Will There Be A Rapture?

I have ruminated for years over this topic. There is no reason why there should be a rapture of the Christian Church. Up until today the body of every Christian who has lived and died lies waiting for the return of Jesus Christ in the grave.

Up until today, Christians around the world have been persecuted and have died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Why should it be any different for us or the generation living before the tribulation time? I really have no answer as to why God will rapture the Church but there is a valid argument for why it will happen.

II Thessalonians 2: 3-7 “No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed.”

Now, most Dispensationalist Christians believe the one who restrains mentioned in the scripture above is the Holy Spirit. We also know that Acts 2:38 says “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” So, if all Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. What happens to those Christians if the Holy Spirit is removed.

Is it likely that the Christians will remain behind as men without the Holy Spirit? No, I believe that that is most unlikely. Is it likely that this happens immediately before the Second Coming. No, because the scripture says that the Man of Lawlessness is not revealed until the Restrainer is removed and so this is the beginning of the Tribulation Time.

So, does this mean that the Holy Spirit indwells the Christians and that if He is removed so is the Church. I believe that to be the most likely solution to understanding about the coming Rapture. It fits in elegantly with the description of the role of Israel in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 7: 1-8 “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God. And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel: From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.”

Just before the Tribulation begins God selects 12.000 people from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. 12,000 x 12,000 or, 144,000 selected from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel to carry the gospel throughout the Earth in the Tribulation Time. The next scripture in Chapter Seven describes the great multitude who were saved as a result of the ministry of the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 sealed of God taking the gospel to the nations.

The obvious question here is why them and why not the Church? So, where is the Church in the Tribulation Time? Simply put, they have been Raptured and are in Heaven with Christ Jesus. They have been spared the time of testing.

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith

I have often heard the statement above preached in Church and taught in bible study but I have never heard it put in a simple way that I could understand. I decided with this article to endeavor to at least define what Grace is and who it is that applies that Grace. Also I want to state what I believe the outcome of that Grace is as an Arminian Christian.

Grace

Marion Webster defines Grace as “Unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.” As a Classical Arminian I would say that Grace involves the action of the Holy Spirit as He applies the gospel of Jesus Christ to our hearts. In doing this we come under conviction of sin and are led to make a decision, in the affirmative, to believe on the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross or, in the negative, to reject the work of Jesus on the cross. I believe a person can hear the gospel and be convicted a number of times before either accepting the gospel or dying in their sins. I have seen this process in action and I believe it is how Grace is applied by the Holy Spirit when He convicts the lost of their sins.

Faith

Marion Webster defines faith in Jesus as “Belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks about Grace and Faith like this “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” In Grace then you are given the unmerited assistance from God in the person of the Holy Spirit. So that you receive Faith from God as gift to enable you to believe on Christ Jesus and that He bore your sins upon the Cross.

You see, 1 Corinthians 2:14 states that “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” NKJ So when we are lost in our sins and have not through the Grace of God and conviction of the Holy Spirit acknowledged our sins. As natural men we cannot discern the things of God and we cannot respond to the gospel in that lost state. Only by the Grace of God are we able through the conviction of the Holy Spirit to come to Faith in Jesus Christ. Only then, can we receive the testimony of the gospel and believe on the redemptive work of Christ Jesus on the Cross. Only then, can we arrive at the destination of Salvation in His name. Through Grace alone in Faith alone by Christ Alone.

Unlimited Atonement

As an Arminian I am a proponent of something called Unlimited Atonement. This means that to me there is no limit on the amount of Grace that God has for humanity and as many as will, may be elected to Salvation in Jesus Christ. This belief puts me at odds with Calvinists, many Adventists, who believe in Limited Atonement where only those who have been elected from the foundation of the World will be atoned for.

So, I believe in a type of grace that enables all upon hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ to make a decision in Faith to believe on Jesus, or in unbelief to reject His work on the Cross. Arminians call this Prevenient Grace and believe that it is the Grace shown to the lost by the Holy Spirit when they hear the gospel preached. Upon believing the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and reveals the person of Christ Jesus (God), in our lives. This is Grace as believers understand it in their lives.

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” KJV

How are we elected?

