Category: Devotionals Page 9 of 50

Any Day Now – Day 27

On May 1, 2024

2 Pe 3:3-9 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.

I’m thankful to be alive in a time such as this! How exciting it is to see prophecy unfolding before our very eyes! We get to see what new story or event will occur that will excite us about that “any moment” coming of the Lord and the Rapture of His Church!

Today’s verses are extremely appropriate for today, don’t you think? Today, people ridicule everything. Just try spending but a few minutes on social media and you’ll understand why I say this! Due to social media’s anonymity, people think they have the freedom to castigate and belittle others without fear of repercussions. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines them as:

SCOFF’ER, n. One who scoffs; one that mocks, derides or reproaches in the language of contempt; a scorner.

As we see the end times’ events that are upon us, we can just imagine what will happen as it relates to the topic of Christ’s coming.

The world has seen the makings of a one-world religion already. The ecumenical movement is alive and well and compromise between religions has been in the makings for some time. Because of this, the conservative evangelicals are being scoffed at and division is becoming more prevalent. In Muslim countries, Christians are the most persecuted people in the world at the moment. Then the divisions have set in, sadly even amongst Christians, families and friends. The pandemic is one of these and it produced a division between the vaxed and unvaxed! There’s division amongst believers! If this can happen, can you imagine how it will be in a few years? I’d be interested in reading my post for today in five years and see how much worse it has gotten.

On one of my posts about salvation and the Lord on Facebook, I was vehemently ostracized by a relative. She interpreted it as me being boastful and self-righteous. She accused me of thinking I was better than her. She claims to be religious and goes to church but her religion has misguided her. She is convinced that she MIGHT go to Heaven because of the church she belongs to. Wow! But her fight is not with me but with God and His Word. Today’s verse says that she is “willingly ignorant.” The world does scorn the faithful and they will do so much more as the end comes nearer.

Peter’s prophecy was written over 2,000 years ago, reader. The scoffers he references that will be in the last days began in the 1800’s and has gotten worse. We had Darwin and his “Origin of the Species” published in 1859. People began to say that Noah’s flood never happened. We can thank Charles Lyell’s book “Principles of Geology”! He stated that the geological strata were laid down gradually over millions of years. Of course, before then, scientists and the whole world knew about Noah’s flood and believed it. Then creationism was being questioned and the “Big Bang” theory came about, thanks to Georges Lemaître, a Belgian cosmologist and Catholic priest. His theory was supported by scientists like Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan. It is still considered a “theory,” yet the world has accepted this as fact!

Can you see that we have scoffers? Furthermore, if we get right down to it, we can say that even the church is scoffing. Why? Supposed “Christians” are living together and not married. Supposed “Christians” are homosexuals. Supposed “Christians” believe there are more than two sexes! Friend, if it feels as though our world is falling apart and its moral values have gone out the window, it is because they have!

The saddest of the scoffers is found in 2 Peter 3:4:

2Pe 3:4 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.

This is coming from the mouths of believers! The division amongst Christians can be found in the various views of when the Rapture will occur. Peter tells us that in the end times, people will be skeptical about when Christ will come get His Bride. Their skepticism removes the comfort believers should have as they longingly await the Rapture!

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Furthermore, just ask those in your own circle who claim to be “Christians” if they read their Bible. If they do not, they are “willingly ignorant“! You cannot go to church once, twice or even three times a week and expect to grow spiritually if you don’t read your Bible. What if you only had the opportunity to eat at the same time that you were reading your Bible? Would you get enough to eat? Would you die of starvation? Would you be anorexic? Think on this.

Be prepared, Christian! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 26

By Kate Plourde

On April 29, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Mat 24:7-8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ( 8 ) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

I thought I would share some facts which are an indication to the end times. I subscribe to an app that alerts me any time there is an earthquake that is greater than a 5.0 on the Richter Scale. Why you may ask? A message covering the Rapture and the end times is what drew me to the Lord! I’ve been excited about any topic dealing with the end times ever since! So let’s proceed.

Jesus’ message above mentioned that increased earthquakes would be indicative that we were in the end times. He mentioned that all these things listed in verse 7 are the “beginning of sorrows.” The New Testament was originally written in Greek and they can have several words for one word that we use in the English language. For example, the word “sorrows” in verse 8 according to the Greek is:

ōdin
o-deen’
Akin to G3601; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth: – pain, sorrow, travail.STRONG’S CONCORDANCE

That Greek word tells us that when we see these increased famines, pestilences and earthquakes, it will be like having birth pains. Review the chart above. We can truly see these “birth pains” in today’s picture of earthquakes from the year 2000 through 2020 with a rating above a 5.0 rating on the Richter Scale. You can also see from 2004 to 2011, earthquakes rose significantly. Beginning in 2012, they decreased but they were still higher than the years prior 2011. This is exactly like labor pains. The pains get stronger and closer together.

