Check out this article on PrewrathRapture.com in which Gary Vaterlaus explores what the Early Church believed about the end times. Here’s a sample:

O unreasoning men! understanding not what has been proved by all these passages, that two advents of Christ have been announced: the one, in which He is set forth as suffering, inglorious, dishonored, and crucified; but the other, in which He shall come from heaven with glory, when the man of apostasy, who speaks strange things against the Most High, shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians, who, having learned the true worship of God from the law, and the word which went forth from Jerusalem by means of the apostles of Jesus, have fled for safety to the God of Jacob and God of Israel;

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho [150-165]

Preparations are going on to build the Third Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as prophesied in Revelation 11:1-2.

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master…Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” (Luke 12:35,37)

Corrie ten Boom in a letter written in 1974 gave practical insight into how followers of Jesus can “gird their waists” and keep their “lamps burning”.  Below is an excerpt from the letter, I would encourage you to read it in its entirety.  You can find it here.

How can we get ready for the persecution? First we need to feed on the word of God, digest it, make it a part of our being. This will mean disciplined Bible study each day as we not only memorize long passages of scripture, but put the principles to work in our lives.

Next we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just the Jesus of yesterday, the Jesus of History, but the life-changing Jesus of today who is still alive and sitting at the right hand of God.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely necessary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will never be able to stand in the tribulation without it.

Corrie ten Boom

The Great Divide – “What did you do with Jesus?”

Matthew 25:31 – 46

How do you define a believer? How does God define a believer? 

The Great King v.31 – 32

Final Hour – no more Tribulation events

Final Day – no more activities for the World

Final Word – the conclusion to this Judgment is eternal

Final Excuses No one is excluded – no excuses

Final Look  Everyone will see Him and He will see them

Final Determination  Everyone will be defined as for or against Him

 Why should it matter to us that what we see going on around us will some day cease forever?

When should we share our concern with those who deny Him?

 Great Choices v. 33 – 45

The Great Divide v.46                                    

Those who deny Christ’s mandate of kindness and giving will be punished for eternity.

Those who embrace and enact Christ’s mandate of kindness and giving will be given eternal life with Christ.

There is no other choice. 

What the audience hears…

The audience of Christ’s day heard a parable on kindness.

The audience of Christians today hear story on giving.

The audience of the future Jewish nation will see a story on Kingship of Jesus who will come to set the final record straight.

What do you hear…

What will you do with Jesus?   The choice for now is up to you. Choose Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord!

It’s All About Jesus!

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin

THE TRUMPET by Bill Burns — Dec. 21, 2009:

I say, though your heart condemn you, am I not greater than your heart? I am the Lord most high and I have not come to condemn you. I have come to lift you up; to guide you; to fill you with My joy, peace and love. I have come to give you revelation knowledge and to teach you and to guide you through the turmoil of this world. My children, I say learn this day to live in My joy and in My peace for times of tribulation are coming to this world. The tribulation that is coming has been written about so it should not be a surprise to anyone. Times will become hard and plagues shall abound and wars and rumors of wars shall exist. I say look at these things not in fear or anxiety but rather look at them and say these are a sign of the coming of the Lord Most High. As you see these things coming upon the earth let your joy abound and rejoice for the end comes and the glory will manifest, says the Lord. It is written that I will have a church without spot or wrinkle. I will have a glorious people — those who learn to live and abide in the presence of My anointing and glory. I am about to reveal those hidden mysteries that you long to know. The inner workings of the kingdom of God Almighty will be revealed in these last days to a people, a chosen generation, to those who desire Me with all of their heart, mind and soul, those who love Me beyond the circumstances of their lives and abide in Me. Abide under the shadow of My out stretched wings, says the Lord. There you will find comfort for your soul and energy for your spirit. In My presence there comes a refreshing; renewal and great joy will be yours in these days if you will abide, says the Most High.

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns — Dec. 21, 2009:

I am not a God who cannot see or understand the tests and trials that you have endured. I see, and I have sustained you through the trouble, for I am with you. And now, today, I pronounce a blessing on you — a tangible blessing; just open your heart to receive, says the Lord.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

One may have awakened this morning after 2:00 AM and wrote in one’s log.  One may not have realized that several days had gone by since one’s last entry.  One may have read the Bible.  One may have opened to I Samuel 12.  One may have taken this passage of scripture as a warning for oneself.  One may have laid down to get more rest before one special time with the Lord.

The alarm may have gone off at 3:00 AM.  One may have reset it for 3:20 AM.  Shortly thereafter, one may have helped with preparing a bottle for the baby.  One may have decided to stay up at that point.  One may have read the Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin for this morning.

