|
|
Post by PG4Him on Jan 27, 2021 11:59:47 GMT -5
Oh and did I tell you -- Mike has been reading the Bible. A few weeks ago, some of us explained to him about the antichrist and Jesus' second coming. He said it would certainly explain world events. Now he says he's "not an atheist" and is "on the fence." I continue to pray for him.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 27, 2021 12:04:22 GMT -5
Oh and did I tell you -- Mike has been reading the Bible. A few weeks ago, some of us explained to him about the antichrist and Jesus' second coming. He said it would certainly explain world events. Now he says he's "not an atheist" and is "on the fence." I continue to pray for him.
That is great! I wish he would take that leap of faith and get saved, but he has come a long way.
|
|
|
|
At hand
Jan 27, 2021 12:19:04 GMT -5
Post by John on Jan 27, 2021 12:19:04 GMT -5
Let me add one more thing. I absolutely do know beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is preparing for His bride. The one and only vision I've had of Him directly in real life color -- I was standing right in front of Him -- showed Him starting to set up the feast. I was among a group of people (saints) laboring to prepare for the party. It was early evening, around 4:30 or so, and He was just beginning to prep the food. I remember seeing evening sunlight through the windows in His palace. I've had other visions that involved Him. But that was the only time I saw Him in the center of my view. Every time I think of that vision, it gives me joy and peace. Yes, I am excited for that supper. Every day I ask the Lord if He'll let me leave now. My yearning to be there is as strong as anybody's. But here I still am, so I live each day, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
That is amazing, because you were given the privilege of assisting with the preparations! I would bet the palace was spectacular. Did you recognize any of the other saints?
|
|
|
|
Post by PG4Him on Jan 27, 2021 12:40:42 GMT -5
That is amazing, because you were given the privilege of assisting with the preparations! I would bet the palace was spectacular. Did you recognize any of the other saints? No, I didn't see anyone else. I just had thoughts/memories that I was at the palace because of the coming party. When I found myself in the palace, my head was spinning, because I knew I was supposed to be in bed asleep at home. I immediately questioned how I could have gone from my bedroom to this palace. So I tried to remember how I got there. Then I "remembered" that I was on a party planning committee. The palace looked like an art museum in Europe or something. I distinctly remember thinking whoever lived there was a billionaire. When I saw Jesus, He gave off a vibe that He was super rich and important. I knew that before I even realize who He was. |
|
|
|
At hand
Jan 27, 2021 13:02:29 GMT -5
Post by John on Jan 27, 2021 13:02:29 GMT -5
Let me add one more thing. I absolutely do know beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is preparing for His bride. The one and only vision I've had of Him directly in real life color -- I was standing right in front of Him -- showed Him starting to set up the feast. I was among a group of people (saints) laboring to prepare for the party. It was early evening, around 4:30 or so, and He was just beginning to prep the food. I remember seeing evening sunlight through the windows in His palace. I've had other visions that involved Him. But that was the only time I saw Him in the center of my view. Every time I think of that vision, it gives me joy and peace. Yes, I am excited for that supper. Every day I ask the Lord if He'll let me leave now. My yearning to be there is as strong as anybody's. But here I still am, so I live each day, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
How many times have you seen a vision of Jesus? Have you ever had the chance to see what the heavenly city looks like?
|
|
|
|
Post by PG4Him on Jan 27, 2021 16:23:22 GMT -5
Let me add one more thing. I absolutely do know beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is preparing for His bride. The one and only vision I've had of Him directly in real life color -- I was standing right in front of Him -- showed Him starting to set up the feast. I was among a group of people (saints) laboring to prepare for the party. It was early evening, around 4:30 or so, and He was just beginning to prep the food. I remember seeing evening sunlight through the windows in His palace. I've had other visions that involved Him. But that was the only time I saw Him in the center of my view. Every time I think of that vision, it gives me joy and peace. Yes, I am excited for that supper. Every day I ask the Lord if He'll let me leave now. My yearning to be there is as strong as anybody's. But here I still am, so I live each day, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
How many times have you seen a vision of Jesus? Have you ever had the chance to see what the heavenly city looks like?
