upon his return to Earth at the Second Coming event at the end of the Tribulation, not the rapture. Those “left” are those allowed into the banquet (millennial kingdom on Earth) because they received Christ during the Tribulation after the rapture had already occurred. So, to reiterate … taken in where and left out of where specifically? Answer: the coming millennial reign of Christ on Earth upon his return at the end of the Tribulation period with the previously raptured Church.
So, this has nothing at all to do with New Testament Church Age believers or the rapture being spoken of here. It does not have anything to do with a saved, Church Age believer not making it in the rapture. It has nothing to do with the rapture. It is about the unsaved and saved Jews at the end of the Tribulation Period who received Christ during the Tribulation.
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul reveals to the Corinthian Church in 1 Corinthians 15:51 that “all” shall be changed and be a part of the rapture. That means that no born again, saved Christian will be left behind no matter what…
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall “all” be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
It is not an accident that God selected the Corinthians to be the recipients of this revelation. For all of the early churches that the New Testament records, the Corinthian church was the most carnal. Paul rebukes them for everything from fornication (6:15-20) to getting drunk at communion (11:20-22). Yet, Paul says to them, “We [ALL] will be changed.” A famous Supreme Court decision defined the word “all” as follows: “All includes everyone, and excludes no one.” That is a very apt definition for how many believers (born again) will go at the Rapture. Some will regretfully be raptured while out of fellowship with God. This may result in a loss of rewards for service, but not participation in the Rapture. This fact is based on the same foundation upon which salvation itself is based. It is “by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God” (See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no scriptural basis for a partial Rapture. The Rapture must be based on the same principles as salvation is.
Hope that helps.
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I Have followed your work for a long time. i do realy think you have done a great job. Nevertheless, i think that many of your point are not based on solid facts. IMHO, the book of revelations and the destruction of Israel is a key factor. some people places the writing of the book after the 70AD. Therefore the narative will fit the upcoming events in the 21century. But if the book was written BEFORE sometime around 65 AD, then the whole narrative and extrapolation to the present time falls a part. Further, and based on the 70 AD destruction of israel, there is not real direct decedants from the 12 tribies. I will sugest to visit some interesting websites likehttps://biblicisminstitute.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/the-truth-about-the-conflict-with-russia/ https://www.unz.com/ (he is a jew like me/well we have been calling ourself jews)
Also, another important fact about america has to do with the take over by the Jew banking Cabal after the civil war and their final consolidation of power in 1930. Israel is a terrorist state and we have been working for them since their creation.
My final comment/advise, be careful to buy-in into the Jew narative of the old testament. just remember, JESUS is the ONLY way to the Father. under his new covenant the others are null and void. You can not have to contract at the same time. it is simple logic.
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As to your point about America and Israel being involved with the nefarious agenda of the New World Order, I am very aware of that narrative. In fact, I have addressed it a few times in previous articles.
THE RISE OF WORLD GOVERNMENT 1
RAPTURE WATCH 2022 SIGNS: THE 3, 30, 24 AND 90 BALAAMIC FIG TREE PROPHECY CODES
Nevertheless, God stated that he would bring the “bad figs” back to the land of Israel along with the “good figs.” Although Israel is controlled by those “bad figs” of the Jewish Kabbalists/occultic elite and have infiltrated the governments of the world including the main prize – The United States of America – it does not negate the fact that the reformation of Israel in 1948 is a fulfillment of prophecy and that America is still strongly connected to the Vineyard prophecy of Matthew 21 and still has been fulfilling its prophetic purpose as the Vineyard. Jeremiah 24 acknowledges the “bad fig”/”good fig” aspect of what is taking place on the world stage.
Be careful not to look at what God is doing in a two-dimensional view only, but rather, take a deeper dive view of God’s overall plan that he is working out. He is using the evil men Jewish “bad figs” of Jeremiah 24 for his bigger purpose in fulfillment of prophecy. Remember that he will use them to also return the “good figs” to the land. This is where many observers of the Jewish cabal in charge of the New World Order agenda get it wrong. They are not looking at the three dimensional plan in play here …
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).
Notice the Lord says that he “creates evil.” He uses the evil plans of men to fulfill prophecy and his will. So, I do not disagree with what you said about the plan of a certain Jewish Luciferic global cabal. However, I do disagree with your implication that because we have a Jewish cabal bringing about a New World Order that these prophecies concerning the Vineyard of Matthew 21 and the fig tree of Matthew 24/Jeremiah 24 are thus null and void. America still is the vineyard and Israel is still the fig tree prophesied to reconstitute – which it did in 1948.