The USGS states that there were three major earthquakes (greater than 6.0) in 1900. One hundred years later, in 2000, USGS recorded 160. This is more than 150 major quakes than in 1900. Between 1900 to 1918, USGS recorded 147 major quakes. This is 13 less jolts than the 160 recorded in 2000. Between 2000 to 2018, the USGS has already recorded 2,911 major quakes so far. This is an incredible 2,764 more tremors than between 1900 to 1918. And you can’t even load the map on the USGS website! Between 1900 to 1918, the yearly average number of major quakes was 12. Since 2000, this number has risen to 243/year.
HTTPS://STRANGESOUNDS.ORG/2018/11/MAJOR-EARTHQUAKE-INCREASE-DRAMATICALLY.HTML

This is just one of the three items mentioned in today’s Bible verse. I’m sure if we were to research the other two, we would find similar results. The fact that these three events will increase in frequency and intensity reveals to us that we are in fact in the end times. There’s no need to be scared for the born-again believer. It’s an exciting time for us to be alive actually. It means that we won’t die a physical death but be raptured! Do you realize how wonderful that is for the believer???? Imagine not dying!

A loving God has given us prophecy to encourage us, not to scare His children or discourage them. For the unsaved however, it should scare them. Today in 2024, we are seeing so many earthquakes on a daily basis. We are seeing the rise of volcanic activity as well. Storms of epic proportions are flooding areas like Australia and countries in Africa where they get a year’s worth of rain in one storm! I could go on and on. The unbelieving world attributes these events to global warming. But if you research the science, the earth goes through warming periods and cooling periods on a regular basis. They just want to scare you into submission to their agenda, which will result in the one-world government and one-world church. Have you noticed how many churches are now involved in global warming and their “love” for the earth? They will do anything to distract people from searching out the Lord God.

Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The heart of man does not naturally seek out the things of God, reader. They follow the band wagon and then they are convinced to hop on. Today, we are seeing a rise in antisemitism and it is quite sad. In Hitler’s time, it affected that part of the world. But today, it is all over the world. This is the segue that will lead us to the Tribulation. Countries will turn against Israel, which will usher in war and the forthcoming peace treaty that the Antichrist will sign with Israel. (Daniel 9:27) All these stem from wicked hearts, reader!

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 25

By Kate Plourde

On April 26, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Mat 24:6-7 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

The Rapture will happen faster than my feet hitting the floor first thing in the morning! The Bible says that our bodies will change from the earthly body to a body like Christ’s in the twinkling of an eye! Wow! It’s been said that this occurs in eleven and one-hundredths of a second! Double Wow! I don’t want to miss this event and I’m 100% positive I won’t.

1 Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I’m not saying that difficult times won’t be part of our lives prior to the Rapture. The news is filled with the war that Russia in the Ukraine, and now Israel’s war with Hamas! Surrounding countries are beginning to take part, including Iran and Russia sending weapons! The news is filled with wars and rumors of wars. It’s so sad to read about the death and destruction. But rather than concentrating on the news and the events, we must remember that we can’t dwell on the negatives. We must keep ourselves centered on Christ and His return, not on the antichrist and the who/what/when! We must keep looking up as our redemption draweth nigh!

Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

I’ve also been reading other articles that make it clear that we are currently in those end times. We must remember that the entire Old Testament revolves around Israel and their Messiah, King Jesus, including all the prophecies.

Some say that we are currently in the Tribulation period and that those who believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture are blind to those evil powers in existence today who are running things. I understand perfectly that there are evil powers out there. I don’t deny those. However, everything happening today is merely a segue to the Antichrist’s platform. These things must happen in order for the Antichrist to sign a peace treaty with Israel. The god of this world is very busy.

Some pastors preach that the first three and a half years after the signing of the peace treaty with Israel will be quiet. However, the Book of Revelation’s details are very clear on what will happen during the Tribulation. Just in Chapter 6 alone, one-fourth of the population will die. Our current population on earth is 7.9 billion souls. A fourth of the population will die, which will be 1,975,000,000 (that’s 1.975 BILLION people) according to Revelation 6:8:

Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

That will leave a population of 5 billion 925 million in the earth’s population. Many more will die as the Tribulation continues and the trumpet judgments begin. Why do I know this? The first trump alone brings a burning of a third of the earth, a third of the trees, and all green grass.

Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

I won’t list everything here that is to come during this horrific time. However, we have not seen these things happen as of yet but they will happen. These are not symbolic! As well, the antichrist has not yet been revealed. Some believe that an organization like the Illuminati are running things. That could very well be true. Illuminati is Latin for “enlightened.” A simple internet search will produce hundreds of “enlightened” information. The first Illuminati occurred in the Garden of Eden with the serpent and Eve:

Gen 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan is at the root of enlightenment. After all, he is known as the angel of light:

2Co 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I said all of this to say: It cannot be an “organization” that will be the antichrist. It will be a person who will make a treaty with Israel. He may come from an organization. He will proclaim himself to be God and will set himself in the Temple (which has not been built yet). When the peace treaty is signed, Israel will believe they are at peace with the world. But the judgments during the first three and a half years will begin to open their eyes. 1 Corinthians 1:22 tells us that the Jews require a sign. They will begin to see what is happening. However, other signs make it clear that the Antichrist will go into the Temple and he will order sacrificing to cease. He will claim to be God! This is when the worst judgments will come upon the world.

