Hi John and Doves,

Matthew 16 just came alive to me in the last few days. This chapter is such
a parallel between the days when these events actually took place and the
times we now live in:
 

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he
would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair
weather: for the sky is red.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not
discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them,
and departed. (Matthew 16:1-4)

Amazingly, the Pharisees and Sadducees of our day (Institutional Church
pastors and heirarchy), are again awaiting a sign from heaven, Jesus' second
coming, denying the Truth of the prophetic latter days; Israel returning to
her land, the Rapture and the Tribulation.

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to
take bread.

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no
bread.

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why
reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five
thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took
up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning
bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees?

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of
bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew
16:5-12)

The Pharisees and Sadducees taught their traditions, handed down from man,
deleting or changing the written Word of God. A literal reading of 1
Corinthians 12 and 14 proves beyond a doubt that the IC pastors and
heirarchy today have again redered the Word of God of none effect. Their
teachings and traditions have changed the way that Jesus, through His
Apostles, set up the church, its order and its meetings:

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have
delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:13)

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and
others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (Matthew 16:13,14)

Jesus' disciples confirmed the confusion being taught in regards to Bible
prophecy even though they had the written Word in the Old Testament. It is
the same today in the IC.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-19)

Clearly, Jesus demonstrated to His disciples the Rhema Word of God. This is
the Holy Spirit Oil of Revelation that will fill the disciples' lamp and
keep them ready for the Lord's return. Only in communion with Jesus, through
prayer and His Word will this be received. Repentance and obedience to are
mandatory!

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus
the Christ.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he
must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee,
Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an
offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those
that be of men. (Matthew 16:20-23)

Jesus prophetically tells His disciples the things that the Word of God says
will happen to Him. Peter used his carnal mind to reason why this should not
happen to Jesus. He was using his will to try to overrule the Word of God.
Many disciples today also carnally wrestle against the prophetic end time
Words of the Bible. Pastors subsitute current, relevant Bible Prophecy with
their own teachings and traditions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his
life for my sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew
16:24-26)

As it was then, it is now. Any disciple who plans to be ready when Jesus
comes for us at the Rapture must die to themselves, their wants, desires,
their dreams in this world. We are servants, bond slaves, we have been
bought with a price, we are not our own. Our will is to do the will of Him
who sent us. You can die now to the flesh, the world, the devil or you can
be left behind to go through the Tribulation and die then, getting your head
chopped off, refusing to accept the Mark of the Beast.

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew
16:27,28)

Jesus was talking here of His Second Coming and His Ressurection, having
defeated satan, death, hell and the grave. The parallel is that many of us
will not "taste of death" until we see the Son of man coming for us at the
Rapture.

Maranatha,
David
www.soundanalarm.net