I've had two visions involving Jesus that were living color. The one in the palace, and the one with the sushi in the ballroom. In the ballroom I didn't see His face though. I also had one vision of a city square in heaven. There was a fountain where people sat around and drank the water. When you drank the water, it was nourishing. Like it refreshed your soul. Angels worked around the fountain. They got drinks for saints who came there. The angels served the saints because the saints were nobility in God's royal family. Saints had suffered for the sake of heaven, and the angels were amazed by that, so the angels honored the saints. The angels understood a difference between being created in heaven vs suffering/dying to get there. They had utmost respect for saints who died to get there, and they said the saints were rightly adopted into royalty. It was a gorgeous fountain. Looked like pure marble. Huge. Took up a city block. I just saw the immediate vicinity of the fountain. |
|
|
|
Post by Giller on Jan 27, 2021 20:11:28 GMT -5
2Ti 4:8 (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. This is what Paul wrote to Timothy, and of course it is written for us. And some refer this appearing to either the second coming or the rapture of the church, or even the judgment seat of Christ, which some say happens at the appearing of his second coming somehow, but nevertheless, Paul was saying for us and Timothy to love his appearing, and even though Christ's appearing did not happen, and was not going to happen in Timothy's time, the believers of that day were called to love, love, love his appearing. And let us continue to love his appearing. And one scripture that really has to also be taken heed to, is this one: 2Pe 3:3-9 (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:(7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And regardless to what specific coming the Peter scripture is referring to, let us look towards Christ coming back, whether it be the second coming or rapture, or even when he makes all things new at the end of the millennial reign. God is worth getting excited for, for he is our life. Of course Christians love His appearing. Every Christian I know would love nothing more than to see Him in the sky this very day. And none of us are asking "where is His return" in a mocking or skeptical way. Peter was dealing with scoffers and worldlings, not with believers who tried to be careful. You'll notice that the apostles never offered political or cultural evidence to convince the early church it was imminent. Peter never said, "okay Nero signs this policy and the banks do this and the army from Gaul invades, and that's how it will happen..." Furthermore Peter never said, "I just can't see us being here another 50 years." The apostles held to a simple position: He is near, He could act any moment, but we don't know what the trigger will be. And even when Paul wrote to Thessalonica about his teachings on the antichrist, even for them, he still instructed them to live quiet lives, work with their hands, and need nothing from their neighbors. Sure sounds like he's telling them to settle in for a normal life while they wait. He never instructed them to read the latest political news from Rome so they could guess the time of the end. Oh I agree that ones who are true Christians and are continuing on with the Lord, love his appearing, but people can backslide, and I am not pointing to you at all here, never even had the thought of you, but true Christians can get their eyes off of Jesus, and turn away from him and eventually become one of those mockers. And the bible itself does offer evidence, concerning things which will happen before the second coming, in fact a load of evidence, such as the 7 seals, 7 trumpets and vials, which have not come to pass yet. And the bible says this: 2Th 2:3 (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; I did not invent this scripture, this comes from the bible, and it is showing that the second coming will not come except there come a falling away first. We must always be ready for the coming rapture of the church, which I see that day as being different than the second coming. And it is right to live every day as if he could come any time. The bible says this: Luk 12:40 (40) Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. So the bible says what it says in Luke, it says what it says in Hosea 6:2, and it says what it says in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and I can go on and on, the key is not to ignore any scripture, but to believe it all. |
|
|
|
At hand
Jan 27, 2021 20:14:34 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Jan 27, 2021 20:14:34 GMT -5
Show me PG4Him how I have not been going by scripture?
|
|
|
|
Post by watchful on Jan 28, 2021 8:23:01 GMT -5
Scripture says it is not for us to know....and that He is coming when we do not think so. That is good enough for me. It signals that we are never going to nail it down...that perhaps there is a mystery to these things....and also that it would be unhealthy to let "the end is nigh" become our main focus, as it has repeatedly been shown to lead astray. We seek to be ready for His return at all times, because the reality is that we are all going to meet Him soon, upon our death. Whether the end really is in the next few earth years or not makes no difference if we are to have a mindset of always being ready and looking up for His appearing. Don't mind looking around and seeing what the circumstances are, and searching the scriptures etc.....anyone who is not part of the apostasy can see how our formerly "Christian" based society and churches are deteriorating and apostacising....warnings about that and calls to repent are legitimate, as well as being prepared for persecution....but we don't know for sure whether it is the last apostasy that this age will see. And many antichrists have already come and gone down through history, as well as persecutions.
I believe we do need to be careful that the end is nigh doesn't become an obsession or distraction, or God forbid that we are preaching that in place of the gospel.....this is a legitimate thing we should consider too. Not in the way of accusing anyone, but to be on guard against that. Because how I read it, it is just simply not going to be given to us to know for sure. God knows the end from the beginning and has told us how the end will be, but everything in between the beginning and the end is a variable and subject to many variables so to speak. Not even the Son or the angels know the times or seasons set by the Father (it might be significant that is plural), the early church didn't know either, so how do we expect to know.....only the Father knows. Anyone please correct me if that is wrong, but I believe that is what the word of God teaches and we should let it sink in.