Mat 24:15-22 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (16) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (17) Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: (18) Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (19) And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

2Th 2:3-4 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; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The devil has hated the Jews since the beginning. He was at the root of every earthly leader who has sought to destroy them (i.e., Hitler et al). We are seeing antisemitism in our universities here in America and all around the world. Hitler affected Europe only. Now it is happening all over the world. Satan’s goal is to destroy Israel. Israel existed for about 680 years in the Old Testament. It did not come into existence again until May 14, 1948. This is an historical milestone, reader! When the Church began, Israel’s judgment was placed on hold until the Church’s work is done and is removed. Then Israel comes back into the picture, known as Daniels’ 70th week, at the signing of a treaty between the Antichrist and Israel.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

To summarize, Daniel says that the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel for one week. As we have seen in prior posts, one week is equivalent to 7 years. This covenant will usher in the Tribulation. Then in the middle of that 7 years, the antichrist will break that covenant and will stop the sacrifice and oblations in the Temple. There is no Temple in Israel yet. There are preparations currently being made but no actual Temple. Friend, it stands to reason that if the Temple is mentioned, it has to be built. Israel will be at the center of every war and judgment. God’s desire is that Israel repent and they believe on Jesus Christ, their Messiah.

The Book of Revelation is NOT all symbolic. It refers to specific events that are in plain print and easily understood. Don’t be deceived by those who say that the Church and Israel are equal. That is called replacement theology and is a lie that began as early as the fourth century! In fact, I was taught this in Catholicism.

But reader, don’t be alarmed. The Bible says:

1 Thess 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The peace and safety will appear to come when the Antichrist signs the treaty with Israel which hails in the Tribulation. Those people who are excited about this peace and safety will receive sudden destruction! But read what Paul continues to tell us “But YE, BRETHREN, are NOT in darkness! Friend, why would Paul include this if we believers are to be part of the sudden destruction? Paul continues to say:

1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

So if I were to tell you of all the horrible things to come (i.e., plagues, wars, earthquakes, pestilences, lack of food, and destruction, and how Christians will have to die for their faith, etc., and how Christians will have to die for their faith, etc.,) during the Tribulation, how can I turn around and tell you: “Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another”? Do you think our Groom, Jesus Christ, would allow His Bride (the Church), to be hurt? Jesus said that the end would be just in the days of Noah. Noah was placed in the ark of protection. He was removed from the destruction and when the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, a new earth began. The old earth was destroyed. When we are raptured, we go to Heaven to be with Christ. That will be the only time we see Heaven. Then Christ returns with us by His side and destroys the enemy. He then ushers in the Millennium and renews the earth. Both Noah and the Church are protected by God!

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The Lamb, our Saviour and King, has not appointed us to wrath. The Apostle Paul clearly tells us that God’s wrath is not meant for the Church but for the children of disobedience!

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

God will unleash His wrath during the Tribulation on those who weren’t raptured! The Church, the Bride of Christ, will be taken up before that peace treaty with Israel is signed by the Antichrist. Those who get saved during the Tribulation will have to deal with the judgments coming upon this world.

Any Day Now – Day 24

By Kate Plourde

On April 24, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

It’s good, to be up-to-date in what’s going on in the world. So we can be wise, we must compare what we read with God’s Word. I find that the news media is biased and not from the conservative viewpoint. There are only a couple of news channels that offer news from the conservative viewpoint but the rest are puppets of the world’s viewpoint. As I read, I know what to pray for and how I should be praying. The Holy Spirit has already prepared my heart as I started my day with the Lord!

The liberal media is trying to push a one-world government agenda and the first part of that involves brainwashing the citizens. I am not a conspiracy theorist so please understand that I say these things in light of God’s Word. Oh do we ever see this happening today! The vaccinated blame the unvaccinated, the political left blames the right. The unbelieving world uses the internet like a newspaper, believing everything they read as truth! I can’t recall a more evil and corrupt world than I see now. I heard a quote recently: “The problem of the heart is the heart of the problem!” This is so true. Although the churches are filled with people, they are not all necessarily born-again Christians – their heart has not been converted.

I was born again on April 1st, 1980. At that time, I could go visit strangers with the Pastor’s wife and talk to them about the Lord. However, today, not only would that be physically dangerous but would be classified as “hate speech”! It could also lead to violence. The Apostles and disciples of Jesus’ day went through this after His resurrection. They were imprisoned, they were brutally killed. I think it is good to share news stories as they relate with the Scriptures and, more specifically, the end times. They help us to see that the Rapture is imminent – it can happen at any moment (so be ready)!

We must remember that the Tribulation period is all about Israel. It is called the time of Jacob’s troubles, not the “world’s” troubles. The Church did take the place of Israel! The pause between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week ushered in the Church Age. After the Church Age (after the Rapture), God will resume His judgment on Israel and Daniel’s 70th week begins (the Tribulation). This same judgment will affect the entire globe, not just Israel. The Church is already with Christ in Heaven and ready for the Marriage Supper so the Church will not receive this judgment. God will spare the Church from going through this judgment for Israel’s spiritual rebellion and we will be kept from that time!

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

As we look at what the world’s condition is in at this time and await the Rapture, we will see both anti-Christian news and anti-Israel news and discrimination. Those of us who have been blessed to live in the United States are free to practice our faith at the moment. But as time draws nearer to the end, that wonderful privilege will be taken away. It took a pandemic to close most churches. Some remained opened and suffered the consequences of government interference. But oh how the world hated the fact that some pastors refused to close down their church. Some were arrested and placed in jail while other Christians applauded the arrest! It seems the world has gone topsy-turvy!