Be careful that you do not misinterpret what is going on with the bigger prophetic picture that the Lord is working out.
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Thank you for such an indepth analysis of the jews versus gentiles.
It is a challenge for me having broken from the RCC and born again of the Spirit that remnants of the RCC indoctrination remain.
Have also discovered that my mother’s bloodline from Spain are Sephardic.
With your analysis it will take several readings to digest and ask the Spirit of Truth to open my understanding.
I value the time you took to give a very helpful understanding of scriptures.
Maranatha…
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I just looked up something else you may find interesting and digestible. This one here is also a good brief summation on what these parables are suggesting.
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One strong argument for a post-trib rapture is based on the “first-resurrection” being after the tribulation.
Tying this to Thessalonians, the “resurrection from the dead” and concurs with “twinkling of the eye”, which is to be after the tribulation.
Any thoughts on this? Appreciated.
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Revelation Chapter 20 says that a resurrection occurs after the Tribulation and it calls it “The First Resurrection.” Since there is a resurrection at the Rapture, and the Post Tribulation resurrection of Revelation 20 is called “the first resurrection,” many people believe this proves a Post Trib Rapture, but not so.
The First Resurrection statement in Revelation 20 is not a problem when one realizes that the phrase “First Resurrection” is intended as a title of preeminence more than it is a delineation of a chronological time frame of the Rapture. When we consider the “First Resurrection” statement, we must ask ourselves this question: “First” in relation to what? Does it mean, first before any other resurrection? We know that cannot be, for prior to the events of Revelation Chapter 20, we have the Two Witnesses killed and resurrected three days later. And this happens in Chapter 11, before the First Resurrection. So, “first” in relation to what?
Perhaps this analogy will help: If I were to say to you, “Meet me at such-and-such restaurant; I bet I am there first,” do I mean to say that when I arrive at the restaurant that no other customers will be there? Of course not. “First” in this case is in relation to you. It means I will be there first before you. The context of the First Resurrection in Chapter 20 stresses the importance of being in the resurrection of the righteous (the First Resurrection) rather than experiencing the Second Resurrection of the wicked, for those in the Second Resurrection shall experience the Second Death. Thus the “first” of the First Resurrection is in relation to the resurrection of the wicked, which happens last, after the Millennium.
Hope that helps.
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Thanks so much.
In Philippians 3:11, Paul writes, “that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead”
But the Greek here is ἐξανάστασιν, containing the prefix ‘ek’, which can be translated as the extra-resurrection, or the out-resurrection.
Based on this, some believe this to be a ‘special’ resurrection of the overcomers, which is for the rapture of the overcomers before the Great Trib and not the rapture of the entire church of born-again believers.
Any insights on this? Again, appreciated.
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It is not possible that this is speaking of a partial rapture of the “especially holy” segment of the true, born again Church.
Some view Paul as expressing “the ambition of pressing on toward the goal for the prize, think that he is speaking of ‘the Exanastasis’ as a group singled out from those who are resurrected, having attained a special place of honor or reward. Paul hoped for a greater gain than just a normal resurrection. The condition of attaining it is conditional. Faithfulness is required to attain it. To gain it one must live Christ’s resurrection life experientially (3:10), must willingly share in His sufferings by accepting persecution and pain for his sake (3:10), and must conform himself to Jesus’ death by laying down his life for others (3:10; cf. 1 John 3:16-18). Clearly more than faith in Christ is involved. We must ‘press on’ daily in our Christian experience if we hope to attain this prize (3:14).
This out-resurrection is a prize, not of a gift of grace. The out-resurrection is a special reward which only faithful believers will receive. All believers will be resurrected and be evacuated from the earth at the rapture, but there is a better one for those who endure and actively serve the Kingdom of God while waiting on the train ride home. When believers stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ after being raptured, some will “attain” a better reward than those who did not have any good works to show for their Christian walk while on Earth. So when Paul says “that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead,” he is not speaking of attaining worthiness of being resurrected in the rapture through good works and “overcoming” through living up to a standard. Rather, he is speaking of “attaining” reward as an “after” result of the rapture event itself, or something to that effect.