One may have started one’s prayer time with Jesus at 3:30 AM.  One began with praises to the Lord with song.  One may have spent the remainder of the time confessing one’s sins.  One may have found oneself, daydreaming and getting off track a lot. One may have been distracted and may know that it may be a trick of the enemy.  One may have prayed for help to stay focused.  One may have pressed on.

One may have logged onto the website to pray for outstanding prayer requests.  One may have been dozing off while praying.  Wow!  One may not have known that one was so tired.  Weird!  After one finished, one may have laid down and one may not have felt so tired after-all.  One may have prayed for the sick.  As one prayed, one began to doze off, one would wake up and continue praying.  One finally got through one’s prayer and went to sleep.

Lately, one may not have stepped up to the plate concerning one’s assignments that one may be working on.  One may have taken an unofficial break and wasted a lot of time this past week.

The area where one’s tooth was pulled may have opened up.  One may take medication as needed and try to keep the opening clean.  One may hope that one may not have to return to the dentist office.  So far, one may be doing okay and feeling no pain at this moment.

One may be back from wherever one may have gone this past week.  One may be gearing up and ready for the challenge.

Thank you Jesus!

I try to be quick about presenting balanced information about opposing views on topics of interest.

2012 is one of them.

Click here for more

Traditional interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue with the 10 toes has been that the iron/clay represents Rome, but in a weakened state.

But, suppose it could mean something more sinister?

Click here for more

This post began as a reply to Wes’s comment but quickly became too long. In the comments, Wes says,

Wes, I appreciate your kindly tone.

I agree that there are a number of different scenes in the Book of Revelation, but I don’t see that this necessarily has any bearing on the rapture question.

Your second point is truly critical and I believe that pretribulationists have misapprehended the significance of the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord and the Tribulation are not identical. Jesus says the Tribulation begins at the midpoint of the 70th Week of Daniel. For then shall be great tribulation…

Certainly, to say that the Day of the Lord comprises a period of 1,007 years is probably necessary to your cause but cannot be substantiated from Scripture. We are not shown this concept anywhere in the Word of God – in fact, a truly literal reading of the Day of the Lord concept will demonstrate that the rapture is prewrath, and cannot be imminent in the sense that pre-trib teaches. A few points:

1. For example, God says He will send Elijah before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord. If you are correct, then the next event on the prophetic calendar is not the Rapture but the coming of Elijah.
2. Then again, the Word teaches us that the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before that Day. You can find this in Isaiah, Joel, and Revelation – to name just three!
3. We are also told the Day will not come first unless the great falling away occurs and the Man of Sin is revealed. The Thessalonians were afraid they were in the Day of the Lord and Paul assures them this is not the case. I think you would agree with me on that but notice how many things must occur beforehand!
4. In 2 Peter 3 we should not assert that the Day of the Lord cataclysm Peter is discussing is the end of the Millennium.  For how could that fire come, as he says, like a thief in the night?
5. Another overlooked facet is the correspondence between Jesus’ summary of the last days (Matthew 24) and the seals of Revelation. Lay them side by side and see that the 6th seal events (the cosmic signs), described in so many places, come before the Day of the Lord. Significantly, it is after these events that we are gathered to the Lord from the four winds. This is the Rapture, and it happens at an unknown time after the Abomination of Desolation. Notice that Jesus said these signs occur immediately after the tribulation of those days.

While no system is perfect, only the prewrath system can make sense of the passages above. Pretribulationists must learn to differentiate between the terms Jesus and the prophets used: beginning of sorrows, great tribulation, Day of the Lord.

Of course, if they did that, they would no longer be pretribulationists!

Have any of you prepared anything for your non-believer family and friends to find after the rapture has occured?

I thought this was an interesting question and brought to mind many interesting ideas for me.  The people you love you may be left behind, and they will need some guidance in getting through the tribulation–don’t you think?  I thought it would be a wonderful idea to have a “rapture stash” somewhere in the house so if we’re raptured then friends/family will find these things.  So, what would be best to have in a rapture stash?

*A few extra bibles.  They even sell bibles at the dollar store and thrift shops so I’m sure you’d be able to find a cheap way to load up on extra bibles.  Have enough for your loved ones plus some extras in the hopes that they’ll be able to spread the good word during the tribulation too!

*A theoretical outline/timeline of what you think will happen during the tribulation period.  They can’t be prepared if they don’t know what to expect.