We are also seeing our constitutional freedoms being taken away. Our forefathers’ foundation is dwindling. The following article was posted on Christian Post on February 6th, 2022, (link below). I realize it’s an old article, but reader, the outcome is still true today! The article is entitled “55 federal agencies tracking religious objection requests amid concern from conservatives”: the paragraphs which bothered me the most are below.

For example, the Treasury Department’s Office of Civil Rights and Diversity has stated its database will document all religious exemption requests and denials.

The office “will track and maintain ‘information about a requestor’s religious beliefs’ as well as the ‘informal dispute resolution’ of each person,” the Liberty Counsel Action statement reads.

“It will also record ‘correspondence,’ ‘supporting notes and documentation’ and even ‘records of oral conversations,’ on every person who requests an exemption. This database will track and record this level of information for everyone from ‘pre-employment, during current or former employment or for [attendees at] a particular event.’”

While there are variations in the rules across the government agencies, the group warns that “all of them are causing serious concern about invasive privacy violations by the federal government recording and permanently storing religious and medical data on those seeking exemptions.”
HTTPS://WWW.CHRISTIANPOST.COM/NEWS/55-FEDERAL-AGENCIES-TRACKING-RELIGIOUS-OBJECTION-REQUESTS.HTML

If this doesn’t bother you, it should! This is pointing toward the end times and the ability of the Antichrist to track those who do not receive his mark. Today’s AI technology has advanced so rapidly! A look at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) website reveals Karl Schwab and Yuval Noah Harari’s plans to computerize man’s brain and insert it into a “trans human” robot. Efforts by the WEF are currently underway and are expected to perfect it between 2030-2050. Their efforts for 15-minute cities are also underway. What better way to track everything about an individual than to place him in a city that collects all his data? This 40-minute video is excellent. It is not made by believers so it is not geared for the Church. HOWEVER, it will give you an idea of what the WEF’s intentions are. They are not hiding their agenda:

https://rumble.com/v4q7hcq-the-end-of-humanity-as-planned-by-the-global-leaders.html

Now that you have an idea of what the WEF’s plans are, your eyes are opened to the elite’s agenda for the world. This is a perfect segue for the Antichrist to come into power. The groundwork for the verse below will already be laid.

Rev 13:16-17 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

How else can the Antichrist track people except they have some kind of mark? The Bible says that they will be forced to take his mark on their foreheads or right hand. What kind of mark is it? The Bible doesn’t say but it clearly says there will be one. Make no mistake, reader, those who accept this mark will be condemned to Hell and that is not a place you want to go to for all eternity!

As well, the one-world religion will prevent anyone from following any “spiritual” beliefs other than what they will teach. The enforcement of this will be imposed by the one-world government.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The biblical end times reveal that this tracking of information will be alive and well during the Tribulation. One must study the Word of God. Only the light of the Word of God can illuminate the heart and open the eyes of the blind. We must be wise! Ask the Lord to show you what is His will for you.

Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

The general rule of thumb for Christians should be: If the world is FOR something, you should question it because the world is evil! Do your research – read your Bible – pray asking for wisdom. God does not forsake His child.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

End time news can be exciting to the born-again Christian because they know their Blessed Hope can come for him/her any second! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story: fear sets in their hearts. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 23

By Kate Plourde

On April 22, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

The picture above gives you an idea of what the Rapture may look like! I have no idea what the world will see, if anything. The Bible does not go into what the world will see, but it does tell us that the change that will happen between the old body and the new body will be in the twinkling of an eye!

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

But I can see (in my mind’s eye) something similar to this as I’m going up to meet Christ! Oh what a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see!!

I thought that we would do a review of Scriptures and those that refer to the Rapture, directly or indirectly. As a believer of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, I read verses with that particular event in mind. They do not indicate whether it will be Pre-Tribulation or not, but they are most certainly encouraging to the believer who is longing for Christ’s return! Who knows … it could be TODAY! 🙌🙌🙌

Php 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Oh what praise we will sing when we receive our glorified body!!! 🙌 I think of my dear precious, spiritual mother who has suffered with fibromyalgia since the 1970’s! She will no longer be in pain but instead, she will be able to face eternity with that new body!! No more pain – no more suffering! What a day that will be!

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Are you encouraged yet? Just the thought of Christ’s appearing excites the spirit within me! It’s like looking forward to a wonderful vacation but MUCH better! It’s a vacation like no other! Why? Because our destination is in Heaven where perfection is beheld in everything! Here it says that when He appears, we shall appear with Him in glory!

Tit 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Can you picture this? Christ’s glorious appearing is what every believer waits for with hope in his/her heart! If we were to go through the Tribulation, it would be extremely difficult to look forward to that blessed hope of seeing Him. Since it is a time of great suffering and tribulation that has NEVER occurred on earth, hiding, witnessing, and being safe would consume of our thoughts! We would be worried about where to hide, where to get our next meal, etc. Instead, we are looking for a blessed hope! Noah Webster defines hope as:

A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.

Not only does Paul call it “hope,” but he tells us to look for the “blessed hope“!

