The Rapture and the Second Coming: EXPLAINED!

The Rapture and the Second Coming: EXPLAINED! � Olivier Melnick - https://www.newantisemitism.com/antisemitism/the-rapture-and-the-second-coming-explained The topic of the Rapture of the Church has been a controversial one for quite a while now. The pendulum swings from the Rapture being an invention or a myth all the wayto being an imminent event to take place before the Great Tribulation, with a lot of adjusted theological positions in between. Additionally, many have come to look at the Rapture and the Second Coming as being one and the same event. The Bible does give usplenty of information regarding the timing of both the Rapture and the Second Coming to know how and when they will take place and who will be included. The differences will be looked at from a pre-tribulation/premillennial viewpoint, which means that thesequence of events is as follows: Rapture, Seven Year Great Tribulation (seven actual years), Second Coming of Messiah, Millennial Kingdom (1,000 actual years) and Eternal Order. Let�s look at the timing, purpose and people for both events. The Timing of the Rapture: As to the Rapture, the timing isclearly unknown to all people, except that most believers hold to what is known as �imminency�. This means that the Rapture is as certain as it is sign less Nobody knows when it will happen, but it will happen and there is nothing that needs to happen priorto the Rapture for the event to take place. The Bible is replete with verses telling us that the Rapture could happen at any moment: 1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Yeshua the Messiah, Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Hebrews 9:28 so Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting forhim. We must also keep in mind that imminency means certainty as it is inevitable, but uncertainty as to when it will take place. Its imminency should motivate us to share theGood News with the lost and give us hope for the future. The Timing of the Second Coming: Some people see the SecondComing as a separate event from the Rapture while others will see the Second Coming taking place in two steps: The Rapture and the Return. Regardless of how one looks at the Second Coming (one or two events), it takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation,at the climax of the Campaign of Armageddon, so in that sense, it can be timed with a certain degree of precision. From the signing of the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel, there will be seven years, and then the Second Coming. Over three hundredreferences about the Second Coming can be found in the Bible (Zechariah 14:1-11; Revelation 19:11-19). An often ignored, but key component of the timing of the Second Coming, is Israel�s involvement. Yeshua promised at the end of Matthew 23 that Israel will not see Him againuntil they corporately say Baruch Haba Bashem Adonai, meaning �Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord�. This is based on the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10, �And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of graceand pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn,� that will take place at the end of the seven-year Tribulation,after two-thirds of all Jewish people living during the Tribulation will have been decimated Zechariah 13:8-9 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9 And I will put this third into the fire,and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, �They are my people; and they will say, �The LORD is my God.�� If this was to happen today, two-thirds of all Jewish people alive would be 10 million which is almost double the casualties of the Holocaust. God didn�t give us numbershere but a percentage of 2/3 and 1/3. The percentage will never change, and any casualty is a tragedy, but the final number of Jewish people dying during the Great Tribulation can be drastically reduced if Christians share the Gospel with their Jewish friendsand more come to the Lord before the Rapture. Truly, today more than ever, time is of the essence. Honestly, we should boldly proclaim the Gospel to our Jewish friends if we believe that their acceptance would secure them a place during the Rapture and would prevent themfrom the carnage of the Tribulation. The reason why this is very important is that by the time Yeshua returns at the Second Coming the clock starts ticking for Satan�s demise and the time is very short. Outsideof a short time when he is released at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-10O), Satan�s fate is sealed and he is bound for eternal torment in the Lake of fire without relief. Satan is never the �boss� of Hell, but rather one of the first ones thrownin; and this is because of Israel�s recognition of her Messiah, missed and rejected at His First Coming. The very Jewish people that are the apple of God�s eye according to Zechariah 2:8b, are the people Satan hates the most, and are also the people that willbecome the catalyst for Yeshua�s Second Coming. If the Jews don�t call on Him, He simply will not return, and Satan�s job is secure. Pushing the Jewish people away from Yeshua has been Satan�s entire career. He�s managed to work with antisemitism � by placingthat hatred in the hearts of men � and done much damage to the Jewish people over the centuries. The Purpose for the Rapture: As to the purpose for the Rapture,that should be clear. Messiah is going to come back at some point and call His children to join Him before the start of the Tribulation. Yeshua wants to save His children from the upcoming wrath 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Yeshua who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell onthe earth. Now, this