And further still, notice the preceding verses to verse 11 …
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
The clear picture being displayed here is one of attaining righteousness by faith, not works so that he can “attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” This clearly is not speaking of a reward of resurrection through good works or moral behavior or the like. If this passage of scripture were referring to only a select group of believers being raptured out when the time comes, then the Apostle Paul must have been developing Alzheimer’s disease. He would be contradicting himself when he said to the very carnal Corinthian Christians that “ALL” would be changed and be raptured out. As I said to a previous commenter above, it is no accident that God revealed the revelation of the rapture to the carnal Corinthian Christians and told them that “ALL” will be raptured out, not just the workers and the ones attempting to be morally pure in the body of Christ. If it were not “ALL” believers in the body of Christ being raptured out and the aforementioned partial rapture view based on the erroneously interpreted partial rapture Philippians passage , then we clearly have a contradiction of scripture. As we all know, the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore contains no contradiction. That means that the Philippians passage is being misapplied on the part of the partial rapture proponents.
Hebrews 11:35 refers not to an eternal resurrection, but temporary resurrection, such as that of 2 Kings 4. It was a resurrection that simply restored one to physical life. The “better resurrection” primarily means better than the resurrection of those who have just been mentioned, who were raised from the dead to die again. It seems to be that the out-resurrection is not the prize in and of itself. Rather, the prize is gained at the judgment seat of Christ and speaks of rewards not from the out-resurrection. Sometimes it is easier to say what a statement does not mean than to declare what it does mean.
And lastly, those who claim a rapture only for those who “overcome” are guilty of interpreting that word “overcome” from a modern Western mindset rather than how the word was actually being used in the context of the Apostle John’s writing. The word “overcome” as it is used in the book of Revelation means that the one who overcomes will obtain the promised reward (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21). However, the passage itself does not define what it means to overcome. However, 1 John 5 tells us what “overcoming” actually means in the context that John is using it …
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5).
So here, you can clearly see that the “overcomer” is one that is saved and born again in through faith in Jesus Christ. Overcoming as it is being used in the biblical context has nothing to do with works.
So the Scriptural answer to the question “how does someone overcome the world?” is through faith in Jesus Christ, which is the Gospel.
So much for the Philippians 3:11 partial rapture view. Flush it down the toilet and forget about it. Philippians 3:11 is yet another passage of scripture that often gets grossly misinterpreted as a result of interpreting the deeper things of scripture from a modern Western mindset and our modern usage of phrases and words.
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You’re helping to unravel much teachings I’ve received over the years. One last question, at least for now.
Can Christians go to hell?
Matt 18:34, being delivered to the torturers, and John 15, being thrown into fire seem to indicate so.
I’ve been taught that our eternity is secured, yet this is for the non-overcoming, backslidden believers who would be punished temporarily in a place of outer darkness for a thousand years.
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The short answer is “no,” a true, born again believer who has personally received Christ as Savior cannot go to Hell upon death. In Matthew 18, Christ isn’t speaking of delivering a child of his (born again believer) to tormentors in the sense of casting them into Hell if they don’t forgive a fellow believer their trespasses. The point Jesus is making here is that there are certain things that God will allow upon you because of your unforgiveness, which are considered “tormentors.” There is absolutely no hint whatsoever of the “tormentors” Christ spoke of in this conversation as being about a believer being cast into Hell because of unforgivness towards a fellow believer.
Unforgiveness brings undesirable consequences. The word translated “tormentor” is the Greek word “basanistes” and is found only here in the New Testament. There are, however, in the same family of Greek words, two other nouns and the verb for torment which are found some nineteen times in the New Testament. Three of these passages can shed some light for us regarding the “tormentors” that unforgiving Christians may face.
In 2 Peter 2:8 we find the verb for torment (basanizo) translated “vexed.” Lot vexed his soul in the things which he saw and heard while living in Sodom. The disciples were “tossed” with the waves as they tried to make progress in their boat on the sea (Matthew 14:24). Mark stated that they were “toiling” in rowing (Mark 6:48). The unforgiving Christian could anticipate a certain “torment of the soul” and a sense that he or she is not making progress in life as a result of unforgiveness.
There are also physical problems that can be related to unforgiveness. If you just ask any credible doctor worth his/her salt, they will tell you that negative emotions connected to unforgiveness will increase blood pressure and lead to hormonal changes that are linked to heart disease, the impairment of our immune system, and even to impaired neurological functions, including our memory. Studies show that angry, resentful people are more prone to have heart attacks than those who forgive. Also, those people with chronic anger problems are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs.
Many in Christian circles today seem in danger of this judgment because they refuse to forgive fellow believers, speak kindly to them, cooperate with them, or accept their apologies. Counselors often discover that a client’s unwillingness to forgive someone lies deep at the heart of all kinds of personal problems.
