The Palestinian Decision--For Now

Looks like the state department has made it clear that they will veto the move to freeze Israeli settlements and to try to stop other nations from recognizing the Palestinian state. Maybe that is why we have had some nicer weather lately!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States, a veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council member, will use "the tools that we have" to block a resolution condemning Israeli settlements, a top US diplomat said Thursday...Steinberg also told the lawmakers that Washington was making a vigorous diplomatic campaign to stop countries from declaring their recognition of an independent Palestinian state, as several Latin American nations have done.

source: Activist Post

The next date to watch for is the summer of 2011 when the palestinian state is scheduled to be created.

Tribulations

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2 Thes 1:4,5

Since beginning this blog back in March 2010 the amount of tribulations that I have experienced seems to be steadily increasing. For example just in the last few months I have had 4 viruses, I was cheated out of $1000 plus from a fellow Christian, had a car window smashed or shot out, my credit card was hacked, pellet stove broke, have had many sicknesses in my household, plus other things I will not mention. And just two days ago within hours of posting Is the Rapture Imminent? I had 2 immediate family members come down with high fevers and an hour after that I was taking another family member back from the doctor for a recheck on pneumonia and the spark plug blew out of my Ford requiring it to be towed to the shop for a costly repair. (Just found out it is an all to common problem with some Ford engines--they will be getting a letter!).

Now these things are not really all that bad--like what some may be experiencing such as cancer, loss of job, house foreclosures, deaths in the family, prison, etc. But for me they have been very trying and at times overwhelming because many things happened all at once.

In experiencing these things I began wondering; was I doing something wrong--was God punishing me? I felt that these tribulations were related to the blogging. On several occasions things got so intense I was ready to just shut the whole thing down, but many people have encouraged me and thanked me for helping them understand various end times truths. I sought the Lord in prayer and beseeched Him about these things willing to do whatever He wanted me to do.

I shared my difficulties with a few people who helped me to get a handle on the whole situation. Here is my conclusion; When you stand for the truth of God's Word tribulation will come your way. I also believe that the tribulations will increase more and more as we see the day drawing near but so will God's Spirit.

I tell you these things because maybe for some of you since you may have begun believing the truth about certain end times topics, and sharing it with others, you have had an increase in tribulations too. So take heart because it "is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God." We also know God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those called according to His purpose. So if God allows it in our life He will use it for our good.

I also tell you these things because I need your prayers for God to encourage me, strengthen me, protect me and my family, and guide me in the His perfect will. So when you read this blog if you could remember to say a little prayer for me and my family I would really appreciate it.

So I also ask your prayers for God to speak through me in putting the data together in a coherent easily understandable format and that satan would not be allowed to hinder me in the work.

Is the Rapture Imminent?

Is the rapture imminent? The believers in Thessalonica were addressed by God through the apostle Paul on that very subject. The Thessalonians thought that the Day of the Lord/rapture was ready to occur or had already occurred and they missed it.

1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. 2 Thes 2:1,2

Paul was trying to comfort their shaken mind regarding the timing of the rapture--"the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto him." Paul's response...

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; 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. 5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Here Paul clearly tells them that the day--day of Christ/the rapture--cannot come unless a couple of things happen first;

1. A falling away.

2. The man of sin--the antichrist--is revealed, worshipped as God and sits in the temple as God.

The falling away is a time when Christians in large numbers will suddenly forsake the faith. The man of sin sits in the temple as God at the abomination of desolation which happens near the middle of the last 7 years.


With that in mind let me state the verse more plainly; let no man deceive you by any means: for the rapture shall not come, except there come a falling away first and the antichrist performs the abomination of desolation. So how can the rapture be imminent if those things have to happen first? It can't be. The rapture cannot be imminent until these things are fulfilled. BTW without imminency the pre tribulation rapture theory cannot stand.

So to answer the question; Is the rapture imminent? No, it will not be imminent until the great falling away and abomination of desolation occurs--let no man deceive you by any means.

Setting Dates

Throughout our lifetimes we have most likely heard of someone setting a date for the rapture or the "end of the world"--the latest example being Harold Camping of Family Radio--May 21, 2011.

