1 Cor. 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.
Good morning! The sun has yet to rise but Christ’s light shines brightly in my heart as I work on this Rapture study! It excites me and stirs my spirit! I hope it is a blessing to all who read it. God does not leave His children to despair during these times of what is happening in our Country today. The times are changing so rapidly and there’s fear in the hearts of mankind: fear of the unknown! What is this virus and where is it going to lead us? Are we going to remain hostages in our own homes? Are people going to be restricted from purchasing even the basic necessities of life if they are not vaccinated? Will citizens lose their freedoms in order to corral the virus? Americans, and the world for that matter, have no idea what is to come. But the born-again Christian isn’t looking to this world for his hope. We look to Christ! Why? Let’s look and see.
The Rapture is an event that will definitely happen. The timing of the Rapture is uncertain but the event itself is most surely going to happen. The Scriptures below tell us that it is as definite as Christ’s resurrection. Without Christ’s resurrection, one would have no hope!
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
It is the Word of the Lord! Jesus taught them about the Rapture and saw fit to include this topic in the Bible. Friend, Christ does not leave us hopeless! He left us with His Word to encourage us during these end times! If we are blessed enough to be alive at the time of the Rapture, we will not see death! How exciting is that!
1 Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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!
Good morning, reader! I pray that you are receiving some encouragement with this series on the Rapture! This topic is what led me to the Lord in the first place. A miracle occurred when God sent my best friend to visit me on her vacation. She had no idea that I was interested in the future of this world. I read after famous ancient authors looking for answers. She brought along a recording of a Bible scholar who was renown for end time prophecy. Everything he said was backed up by Scripture. He spoke of the Rapture: I had never heard of such a thing in my religion. It was then that I found the One True God and the salvation He provides! So I pray that you, too, are searching and that this study will lead you to Christ, our Saviour! Now on with our study.
Two things will happen at the Rapture: the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the born-again Christians who are alive will be transformed and caught up in the air to be joined with Jesus Christ. The transformation of those Christians who are alive at the time of the Rapture is described in 1 Corinthians 15 (below) as the corruptible and mortal body being instantly changed to an incorruptible and immortal one (verses 52-53).
1Th 4:14-17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lordshall 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. 1Co 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.
Isn’t this wonderful? Just as Noah and his family entered the ark and were protected against the flood that affected the entire earth, so shall born-again Christians be protected from the coming Tribulation. If you notice, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that we meet Jesus in the air and that we will forever be with Him! How exciting this is to the believer! What an encouragement it is to know that nothing will separate us from Him for all eternity! This is our hope, dear reader! The unbeliever has no hope! I recall that prior to my salvation, I too had no hope! I “hoped” that I would go to heaven but I was never certain.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
As we continue this study, you will come to see how it all fits together for those who are saved. We await a wonderful event! This event will usher in the most terrible time this earth has ever experienced.
If you’ve read through this post today and you have doubts whether or not you are saved, born again, please leave a comment simply asking me to reach out to you. The Rapture is the next event on the calendar for born-again believers. Don’t be caught unawares and be left behind to suffer through the Tribulation. You may think you have time but the Rapture can happen at any moment. 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!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, 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.
Good morning, reader! Christmas has passed and we are about to welcome in 2022. Could this be the year that the Rapture will occur? If you’re new to this blog and have never heard of this Rapture I write of, we’ll be taking a closer look at its meaning and what it represents to the born-again Christian. It is a message of hope and excitement to all believers who are awaiting the Lord’s return in the clouds for His bride. Read through today’s Bible verses and we’ll take a few days to explain and prove this event can occur at any moment. Today, however, we will just cover what the word means and where it is found in the Scriptures.
Although the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible, it’s a term that describes the snatching away of born-again believers. The term “caught up” in verse 17 is elsewhere translated “pluck” (John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) We see another reference to it when Philip was snatched away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.) If you followed my series on the attitude of mankind during the end times, you saw that we are in a time where the antichrist will come into power. It is a time that no born-again believer will go through and a time that you do not want to experience if you are not born again. Prior to the revealing of the antichrist, this Rapture will occur: it can happen at any moment: it is imminent and you do not want to be caught unaware.
