Posted 9-10-00
I still find it a bit diiferent and am not used to going to church but I do read the bible at home everyday and whenever I am free.
Just would like to thank you for showing me the path and for lsitening me out. Thanks again
I am so glad you knew enough to put everything in the Lord's hands. When we ask for him to guide us, he opens doors and closes doors. We just have to take one step at a time as we walk the Christian walk and go through the open doors and not try to force our way in the closed doors. He knows better than we do what is best for us in every situation.
I'm glad things are better for you. I have a feeling that this won't seem so strange to you shortly. What has happened to you in the past was not all good. However, it brought you to the Lord, so the outcome was the best. Who knows, if those things had not happened to you, you might still be lost. We just have to give the Lord thanks for bringing you to this point, whatever it took.
When you were born into this world, you were born of water, like the water breaking when your lovely daughter was born. When you accepted Christ, you were born again, born of the Spirit of God, born into God's family. Our life on this Earth can end, but our life to come in Heaven with our Lord can never end. You have been born into eternal life. That is so wonderful. That means that I have a chance of meeting you. I'll sure be looking forward to that great day. We have something really special coming. I Corinthians 2:9 says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." We will be eternally grateful that we accepted the Son of God and were born into God's family.
I'm also glad you now have a Bible. Read the New Testament before you read the Old Testament. Keep me posted on how things are going with you. I care. Others that read my web site have been praying for you too. In Christ's wonderful love
Spanish Waterspout Gushes Nonstop
9-6-00 — A huge column of red water has been spewing from Spanish soil for almost six weeks, baffling geologists who have no explanation for the phenomenon....
I always thought that this passage was difficult for those espousing the Once Saved Always Saved position to explain, for the one thing that they always come back with when shown any scripture, is "the one sinning was never saved in the first place." This passage goes to great length to make sure that the reader knows that the individual it is talking about is a person who has been born again. In verses 4 and 5 there are 5 phrases describing a Christian, . . . "for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," . . . so there is no mistake as to who this passage is addressing. It is impossible for these Christians, Verse 6 says, "IF they fall away, to renew them again to repentance". That seems pretty clear, but I have heard people in the OSAS camp take the next part of the verse and say that this passage is saying that it is impossible to crucify the Lord again. That statement may be true, but that is not what the rest of the verse says. It says, "seeing they crucify TO THEMSELVES the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." It is not saying that Jesus has to be crucified again, . . . the sin problem was taken care of once for all time . . . but that willful sin that is never repented of by one reaching the point of apostasy has the effect of nullifying that sacrifice FOR THEM, and makes it as if they are personally brutalizing the Lord of glory just as if they had the hammer and nails in their own hands to be responsible for the horrible deed.
I believe verse 8 makes the balance clear. Once again the balance is that you don't lose your salvation because you sin . . . you lose your rewards and you will lose the opportunity to be the Bride and go in the first rapture, but you don't lose your salvation. I agree with OSAS in a lot of ways. I believe that you are eternally secure as you continue to abide in Him. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12. Hey, I don't want out of this deal. You have to be out of your mind to give up salvation for damnation, heaven for hell and the Word for the world. But that was the point of my other post. There can be a process initiated by continual sin that is not removed through repentance where the heart becomes increasingly hardened and the mind increasingly deceived to the end that that person is not in their right mind. At that point of apostasy, where they finally choose to reject the grace of God, they are given over to a reprobate (grk. word adokimos which means castaway, rejected) mind.
Getting back to verse 8 of Hebrews 6, it reads, "But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." Because of the thorns and briers, the sins of that Christian, they will be rejected . . . rejected from being a part of the Bride and rejected from going in the first rapture. It next says, "they are nigh unto cursing" or close to or near to being cursed. Notice it does not say that they are cursed, but that they are near or on the road that will lead them to being cursed. It they repent they can jump back on the narrow path leading to blessing and life. But if they continue in their sin on the road to loss and eventual destruction, they can reach a point in their life that they are so hardened that they make a final choice to reject the grace of God. In that instance there is an end to the road and this verse describes that end as hell . . . "whose end is to be burned". That seems to be confirmed in the passage in Jude (verses 12 and 13) that refers to the "twice dead" as ones "to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever".
There are many OSAS advocates that walk in intimacy with Jesus, faithful and without spot or blemish. This message does not affect them at all. But at the same time there are those that even take the phrase Once Saved Always Saved, as an excuse to condone sin in their lives. This is highly dangerous, for because of the seductive, enslaving power of sin that remains unrepented of, many will lose their rewards and a few could very well over time reach that point of apostasy and end up being burned in the lake of fire forever. I have much more evidence from the Word of God that I will be putting in a book that I am working on tentatively entitled "Eternally Secure, Sure! . . . But is it possible to give your salvation away?" Your Brother in Jesus
Adokimos, translated reprobate 6 times, rejected 1, and castaway 1, is a revealing word to trace out. I'll put them all down for comparison.