The reason that I am at some length to discuss how we become convicted of our sins and how by Grace we are Saved through Faith. Is because it may seem very different to the average person. I mean for the Christian who has not read a lot of the bible it may seem that they heard the gospel preached, felt that they were being spoken to in their heart, came under conviction, and decided to believe on Jesus Christ. They would not agree that God enabled them to be convicted of sin and to make the decision through Grace because it did not seem to happen that way..

For the agnostic who has been preached to on many occasions and who has rejected the gospel every time. They would not believe that God either did not elect them to salvation or through grace enabled them to make the decision rejecting Christ Jesus. As a simple human being living out a life here on Earth it seems that we are completely in control of our own minds. So, the decisions that we make are our own and don’t require input from God. Yet the bible indicates that we are actually assisted by God to either accept or reject the gospel and indicates that the elect are chosen from the foundation of the Earth.

Ephesians 1:4 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love”

Conclusion

As an Arminian Christian, I do quite love the Five Solas of the Reformation: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).  Thus, we are saved by Christ alone, through Grace alone, by Faith alone, and all glory to God in the Highest. Classical Arminianism is a reformed movement by the way.

The Bible is our lone source of guidance and in it we find that man’s depravity (Romans 5:12), is such that we can only be saved by God’s Grace through Faith which is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no work that we can offer God on our own behalf to save our save out souls, so God saves us. This is how we are elected to the Bride of Christ, the Church.

1 John 5: 11-12 “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” NAS

Footnote from the Author

This article has really convicted me about what I believe about the election of sinners to Salvation? Calvinism largely teaches that the sinner is predestined from the foundation of the World and that this process involves God doing it all. The implication of this belief is that if God predestines the righteous then He also predestines the wicked to damnation. What this says of the nature of God or even His holiness is not something that I would willingly contemplate.God does not sin, at all or, ever. Neither does he condone sin in the wicked. So I am not a Calvinist.

Looking at Arminianism there are three potential groups. Classical Arminians of the first group believe that the gospel is used by the Holy Spirit as an instrument to draw sinners to Himself and to teach them and convict them of sin and their need for salvation. They believe that the sinner has a choice and is not forced to believe therefore is not compulsorily drawn to Christ Jesus.The second group believe in a weaker and stronger grace that works on the sinner to bring them to Christ. The weaker grace reaches all men and the stronger only those who are drawn to Christ Jesus and saved.The third position is the Wesleyan Arminian position which states that all men are drawn to Christ Jesus (John 12:32) and all are convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). They believe that God gives universal prevenient grace to all men. 

So what do I believe? I believe that people hear the gospel and either believe on Jesus Christ to eternal life, or disbelieve and stay in their sins. Simple as that! Does the bible support this. In John 66 it says "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore." This was because of Christ was talking about people having to eat His flesh and drink His blood." My query about this is that if His disciples were drawn to Him and followed Him. How could they walk away if they were predestined to be His? My opinion is that one way or another God allows us to make up our minds for ourselves.

I have always believed that the bible speaks strongly of our need as Christians for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be justified and sanctified and I have always believed that God's grace comes to us from the Holy Spirit. I also believe that the bible says on one part that we can do nothing without God's input into our election but the bible also says strongly that God intends the Gospel of Grace to be available to all mankind. Thus every man and woman must choose or reject the Savior, Jesus Christ. This I believe is a God given directive. You have a choice to make. Salvation or the Second death. It's up to you!

Oh and what type of believer am I? Not a Calvinist or an Arminian. I'm a Christian. Always have been and always will be.

Reference:

What is Prevenient Grace https://www.gotquestions.org/prevenient-grace.html 10/03/24

The Righteous versus the Wicked

Proverbs 11:21 “Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. “

Before we get into this topic. I believe we need a definition of righteousness. “Dictionaries 1 define righteousness as “behaviour that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behaviour is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behaviour, and every word. Thus, God’s laws, as given in the Bible, both describe His own character and constitute the plumb line by which He measures human righteousness.”

We also need a definition of wickedness. “Wickedness in the Hebrew and Greek Languages2

The Hebrew word for wickedness we find in dozens of Scriptures (e.g. used twice in Ezekiel 18:20) in the Old Testament is typically “rish`ah” and means “guilt” and when used as an adjective is “rasha`” which means “criminal” or “guilty one” or “guilty of crime”. So ultimately, all wickedness is described in the Old Testament as someone who is guilty of committing a crime and is considered a criminal act worthy of punishment in God’s eyes because sin (crime) is against God for, in the end, all sin is against God even though it hurts the person committing it and others around him or her.