*Some bible study materials you can put together.  These don’t have to be store bought, but things you can put together at home and just print out!  Include passages that pertain to the tribulation period and any explanations you can think of that would be helpful to a first time bible reader. 

*You may also want to let your loved ones know where valuables are because if they are to refuse the mark of the beast they will need items to barter to get food and resources.  Just remember, you won’t need these things when you’re home in your new glorified body!  Material things can’t go with us!

We don’t have a rapture stash put together [yet], but I’m sure thinking about putting something together just in case the rapture happens in our lifetimes.  I do have to say that everyday it seems the news is reporting things that bring us closer and closer to fulfilling the end times prophecies of the Gog/Magog war, the dividing of Israel, that all nations will be against Israel, etc.  I’m not saying for sure that the rapture will happen in our lifetimes, but I’m looking up and watching for His trumpet blast that will call us believers home to Heaven!!  The point here is that I hope to spend eternity with those that I love here on earth, and I want them all to find salvation through Jesus Christ (even if it takes something as big as the rapture to open their eyes to the truth).

So, again, do YOU have anything prepared as a rapture stash?  I’m curious what others have done and prepared.  I’d love to hear anyone’s ideas or if I’m missing anything!!

Last week, I spoke primarily about the Tribulation period and had a fleeting word on the Rapture. This week we will follow more with the Rapture of the Church. Many Christians believe that pre-tribulation, Jesus will raise all those who have died in Christ, and also those living in Christ to heaven. This is reffered to as the “Pre-trib Rapture”. This event will possibly mark the beginning of the seven year period of time in which the Anti-Christ will reign over the Earth and turn all those left behind to Satan. Those who turn to scripture for comfort will be martyred by the Anti-Christ. Let’s take a look at why this Rapture event means so much to us who believe in Him.

¹³ “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.^[b]
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The above quote is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This verse has a lot of hope for those living now, possibly on the verge of the Tribulation. This letter from Paul to the Thessalonians tells us now that we should not fear this tribulation, nor mourn constantly for those who have died. Now, I understand the groans I can already hear… I don’t believe that Paul is portraying a message we should NEVER mourn the dead, just that we should be comforted by the promise that Jesus will catch up those believers who are dead before us in the Rapture. Obviously, the death of our loved ones tugs at our every heart-string. I’ve had several of these deaths in my own family over the years, and I can say that allowing our bodies to mourn actually can have healing effects. Despite the verse, mourning loved ones who have passed away is inevitable, and I challenge even the deepest of faithful not to shed a tear at a funeral… but never-the-less, we need to understand that this verse is telling us that before it is all said and done, there WILL be a Rapture.

Revelation 19:7-10 (New King James Version)

⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
⁹ Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” ¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Let’s take a moment to break down the “lingo” here. Bible text can be hard to decipher at times. The “marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” refers to the Church joining Christ in heaven just prior to the Tribulation. The Church is his bride because we have taken up the faith and taken Jesus as our sole salvation. Much as a human bride vows to her husband, so do Christians in Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb, and is often referred to as the Lamb or Lamb of God in Revelations.  The text goes on to describe that we shall be clothed with righteousness of saints. Righteousness is the common term in scripture for living the life God would want us to live, the one void of sin. Verses 9 and 10 state we are blessed for being at this “marriage supper”. This is stated because Christians will be “called” or “Raptured” by Jesus as stated in the Bible “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” This makes me extremely hopeful, and beyond that, extremely happy that even if I shall pass away before the Rapture, my soul will ascend to heaven when called upon because of faith. If these words don’t make you want to stand up and SHOUT your love to the Lord, then stay tuned. But for those who have already jumped up, Halleluiah! Let us all be as blessed as those who walk in the faith and live as closely to the Word as we can. We may not be perfect but if we repent and ask for salvation, one day it will be granted and we shall meet Jesus in the clouds!

To say that I have been walking in the faith would be a far cry from reality. I find myself trying harder now days than in the past, and my renewed faith is remarkable I’m sure! But who is to say that God doesn’t have the power to not just let us dip a toe into the pool of faith like a child testing the waters in a lake, but to immerse us in His teaching. So let us all dive in, so that we become soaked with the Word, drenched in the love that will one day be returned to us as we sit in the NEW kingdom. The one that is not in a mystical place somewhere between here and the sky, but right here on Earth. A place where no sin will exist because our raptured, transformed, saint-like bodies will be incapable of sinning. Not just that we will not sin, but will not have the CAPACITY to sin against the Father. This paradise is promised to all of us, and all we have to do is dive into this pool! I ask that all people reading this, consider what is being said. Not from some looney with internet access, but as one of you, a normal person with jobs and family and a renewed faith in Christ. For you, we will pray and may God bless you forever.

