Ed,I suspect that you will be flooded with responses to your comments that the Christians must/may go through the Great Tribulation. There will be back-sliden church members or spiritually dead church members who will be caught by surprise by the Lord's return, some not even believing in a literal Lord's return, because their denomination has allegorized all that away. These people are PROMISED by Jesus to go through tribulation to refine them, and get them HOT for Christ again. But Jesus made it clear in Rev 3:3, that the believer who is WATCHING for the Lord's return AND made her/himself READY for the Lord, being without spot or wrinkle (no criticism for Christ.....review the letters to the churchs in Rev.), these will NOT go through the Tribulation.The Great Tribulation is THE WRATH OF GOD against the evil and wicked and rebellious and unrepentant inhabitors of the earth. The Wrath of God is NOT for the faithful Believer who is watching for the Lord's return, and like the 10 virgins, has made themselves ready for their Groom.1 Th 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ..."1Thes. chapter 5 talks all about the coming of the Lord and how believers in Christ WATCHING for His return will NOT be taken by surprise, we are to recognize the signs of his coming. Only those dwelling in darkness will be caught off guard. The wrath of God is not for the righteous.Rev. 3:3 "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Here's the PROMISE that WE who have an ear to hear what the spirit is saying to the churcheS, are PROMISED to know the HOUR of His return IF we WATCH.)
1Th 5:1,2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (Children of God are not to be surprised by His coming for us! We are admonished to KNOW God's word, to be able to rightly divide it, and to understand God's prophecies concerning our generation. We WILL know and recognize the HOUR (or Season) of the Rapture, because we are WATCHING. This is what Five Doves is all about!) 1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 1Th 5:8 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. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (How comforting would it be to know that God has appointed us to HIS Wrath???? The wrath is not for us! That's what is "comforting" about this message! We are to comfort one another too as we see the day approach.) That's why Paul explained in 1Thes.4&5 and 1Cor 15 to all new believers about the great "snatch" of the believers. Paul was calming the fears of the Thessalonians who thought Nero was the AntiChrist! Since the AntiChrist was already revealed, they were afraid that they had missed the special promised rapture of the Church. Paul reassures them that they hadn't missed the rapture......he reminds them of ALL the signs that must be fulfilled FIRST BEFORE the AntiChrist can be revealed. He also warns them that lots of "antiChrist" types will be on the world scene, but they are not THE AntiChrist...Satan himself. Then Paul clarifies that the Holy Spirit would have to be removed first, BEFORE the AntiChrist can be revealed. Notice that Paul is merely reminding the Thessalonians of what he had already taught them when they first became believers and followers of Jesus Christ. This is not a new doctrine. Paul taught it to new believers back before the 2nd Temple was destroyed!Note how Jewish the book of Revelation and Matthew 24 is. Pray that you don't have to travel on the sabbath....etc. The church is not under the law, so is not so concerned about traveling on the sabbath. But the Jews, under the law, are VERY concerned about keeping the sabbath. Also Christ warns about the Abomination in the 3rd Temple! The church has no need of the Temple or of animal sacrifices. But the Jews who have been under a curse of spiritual blindness, are very much concerned about animal sacrifices at the Temple to make atonement for their sins. The church is never referred to ON EARTH again in the book of Revelation after chapter 4 after John has been told to "come up here", except in reference to bride of Christ being in heaven becoming his wife. After Chapter 4 all references to the Church are IN HEAVEN!....the Great Multitudes breaking out in Song and Worshipping the Lord. Did Jesus forget about His church still on Earth? No! They are SAFE in heaven with Him for the 7 days (years) of the Wedding Feast.From chapter 5 until the end of Revelation, on earth God is dealing with the Jews again and all the unrepentant "inhabitors of the earth". The Jews have 7 years left of Daniel's prophecy.....the Jews dispensation is under the Law and the Prophets. The dispensation of the church, this "pregnant pause" of 2000 years will be OVER, while God deals directly with Israel again (who think they are still under the law, thus the rebuilding of the Temple).....during the Last 7 Years of Daniel's prophecy.This prophecy is for Daniel's people! Who are Daniel's people? The Jews! The church was not here during the first 69 weeks of Daniel's people, and the church will not be here during the last 1 week of years, or last 7 years. The AntiChrist will be revealed when he "confirms" a peace treaty with Israel's enemies, as per Daniel 9. No doubt part of this "treaty" will include the opportunity for Israel to rebuild their Temple on the Temple Mount.In fact, if you had read further in 1 Thes. 2 you would have read that the AntiChrist CANNOT BE REVEALED until the One who is restraining him, is REMOVED. Who is restraining evil on this earth today? Who is the salt and the light of the earth?It is the Holy Spirit, the gift sent to the followers of Jesus Christ!So, how in the world could the Holy Spirit be REMOVED without removing the Church? (And when I say "church", I mean Christ's faithful remnant.)So you see? The AntiChrist canNOT come on the world scene UNTIL the Holy Spirit (and Christ's believers) are REMOVED first. THEN the 7 year peace treaty will be "confirmed" with Israel's neighbors. THEN the Temple will be rebuilt and finished. THEN there will be 3 and 1/2 years of false peace, until the AntiChrist STOPS the sacrifices in the Temple and does his Abominable thing, wanting the world to worship him.EXACTLY 3 and 1/2 years to the DAY and HOUR (no doubt) AFTER the Abomination, Christ will return as per Daniel chapter 12. Anyone still alive through the Great Tribulation, are to KNOW EXACTLY how many DAYS to hold on, before Christ's 2nd Coming when Christ will STAY here on Earth Permanently! There is NO mystery about the DAY of Christ's 2nd Coming to Earth to Rule and Reign in perfect righteousness. It is repeated over and over again in Daniel 12 very PRECISELY how many DAYS to count.When Christ returns He will return WITH his Bride, not FOR His Bride. The Bride spends the last 7 years of Daniel's prophecy in Heaven with the Lord, in the place that Christ has prepared for His Bride in His Father's house.Jhn 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.The Bride enters the Bridal Chambers and stays for 7 days!Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.The Bema Seat judgment of the believers will take place where the Rewards are handed out to Christ's faithful followers. In Chapter 4 we read how the elders already have their crowns and have already thrown them at Christ's feet! The Bema seat judgment has already taken place BEFORE the first seal is opened!The people who remain after the rapture of the faithful remnant of Jesus Christ, will either die during the tribulation period due to all the calamities (2/3 of the World's population dies through the Tribulation), or if they will REPENT and become serious followers of Jesus Christ, they will enter Heaven via martyrdom, martyred for Christ by the AntiChrist. They were not willing to Live for Christ when they had the chance, but they will be given an opportunity to Die for Christ. This is their last chance to enter the kingdom of God. These are the martyrs who come out of the tribulation period.Christ's faithful remnant has been PROMISED by Jesus to be SPARED the horrors coming to TRY the Earth's inhabitants.Rev. 3: 10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."...... Rev. 3:13 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churcheS." (Notice the promise is to keep thee FROM, not THROUGH the Tribulation?Are YOU part of the church? Do YOU have an ear to hear? Are YOU Watching? Have you made yourself Ready for Him? Then THIS is a PROMISE from Jesus Christ that YOU can go to the bank on! It is not without condition. But if those conditions are met to Christ's satisfaction, then you can COUNT on this PROMISE! Otherwise, Christ is a liar......which we all know that He canNOT lie!)If you notice throughout the book of Revelation, the people who are left will be mostly rebellious, even knowing WHO they are rebelling against, and yet STILL will not repent. You think life is bad now, just wait until the Holy Spirit and the Christians are Removed!The 2 Witnesses are JEWISH and they will preach to the Jew first and also the Gentile during the first 3 and 1/2 years of Daniel's last week of years. These 2 Witnesses (prophets) will evangelize the 144,000 Evangelists who will also be JEWISH! God even names their tribes! These will have come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ after the Rapture. (If they got saved prior to the Rapture, they would be ONE with the Church and be raptured with the Church. The Jewish distinction is no longer necessary within the body of Christ.) A special seal of supernatural protection is placed upon them, so that no evil touches them during several stages of the Judgements of God in Revelation that they will go through. NOWHERE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION DOES CHRIST REFER TO GENTILE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST EVANGELIZING THE WORLD! NOR IS THERE ANY MENTION OF A SPECIAL SEAL PLACED ON THE CHURCH during this time period! Only these special JEWISH Evangelists are mentioned as getting this special seal. The world is back under the law and the prophets running out the PROMISED time clock of Daniel's Last week of years....7 years. That's why the 2 Witnesses (prophets) have to be sent to earth again, it is in recognition of this dispensation back under the law and the prophets.The 2 Jewish Witnesses are raptured after the 6th Trumpet. And even the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists are suddenly seen in Heaven after the 7th Trumpet, their work too being finished.
2Th 2:1,2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until HE be taken out of the way. ("He" is the Holy Spirit. Where does the Holy Spirit reside? In the Temple of God, within the bodies of the followers of Jesus Christ.) 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,
Remember God takes His Word very seriously, and expects us to do the same. We are admonished to be able to "rightly divide the Word". We are to KNOW the Times and Seasons. We are to WATCH for Christ's Return. We are to LOVE His Appearing.When Christ came the first time, the majority of the Jews did NOT recognize Him as their Messiah .....and they should have since He crossed into Jerusalem riding on the back of a Donkey fulfilling prophecy EXACT to the DAY prophesied by Daniel! But because they didn't recognize this all important Season, they were punished for the next 2000 years! No one to blame but themselves, for not "rightly dividing the Word" so clearly portrayed in Daniel some 350 years earlier!Jer 8:12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jer 10:15 They [are] vanity, [and] the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Jer 50:27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
Jer 51:18 They [are] vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Luk 19:41,44 And when he [Jesus] was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
God held the Jews accountable for NOT knowing the EXACT Time of the Arrival of their long awaited Messiah. A remnant recognized it: Joseph and Mary, Simeon, Anna the prophetess, John the Baptist, the Disciples, ...etc. But, sadly, most did not KNOW.We are admonished to learn from the scriptures, not to repeat the same mistakes. We are PROMISED that if our walk is right with the Lord, we will not only be spared the coming Tribulation but we will also KNOW the HOUR of Christ's Return to come fetch us! Christ said it:Rev. 3: 10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."...... Rev. 3:13 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churcheS."Rev. 3:3 "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Here's the PROMISE that WE who have an ear to hear what the spirit is saying to the churcheS, are PROMISED to know the HOUR of His return IF we WATCH.)
Five Doves website is Watching!....creating a forum for Christians from around the world to post the timely SIGNS of the Lord's Coming. I'm sure the Father is pleased!
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing!
Maranatha!
Deborah
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