Now the crux of my argument here is that many folk in the West today have little biblical understanding and simply don’t know that they are sinners. More, they wouldn’t accept that particular truth if you shared it with them. It seems that the devil has often shared some other truth that sounds more appealing with them.

For instance the Star Trek story where man grows steadily more intelligent and travels the galaxy, travels the universe; becomes like God and eventually ascends to become a spirit being. Kind of like the bible but instead of having a creator God you become God.

It is pertinent to comment about most of these types of narrative, that they are found in most of the major religions except Christianity. Most of the religions are about looking inward to find God. This at its core is a false teaching that will keep many from meeting Yahweh and ultimately most who follow this route will discover too late that they have ceded control of themselves to World Forces of Darkness as mentioned in the bible (Ephesians 6:12).

Others will rebel and refuse to hear the truth about themselves. They will say of themselves that they were good people. Lacking the understanding that their righteousness is as filthy rags before God and that there is nothing of value in their own works. The truth is that God so loved you that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to make the sacrifice for the sins of all men. In the certain understanding that you need to believe on Him and ask Him to come into your life.

I think personally that many people who don’t tend toward accepting Christ Jesus also don’t acknowledge a spiritual realm at all. Those into Atheism would tend to fall into this camp as well. Other people that tend toward other religions, or spiritism, often do so because they have been brought up in that type of spiritism or religion. Which brings us to the overarching truth about finding salvation.

Satan is very devious and just as he found a way to pitch to Adam and Eve which led them to decide to disobey God and eat of the Tree of Knowledge. So he has spun lies and half truths which have led to wars and disaster for humanity down through history. He will hide the truth from those who don’t believe in demons or religion. He will spread lies and disinformation to misled our political leaders and at times all of society. Nazi Fascism in pre World War II Germany is an example of Satan leading a whole nation to a societal disaster that had consequences for all of the World at the time. Truly doctrines of demons.

You only have to look at the media narrative against Christianity today to begin to see a direct attack against the Church at this time. Look toward Israel and you see the people of God under attack from Islam and the United Nations. I know many would look at that situation and blame Israel. However, Israel is being regathered by Yahweh and the Arab nations created this situation decades ago by refusing to resettle the Palestinians then. Ultimately, God will protect Israel and care for them through the coming World War. But Satan will not make it easy and his aim is to destroy all of the people of Yahweh (God).

So what about you friend? Are you one of those who don’t believe in spiritual things? Are you getting into heaven under your own steam. You know, you’re a good person. Well we’ve already discussed this and you know that you are dead in your sins. Sins which separate you from God. You have to accept that you are a sinner and born into sin just like all of humanity. You need to humble yourself before God and ask Christ Jesus to forgive those sins. You need to get baptised for the forgiveness of those sins and in order to receive the Holy Spirit. It’s the only way out of wickedness and into the righteousness of God. Out of darkness and into His glorious light.


1https://www.gotquestions.org/righteousness.html

2 https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-does-the-bible-define-wickedness/#ixzz8Sb38JEcf

 

Grace Challenged, Convicted and Confronted...

Often the lost are oblivious to their state. They are unaware that they are trapped. Dead in their sin. If you asked them about sin many would not understand the question. Life has its rewards and is often exciting, especially when you are young. There is the attraction between the sexes and the lure of a family, a career and the fulfillment of a life well lived.

However, so often that is all that they know. They have no awareness of a spiritual life or a connection to God the Father through the Holy Spirit in the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. No knowledge of righteousness or the sin debt they have acquired being descendants of Adam and Eve.

No understanding of the possibility of immortality or the certainty of the second death. Completely unaware of the depraved state in which they exist as they are unable to even avail themselves of the gift of eternal life purchased on their behalf by Christ Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross through the shedding of His sinless blood.

So, when they hear the gospel how is it that they find themselves convicted of their sins. Challenged to the point of repentance and finally confronted by the depth of their sins. How are they able to believe that Christ has paid their sin debt and that they can ask him to forgive those same sins and to come into their hearts, minds and lives. How are they able to decide that they have a need and then to get baptized, that their sins may be washed away and they might receive the Holy Spirit who writes God’s Law onto their hearts and puts it in their minds?