I write this blog today with a heavy heart yet also full of hope.  A co-laborer of mine discovered that the mass that was removed from the fontal lobe of his brain recently is malignant.  Matt Chandler is known, loved and admired by many people.  His ministry has not only been a blessing to the city in which I also serve, but to our nation.  God has graciously and sovereignly chosen to allow him the privilege of walking this unfamiliar path.  Matt and I have only communicated a couple of times electronically, but reading postings on Twitter, Facebook, and the churches website, it becomes apparent that the glory of Christ is on full display for the world (both lost and redeemed) to behold through the steps of Matt and his family.

Only another pastor can fully appreciate what it means to share private infirmities and personal sufferings with hundreds or thousands of people.  Those most precious moments with family and friends collide with the well meaning in our world that have grown accustomed to the instantaneous reporting of events and facts.  The fishbowl has never been smaller.  Pastors and leaders are supposed to be strong.  So when we (pastors) are faced with illness and uncertainty we are forced to walk in uncharted territory and rely on the body of Christ in ways that we never dreamed possible.  We do so with a deep understanding of the sovereignty of our great God.

God has guided my thoughts to Second Corinthians 12:9-10, where the apostle Paul makes a bold and somewhat concerning statement.  He writes, “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  Paul suggests that there is a pathway to victory that is filled with agony, pain and suffering.  So long as we continue on this special path that our sovereign God has laid before us we will know overwhelming joy in the midst of our sorrow and pain.  This is an act of sheer obedience.  The result of this obedience is that we emerge “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).  The level to which we attain this victory is contingent upon the level to which we exercise unadulterated faith in the Savior.

It is for this reason and this reason alone that the apostle claims that he can take pleasure in his infirmities.  Imagine how foolish faith under fire must look to the lost world!  “He takes pleasure in sickness?!  In heartache?!  In suffering?!  In pain?!”  Yes!  Yes! And Yes!  In fact, Paul writes, “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me,” or more literally, that “the dynamism of Christ might overshadow me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  The apostle realized that it was this suffering, sickness, illness, weakness was the secret of his strength.  He also realized that if he were to give glory to doctors, medicine, technology, etc. that this overshadowing power could/would be removed.

A few years ago, my family and I went camping at Hillman Ferry campground located in the Land Between the Lakes area of the Tennessee Valley.  There is a massive dam located very near the campground.  My family and I actually went inside the dam and toured this massive structure.  The guide described how electric power is generated from the turbulent pressure of accumulated masses of water backed up by the dam.  As the water pushes its way through the enormous turbines, electricity is created.  Millions of people throughout the Tennessee Valley are recipients or benefactors of that power.  Let me relate that to the topic at hand.  As a suffering believer rests  by faith through suffering, he does so with the understanding that our sovereign God has employed or allowed these pressures to be an opportunity to grow us and to glorify Himself.  As we give ourselves over to boasting rather than balling, glorying rather than groaning, then those pressures are transformed into power.  The moment the turbines of faith are stalled the power is gone, as we rest by faith, the power remains.  While struggling with cancer, the great preacher, Dr. Stephen Olford observed, “Instead of being a problem, suffering can become redemptive power.”

History books are overflow with examples of followers of Christ who have been used in the world because they have suffered.    As in all things, Christ is our supreme example.  His suffering was the vehicle through which freedom and forgiveness of sin was accomplished.  The prophet Isaiah states, “By His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:6).

It’s sometimes only through suffering that we begin to listen intently to God. Through illness, suffering and tribulation, the pride of the “old man” which is draped in natural pride and self-confidence are stripped painfully away.  It forces us to become aware, perhaps for the first time, of our own personal needs.

People all over will ask the penetrating question, “Why?”  One is tempted to simply respond, “Why not?”  When questioned by a skeptic regarding why the righteous suffer, C.S. Lewis replied, “Why not?  They are the only ones who can handle it.”  With a hint of rebuke in his voice, the apostle Peter says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings” (2 Peter 4:12, 13).  “Do not think it strange…”  Followers of Christ should expect suffering as a normal part of their life in Christ Jesus.  Followers of Christ are not better than the Lord who leads them!  Suffering is part of our calling in Christ Jesus.  “To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (I Peter 2:21).