The alternative to dealing with these potential tormentors is to forgive from the heart those who have wronged us. Forgiveness must be real, sincere, not pretended, nor merely outward. There must not only be no outward act of revenge, but no malice in the heart, no storing up of evil passions for future outlet, as occasion may arise.
We have an obligation to love and forgive others as God has loved and forgiven us (Romans 13:8; 1 John 4:11; Ephesians 4:31-32). Remember, forgiveness best happens in prayer and is something that only God can accomplish in our hearts.
As to the branches being burned in John 19, these warnings are directed toward professing Christians who appear, at least outwardly, to be connected to the Vine. They are branches in the vicinity of the Vine, but there is a disconnect. Judas Iscariot is a good example of a false professor. He is, in my opinion, a very obvious example that those who purport and claim to “follow Christ” do not really believe on him and trust in him in their hearts as Savior. Many cite Judas as an example and make the false assertion that Judas was a true believer. He was not. The following verse of scripture proves he wasn’t a true believer and thus never saved to begin with. Let’s take a look at what Jesus said …
“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:64-71).
Notice the very first sentence above (verse 64) –
“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
There you have it. Jesus and John both identify Judas as being one who did not believe. Judas was never a true Christian, therefore, he never lost his salvation. But, some believe since he was a disciple and chosen by Jesus, then he had to have been a true believer. However, as you can now plainly see, we find that this is simply not the case. We can see from the very words of John that Christ knew who it was who would betray him, and he associates him with those who did not believe from the beginning. This means that Judas never was a true believer in Christ and therefore, not saved. Of course, we know that he believed Jesus lived since he walked and talked with him. Judas did not believe that Jesus was who he said he was, God in flesh (John 8:24, 58; 10:30-33). He did not affirm the true Messiah-hood of Christ. Furthermore, we can learn from two things Jesus said that it is not possible to lose one’s salvation …
“And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I ALWAYS DO THE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING TO HIM” (John 8:29). “And THIS IS THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME, THAT OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME, I LOSE NOTHING, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:39).
We can clearly see that Jesus always does the will of the Father (John 8:29). Jesus also said, in John 8:39, that he always does the will of the Father, which is that Jesus lose none, and those who are given to Jesus will be raised (to glory). So, it cannot be that anyone loses his/her salvation because that would mean Jesus lost someone. Those who are truly saved cannot lose their salvation. We can conclude that Judas was never saved from what Jesus said in John 6:64-65, as well as other verses about our security in him.The parable of the seed and the soils (Matthew 13) presents young plants that seem to start out well but then wither away. The book of Hebrews, with its many warning passages, seems to be directed at those who have made an initial positive response to Jesus but are considering turning back. They are like the children of Israel who left in the exodus with Moses but then refused to enter the Promised Land (Hebrews 3:16–19). They started out on the journey but didn’t complete it.
Based on outward appearances at any given moment, it may be difficult to tell genuine believers (connected in vital unity with the True Vine) from those who have merely attached themselves to some of the trappings of Christianity. However, time will tell the difference, because the genuine believer attached to the True Vine will bear fruit. A false professor appears to be attached but does not bear fruit, and it’s the lack of fruit that shows a branch is not receiving the fruit-bearing energy that comes from attachment to the Vine. Regardless of how attached this branch may appear to be on the surface, it is lacking the one absolute evidence of attachment—fruit! That “branch” should not console himself with false notions that he is attached, because his lack of fruit bears condemning evidence against him. In this case, the branch was never really attached in the first place. The metaphor (or allegory) of the vine and the branches can only be pressed so far.
As far as a believer being thrown into outer darkness (hell) for a thousand years, that too is a grossly misinterpreted scripture. In fact, this doctrine is what is known as the ” Thousand-Year Discipline Recovery Doctrine.” For those who have never heard of this doctrine, here’s basically how this load of garbage goes. In the 1,000 year millennial kingdom reign of Christ on Earth, the overcoming believers will be with Christ in the bright glory of the kingdom, whereas the defeated believers will suffer discipline in outer darkness (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). This is so that they can be perfected for their maturity.
For any crop to become matured, that crop needs to go through a certain process. The process through which the immature believers will have to pass will not be pleasant but will be a period of discipline and punishment for one thousand years. Witness Lee, the primary teacher of the Lord’s Recovery movement, taught the thousand-year discipline (TYD) doctrine. And since the Lord’s Recovery’s belief system is literally everything that Witness Lee taught, the Lord’s Recovery teaches and believes in TYD doctrine.