To the practical bible theologian there will be a pragmatic solution based around those who are the elect and those who are not. A small group of humanity that God has seen fit to draw to His Son, Jesus Christ. There has been considerable debate among Christians as to whether the Calvinist view is the correct one in this case or are those who have a more sympathetic view of the access of the lost to salvation through choice, the correct one here.

It seems to me that people hear the gospel, or some part of it, and have to make a decision. Many are challenged but don’t seem to be convicted. Their sin doesn’t confront them. Hence when the apostle Paul said in Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” It seems those who aren’t convicted of their sins know in their heart the truth of creation and sin but are not drawn to Christ Jesus and choose to walk away.

They can hear the gospel and reject it a number of times in their lives and yet at some point they may come under conviction and repent even after having rejected the gospel on a number of other occasions. Yet if we listen to those who believe we are elected by God then this decision should not be possible because the human soul is so depraved that God must force us to make that decision to choose salvation.

What if as John Wesley believed, the human soul is totally depraved, as the Calvinist believes, and man must be saved by Grace but that Grace is enacted by the Holy Spirit of God in the heart of the lost. What if in Grace the Holy Spirit enables the hearer of the gospel to make a decision. To accept or reject the redemptive work of Christ Jesus. So that the lost person hearing the gospel is either challenged, convicted and confronted by the gospel of their need for salvation and to have their sin debt paid by Jesus Christ. Else they feel nothing and reject the gospel walking away having make a decision against salvation enabled by God’s Grace.

Whatever the case, we as the faithful believers on Christ Jesus have a job to do. Being aware of the Great Commission of Matthew 28: 18 -19 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”

We go into battle for the souls of the lost. With a heart filled with love we approach the unbeliever as gently as Jesus did the adulterous woman in John 8: 1-11 “...but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

How does God challenge, convict and confront the sinner of their sins. Simply through His Grace my friends. He does it through Grace.

Neopaganism - The Valley of Megiddo

It is interesting that the hook the devil is using to draw so many people of faith who should know better into the new paganism is support for indigenous races garnered by the United Nations. You would think Christians would know better and yet they seem drawn like moths to a lamp.

Sadly, I think that many people fail to perceive the threat of a trap that may well see them standing on the Valley of Megiddo with the followers of the Beast as they face certain doom at the soon return of Jesus Christ.

In New Zealand we drifted through the 1990’s into the early part of the twenty first century somewhat unaware that Māori were on a crossroads that led to either of two decisions. As incredibly open and spiritual people they could take up the cross and receive the sovereignty of their nation back as a gift of Yahweh or they could meander back into the old paganism and worship of their old Gods and join a global renaissance of all things pagan.

It seems that now the decision is made, and many Pakehas are joining the new Māori switch back and becoming connoisseurs of all things Māori culture. Applauding kapahaka and waiata and every nuance of Māori culture at every opportunity.

The problem with this is you can’t serve two masters. Māori culture as we know it is pagan in essence and quite like most other naturalistic religions which focus on a spiritual force through all things in nature and the worship of various naturalistic deities. Yahweh is the creator God and the issue that all humans face is that the creator has a problem with sin which is disobedience of the Law of God (Ten Commandments). The only solution to the sin problem is through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” NKJV

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38-39 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This is what it will ultimately come down to for every man, woman and child to have ever lived on the Earth. If you reject God’s Grace and follow the ways of the Prince of this World (Satan). Then God’s judgement will fall upon you, and you will reap eternal separation from Yahweh and the saviour Jesus Christ. If you follow the new paganism, then you will end up becoming embedded in the New World Order and become followers of the Beast in his 666 System. You will stand beside him in opposition to Christ Jesus as He returns to the Earth to establish the Kingdom of Heaven.  

If you consider the modern approach to this issue I mentioned above. The Globalists prefer to call native races the indigenous or first nation people. They are also hailed as the victims of colonisation. In recent times they have given generous amounts of money to governments to settle land claims and to recognise injustices perpetrated against them. Mostly though they seem interested in supporting the pagan religious aspects of these cultures to the detriment of other secular groups, and particularly Christians.

Yet many American Indian, Australian Aborigine and New Zealand Māori citizens manage just fine in modern societies which have already enacted considerable work to remedy inequities in society relating to injustices perpetrated, land restorations and educational anomalies. The result being that many of these folk are now doing better than the average person from the colonizing races and those who follow Christ Jesus are doing very well due to receiving God’s Blessings in their lives. Evidence of this may be seen daily on the SDA Television Channels where it is apparent that these folk have much to contribute to society and require no assistance from the government at all to succeed in every regard.