I will be the first one to admit that there is a great mystery surrounding the suffering of believers.  I will also be the first one to affirm that there is great victory surrounding the suffering of believers too!  To walk through heartache is to walk from a position of victory.  God heals!  Some are delivered in this world as living testimonies of His unmerited grace.  Others are delivered from this world and receive ultimate healing.  Our bodies are “sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:43-44).  This is how death is swallowed up in victory.  Victory in Jesus!

It is yet to be seen which avenue our great God has chosen for Matt, Lauren and their family.  Until such time as God chooses to show us, it is incumbent upon us to pray with fervency and wait with expectancy.  “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope it Him!’  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentations 3:22-26).

Hello, brothers and sisters.

Due to unforeseen circumstances I will not be posting any new messages for the remainder of 2009.  I will resume posting new messages on January 5, 2010.  In the meantime, I would encourage you to read the messages for earlier dates still available on this site.  I look forward to resuming our discussions once we enter the new year:-)

If you are someone who has already decided to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you haven’t actually done it yet, please join me in praying the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that You paid for my salvation with Your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, You conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  I now lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  From this moment on, Lord Jesus, I completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Precious one, if you just sincerely prayed that prayer then you can now rejoice in knowing that you are saved.  Your sins of the past have been washed away by Christ’s blood shed on the cross, and you are now free from the chains and shackles that your past sins and that this world have bound you with for so long.  You are a new creation in Christ.  Study His word, and ask Him to shape your life in the form He had in mind when He created you in your mother’s womb.  You will still face adversity and trials in this world, but you will never again face them alone.  You have Almighty God in your corner now, and you can rely on Him to be there with you through all things that come your way.  The bible tells us that the angels in heaven rejoice each time someone is saved.  Beloved, you just started a celebration:-)  Welcome to the family!!!  Praise God for His abundant mercy, amazing grace, complete forgiveness, eternal salvation and His perfect love!!!

I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas!!!  Remember, the only true reason for this season is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God:-)  Live to glorify the Lord every single day, always remember that it is He who blesses you with each and every single day.

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

The other night I awoke with the words from this Hymn by Horatio G. Spafford running through my mind. This is noteworthy only because having been raised Roman Catholic, and been only in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches since then, it is not a hymn I know. In fact the only words I could remember was the refrain

I took a few days to ponder what the Lord was speaking to me. Like no doubt, many others, this has been a time of trial and testing for Debbi and me. It has been a time of testing our resolve to press in to the Lord and to trust Him in all things, and a time and place of laying down all before His throne. Such were the circumstances in which this song was written. In 1871, his only son died, and then his financial future went up in flames in the Great Chicago Fire. In 1873, he planned a trip to Europe. Delayed by business dealings following the fire, he sent his wife and daughters on ahead while he finished his business. While crossing the Atlantic, their ship sank, killing all four of his daughters. Only his wife survived. It was in this context that he penned the words as he traveled by ship to join his wife.

All too often we have the mindset that our Lord “promised us a rose garden.” In reality nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus told his disciples;

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Our Lord in His goodness has promised us tribulation. Wait a minute you say, in His goodness? Well yes, in his goodness, for in the words of Paul;

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5 1-5

You see, tribulation and testing is an essential part of the process of our growth into the fullness of His desire and plan for us. Even as the struggle of a chick to escape it’s shell or a butterfly it’s cocoon is vital if it is to succeed and thrive, so it is absolutely vital that when we face trials and tribulations, we do not run from them, but embrace them. It is here, in the midst of the trials that we build the strength of character, hope, trust, perseverance, and yes, humility so necessary if we are to walk in the fullness of His anointing and not be destroyed.

David wrote many wonderful Psalms. Some of the most beautiful ones came in those times of tribulation. Have you ever read them and wondered how such wonderful, lovely and uplifting words could have come forth in the midst of such adversity? Allow me to suggest to you that it was because David, as a result of his intimate times with the Lord, both knew who he was in the Lord and how to remain in the secret place. As it says in Psalm 91;

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

David knew where to run when trials came. He knew The Rock who is our Fortress, our High Tower, our Shelter, and our Strength in times of need. He knew how to abide in our God, and in His Peace that defies all understanding. David penned in Psalm 84;

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God….

And;

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness for the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

These are the words of a man walking in the midst of trails and tribulation. One who knew pain, spent years on the run because of unjust persecution, and who knew betrayal, cold and hunger. These are the words of a man who knew tribulation and embraced it because he knew who he was, knew he could trust in his Lord, and knew how to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.