Rom. 1:28 says, "even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a REPROBATE mind, to do those things which are not convenient."
II Cor. 13:5-7 says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be REPROBATES? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not REPROBATES. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as REPROBATES."
II Tim. 3:8 says, "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, REPROBATE concerning the faith."
Titus 1:6 says, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work REPROBATE."
Heb. 6:8 says, "But that which beareth thorns and briers is REJECTED (castaway), and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."
Re: thorns and briers, Isa. 9:18 says, "For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns." Isa. 10:16,17 says, "under his glory (closer to Earth than Heaven, surrounded by 'the glory of the LORD,' Eze. 1:28) he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it (the burning asteroid) shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day (the 1st day of the millennial Day of the Lord)." Eze. 2:6 says, "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house."
I Cor. 9:24-27 says, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY." I have thought this just meant being left behind at the 1st Rapture and forfeiting this golden (incorruptible) crown, but does it have 2 meanings, as many things in Scripture do?
> > I believe that you are eternally secure as you continue to abide in Him.
Jn. 15:4-9 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Thanks for setting this forth so clearly. Agape
My intention was not to embarrass you - I wrote to Marilyn to support her. I don't know her - we live on different continents - but at the end of the day, she is my sister in the Lord and needs encouragement and building up as much as any other Christian.
If you are bent on exposing false prophets then I assume you are also writing to other proponents of the pre-trib rapture. People such as Lyn Mize, Jim Bramlett and Paul Bekker.
You know that if our belief is wrong and not God-inspired, then it will not stand. Acts 5 v 38 : "Therefore, in the present case I advise you : Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." This may have been said about the Apostles but it can be equally said in this case.
Let God be the judge of who is right and wrong. If you are walking in His will, He will bless you.
I'm going to request that you don't e-mail me again. As Christians we should be standing in unity, not tearing each other apart. As Paul and Barnabas parted company in Antioch because of a "sharp disagreement" (Acts 15 v 36-40) I would prefer not to "keep company" with you - we are unlikely to agree on the Rapture and I don't want to argue about it. Regards
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Note: Mk. 9:50 says, "Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another."
Dan.2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never to destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.
Dan.7 Lion--Bear-3ribs--Leopard--Dreadful B.
Babylon--Medo-Persia--Greece--iron teeth
another horn -- 10+ 1 =11 -- 3 plucked up -- 11 - 3 = 8
Dan. 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings.
Dan. 7:12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion-world rulership-taken away, yet their lives-nationalism- were prolonged for a season and a time. (They will exist as nations for a season and a time; end times.)
Daniel 8-Ram-Goat Medo-Persia-Greece
Daniel 9 - Seventy Weeks - seventy sevens - Gen. 29 - Jacob worked for his wife a week = 7 years. 1 day = 1 yr.
- from command to restore & build Jerusalem
to Messiah-7 wks = 7 sevens = 49 yrs.
Messiah cut off after 62 wks=62 sevens =434 yrs.
prince who shall come shall confirm a covenant 1 wk- 1 seven = 7 yrs.
= 490 years = 70 sevens = 70x7
Daniel 11 - explanation of chapter 8
Daniel 12 - time - times - and half a time = 1 yr.+ 2 yrs + half yr.
moed-moedim- half a time-from time daily sacrifice is taken away and abomination that makes desolate set is 1290 days.
Tishri 10-2520 days-Tishri 10
l------1260-----------------l------1260---------------l Joel
l---------1290---------------l 2:15-17
Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to 1335 days.
Tishri 10 - 2520 days - Tishri 10
l--------1260----------------l------1260---------------l
l------1335--------------------l
Hanukkah - Kislev 25
Compare Daniel - Revelation
Dan. 2-10 toes
Dan. 7-10 horns + l = 11 - 3 (plucked up) = 8
Rev. 12-7 heads-10 horns-7 crowns
Rev.13-7 heads-10 horns-10 crowns
Rev. 17-7 heads-10 horns-8th is of the 7
Micah 5:5-7 shepherds-8 principal men
Zech. 11:8-3 shepherds cut off in one hour.
Micah 5:5 Assyria - modern Russia; 'this man' is the Messiah whose birth is foretold in vs. 2. 3 shepherds-kings are removed before the midway point. The land of Russia is going to be affected too in vs. 6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: Russia has been having wars with a.c. in Europe and running low on supplies or oil and heads to Israel for a spoil. God miraculously delivers Israel at that time and the nation believes in real Messiah because of preaching of 2 witnesses and 144,000. Then all hell breaks out when abomination is set up and a.c. declares he is god and they say no, the God of Heaven helped us and we look for His Messiah.
Therefore, from the vantage point of the Pre-Trib Rapture, the 5 kings/kingdoms that have fallen are Babel (where the MOTHER of the Mystery Religion of Babylon began), Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The king that "IS" is the Tribulation Pope, Ecclesiastical Rome, the Pontifex Maximus ("the name of blasphemy," Rev. 13:1) of the United Religions.