The New Testament was written in Greek and, therefore, we will see what the Greek language has to say about the word “rapture.” Strong’s Concordance states this:
It will help you if you look up each of these verses in your Bible to see the different uses. The Rapture represents being caught up, taken by force, taken away, plucked, and pulled away. The word “rapture” isn’t found in the Bible. But, friend, neither is the word “bible” found in the Bible. 😁 But the concept and description of the rapture is found in the Bible and, therefore, it’s worthy of study, amen?
If you are a born-again Christian, you may have heard of the various beliefs of when the rapture will occur. To understand why it is important, you need to know when the different beliefs occur. There are three popular schools of thought of when the rapture will occur: the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation. Pre-tribulation is defined as occurring before the tribulation. Mid-tribulation is defined as occurring in the middle of the tribulation. And finally, the post-tribulation is defined as occurring after the tribulation.
The latter two beliefs claim that the pre-tribulation rapture was only recently “invented” but historical proof shows that this was the belief of the Christians as early as third century AD. Writings by Pseudo-Ephraim were found on this topic:
All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.
-Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)
Please read his quote and let it sink in. So we see that the pre-tribulation rapture was not invented in the past 150 years but in the third century! As we continue our series, we will dig in deeper and we will see that this was what was intended through the Scriptures!
If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! 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!
Good morning! This is the last day of the end times devotional. I have been praying that the Lord would use it for His glory and draw a soul to Him. Have you been saved by the Scriptures used in this devotional? Please let me know by leaving a comment and I will be happy to point you to a discipleship study that will help you to grow!
For our last day, I would like to share what the next events on the prophetic calendar are. The Christian is awaiting the Rapture of the Church. This is an event where God calls all born again believers to Heaven. Jesus Christ meets them in the clouds and takes them where He has prepared a place for them.
(1Th 4:13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (Paul is referring to those who have died before the Rapture.) (1Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1Th 4:15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1Th 4:16) 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: (1Th 4:17) 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. (1Th 4:18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
You may have heard people say that word “rapture” isn’t in the Bible. Well, the word “bible” isn’t in the Bible either but that doesn’t mean it’s not called by another name. In the Greek, the word used for “caught up” is:
ἁρπάζω harpazō har-pad’-zo From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): – catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
The Apostle Paul tells the believers to comfort themselves with this information! The Tribulation won’t happen until after the Rapture of the Church.
He goes on to tell believers what will come after the Rapture. If you are not born again, I pray that these last Scriptures that I share with you will shake you to the core and that you will get saved:
(2Th 2:1-12) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,: This is the Rapture.
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. People were misled by wrong doctrine, even in Paul’s day! He was writing the church at Thessalonicato hold fast to what he had written to them in the past and not be deceived by false doctrine.
(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; This great falling away is what we are experiencing today. We are not sure how long this will last but it will end with the man of sin (the antichrist) revealing himself.The antichrist will be none other than Satan.
(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 antichristwill exalt himself above God and will sit in the temple in Jerusalem deceiving people into thinking he is God.
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he had already taught them these things. Some believed the Rapture had already occurred but he’s showing them that the antichrist was not yet revealed.
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. What stops this prophetic clock from starting is the restraint of the Holy Spirit on this earth. At this time, He dwells within every born again believer.
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Once the Rapture occurs, those born again believers are removed from the earth and so is the Holy Spirit. His work will be accomplished just as it was in the Old Testament where He empowers certain people for special missions.
(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Satan will have great power during the Tribulation and will deceive many by signs and wonders; but notice Scripture says “lying wonders.”
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Satan will deceive mankind because they didn’t believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ while they had a chance.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: Because mankind didn’t accept salvation and the truth, God will send strong delusion (errors and mistakes proceeding from false views) and they will believe Satan’s lies.
(12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Self explanatory.
