This message appeared on Sparrowcloud9 and it cleared up for me a nagging question. I hope it blesses you too.
August 6, 2016 (The 71st anniversary of the atomic bomb blast in Japan in 1945).
It is time for us to realize an important fact of Scripture. That is that every word of the Holy Writ means what it says and says what it means. I refer watching Christians to I Thessalonians 4:15-18 which says, “ 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead shall rise first: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
I have written before about the word “remain” found in no less than two places in the above passage. I have sought to find out if it means one second, one hour, one day, one week, one month, one year, or one decade, or even longer. One thing I do know is that this word has an amount of some time attached to it. And it means to remain here.
In a post found on Sparrow Cloud web site, on August 5, a message spoke about God's mighty army, hidden from the world, to be sent forth to spoil the camp of the enemy. With the words “I have chosen you”, Jehovah says this mighty army will first be healed; second be transformed, and third march forth in great victory. It sounds like this will be very soon.
I think that this word “remain” has this meaning to those waiting for the return of Jesus Christ in the rapture. It says that we, of the Philadelphia Church age Christians (Rev 3:10) who are kept from the hour of temptation (testing) which is to come upon all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth, will be transformed but will REMAIN on earth to minister to those left behind. This will include the Laodicean Church age Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, the left behind ones, left because they loved the world and did not serve their Master, who will bow at the feet of the Philadelphians (Rev 3:9).
This testing, for them, is to teach them to walk with Jesus. For the lost and dying world, it is their need of salvation and learning to walk with Jesus. To many, however, it will mean their immediate martyrdom.
I believe that there is very little time left before the faithful living will be transformed. It is upon us even as I write this. Of this I am convinced.
Prepare to meet thy God. Call upon Jesus to save you by His mercy and grace. He loves you and will answer the sinner's plea. Just ask Him to come into your heart and save you now. Then surrender to Him and walk with Him.
Time is almost up.
Maranatha
Gerry Almond