The king that is to come is the False Prophet, who comes to full power Mid-Trib. The "eighth" of Rev. 17:11 is Satan himself, the tail of the great red dragon. He inhabits the False Prophet until the FP is deposed on the Day of God's Wrath. Then he comes out and operates on his own. Therefore, the False Prophet is also called the tail, but only because the tail of the dragon is in him.
Isa. 9:15 says, "The ancient and honourable (the Tribulation Pope), he is the head (the 6th head of the great red dragon); and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail." The False Prophet is the 7th head of the great red dragon, inhabited by the tail of the great red dragon, who becomes "the eighth" on the Day of God's Wrath. The False Prophet is "ANOTHER little horn" of Dan. 7:8, "ANOTHER" that "shall rise after them" (the 10 kings) of Dan. 7:24, and "ANOTHER beast" of Rev. 13:11.
The 1260 days, the 1290 days, and the 1335 days of Dan. 12 all date from Mid-Trib when the abomination of desolation is set up at the temple. Agape
I have studied creationism and evolutionary theory for 30 years. I am a graduate of Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in Mining Engineering and all this has been very confusing. But I do know there is a right answer that works.
Long story short-Dr. Gerald Schroeder, of the University in Jerusalem, has written a book called, "The Science of God" and "God and the Big Bang". I believe that he has finally nailed it, and I suggest that all Christians read it as it brings peace the conflicting argument.
Jesus said that our traditions make the Word of God ineffective. I believe that Creationism is just such a tradition. A good theory that has become a tradition in the church.
PLEASE READ THE BOOK.
Note: Excerpt from another email: "The person who wrote you said the second book was "God and The Big Bang", but a search of the author, Schroeder, says the title is actually "Genesis & the Big Bang." (She is sending me the books, bless her heart.)
I see the old subject of "the falling away" has resurfaced in the last few posts as per the following from P&C 591: "explain to me 2 Thes. 2:3...the falling away....please inform me how it could mean departure or rapture."
If those who insist it means a "falling away" of the church before the antichrist is revealed, so be it. John says that whoever denies that Jesus was God is antichrist. This means the church of today is antichrist since a belief in the Blood is no longer required by the mainstream churches. The church has, indeed, fallen away. Therefore this prophecy is fullfilled and there is no other prophecy standing in the way of the Rapture.
For those who insist it means a departure, the Rapture, before the antichrist is revealed, so be it. These believe there is no other prophecy standing in the way of the Rapture.
Both sides end up at the same point of agreement. Agape
Thanks for your input. I hadn't thought about it in exactly that light....Agape
> > Is there always consequences to your sins even when you ask for forgiveness, and if so, are they dealt to you while on earth?
It is totally up to the Lord. Christians are punished here, because they are never going to be punished later. The quicker we confess our sin and get back in fellowship with the Lord, the less chastisement we will usually get. He is our Father, and he trains us up in the way in which we should go. He wants us to be responsible citizens with the right moral values. He wants us to be happy and well adjusted individuals, kind and loving, He wants us to make the best of whatever situation we find ourselves in. Life is not all a bed of roses. Some adversity makes us better for having faced up to it. We learn patience and develop other good qualities. II Peter 1:4-11 gives us a good list.
Another thing we need to know is that when we make a spiritual step upward, we are going to be tested to see if we will let it go or hang on tight. It doesn't last forever, and what seems like cursing will soon turn to blessing. The firmer our will, the quicker it will be over. They enemy will keep pestering if we waver, and go bother someone else if we are firm. They are not going to work where there is no hope of making you fall back, and the Lord would not allow it anyway. Testing is limited. We just have to hang on until it is over. Then the blessings come, our reward for withstanding the test.
> > what is my mission now
I don't know, just keep praying for the Lord to guide you and keep walking the Christian walk one step at a time. The Lord will show you. What makes it seem like we don't exactly know where we are going at times is because we aren't in the driver's seat. We will get where we are supposed to go anyway as long as we keep following his leading.
We find things in Scripture that we know we should do. One is to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us. When we are ready, the Lord will bring the subject up in conversation in the most unexpected ways. We just have to silently say, "Thank you Lord, guide me," and let the conversation go where it will, just sharing what you have found.
It's 1:09 AM, gotta get some sleep. Agape and God Bless you too.
In NO way am I being critical of any of the people who keep asking you basically the SAME questions over and over and over. They just can not see some things for reasons only the Lord must know. I talked to you about the falling away, departure, rapture over a year ago and we nailed that one down in two sentences, in agreement and never discussed it again. I am fascinated that this and other issues keep repeating themselves over and over and over.
I have thoroughly researched and prayed without ceasing over EVERY thing you have printed on the site, and I have no questions or opposition at all. So that is why I am writing, to encourage you to keep up the patience, you have much more than I have. That teaches me something also. Maybe that is why this is taking place. Agape
Pro and Con 596 Or Return
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Updated 9-10-00