Trials come and trials go, but our Lord’s promises remain. He, in His Wisdom, allows the trials to come so we may overcome, grow and step into the fullness of His desire for us. Until we go home we will face trials, count on it, but also know that He will be with you in the midst of every one. The question is will you allow them to make you sour and bitter, or will you worship Him and allow the Lord make you a cool spring, so others may drink and be refreshed in your presence?

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

I was thinking recently about the Altar of burnt sacrifice. About how as Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice upon the altar of the Cross, we are to offer up sacrifices before God, spiritual, (1 Peter), Praise (Heb 13), and last, but not least, ourselves.

Paul spoke of being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice, and also spoke of us imitating Christ, and following Him as He offered Himself as a sacrifice:

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

It is right and it is good that we allow ourselves to be placed upon the altar as a living sacrifice to Him, and it is there that we are purified and refined, and there that our worship becomes a pure, sweet odor rising before the throne. But wait! There’s more!

“So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” (Mark 12:32-34)

Note the center portion “…to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices…” Once again, LOVE tops all else. The Word says in Hosea that God desires mercy (kindness and goodness – i.e. love manifested) and not sacrifice and knowing Him to burnt offerings.

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

Allow me to suggest that it is in all the trials, tribulations, and persecutions upon the altar that God refines us and teaches us how to love as He loves. It is there we learn compassion, understanding, and to discern the thoughts and hearts of men – or more accurately to hear the Holy Spirit as He does these things. No, it’s not a process we enjoy, but it is one we must endure if we are to step into the fullness of what God has for us. Just as the newly formed porcelain cup must pass through the fiery furnace not once, but twice, before it is fit for use, so too we must allow the Lord to bring us through the furnace of affliction before we can be used.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.” (1Peter 1:6-8)

When those trials come, do not despair, but rejoice for God is working a good thing in you and you shall emerge an ever more faithful reflection of Him. Ask Him what the lesson is, take it to heart and then rejoice that you are counted worthy of enduring trials for the sake of the kingdom.

Above all, continue to love, stay in His love; keep your eyes fixed on the Lover of Your Soul, for in the end all that really matters is that we learned to love, really love, as Jesus loved us.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:13)

Be Blessed

KHD 12/12/09

Maybe I should actually say….he never died.

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A world court system (The International Criminal Tribunal) was established through Bill Clinton’s initiative in 1997. This is the same court that charged Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Serbia and Yugoslavia,  with crimes against humanity, issued a warrant for the arrest of the president of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir, in March of this year, and now wants to charge US soldiers  (and by implication its president) with crimes against humanity in Afghanistan.

This video touches on the relevant subject of the establishment of a One World Government.

To say that this is disturbing would be a VAST understatement!

Consider the cultivation of this bonsai tree.

Last Sunday, Hypatia pondered over whether it was a good thing for her parents to be taking her daughter with them to church. Her daughter is currently nursery-age, so I (and the others who commented) seemed to agree that there doesn’t seem to be much harm currently…but then the peanut gallery of single people commented on whether this might be a dangerous habit in the long run.

I thought it could have the potential to turn quite sour. After all, in the case that the child grows up believing, I wouldn’t have a problem with this, but I might have a problem if my child additionally picked up judgmental ideas about me as a nonbeliever. Isn’t it possible that a child could learn that his or her parents are sinful apostates, and then come to resent the parents (or resent parental authority)? SimplySarah thought otherwise, raising that she would like her children to understand the beliefs and practices of Mormons so they could better relate to cousins and grandparents. But what she said next was a bit worrisome to me:

I think some confusion can actually be a good thing. It has helped me in my own journey to know myself. I think it’s important for children to be able to experience confusion, to question, to struggle to make connections, and to seek understanding.

This made me think back to a Eugene England talk, “Why the Church is as True as the Gospel.” The idea here, which I heard echoed ever-so-slightly in Sarah’s comment (and which I meant to address a long time ago BUT NEVER GOT TO) is that the dissatisfying, troublesome, or annoying aspects of a human church (with all the imperfections that humans bring) might not be detractors from the church, but rather points of benefit. As England says:

Church involvement teaches us compassion and patience as well as courage and discipline. It makes us responsible for the personal and marital, the physical and spiritual welfare of people we may not already love (may even heartily dislike), and thus we learn to love them. It stretches and challenges us, even when we are disappointed and exasperated, in ways we would not other­wise choose to be stretched and challenged. Thus it gives us a chance to be made better than we may have chosen to be—but need and ultimately want to be.

There was another thing that England said that is actually interesting because it relates to a later post from Sarah (where I could be said to be arguing for England’s point. Heck, England’s comments about marriage kinda-sorta anticipate Sarah’s latest post about family life.)