They might be poor, but the reality is that they have God’s wealth. They may not have lovely modern houses, but they have a home, a family and a faith in God that sustains them and through Christ Jesus will ensure the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life. Often these humble Christian folk have escaped from drugs and the traps of wanton sin that can take a person to prison or into slavery. Delivered in Christ Jesus to a life that counts and brings family out of spiritual destitution domination by the principalities that rule this world.

Meanwhile many in the United States, Australia and New Zealand have either forsaken Christianity or have no knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They may seem to be doing well but it is doubtful that they have a hope of salvation or can claim to know anything of the sin that separates them from God. They know nothing of the life filled with hope and God’s blessings that their grand parents lived only fifty years ago. Such is the rampant spiritual destruction dished out by atheism and Hellenistic secular paganism. Those grandparents wouldn’t recognize this world if they saw it today.

The key truth here is that the truth found in the spiritual beliefs of the indigenous nations or in the interfaith religions like Buddhism is all about experiencing the God within. Whether through pagan religion, clairvoyance, occultism, new age spirituality, transcendental meditation, astral projection druidry, witchcraft or the martial arts. The result is always the same. Satan is the father of lies and will seek to possess you and destroy you. You need the Prince of Peace – Jesus Christ and salvation through His name. The only name under heaven by which you must be saved. Stay away from paganism!

Religion. Atheism and All That…

 
I think in these times many people pride themselves on being irreligious. You know what I mean. I can’t see the hand of God in the world around me. It always has been as it always is. It always was as it always will be and so forth. Evolution and millions of years. It all started from nothing and everything we see is the result of millions of years of development.

Even though we can see in human endeavor that it takes tens of thousands of years just to get to where we are today. The ceaseless determination of thought and striving with unending experimentation to arrive where we are in the world of today. This informs us that nothing comes from nothing, and development is driven by intelligence whatever the source of that intelligence may be?

 Of course, all of mankind is inherently religious and even the most ardent atheist believes in that atheism and usually is a proponent of the Man is God theory as well. They won’t believe in the Creator. In their selfish tiny selves, they look, hopefully, to the future of mankind where man is immortal, and humanity have conquered the stars and wield the science of avarice.

Issac Asimov envisaged in his Foundation Trilogy a future where science became the religion. The Council of Science become the Vatican of the future in its endeavor to guide humanity into its successful conquest of space and the galaxy. Scientists are foreseen as being like priests. Ultimately, he foresaw the rise and fall of civilization and the establishment of a Science Foundation that would use science  and probability to calculate and model the future. Asimov theorized that scientists would even be able to predict the rise of certain individuals and what to do to mitigate their impact on the rise of the next civilization.

As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans chapter one verses 18 though 23: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures.

So, it has been with the scientists. Regardless of whom we think of, from Darwin to Asimov or from Attenborough to Dawkins. Paul’s description in Romans casts their thinking in sharp contrast to the truth of God’s word and the futile and vain speculation that have taken them and a large portion of humanity captive to Satan’s carefully wrought falsehoods. As he did in the beginning with Adam and Eve, he has done to greater humanity on many occasions throughout the aeons. Deceiving mankind with clever speech and a ready turn of phrase. The foremost being “Be Ye as God’s!”

Thus, claiming to be wise they became fools worshiping man instead of God even they knew in their hearts that what they were doing was wrong. The worst of this is that we as Christians are tasked with trying to share the truth with these misguided people who really do think they know it all and refuse to listen. Yet in the end God has a purpose and His will is going to be enacted on Earth as it is in Heaven. These men are wrong and vain in their speculations. Their hope for a future where man is God will never come to pass and the Kingdom of God is only a matter of years away.

So If you haven’t heard the gospel, it is based around John 3:16 “For God so loved the World, that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but inherit eternal life.” This is God’s Grace and is an appeal to all men that you might believe that Christ Jesus bore your sins on the Cross and paid your sin debt, that you might seek His forgiveness and have everlasting life and a place in the Kingdom of God.

This Time…

 

I have just written three articles. One on the foibles of Seventh Day Adventism[1]. One on the mires of the Charismatic Movement[2]. One on the doctrinal difficulties of the Calvinist Movement[3]. These articles can be found on my blog on Walking by the River at Blogger.com.