On May 21st, Judgment Day will begin and the rapture (the taking up into heaven of God’s elect people) will occur at the end of the 23-year great tribulation. On October 21st, the world will be destroyed by fire (7000 years from the flood; 13,023 years from creation). http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/may21/

Will this be the way it happens? Absolutely not! How do we know? Because of what scripture says. God clearly tells us that no one knows the day or hour of the rapture. God also clearly tells us that before Christ returns at Armageddon the antichrist will reign for 3.5 years, and the trumpet and bowl judgments will occur. So therefore according to scripture the rapture will not occur on May 21, 2011 and the world will not end on October 21, 2011 or for that matter any time before the antichrist begins to reign. This is what a literal interpretation of scripture demands. The only way people can support erroroneous theories such as the one above is to forsake a literal interpretation of scripture and spiritualize everything.

I feel led to address this issue...First off let me plainly state I do not know when Christ will return and I do not know when the rapture will occur. Scripture is clear that the antichrist is only given 3.5 years to reign.

3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9. If any man have an ear, let him hear. Rev 13:3-9

His reign begins after the abomination of desolation and continues for forty two months--3.5 years until he is thrown in the bottomless pit at the return of Christ. We also know that after his reign begins he will start to persecute Jews and Christians--seal 5.

1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

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.

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;

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. 2 Thes 2:1-4

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Rev 13:7

After the persecution of seal 5 Christians will be rescued at the rapture which occurs after the sixth seal is opened, God's wrath is then poured out upon the world.

12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

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

17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rev 6:12-17

So it will be possible to set a date for the return of Christ after we see the abomination of desolation and the antichrist take over the world. It will be 42 months or 1260 days after that and the rapture would occur at an unknown time between those two events.

Again In my writings I am not predicting when Christ will return. I do not know when it will be. When will we know for sure? When we either know for sure that a seal has occurred or see the antichrist arise.

I suggest reading The Coming Epiphany for a further explanation.

O Daughter of Babylon

The day after posting The New Madrid Fault--Connecting the Dots where I stated; "...there is a lot of information suggesting that the New Madrid Fault may once again cause a serious earthquake in the future. When I do not know. What might some immediate precursors be? The USA forcing Israel to divide her land and create the Palestinian state--if you see that happen look out!"
The next morning I randomly opened my Bible to Isaiah 47.

1. Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

Who is the daughter of Babylon? Hmm...let's see, it can't be Babylon because it is her daughter. So I guess it would have to be another Babylon. What other Babylon is listed in scripture? The end times Babylon. Who is end times Babylon? America. For further reading and convincing upon those lines read the post America Is End Times Babylon.

Let's read on...

2. Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

3. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

4. As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

5. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.

6. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Here we read that the Lord is going to take vengeance upon the daughter of Babylon--America, the lady of kingdoms--for her mistreatment of Israel--thou didst shew them no mercy after God gave them into our hand--we have been the nation who has protected and stood with Israel the most of any nation but as the scriptures tell us we will one day betray her.

7. And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

8. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
This pretty much typifies the attitude of America--thinks she is invincible, given to pleasure, believes she is the greatest, no one can take us down. What will happen to her?

9. But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

10. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.

11. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

12. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

13. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

14. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

15. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
Unfortunately because of our many sins and our mistreatment of Israel which most likely involve the dividing of her land to create the Palestinian state we will be judged. What will the judgment entail, will it result in the New Madrid fault splitting this country in two? I do not know, but I do know that we will eventually receive judgments for our many sins.

My study of scripture and current events has led me to believe that we will see severe economic problems, rioting, earthquakes, severe weather, tsunami's, EMPs, nuclear attacks, biological attacks. Then just after the rapture the USA will be totally destroyed by an all out nuclear attack during WWIII with fire engulfing the whole land. And finally toward the end of the 7 years she will sink below the waves and will be no more. This is the fate of America--O daughter of Babylon!

O beautiful for spacious skies

for amber waves of grain,

for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee and you refused His Grace and will be engulfed by sea to shining sea!

O America! O America! How I wish it were not true. I pray that many would be brought to repentance before it is too late.

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