Dear reader, please, I beg you. You do not want to be alive when this happens. It is a time like no other – worse than the Holocaust – worse than Nero’s reign. Please don’t let religion stand in the way of you making a decision. This is not about religion – it is a personal relationship with your Creator. It is a personal relationship with the One who died for you to be the price for your sins. 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!
Good morning, dear Reader. If you have resisted the temptation to walk away from this devotional, I commend you for sticking with it and encourage you to finish! There is nothing more on this earth that I want than to lead you to salvation through Jesus Christ and Him alone.
(Act 4:10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
(Act 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Just as there truly is a heaven, there is also its opposite which is a place of everlasting punishment called hell. No one wants to hear about hell. In fact, the world has made it a joke to the point that it’s no big deal. Just ask those in your circle of friends and family.
It’s not a popular subject, but you must confront the issue. Here’s an account in Scriptures that explains it perfectly and it was spoken by Jesus:
(Luk 16:22-24) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The average human being can’t completely understand that such an awful place exists. But what does the Bible say about Hell?
Everlasting fire: (Mat 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Eternal fire: (Jud 1:7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Furnace of fire: (Mat 13:42) And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Lake of fire and brimstone: (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 20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Outer darkness: (Mat 8:12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Blackness and darkness: (Jud 1:13) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Chains of darkness: (2Pe 2:4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Bottomless pit: (Rev 20:3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Weeping and gnashing of teeth: (Mat 8:12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Everlasting destruction: (2Th 1:9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Endless torment: (Rev 14:11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
As I’ve told you before, Hell was not created for man but for the devil and his angels.
(Mat 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
But for those who reject salvation through Jesus Christ to be born again:
(2Th 1:8-9) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Hell is so hot that it is unbearable – the pain and suffering never ends and goes on for all eternity. Just imagine if you put your hand on a hot iron and left it there. Our reaction is to pull away quickly, but this won’t be possible in Hell. Your screams and pain would never end. And this would not only be just your hand, but your entire body! There would be no escape. And it would last forever.
Are you sure you want to leave to chance where you spend eternity? Do you think being a member of a certain church will keep you out of Hell? No! Scripture is loud and clear about what happens to one who is not born again. There are not many ways to Heaven – there is only one way and that way is through Jesus Christ.
(Joh 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(Joh 3:7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Hell is not some made up place. If you believe the Bible to be truth, then you must believe that Hell is real and people actually die and go there. So what must one do to prevent this?
(Act 16:31a) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
(Luk 13:3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. 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!
Eph 5:14-18 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Good morning! Once again, I have chosen a picture with a beautiful sunrise! It’s as though the Lord Jesus Christ is shining down His light to attract unbelievers to Him! Can you see it? Look up and I will give you light to save your souls if you are not born again! 😃 For you who is born again, He sheds the light of His Word to encourage you during these end times!
Today’s Scriptures encourage both believers and unbelievers alike to wake up and recognize the times we are in. Christ shall give you light because He is the light of the world.
(Joh 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The Scriptures also say “redeeming the time” because the days are evil. The word “redeeming” means:
REDEE’MING, ppr. Ransoming; procuring deliverance from captivity, capture, bondage, sin, distress or liability to suffer, by the payment of an equivalent.
In these end times, we have seen how evil the world has become – more so now than EVER before. We can all agree that we would never have thought that there would be riots, the burning of buildings, the stealing from store owners, as we do today! We’ve never seen a pandemic that has shut down the ENTIRE world. These are the times where the unsaved, those who are not born again, must realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that light is Jesus Christ. He redeemed you from your sin debt so you would not be liable for the penalty of an eternity in Hell. Jesus also said that those who follow Him will NOT walk in darkness but shall have the light of life!
Friend, what is holding you back? You’ve heard the Gospel throughout this series. It cannot be made any plainer. If you don’t decide today, there may never be another opportunity to hear/read it again.