Jas 5:7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Granted, James may have been speaking of the Second Coming, but the Rapture must happen before so we know it draweth nigh also! The Rapture is closer to us now than it was at the Apostle James’ time of writing. The believers’ patience awaiting the Rapture is so needed, especially living in the world we live in now. It encourages us to live righteous lives while we wait because we don’t know when Christ will come take to take us to Heaven. The time is close – at any moment. We need to be busy winning souls to Christ, friend! God placed you in the exact place where He wants you to be. He has put people around you who are desperately lost. Be busy with His work – share the gospel and lead others to Him so they don’t miss out on this glorious hope!

1Jn 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

On a side note, how much hope would I have knowing that I will have to live through the most tumultuous time since the Great Flood? How much hope would I have knowing that I will have to deny the mark of the beast and possibly be tortured/killed for it? Although I know that Heaven is my home and I will go there once I die, it would be frightening knowing this was my end. But instead, Paul said:

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

But I would have this hope if I was looking forward to Rapture! Amen? Unfortunately, most churches no longer preach about the Rapture at all, let alone the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. More than 28% of the Bible is about prophecy. Would you read only 72% of a novel? Of course not! When a Pastor doesn’t preach prophecy, he’s admitting that he does not have a stand on the subject or he’s afraid to lose members. They are not preaching the whole counsel of God. We Christians need to be encouraged to share Christ with as many people as possible and to share with them the same message of hope. The Rapture is what led me to Christ and I cannot be the only one. This is why I’m doing this series! There are people out there that get anxious, afraid or just downright angry when it comes to reading about the end times. I know someone who gets angry because of what the powers that be are doing to gain control of the world. He does not find peace knowing that God told us what would be happening in the end times. Instead, he gets angry. He prefers not to hear about the end times at all. I wonder how many are like him? I find great peace knowing what is to come because I know that the Lord intends for us to be comforted. Comforted, you may ask? Yes! Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:11 to “comfort yourselves”! When we are looking forward to the Rapture, we are encouraged to live righteously, and to share with others so they too can be taken up at the Rapture.

Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

Does the Rapture excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 22

By Kate Plourde

On April 19, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Today’s picture reminds me of Christ’s coming in the clouds to Rapture His Church! It is such an exciting thought, amen? I meditate on this event every day and long to see Jesus and forever be with Him! Today’s post is a bit long but I promise a blessing (at least it was for me) when you read the part about the Jewish wedding

To truly understand the Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint, one must understand that Christ’s next return occurs in two separate occasions, not just one. One appearance is in the clouds (to take care of His Church) and the second is His return to earth in Israel to take care of His people. The Church and Israel are two separate “people”! This is where other viewpoints get confused. Replacement theology is a belief that the Church replaced Israel when Israel rejected Christ’s first coming. They are not studying the Scriptures like good Bereans to make sure that what they are being taught is in line with the Scriptures. The Bereans studied these things out for themselves: and so much more should we, Christian!

Act 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Bereans: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Apostle Paul teaches us about the “mystery” of the Rapture more than any other. The word mystery is 22 times in the King James Version, and all are in the New Testament. It is first spoken in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being opened to the Gentiles (see Romans 11:24-25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 1:9, 3:3-4, 3:9, 5:32, 6:19, Col. 1:26-27, Col. 2:2, 1 Tim. 3:9, 3:16).

We can be just as studious because we have those very Scriptures to study so we can learn about this mystery! What a blessing this is, especially in times like these. The world as we once knew it twenty years ago is now gone. In its place is a more evil world than we have ever seen. We are called to witness to others about the salvation of Christ. While we accomplish His task, we are to encourage one another about this wonderful and blessed topic of the Rapture. The mystery of the Rapture is an encouraging topic for the believers in the Church because it gives us hope – it encourages us – it teaches us that we are going to be cared for just as God took care of Noah and Lot!

1 Co 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

What is the Apostle Paul saying here? He’s saying that the dead in Christ will get their new bodies as they are taken up into the air (their spirits went to be with Christ upon the death of their earthly body). Those which are living when the Rapture occurs will receive their immortal body as well. Why is this so important? The body, flesh and blood, dies (corrupts) and cannot go into eternity because the body cannot live forever. However, the new body that we all receive while we go up to meet Jesus will not die or decay but will live forever! Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us. Just as we discussed on my last post where Lot was removed from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction, and Noah and his family were saved, so will Jesus come for us and physically remove us from this earth before God’s wrath is released on the entire world.

Joh 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The “hour of temptation” in Revelation 3:10 means “ hour of trial.” So believers will be kept from that trial which will come upon all the world! Scripture makes it clear there are two separate returns. The first coming of Christ (the Rapture) is clearly not Christ coming to the earth; instead we will meet Him in the air. It is a time that no man knows the day or hour; it will come as a thief in the night. Anyone who has been robbed can tell you that they were not prepared for it. It happened quickly and at a time that was unknown to them.

1Th 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ 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.

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Proponents of the post-Trib Rapture state that this “thief in the night” is at the end of the Tribulation. But how can that be when there is a definite about of days that the seven-year Tribulation contains?

This “day of the Lord” occurs in the air – in the clouds, not here on the earth. This is when He comes to get His Bride (the Church comprised of born-again believers) to take her to His Father’s house. When does it happen? It happens like a thief in the night. The Second Coming of the Lord, however, is when He comes here to the earth, in Israel, and His bride will be with Him. (see Revelation 19:14) Therefore, we have to already be in Heaven before this happens. Only the Bride (the Church) is clothed in fine linen, white and clean because we are made clean by the Blood of the Lamb! When Christ comes to earth to wrap up the Tribulation period, He returns with us! On top of that, it is seen by all! It is not a mystery or a secret as the Rapture is.

Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ( 8 ) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 19:11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Only Christ’s blood can make us clean from sin, amen? (1 John 1:7) The angels cannot be the ones comprising Christ’s army because they are not washed clean by the blood of Jesus. The Word doesn’t say that they will be with Christ and His Bride, but angels certainly are not made clean by the Blood of the Lamb. Revelation 19:8 says that it is the righteousness of the saints – the Church is made righteous by Jesus Christ, and Him only. Do you see why you have to read your Bible so you can be encouraged by the Scriptures??? Therefore, the army here is the Bride of Christ. Those who claim this do not compare scripture with scripture and make sure there are no contradictions in their viewpoint.

Friend and reader, how can we be raptured at the end of the Tribulation, prepare ourselves, attend the marriage supper of the Lamb, then return to earth to fight with Christ? This makes no sense when viewing the Rapture occurring at the end of the Tribulation. Let’s look at the Jewish wedding in biblical times. The sequence of the wedding will give you an idea of the comparison with the Rapture and when it occurs.

There are seven phases from the betrothal to the actual marriage consummation!!! Doesn’t this bless you? As you know, the number seven symbolizes perfection. What a blessing! The phases are:

The father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid a price for the bride. The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to pay for the bride with His blood. (1Co 6:20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1Co 7:23) Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
The bridegroom goes back home to prepare a place for his bride. (Joh 14:2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (Joh 14:3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The father of the groom determined the timing of when the bridegroom would return to get his bride. The bridegroom did not know the exact time. (Mat 24:36) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Mar 13:32) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
The bride is consecrated and set apart. 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Once the father of the groom gave the go ahead, the bridegroom would go to where the bride was. The groom returns with a shout. (1 Th 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. He then takes his bride to his home. (1 Th 4:15-17) 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, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ 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.
The bride and groom go to the wedding chamber. The bride and groom stay in their chamber for seven days. Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” Praise the Lord! Scripture tells us that a prophetic day can equal a year. (see Num. 14:34) The seven days the Jewish bride and groom spend in the wedding chamber appear to equate to seven years of Tribulation. Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. The antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation.
After seven days/years, the marriage feast occurs. Jesus returns to earth on a white horse with His Bride to have victory over the earth. Rev 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Lastly, after the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus reigns in Jerusalem for 1,000 years, known as the Feast of Tabernacles, where He “tabernacles” with man during the Millennial Kingdom!

Now that you have read about the Jewish wedding, do you not see that the Rapture cannot occur at the end, or even in the middle? The Groom and the Bride go into their wedding chamber for seven days/years (during the seven year Tribulation)!

You can now see that the Rapture and the Tribulation are two separate events; make no mistake about it. No hope or consolation can be given to people who are about to go through the worse time in history!

(Tit 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Any Day Now – Day 21

By Kate Plourde

On April 17, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Luk 17:26-29 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Have you received your ticket to climb upon the Rapture train yet? The next event for Christians is the Rapture and we should look forward to it as a bride looks forward to her wedding day where she will be joined with her husband forever!

Let’s get on with this glorious reunion about to take place at any moment! Please take a moment to re-read the above Scriptures. While you are reading this passage, ask yourself the “who, what, where and when.” One must wonder why Jesus spoke of the end times (the when) and pointing to Noah and Lot (the who). As we see in today’s Scriptures, the entire earth (the where) was judged and destroyed during Noah’s time and two entire cities were judged and destroyed in Lot’s time. Friend, the entire earth will be affected in the end times by these judgments (the what). But to the born-again Christian, it is a different story! 🙌🙌🙌

The different views amongst believers today revolve around the timing of the end-time events and when Rapture will occur: before, mid or after the Tribulation. Those who support the mid and post viewpoints miss a very important point. We see this point quite clearly in the two events that Jesus described.

The two things that Noah and Lot had in common were the removal of the righteous and then the unbelievers’ judgment follows. In both cases, God removed the righteous before the destruction. So you must ask yourself, why did Jesus use these two events in history to prophecy an upcoming judgment? Jesus said, “Just as it was in the days of Noah.” He didn’t allude to the fact that the destruction of the earth would occur in a similar way. But He did make it clear that it would be “Just as it was in the days of Noah”!

On a side note: did you know that the ark is also a representation of the Lord Jesus? So what does it have to do with the end times? Let’s first review the significance of the ark. Just as the ark was built of wood, the cross that Christ hung on was made of wood. The pitch inside the ark sealed the wood to protect the eight (Noah and his family) inside from the flood waters of God’s wrath on the world. Jesus’ blood is the equivalent to the pitch that seals those who come to salvation and also protects us from God’s wrath to come on the whole world. Noah could not save himself and his family. Only a provision from God (the ark) could save them. God gave Noah instructions on how to build that ark and Noah followed those instructions to a “T”! Jesus gave us His Word as our instruction Book. It is clear in the Word that we cannot save ourselves. Only the blood of Jesus can save us. There was only one door to the ark: only one way into the ark. Jesus is the door to Heaven and there is just ONE way to Heaven, and that is through Jesus.