I have to say that these articles only touch on what I see as the major issues with each sect and are by no means exhaustive even by my standards. If you belong to one of these groups and are easily offended, then I would advise you don’t read my article. I am just attempting to inform those who are interested and attempting to point out the different stances held by each sect?

I believe that there are many true believers in the Adventist Faith and that there are many true believers in the Charismatic Church and that there are many true believers in the Calvinist Churches. However, I also believe that there are also some extensive housekeeping tasks relating to doctrines that need to be undertaken within these branches of Christianity. Keeping in mind that this is unlikely to happen at present.

I also believe that when considering global current events, we are currently moving through Matthew chapter twenty-four and entering the time of birth pangs that our Lord Christ Jesus described. As we move into the time of judgement ahead the Holy Spirit will lead us all to absolute biblical truth at the right time. So those sects that hold controversial doctrines now will drop them when the absolute truth becomes apparent though some may perish because of them.

Those who believe that Christ Jesus is a son of God and not the Son of God equal with the Father will understand exactly who He is. Those who have issues relating to incorrect doctrines of Holy Spirit will repent or perish with the lost. Those who are not sure how the Holy Spirit convicts the unbeliever of their sin will understand.

In the judgement those who belong to the enemy will be completely deceived and be confident that they are correct even in their deception. That they are right in their own eyes. But those who belong to Christ Jesus, even if they are deceived now, their eyes will be opened. They will know the truth and repent of their sins. In that time the sides will be clear for all to see and those who belong to Satan will not tolerate those who belong to Christ Jesus. To pick up your Cross and follow the Jesus in the Tribulation will mean death but take solace, the Kingdom of Heaven will be at hand and Satan and his followers will meet their end quickly.

You have only to listen to Klaus Schwalbe and his vitriol on the damage we are doing to the planet and all that Gaia worshiping nonsense to know that we live in perilous times. I recently read an article posted in News Week by Yosef I. Abramowitz[4]. This was about a group of Interfaith people climbing Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia, during COP 27, to worship Ra the Egyptian Sun God and to put forward an amended version of the Ten Commandments. I suspect they won’t enjoy the plagues that the followers of the beast will endure for the folly of their ways.

Sadly, I believe that billions will die at the hands of these madmen and their climate insanity much as millions died in the second world war at the hands of Hitler and the Nazi’s. In this case the

 gospel will be shared to all the World, and it will be a case of choose Jesus Christ and die immediately to this life to gain eternal life in the Kingdom of God or follow the Beast and face the plagues and eventual death of those who follow him, remaining separated from Yahweh for eternity and undergoing the Second Death.

So finally, I have written this batch of articles to reach out to other Christians wherever they may be in the sure knowledge that many belong to the Adventist, Charismatic or Calvinist movements or are being influenced by people who are adherents of those belief systems. I want you to be aware of the doctrines these groups hold and to make sure you don’t get pulled into the wrong place spiritually in these perilous times. It is fine to belong to a group of believers that are as enthusiastic as you are, but you need to be aware of the implications of what they believe.

A last thought. The Catholic Church, Calvinism and Adventism all teach a range of doctrines that add up to Limited Atonement and an attack on the Deity of Jesus Christ. With the Catholics the promise is that the Church will get you to heaven eventually with some help from your works and a spell in purgatory. With Calvinism God elects some to salvation and some to damnation. Again, it seems that Christ didn’t complete the work on the Cross and His atonement is limited to those who are chosen. The Adventists have their belief that Christ Jesus is Michael the ArcAngel and is a Son of God so the redemptive work at the Cross was demeaned. Under the Investigative Judgement Jesus is in the sanctuary checking to see who has the works to get them into heaven. Limited Atonement again I’m afraid. The thought? One way or another Satan attacks the deity of Jesus Christ by saying that Jesus didn’t manage to pay for the sins of all men through His sacrifice on the Cross. What you believe is up to you…

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[1] https://walkingbytheriverl.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-is-seal-of-god_9.html

[2] https://walkingbytheriverl.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-charismatic-christian.html

[3] https://walkingbytheriverl.blogspot.com/2024/01/calvinism.html

[4] For Our Sin of Emissions: 10+1 Climate Commandments | Opinion https://www.newsweek.com/our-sin-emissions-101-climate-commandments-opinion-1736640