…I know that there are exceptions, but the basic Church experience of almost all Mormons brings them directly and constantly into very demand­ing and intimate relationships with a range of people and prob­lems in their assigned congregations that are not primarily of their own choosing but are profoundly redemptive in potential, in part because they are not consciously chosen. Yes, the ordinances performed through the Church are important, as are its scriptural texts and moral exhortations and spiritual conduits. But even these, in my experience, are powerful and redemptive partly because they work harmoniously with profound, life-giving oppositions through the Church structure to give truth and meaning to the religious life of Mormons.

So, in addressing Sarah (and England), I don’t want to say that these challenges…these hardships, these confusions, are unimportant…rather, I want to address something deeper…do we require a church like the LDS one to find and serve in these capacities?

I would agree with Sarah that the church has, without a doubt, helped me in my journey to understand myself. I would be quite a different person without it. As I wrote in response to one of Madam Curie’s posts, “I don’t want my money back.“

But what I also recognize is this: there is trial, tribulation, hardship, and confusion in all places. It is something that life certainly is in abundance of. So, because my life currently isn’t daisies, and I have opportunities every day to navigate, to improve, to reflect, I would think the same is true for any potential children I might have. I don’t feel I need to purposefully subject them to the brand of confusion I faced just because I know confusion and trial can improve a person (in the same way my parents didn’t feel the need to purposefully subject me to a taste of the confusion they experienced in the 60s in the 70s as a black man and black woman, even though it certainly improved them). It seems to me cruel to subject someone to such.

But this doesn’t mean I would bubble my children. I would still let them face the randomness and accidents of life and learn to grapple with these things. Or when I perceive some greater benefit, then I might determine something to be worthwhile, despite the confusion possible. (So, if I believed in the church and the gospel, then I believe that would make me more amenable to England’s conclusion. Because I wouldn’t just be telling kids, “OK, go suffer,”…I would be trying to get them to learn valuable truths for a valuable purpose.)

Of course, I put a huge caveat at the end of this. I am in the Peanut Gallery of Single Folks who don’t know what we are talking about.

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. I Timothy 4:10.
There can be no greater service in the world than that which is given to God. It is a marvelous thing to know that the work one commits to the service of the Lord is a treasure hidden up in heaven that pays great dividends to the redeemed. And yet, there is equally a negative draw upon the depositories here on earth. The work is long an arduous and filled with resistance. The servant of God is thrust into a battle that can be quite overwhelming most of the time and void of fanfare and recognition. The work of God requires the mindset of Christ which consists of self sacrifice. The disciple of Christ who walks this road without first considering the risks is doomed to failure for he believes that blessings of favor and wellbeing are associated with the service. He soon finds himself emptied, tired, beat up, un-nerved, and comes to the conclusion that God either doesn’t care or cannot be trusted. But the scripture tells us clearly that we “both” labour and suffer. Christ is surely worth it all. The apostle Paul says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) Polycarp, a direct student of the Apostle John was arrested for his faith and when threatened with torture and martyrdom if he would not pay obeisance to Caesar said, “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Steadfast in his stand for Christ, Polycarp refused to compromise his beliefs, and thus, was burned alive at the stake. For every true servant of Christ there is also a reward of a crown of life that does not fade. Be faithful my dear brethren!

RC

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

I John 3:12

Cain was “of that” wicked one: the devil. Therefore, he would be a liar and a counterfeiter – and a blasphemous counterfeiter. “Slew” in I John 3:12 can mean to slaughter – as in the way a sacrificial animal was killed. There are some difficult passages in Genesis, and the New Testament many times clarifies the Old Testament.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Genesis 4:8-10 (emphasis added)

Verse 8 says “slew,” as if Cain was saying to God, “Okay, God, you didn’t like my first sacrifice – you wanted a blood sacrifice – a slaughtered beast – here you go,” in a very rebellious, very arrogant, very evil way.

So I John 3:12 may be revealing the demonic nature of Cain in his outright rebellion against God. And Genesis 4:9 (“I know not [where my brother is]“) certainly reveals his lying, which is also the way of Satan. How quickly sin – in the very first descendant of Adam and Eve – begins to completely reach its full depths of evil! Adam and Eve’s very first child turns out to be not just greedy, not just jealous, not just rebellious, not just dishonest, not just disobedient, but a murderer! And not just a murderer but a perpetrator of fratricide!