(Joh 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

(Joh 10:7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

(Joh 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Although Noah built the ark, God was the one who shut the door! Until the day came when Noah entered the ark, he did not know when God was going to send the rains that He promised would come. After that door was closed by God’s hand, no one else could enter, and Noah and his family were safe in God’s provided protection. They would not experience the judgment of death when the flood waters came.

Gen 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

After Jesus raptures the Church, the Church is safe in Christ’s protection and won’t experience death from the worse judgment ever to come on all the earth. Just as God shut the door of the Ark to keep Noah and his family safe, so will the door to Heaven be shut after the Rapture.

Rev 3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

So now let’s look at Jesus’ account of Lot. Basically, the same thing applies to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Although it is not the destruction of the entire earth as in Noah’s day, God was not going to destroy these two cities until Lot and his family were removed from the city and then the entire destruction of both cities occurred. The angels literally had to grab Lot, his wife and daughters, by their hands to pull them out! (Genesis 19:16) They were not left behind when the cities were destroyed. There are two points to both accounts: (1) their dwelling place was destroyed, and (2) the righteous were saved from the destruction. Lot had no idea that the two cities would be destroyed. He found out when the angels came to him. Jesus said that no man knows the day or hour of His return for us.

If the Rapture happens in the middle of or at the end of the Tribulation, Christians would know because God gives us an exact number of years in the Scriptures that the Tribulation will last and that is seven years. Then the Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jews mid way (1260 days = three and a half years). But with a Pre-tribulation viewpoint of the Rapture, we don’t know the day or the hour because it could happen at any time.

Mat 24:36-42 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (40) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The Rapture and the Tribulation are two separate events. No hope or encouragement can be given to people who are about to go through the worse time in history! But the Scriptures say that born-again Christians have hope and that we should encourage each other until Christ comes for us. Knowing that I won’t have to go through the Tribulation excites me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 20

By Kate Plourde

On April 15, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Mat 25:2-13 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ( 8 ) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Good morning, Reader! How many of you love weddings? I surely do! I especially enjoy reading the history of weddings; and I especially love Jewish weddings from the Scriptures and Jewish historical documents. To get a full blessing, you should study the Jewish wedding as compared to Jesus and His church. If you’re born again, you will be rejoicing as much as I am!

Jesus gave us the parable of the wedding story in the above Scriptures in order to for us to make sure that we are ready for His unknown arriving. Re-read the Scriptures and picture this event in your mind.

I truly believe this is a story about the Rapture of the Church! The act of anointing with oil in the Scriptures usually refers to the Holy Spirit. They would anoint someone to send them out to the mission field. The Christian is anointed with the Holy Spirit upon salvation and He dwells within us never more to leave us, amen?

1 Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

In this parable of the ten virgins, we see that half are ready while the other half is not. The significant detail of why they are not ready is because half of them have oil (the Holy Spirit) for their lamps and the other half do not. The Scriptures refer to them as five foolish virgins and five wise ones. The five that were foolish took their lamps to meet the bridegroom but they didn’t have any oil so they had to leave the five wise virgins to go get oil. These are symbolic of people who call themselves “Christians” but they are Christians in name only: they are the unsaved. They have not been born again and do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them (symbolized by the oil). How do I know that they are not born again? Verse 12 in this parable gives us the answer:

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jesus, Himself, says that He does not know these five foolish virgins! Jesus knows those who follow Him and have the Holy Spirit, which are born-again believers!

Now let’s discuss the five wise virgins (the Church) who have their lamps (they are the light of the world) and their oil (the Holy Spirit). At the moment the Bridegroom comes for His Church, the foolish five virgins who didn’t have oil in their lamps (the Holy Spirit dwelling within them as a result of salvation) were not ready for His coming and when they returned from getting oil, the door was shut to them and Jesus said He knew them not. Wow!

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Can you imagine what it will be like after the Rapture when people go to church and the people who are normally in attendance are no longer there? Can you imagine when a person comes to the realization that he was not truly born again and totally missed the Rapture? That person will have to go through the awful judgments of the Tribulation! That person will have to make a choice of whether or not he will take the mark of the Beast! If that person gets saved, he will have to go through the Tribulation even though he is saved! He will suffer the judgments and may even have to be martyred for Christ or go underground struggling to survive. Why would one delay accepting Christ?

I was raised catholic so I never heard of the Rapture before I was saved; but you can be sure that I was very excited to get saved so I would be included in that blessed event! It is very scary to think that many would rather choose to live in sin like the rest of the world rather than getting to know the Lord personally and accept His free salvation!

To the one who is not saved, this could be your story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 19

By Kate Plourde

On April 12, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

(2 Th 2:7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Today’s Bible verse is a good example of how the Holy Spirit will work during the Tribulation. He will not only restrain, but He will do so much more. Because of all that His role entails, it helps us to understand the significance of His role during the Tribulation.