(Isa 66:4) I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Joh 12:48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (Heb 12:25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Each time you hear or read about salvation and choose not to be born again, you are sealing your soul to an eternity of burning and darkness, separated from God. There is a Hell, friend. Do you believe that? If you do, then why is it such a hard decision to be born again? If you don’t believe in Hell, stay tuned tomorrow where the post will be all about this horrible place that was created for the devil and his fallen angels. It was never meant for mankind. But because man choses not to be born again, Hell will be his destination.
If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. 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!
(Rev 1:3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Good morning, Reader! Today’s picture shows the beauty of nature! I love the symbolism of Winter. The beauty of Spring, Summer and Fall have died and are replaced with freezing cold temperatures and beautiful white snow. But as we look at the picture more closely, we see that despite the coldness the sun still rises! God displays His creation’s beauty with every single day. He gives us these little blessings to remind us who He is and what He is capable of doing. 🥰
We all love to receive blessings from friends and family, don’t we? Then you will love to receive this blessing from Almighty God Himself! Today’s Bible verse is right at the beginning of the Book of Revelation and it’s location is quite poignant. The Apostle John wrote penned this book and it’s quite apropos for a time like this. Revelation is all about what will take place in the end times.
Many people avoid reading the Bible because they don’t understand it. If you’re not born again, you don’t possess the Holy Spirit who would interpret these things for you. The Holy Spirit is vital for the believer. The Spirit provides us with the ability to interpret the Bible by ourselves. Sinners are in spiritual darkness until the Holy Spirit brings the light of Christ into their minds and hearts. We depend on the Third Person of the Trinity to illuminate us as we read. He awakens us to the truth from the Bible. He reveals to us its commands, its challenges and God’s promises, such as we’re seeing in today’s verse. It is His job not only to interpret the Scriptures for us but to guide us in our lives.
(Joh 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Therefore, Revelation 1:3 says that when we read about Bible prophecy, when we hear the words of that prophecy and when we keep those words, we will be blessed! Why? Because we will not be afraid of what the end times will bring. We have the warnings; we know what to expect. But to those who are not born again, the signs of the times and Bible prophecy are scary and they would rather not think about it.
Are you one of those that sits on the fence? Do you want to believe but you don’t want your friends and family to think you’ve gone off the deep end? Dear reader, who do you want to please? Will your friends keep you out of Hell? Do you really want to stand before God when you die and have your whole life reviewed? Each and every sin you’ve committed, in thought or deed, will be covered:
(Mar 4:22) For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
(Mat 10:26) Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
(Mat 12:36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
God will not be mocked, friend. He will reward born again believers with eternal life in Heaven. But He will also give the one who turned down salvation to be born again eternal punishment in Hell. God doesn’t want to do this but it is not His choice; it’s yours! God gives everyone a choice – He did not create robots. He created man with a free will and choice.
(Gal 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(Mat 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Mat 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Rev 20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Your name can only be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life if you are born again. You must set aside your fear of what friends and family will say. They will not be standing beside you on Judgment Day defending you. They will have their own time of judgment to deal with. Please, I beg of you to receive the free gift of eternal life through Christ!
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!
(2 Ti 3:9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Good morning, blogging friend! 😊 Are you excited about the times in which we live? Does the news make you look forward to the future and that of your children? I know I speak for many born again Christians who long for the day that the Rapture will happen and we are taken to Heaven before the events (like no other time in history) of the Tribulation will occur. This is where one should be extremely concerned about the state of their soul.
We are encouraged in the Scriptures to listen to wisdom and apply that wisdom to our hearts.
Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding.
It is only the wisdom of Scriptures that we should listen to. Man makes mistakes but God does not. Friend, today’s verse is an extremely important one! Why? It’s important because all the warnings of 2 Timothy 3:1-8 come to a conclusion in this verse! So exactly what does folly mean? Noah Webster defines it as:
Weakness of intellect; imbecility of mind. want of understanding.
