….. to Robert Belanger, to Rowina, and to Corey Anne…. I appreciate all of your comments!

 

The Lord has since worked with me & shown me that I have absolutely nothing to be jealous about…. It would be so totally contrary to God’s Word ~ akin to hiding in the sand if we chose to be ignorant of the times in which we live.   In fact, the truth is, the Christians who refuse to look up & watch right now – ought to be jealous of us ~ instead of the other way around!  We have the hope in us that purifies us; we have so much to look forward to.  We are merely doing what Scripture commands us to do:  to WATCH & be aware of the seasons.  Not only that, but we will even be awarded a special crown just because we are following our “orders” to watch.

 

Because we choose to watch, the Lord will not come to us LIKE A THIEF ~ as He promises to do to those who will not watch.

 

Best thing I can do for my friend is to pray FOR her children ~ that, though adults, they be kept SAFE in an unsafe, evil & hurtful world! … be kept safe physically but also (and perhaps mainly) spiritually!

 

Robert, your comments made me again wonder if watching is a ‘requirement’ to go in the rapture..?   I honestly do not know; I leave that up to the Lord!   But admit that it is scary because if it is ~ man, I don’t think I personally know of anyone who’s going… take that back, maybe just one, maybe two, in addition to (hopefully!)  myself…. This small number does not include my email friends, of course, as that’s been the common denominator we’ve always had – “rapture watching”.   Yet even so, Scripture admonishes not once, not twice, but over & over that God’s people are TO WATCH.  Regardless of whether it’s a ‘requirement’ or not; I want to be found doing what we’re SUPPOSED to do!!

The “living” part ~ boy, what a BALANCING act we have to endure, huh?!   As Scripture also plainly says those who will not work should not eat.  So indeed, people are to continue “living” right up to the last hour.... but for Christians, that's righteous living of course!

 

Rowina, I greatly appreciate you & hold out hope, like you, that certain ones will be added to the Kingdom.  Can be sheer & honest in that ~ I honestly do not know if it’s a CERTAIN number who’s added & THEN we go…. Because I am led to believe it’s a “SET DAY & TIME” ~ and “ready or not, here He comes”…. that sort of thing.   In being honest with you, I clash w/Jack Kelley on a great number of things.  I am always wary of anyone who sets himself up to be a sole voice or Bible authority.  Too many teachers come across that way.  But in fact, the Bible says the teachers will come under stricter judgment…. scary!   Regardless though, I did appreciate your thoughts & thank you for taking time to write all that out.  I know it takes time to write a long letter & you made some good points; struck some chords.  And I pray, too, for your son’s salvation as well as other loved ones.

 

Corey Anne, yikes that’s mean what your DH sometimes says to you! {about being married to a saint!}   My DH may sometimes think the same thing, though he’s not yet expressed it ~ he knows that I try to focus on the Bible ~ as “Basic INSTRUCTIONS Before Leaving Earth”, and he has no problem with that.

Anyway, at rapture time, I may still be shaking my head in disgust, in utter unbelief ~ that people choose to be as blind as they are!!   You can understand the unbelieving world for being blind – but it’s hard to fathom real Christians covering their ears & eyes…. If only they would come out of slumber!!  BUT…. Apathy = all a part of end days signs/symptoms!  In fact, that may be one of THEE biggest signs, eh?!

 

Listen Corey Anne, about your unmarried, pregnant friend at church ~ I’m going to type something out separately for you.  See, that stayed in my mind – I had trouble shaking it & the way that she is so apparently expecting you to give her a shower.  Wow, I’d have trouble with that, too.  She is obviously very thrilled, even prideful (?) of the fact that she is bringing ~ yet another ~ child into the world without a father.  Wasn’t it only a generation ago when this would have almost been an embarrassment?  

And before people jump down my throat – I do not mean the CHILD would have been an embarrassment, I only mean her “deed” of ~ it sounds like ~ purposely hopping in the sack while unmarried…. The Bible still calls it “fornication” ~ and the Bible STILL says that God WILL judge fornicators & adulterers.  The fact that she goes around "showing everyone" her bulging belly sure shows no sign of repentance, IMO.

Anyway, about that shower;   I’d say that’s entirely YOUR call ~ but that you, hopefully, will be strong enough to not allow her to PUSH you into giving it if you choose not to.

 

Like I say ~ I’m going to put this in a separate letter, called, “The Bible tells us to avoid certain people”.   Yikes ~ that may sound harsh & judgmental ~ but we’re only examining what THE BIBLE says to do!!

 

 

Thanks again all!

Reva