|
|
|
|
At hand
Jan 28, 2021 8:57:57 GMT -5
Post by PG4Him on Jan 28, 2021 8:57:57 GMT -5
Show me PG4Him how I have not been going by scripture? It's not a question of going by Scripture. I know you love the Scripture, and I know you endeavor to cling to the Scripture. No one that I know of is ignoring the verses you mentioned. But there are different ways of looking at things. For example, some of us believe the four horsemen and six seals are already underway, playing out in slow motion and not all at once. We believe we're under the black horse now. That puts us at the third seal. Our position is unpopular, though, so we tend to keep it to ourselves. It's not worth debating. My goal here is not to convert people to my position. I only want to show that there's a case to be made for more time. |
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 28, 2021 9:47:51 GMT -5
We seek to be ready for His return at all times, because the reality is that we are all going to meet Him soon, upon our death. Whether the end really is in the next few earth years or not makes no difference if we are to have a mindset of always being ready and looking up for His appearing. Don't mind looking around and seeing what the circumstances are, and searching the scriptures etc.....anyone who is not part of the apostasy can see how our formerly "Christian" based society and churches are deteriorating and apostacising....warnings about that and calls to repent are legitimate, as well as being prepared for persecution....but we don't know for sure whether it is the last apostasy that this age will see. And many antichrists have already come and gone down through history, as well as persecutions.
Of what you said, this is the part I want to focus on. Nearly all of the church tries to figure out where we are on God's prophetic timetable. That is human nature. We look at the signs mentioned in the Bible, and we look at what is happening, and try to figure out where we are. Some think we are right on the verge of the tribulation, and in the beginning of sorrows, while others think we have a lot of time left. Either way, we are speculating. The Bible does not give us the exact day or hour. Only the Father knows when the Lord will return.
All of that being said, the most important thing is to be in a constant state of readiness. That way, if we die suddenly or if the trumpet of the Lord sounds, we will be ready to meet Jesus. I think that one reason we do not have a definite date given is so we will always be ready. For some, they look at their age, and they assume they will live to be 70 or 80, and if they are younger than that, they think they have time. If they also know that Jesus will not return for 100 or 200 years, or God gave us an exact date, they would roll the dice based on life expectancy and live in sin till they think their time is almost up. By leaving us unsure, and telling us that Jesus will come as a thief in the night, we know we must always live like this could be the day.
As we look at the prophecies in scripture, and conditions as they exist, as those conditions change, we must be prepared to change our assessment. While it looks like this is right on the verge of the tribulation today, things could change drastically overnight, and we might have to reevaluate those beliefs, but the most important thing is to always live for Jesus. Ecclesiastes says the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. Follow the Lord and He will lead us home, regardless of the day or hour of our departure, and whether it be through the grave or the rapture.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 28, 2021 9:54:09 GMT -5
Show me PG4Him how I have not been going by scripture? It's not a question of going by Scripture. I know you love the Scripture, and I know you endeavor to cling to the Scripture. No one that I know of is ignoring the verses you mentioned. But there are different ways of looking at things. For example, some of us believe the four horsemen and six seals are already underway, playing out in slow motion and not all at once. We believe we're under the black horse now. That puts us at the third seal. Our position is unpopular, though, so we tend to keep it to ourselves. It's not worth debating. My goal here is not to convert people to my position. I only want to show that there's a case to be made for more time.
Being popular or unpopular is no concern to me. What matters is getting it right. If you believe we are under the black horse now, at the time of the third seal, does that mean you do not see the events mentioned in Revelation as a 7 year period, but much longer? I am speaking of the events that begin in Revelation chapter 4 and continue till the thousand year reign of Christ. How did you come to your beliefs, and can you explain them, because I am not that familiar with them? Are they things you came to believe just from personal study, or because people that you respect teach this?
|
|
|
|
Post by Giller on Jan 28, 2021 10:01:25 GMT -5
Well God is good, and yes the main thing is to be ready at all times, but if God shows something in the bible, it should not be ignored either.
We be ready at all times, and we watch for the signs, and no no one knows the day or the hour, but if God gives a timeline, he does.
Believe it all, and never lessen any scripture.
That is were I want to be very careful, not to lessen any scripture, because often times that is were false doctrine starts to creep in, when we lessen parts of his word, so let us be careful, and be open to what he says.
|
|
|
|
Post by Giller on Jan 28, 2021 10:06:07 GMT -5
And I do understand what you are saying Watchful, but nevertheless, let us be careful to heed to all that he says without any additions or subtractions (speaking this in a general way).
I want to fear the Lord in every way, I do not want my own ideas, I just want to follow the road map wherever it leads.
|
|
|
|
Post by Giller on Jan 28, 2021 10:07:46 GMT -5
To me it bothers me for any scripture to just even be a little put down, or brushed off, and uplift another scripture in it's place, I do not want to do that.
|
|