TYD essentially explains that Christians who are not good enough (Christians who are not “overcomers”) in this lifetime will be cast into the Outer Darkness, a special believer-specific discipline, for 1000 years. To be cast out into the outer darkness is not to perish; it is to be dealt with dispensationally for not having lived an overcoming life by Christ to qualify for participation in the enjoyment of the kingdom during the millennium. According to the teaching of TYD, these non-overcoming Christians (“defeated believers”) will be cut off from the sphere of the presence of God. The defeated believers will not be cast into the lake of fire, but into the outer darkness outside the glorious sphere of the Lord’s presence.
According to the Bible, the Outer Darkness will have weeping and gnashing of teeth. God’s Word repetitively uses that phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” to describe pain, agony, and regret (Matt. 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30, Luke 13:28). The Recovery truly believes that a certain group of believers will be disciplined for 1000 years and that the agonizing weeping and gnashing of teeth of the Outer Darkness is that discipline, different from the eternal punishment of Hell/the Lake of Fire for the unbelievers.
And it’s this following quote on weeping and gnashing of teeth and the “sons of the kingdom” that is the focus of this post’s deconstruction of the TYD doctrine. Matthew 8:12 says …
“But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”
The doctrine goes that because the sons of the kingdom “certainly are saved ones,” they will not be cast into the furnace of fire. Rather, they will be put into outer darkness. I do not believe that there is darkness in the furnace of fire. Although there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth both for the ones who perish and for the defeated believers, the defeated believers will not be cast into the lake of fire, but into the outer darkness outside the glorious sphere of the Lord’s presence.
O.k., so who Are the “Sons of the Kingdom” in Matthew 8:12? The “sons of the kingdom” in Matthew 8:12 are NOT “certainly saved ones,” as “Witness Lee” taught. The sons of the kingdom are actually Israelites in the kingdom of Israel. There is clue number one that this doctrine is already way, way off the mark. “Witness Lee” used the “certainly saved” in Matthew 8:12 as grounds to state that the Outer Darkness was for believers, for Christians. However, a careful look at the context of this verse immediately exposes Witness Lee’s “certainly saved” assertion as false. The better phrase is “certainly Jews.”
For some quick background of Matthew 8:12, Matthew 8:5-13 is the true story of Jesus encountering a centurion who was full of great faith. This centurion believed that Jesus had the authority to speak a word and heal his paralyzed, suffering servant. The centurion’s rationalization and explanation of Jesus’ authority in Matthew 8:9 was indicative of the centurion’s faith. And so begins Matthew 8:10-12:
“When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 8:10-12 (ESV).
Matthew 8:10 is an important key. Jesus said, “With no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
Matthew 8:11 is also an important key. Jesus said …
“Many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
If there is “certainly saved ones” in this passage, it’s those from east and west, likely the Gentiles, the non-Jewish Christians. With this context, Jesus words as translated into English already point to the sons of the kingdom being a reference to Israelites. However, the original language of the Bible makes it even more clear — the phrase “sons/children of the kingdom” is a Hebraism (a Hebrew idiom or expression): The children of the kingdom.—The form of the phrase is a Hebraism, indicating, as in “the children of the bride-chamber,” those who belonged to the kingdom, i.e., in this case, the Israelites, to whom the kingdom of heaven had, in the first instance, been promised, the natural heirs who had forfeited their inheritance.
A plethora of Bible commentaries also affirm that the phrase “children/sons of the kingdom” refers to the Jews:
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Bible Study New Testament, The
Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible
E.M. Zerr’s Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament
John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible
Matthew Poole’s Commentary
Meyer’s NT Commentary
People’s New Testament
Robert’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Did Witness Lee Miss the Reference to Israel? Ha ha, seriously? The quote this post addresses comes from Witness Lee’s Life-Study of Matthew, chapter 66. However, 41 chapters earlier, in chapter 25 of Life-Study of Matthew, Witness Lee recognized that the sons of kingdom were indeed Jews. But to Lee, that phrase referred more specifically to saved Jews: The sons of the kingdom in verse 12 refer to the saved Jews who are the good seed (13:38)… (WITNESS LEE, LIFE-STUDY OF MATTHEW, CHAPTER 25, SECTION 3).
