MAY 5, 2005

Greetings all Doves and John our shepherd.

We all know that the number "5" is the number of "grace".   We are in the age of grace.  This age of grace will end when our Lord returns to take us with Him, and then judgment years.  Ephesians chapter 2 (below) speaks of our being "quickened", from our old life of sin, dead in trespasses, and made us "alive together with Christ".  Further, that we (present tense) "sit together in heavenly places IN CHRIST" , and that "in the ages to come" (that is, after the rapture) God may show His exceeding grace by what He  has done for us.    The above verses are spoken by Paul, in a continuum, and as if this event has already transpired, and that we are already sitting there with Him, which I suppose we are in a sense, but I for one sure don't feel it, but feel and look more rather like I slept in the trunk of my car last night.....
So I believe that Ephesians chapter 2:4-10,  are "rapture" verses, given to us by the Holy Spirit.   Are there any "hidden" goodies in these rapture verses?   Maybe even a date for the "rapture" when we will realise that actual event of sitting with Him in heavenly places?
Drum roll here.......................count the number of times the word "grace" appears in these "rapture" verses........(below).

Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

This just makes me feel  warm and fuzzy all over; if nothing else, I learned some nice verses today.  It occurred to me the other day that I was so intense on figuring out the date when He would come, that I forgot who it was that was coming !   LOL !
We know who is coming, and we know that it will be soon.
In His wonderful name, and to Him be all the glory, forever,,,
YSIC   Arlene
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That is a well known phenomenon, Arlene.
The researchers call it 'tunnel vision' -- you're so focused that you begin to lose touch ...... ;-)
I think I am suffering from 'tunnel vision', too, as I am still looking for THAT LIGHT at the end of the tunnel! :)
John