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Genesis 4:1

The name “Cain” meant “that which was acquired.” Cain was acquired from God, but obtained through a painful effort. There was a double curse of painful childbirth – the pain itself and the tendency toward a feeling of pride: “This child was given to me by God, but he’s mine, too – look how much effort I put into him, look how much pain it cost me to have him.” We must be careful to remember Whose children “our” children really are.

Think about all the questions God asks in Genesis 4:6, 7, 9, and 10: “Why art thou wroth?” “Why is thy countenance fallen?” “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” “Where is Abel thy brother?” “What hast thou done?” God gave chances to admit to sin to both Adam and Cain. Adam tried to avoid God; Cain outright lied to God. Then notice Cain’s selfish, Luciferean point of view:

And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

Genesis 4:13-14 (emphasis added)

And Cain continued rebelling against God:

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Genesis 4:16:17

God pronounced Cain a vagabond – a wanderer, a homeless person – but, instead of wandering, he founded a land – and called it “Wandering” – and tried to settle down there and build a city!

Jude v. 11 speaks of the “way of Cain.” In Genesis, starting with the life of Cain, we begin to see a clear division of the broad way and the narrow way, with the descendants of Cain following the way of Cain, and God raising up a remnant of believers in the line of Seth.

Cain had an Enoch in his line; Seth had an Enosh and an Enoch in his line. One line has a Mehujael; the other line has a Methusaleh. They both had a Lamech. Cain’s Lamech was the first bigamist.

The people in the city of Cain and his son, Enoch, had agriculture (Genesis 4:20). They had arts (Genesis 4:21). They had industry (Genesis 4:22). They had everything but God.

In Genesis Chapter 5 we see a clear separation in the line of Seth and the line of Cain. If there is “the way of Cain,” we could also say there is a “way of Seth.”

Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Genesis 5:2-3

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 5:24

Seth’s Enoch was 300 when he had Methusaleh, and his life changed. He walked with the Lord. The birth of a child should make us walk with the Lord.

Enoch’s disappearance is a good picture of the rapture before tribulation. “Methusaleh” means “man of the dart,” which could refer to him being a good shot with the bow and arrow, but, being of Seth’s line, and not Cain’s, it probably reveals God’s intention for the lifespan of Methusaleh to be like a dart. A dart flies far from the person who launched it, but it eventually lands, and that is the end of its journey. It marks a spot – the end of something. Methusaleh live to be 969. He holds the record for the world’s oldest human. When he finally died, God flooded the world. This shows God’s attribute of being longsuffering.

Christ may call some of us to die for Him. But He definitely calls all of us to LIVE for Him. Many people say they are willing to die for Him but so few today are actually willing to live for Him. A life of total commitment with great sacrifice is not just A calling for some, it is THE calling for all. For many, dying for Christ would be easy but living for Christ is much harder. If you’ve truly seen Christ and what He’s done for you then you will be totally committed and the cost of living for Him in this way, or dying for Him, will be worth it. 

Is Christ your true love? 

Have you seen what He’s done for you? 

Are you living for Christ? 

Perhaps you feel that you have not counted the cost and are not committed in this manner. Perhaps you feel that Christ is not worth it. Do you know that He died for that very sin of you feeling this way and is able to change you so that you will see Him and desire Him more? Look at your Lord. He is quick to forgive. Cling to Him. Turn away from your sin. Trust Him. Look to what He’s done for you. Ask Him to save you and to make Himself your everything. Do you not realize that this will be your greatest joy? If you feel the weight of this conviction then know that He has died for you and paid the punishment that you deserve. So count the cost and surrender all to Christ. Do this today. 

The story below is about someone who not only lived for Christ but then also went on to die for Him:

Members of the extremist Islamic group al Shabaab, executed 23-year-old Christian convert, Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf, and his body was discovered in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district, according to Compass Direct News. On Oct. 28, al Shababb members detained Yusuf and searched his home for Christian materials, after a 15-year-old Muslim boy accused Yusuf of trying to convert him to Christianity. While interrogating Yusuf about other Somali Christians, the extremists knocked out all of Yusuf’s front teeth and broke several of his fingers. They then shot him twice in the head and dumped his body on an empty residential street. Since it is unknown whether Yusuf revealed information about other Christians while he was tortured, the underground Christians who knew him have relocated for their safety. Yusuf’s Muslim family members are also in danger, as extremists have accused them of failing to report his conversion. The Voice of the Martyrs supports persecuted Christians through a project to assist evangelists and encourage converts from Islam.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

-2 Timothy 3:12

We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.

-Acts 14:22 

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

- John 15:20

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

- Luke 14:25-35

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