Wow! If you can’t see your sin or need for a Saviour, then you are the one that this verse is speaking to. The Scriptures have been shared with you and every opportunity has been given to you to accept Christ as your Saviour. If you haven’t abandoned this study and are still reading it, then you leave the destination of your soul to the devil himself. How can I say that? Let’s re-read today’s verse:
(2Ti 3:9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
I found this meme that summed it up pretty accurately:
Upon your death, your soul immediately stands before Christ and you will have to give an account of your sins. It will be as if they will be projected onto a screen and your whole life will be reviewed before everyone. God will show you each time the Gospel was presented to you and you rejected it. You will not be able to make excuses as the Gospel was clearly laid out for you. You cannot say that you never heard it because I have clearly explained it on this blog.
The Bible says:
(Mar 8:36-37) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (37) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
If you are saved and reading this, please share this blog with those you are praying for salvation.
If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. 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!
(2 Ti 3:8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Good morning, Reader! Winter is here and the beautiful warm days of Fall have disappeared and ushered in the bitter, windy cold. The sunshine is deceiving when looking out from a nice warm house. 😎 Once I stepped outside, Winter reminded me exactly what season we’re in LOL!
But isn’t this example indicative of mankind? They appear to have a good life on the outside, but their heart on the inside is a an evil and reprobate heart. This heart is one of those sins evident in the end times and we can truly see it today, can’t we?
If you’re not famlilar with the word reprobate, its meaning as it refers to the faith from today’s verse is:
REPROBATE, a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]
Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2 Tim 3. REP’ROBATE, n. A person abandoned to sin; one lost to virtue and religion. I acknowledge myself a reprobate, a villain, a traitor to the king.
The Scriptures are our source of truth, as we have learned thus far, amen?
Jer 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
(Jer 6:19) Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Jeremiah tried to explain the attitude of the heart of man during these end times. As you read verse 15 above, these people will not be ashamed at their sinful abominations, nor will they “blush” with shame and embarrassment when these sins are spoken. What are the abominations spoken of in Scripture?
Homsexuality – Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Pride, lies, shedding of innocent blood, a heart that schemes wickedness, feet that run to cause harm, damage; a false witness, one who causes problems amongst church members. (Pro 6:16-19) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Sacrifices of the wicked – Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Person who turns away the Gospel – Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Thoughts of the wicked – Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Everyday, ordinary people are guilty of most of these abominations! Jeremiah continued to say what happens to the reprobate:
Jer 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Are you going to be one of those people who fall under the five categories above? Are you:
➡ a homosexual ➡ prideful ➡ liar ➡ have had or promote abortion ➡ do you continue to do something evil ➡ do you cause harm to others or damage to their property ➡ are you a false witness ➡ do you cause problems in your church ➡ are you religious and perform sacrifices thinking that will earn your way to Heaven ➡ have you turned away the Gospel ➡ are your thoughts wicked
My friend, this is just a reminder to us how evil these end times are. The heart of man is wicked, even though you don’t think yourself as wicked, at least not compared to the next guy. But compare yourself to God – He is holy and He is the measuring stick for our morality.
(Jer 17:9) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
If you are born again, spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late to do so. Rapture can happen at any moment and that opportunity ceases.
If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. 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!
(2 Ti 3:8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Good morning, Reader! As you can probably tell, I love lighthouses, sunrises, sunsets and nature. All of my pictures are images that friends have shared with me and given me permission to use. Todays ‘picture blesses me because I look at lighthouses in two different ways. First, I see the lighthouse as Christ’s light shining to show us the way to salvation. Secondly, I see the lighthouse as Christians lighting the way for unbelievers to find salvation. I pray that this blog would be a lighthouse to all who come here: whether it is to grow in Christ so you can be a lighthouse to others or to find Christ. I pray both are accomplished here for His glory and honor! Praise Him!
Today’s verse is a continuation of yesterday’s post but to further define the hearts of Jannes and Jambres. Yesterday we saw that they resisted the truth. Today, we dig deeper and see that they were men of corrupt minds. Corrupt in today’s English is not as harsh as Noah Webster’s definition:
To vitiate or deprave; to change from good to bad. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Cor 15.