The 13:38 reference in the quote above refers to Matthew 13:38, which also uses the phrase “sons of the kingdom.” However, the phrase “sons of the kingdom” in Matthew 13:38 does not have any specific affiliation with the Jews. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines a clear distinction of the phrase used in Matthew 8:12 versus Matthew 13:38. 8:12 refers to “those to whom the prophetic promise of the heavenly kingdom extends: used of the Jews,” and 13:38 refers to “those gathered out of all nations who have shown themselves worthy of a share in this kingdom” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Strongs G932, Definition 3e).
There’s no ground to assume that Matthew 8:12’s “sons of the kingdom” refers to anyone other than the Jews. There’s no reference to the Jews being saved. There’s a strong argument they are not saved (weeping and gnashing of teeth, outer darkness), but there’s no evidence that the sons of the kingdom in Matthew 8:12 are saved.
But Witness Lee only referenced the “sons of the kingdom” as “certainly saved ones” in chapter 66 of Life-Study of Matthew, not referencing his study’s interpretation in chapter 25. In chapter 66, all he does is say that the “sons of the kingdom” are “certainly saved ones” in order to defend TYD doctrine.
That’s not the only place in which “Witness Lee” uses Matthew 8:12 as evidence that saved people will be disciplined for 1000 years: He says, “In the coming kingdom age the overcoming believers will be with Christ in the bright glory of the kingdom (Col. 3:4), whereas the defeated believers will suffer discipline in outer darkness (Matt. 8:12).
WITNESS LEE; TRUTH LESSONS, LEVEL 4, VOL. 1; CHAPTER 19; SECTION 3
Again, “Witness Lee” offered no reference to the “sons of the kingdom” being the Jews. Instead, he again used the Matthew 8:12 verse reference as authoritative evidence to back up his assertion of TYD doctrine. In short, according to Witness Lee, the sons of the kingdom in Matthew 8:12 are (1) saved Jews, (2) certainly saved ones, and/or (3) defeated believers. So, the conclusion is that Matthew 8:12’s “Sons of the Kingdom” Are Not “Certainly Saved Ones” as “Witness Lee” claims.
Again, to reiterate. “Witness Lee” made the assertion that the phrase “sons of the kingdom” in Matthew 8:12 referred to saved people. This ignores both the context and the language of the phrase. With the truth of the meaning of the phrase “sons of the kingdom,” the Recovery’s explanation of thousand-year discipline doctrine based on Matthew 8:12 is already a logical fallacy. Since Matthew 8:12 does not reference “certainly saved people” but references the Jews, the meaning of the verse carries an entirely different meaning than “Witness Lee” taught.
Hopefully you were convinced that the sons of the kingdom were not “certainly saved ones.”
So, bottom line is that a truly saved, born again believer cannot lose salvation … not even for one second, let alone for 1,000 years.
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You hit the nail on the head all three times. I really hope you’re right.
You also seem to know quite much about Witness Lee and the Local Churches. Were you ever involved with them?
I took great pleasure in reading many of your past articles. Some really helped to answer questions I’ve had for years. Thanks.
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There’s no need to remain at the gate of “hoping” that I’m right in saying that one cannot lose their salvation. To hell with hoping (pun intended). The object in this battle of life is to grab that monster of eternal security uncertainty by the throat and strangle it to death. Then grab an ax and chop that chump into bloody quivering pieces and then spit in its face. No mercy (o.k., a little overly dramatic, but you get my point).
To do this, one good rule of thumb that I’ve been guided by in the beginning of my salvation experience and having those same concerns is to keep in the forefront of your mind that if the Bible is truly the inspired Word of God, it cannot contradict itself. Contradiction is exactly what you would have if the Bible truly taught that salvation can be lost. That doctrine would contradict the Apostle Paul in Romans 6 chapter 23 in which eternal life is referred to as a gift. In Romans 11:29, he then says that the “gifts” and callings of God are without repentance … meaning that God is not going to take it back.
The other one to keep in mind is that Jesus said in John chapter 6 that he will lose no one but raise them up on the last day. So, that means all the other verses that people use to say that salvation can be lost are being grossly misinterpreted.
As far as “Witness Lee” is concerned, I heard about him and his teaching from someone else years ago, but it gave me a severe rash. Upon listening to that Hell (pun intended), I ran the other way. I really didn’t have to delve too deeply into his teaching past his name to know that what I was getting ready to hear was a giant load of stink. Anyone who puts the name “Witness” in front of their name is bound to be in some form of spiritual deception … so run like Hell because they got some issues. It sounds pretty cultish to begin with. But I heard just enough to know the basics of that doctrine. So, no, I was never involved in the local churches either.
And you’re certainly welcome. Glad you enjoyed those articles.
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