I once did a study on the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and it was such a blessing to me. I’ve listed them below because I believe that it opens our eyes at how significant His role is. For you to interpret 2 Thessalonians 2:7 properly, you need to know what the Holy Spirit does for the Church. Please take a moment to read the bullets and please look up each Bible verse reference:

He is a Helper who teaches (John 14:26)
He convicts us of sin (John 16:7-8)
He dwells within believers (1 Cor. 3:16)
He is the source of wisdom, revelation and power (1 Cor. 2:10-11, Acts 1:8, Eph 1:17-18)
He guides us into all truth and knowledge of what’s to come (John 16:13-15)
He gives spiritual gifts to believers (1 Cor. 12:7-11)
He seals believers unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13 and 4:30)
He helps us in weakness and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27)
He makes believers new and gives us eternal life (Rom. 8:10-11)
He sanctifies believers and enables them to bear good fruit (Gal. 5:16-25)

We can easily see the Holy Spirit at work today in the Church, both in history and currently. He restrains (he who now letteth) the devil from totally taking over the world with his evil influence. But once He is taken out of the way, the devil is no longer held back. During the Tribulation, the devil will have free reign and his evil deeds will be everywhere. Do you understand this? The Tribulation cannot begin until the Holy Spirit who restrains the power of the evil one “be taken out of the way.” This happens at the Rapture. This doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit not be present at all. After all, He is God and is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit has taken residence in each born-again believer and once His restraining power (through every believer) is taken out of the way, those born again believers will be taken out of the way as well. Why do I know this? I know this because Jesus said that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will abide with us FOR EVER.

(Joh 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

That is why we don’t see the Holy Spirit working in the same manner in the New Testament as we do in the Book of Revelation. His role will be just as it was in the Old Testament. During that time, He anointed prophets and worked through them, along with priests, judges and kings. He will do the same with the two witnesses (who will perform great miracles), the 144,000 men from the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 14:4), who will spread the news of salvation to a wicked world.

Any Day Now – Day 18

By Kate Plourde

On April 10, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Jer 30:7a Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;

What a blessed day it is!! Are you excited? Are you afraid? There is no greater way to start your day than to be in the Word and listen to God as He speaks to you. This series may be an eye opener for some, and a refresher course for others. In my previous post, we touched a bit on the “time of Jacob’s Trouble.” In a few Scripture references, the Bible refers to the Israel’s great tribulation as this time of Jacob’s trouble. This phrase refers to the descendants of Jacob so it stands to reason that it is meant for only the Jews, not the Church. Just as the Church isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, the Church won’t play a role in the “time of Jacob’s Trouble.” Today’s verse states that this trouble will come just before the Lord Jesus, their Messiah, returns to save them at His Second Coming.

That final week of Daniel’s 70th week hasn’t taken place yet. An angel told Daniel that, “70 weeks are determined upon thy people” (Dan 9:24).

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The Bible doesn’t say that the Tribulation is meant as a time of testing and judgment for believers. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and, therefore, our sins have been judged already. They have been washed away once we receive salvation through Christ and eternal life with Him. The Bible does say that God’s wrath will be upon the “children of disobedience.”

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

The phrase, “children of disobedience,” appears three times in the KJV Bible. The first appearance explains exactly who these children are:

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Satan is this prince – it is his ‘spirit’ that lives within the children of disobedience. God gave us plenty of warnings in the Scriptures. He gave us a pattern for living. He gave us His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. However, the devil wants nothing to do with Jesus Christ and he is adamant about taking as many souls with him to Hell! Is it any wonder that the devil has managed to cause Christians who used to believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church to change their views? The devil does not want believers to concentrate on Christ but to concentrate on the horrible events of the Tribulation! Satan wants believers to take their eyes off the Lord and prepare themselves for his (Satan’s) reign! Satan will go from being the prince of the power of the air to the reigning antichrist!

Some proponents of the post-Tribulation viewpoint claim that Christians will be tested during the Tribulation. To make this fit into that viewpoint, they have to “spiritualize” the 144,000 Jewish believers in Revelation 7:2-8 who receive God’s protective seal. If the Church was to go through the Tribulation, don’t you think the Apostle John would have used the word “church” here as he did in chapters one through three? The Post-Tribulation proponents are forgetting the different dispensations. Before the Ecclesiastical Dispensation (the Age of Grace or the Church Age), there was the Legal Dispensation, the Age of Law. After the Church Age, God is dealing with Israel once again and only Israel. That is why references to the Age of Law (i.e., the temple), are made in Revelation. The post-Tribulation view tries to combine these two dispensations of the Law and Grace into the Tribulation. Only one age can happen at a time so this does not jive at all! Revelation is filled with judgment and the Scriptures tells us that God’s wrath is not upon the church.

1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

This is why Paul said that we have the blessed hope, Christian! (Titus 2:13) This is such a positive and powerful verse. 😃 Does it even resemble Paul trying to tell us that we would go through the judgments of the Tribulation? Not to me, it doesn’t! The judgments of Revelation are severe and horrifying! Paul wanted to make sure that his followers were well taught about what was to come so they wouldn’t fall for every wind of doctrine.

(Tit 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The three verses above about the children of disobedience aren’t the only verses that speak of the wrath. God is very clear on who will receive that wrath during the Tribulation:

(Joh 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

(Rom 1:18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

(Rev 14:10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

(Rev 14:19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

(Rev 15:1) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

(Rev 15:7) And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

(Rev 16:1) And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Logically speaking, if the Church is to go through the Tribulation, they would also receive God’s wrath. Why would the Lord do this to His Church if we are not appointed unto wrath? Why would the Groom, the Lord Jesus, allow His wife, the Church, to be tortured and killed? Would any husband allow this in his home? Of course not!

1 Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

To the one who is not saved, this is a scary time. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!