To waste, spoil or consume. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt. Mat 6.
To defile or pollute. Exo 32.
To entice from good and allure to evil. 2 Cor 11.
To pervert; to break, disobey or make void. Mal 2.
To pervert or vitiate integrity; to bribe; as, to corrupt a judge.
To debase or render impure, by alterations or innovations; as, to corrupt language.
To pervert; to falsify; to infect with errors; as, to corrupt the sacred text.
I shake my head in disbelief when I read through each of these. The definition caused me to understand exactly why Jannes and Jambres were described as this. Now we see more meaning in the verse, don’t we?
Now compare the definition with what is currently going on in this world and you will be able to unequivocally see that we are in the end times. Remember, these two men were so evil that they drowned in the Red Sea along with Pharaoh’s army! They didn’t die alongside their countrymen in war but along side the enemy! Worldwide today we see that mankind is at the same level as Jannes and Jambres. Let’s break down the definition and compare it with today’s attitudes and what the Bible says about this:
To vitiate or deprave; to change from good to bad. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Cor 15.
(1 Co 15:33) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
When in time have you ever seen the audacity of people on social media and the news? Things are said that would never have been put on the news or spoken in public like we see today! Song lyrics are filthy and billboards reveal half naked women (which used to be considered pornography when I was growing up). It doesn’t end there – just stand in line at the grocery store and listen to people speaking around you. It won’t be but a minute when you hear evil communication coming out of their mouths. But can you imagine if you were surrounded by people such as these? If you’re not a born again Christian, you will fall into the same pattern as them and will speak the same way. If you are a born again Christian, you cringe and try to remove yourself from the situation.
Men of corrupt minds will try to deceive, just like the master deceiver himself, Satan. They corrupt the Bible by diluting its truth through various versions (over 100 today) and corrupt teaching. Homosexuals preach from the pulpit and push the LGBTQ agenda. The world has accepted into law the sin of murdering children.
(Pro 6:16-17) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
(Psa 127:3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
If being pregnant (the fruit of the womb) is God’s reward to mankind, then surely He considers their death as the shedding of innocent blood and it brings punishment, not reward. Did you know that every girl baby in the womb already has the eggs she will need to have future children? A woman, therefore, is not only killing her own daughter, but she is killing her future granddaughters as well! That’s a lot to think about. What makes matters worse, it is now OK to kill that baby right before it is delivered! It is murder, plain and simple, and it is the law of this land!
Corrupt minds, just like corrupt politicians, have one thing in common and that is to spread that corruption. They turn a truth into a lie and repeat it often enough that people begin to believe that lie. We see it in abortion, we’re currently seeing it in what the media reports.
But the Tribulation is coming, friend, and the antichrist will deceive many. If you are not born again, you will be alive to see this. The trigger for the end times was Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Jesus said that the generation who witnessed this event would not pass away and would be alive for the end times. Israel is referenced as the fig tree in Scriptures:
(Mat 24:32-34) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (33) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (34) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
What is Jesus referring to when He says “when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”? We must read the beginning of the chapter:
(Mat 24:3-12) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) 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. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. (9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Just reading through this list of things that have already happened and will happen, convinces me that we are in these times. Jesus said, these were all to happen after Israel became a nation.
You may be thinking that you have a whole lot of time ahead of you but you do not know if you will die today or not! You also do not know when Christ will Rapture the church. Once He does, that door is closed and you will have to go through the Tribulation. Those who become Christians during the Tribulation will lose their lives.
(Rev 6:8-10) 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. (9) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Right now, at this point in time, things are getting worse with every week that goes by. People are easily deceived and they follow the one with the loudest voice who agrees with and promotes their sins. Because we see this attitude in our Country, God says:
(2Th 2:11-12) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Friend, are you born again today? If you are, let this be motivation for you to tell others. If you are not, this post is for you! It’s your wake up call. There will come a point where you will no longer able to see, hear or understand the truth. Don’t let that be you!
It is no coincidence that you are here reading this. 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!