is not a view shared by all believers, but for those who agree with the event, we can say that the Rapture is the first phase of the Second Coming of Messiah.This is the phase when He doesn�t land on earth but calls us up. At such a time, two things will happen, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. Andthe dead in Messiah will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. So, the dead in Messiah (deceased believers from the birth of the Church to that time) will rise first, closely followed by all other believers alive at the time. This canalso be called the resurrection of the righteous. The book of Revelation does not make any reference to the Church after chapter 3. This seems to indicate that the Church will not be part of the Tribulation, since all the damage inflicted by the Antichristfrom the middle of the Tribulation forward never mentions the Church once. The Tribulation seems to coincide with the 70th week of Daniel 9:27 starting after the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel. Simply put, as the first step of theSecond Coming, the Rapture will take place because God wants to protect His people from His wrath on earth. Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominationsshall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.� The Purpose for the Second Coming: No one knows how much timewill transpire between the Rapture and the Start of the Tribulation, but common sense would dictate that the Antichrist will have to show up quickly and establish his hegemony with authority. At least seven years after the Rapture, at the end of the GreatTribulation, Yeshua will return to earth with those He had raptured. This will take place at the end of the Campaign of Armageddon when He comes to defeat the Antichrist Revelation19:19-21 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burnswith sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. Messiah will come to fulfill His promise of return spoken of in the Old and New Testament (Zechariah 14:4); Matthew 25:31); Acts 1:9-11). Probably the most mentioned inthe Tanach, is the fact that Messiah also comes to regather and restore the nation of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6); Jeremiah 30:10); Ezekiel 36:24-38). It will be both a physical and spiritual regathering. He is also coming to judge the living Gentiles (Matthew25:31-46) and Jews (Ezekiel 20:33-38) who survived the Tribulation. It is also after the Second Coming that Yeshua will resurrect the Old Testament saints Revelation 20:4-6) and Daniel 12:1-2) �At that time shall arise Michael, the greatprince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And manyof those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Yeshua will also bind Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) and reign as the Davidic King in Jerusalem for 1,000 years (Revelation 19:6); Daniel 2:44) so, this coming is literal, physicaland future. The People of the Rapture: For those of us who believe in aliteral Rapture, it is actually quite simple to understand. Only those �in Messiah� will be included in the event, requiring them to be in Messiah by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13) That includes all believers who died from the birth ofthe Church at Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) and all who are still alive, as we learned in Acts 2. The dead in Messiah first and then those alive, not long after. Nobody else will be included at that time. The People of the Second Coming: Yeshua�s Second Coming willdeal with a different group of people. First, He will return with the believers (saints) in their glorified bodies that were raptured seven years prior. Our role in His return will simply be to accompany Him and be observers of the final chapters of history.The Campaign of Armageddon is between Yeshua and His enemies led by the Antichrist. We will be there, but uninvolved. It will be a literal, personal, sudden, visible and glorious return. The Second Coming includes a judgment of all people known as the GreatWhite throne judgment (Revelation 20:12-13). It is for all those who died without trusting Yeshua. Many will be surprised as they thought that religion was the answer, but they truly didn�t have a personal relationship with Yeshua, �Not everyone who says tome, �Lord, Lord,� will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, �Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in yourname?� And then will I declare to them, �I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.� (Matthew 7:21-23). It is different from the Bema Seat Judgment that believers will undergo after the Rapture (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). That judgment of thebelievers is connected to service to the Lord and rewards for service, but salvation is never in question. The Rapture is very different from the Second Coming or is at the very least the first part of the Second Coming. The second part is the physical future return of Yeshuaon the Mount of Olives to judge the world. Regardless of where one stands on the Rapture, most people will agree that Yeshua is coming back at some point in the future, and when that occurs, a lot of people will not make the cut. The question is: Will you? ------------------------------------------ After the Rapture, Many Will Be Left Behind - By Pastor MikeTaylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2022/02/after-rapture-many-will-be-left-behind.html 19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) "The United States was founded upon Christian principles". I have heard that said many times in my 70+ years on this earth and have to agree in part. It is true that wewere founded on principles of Judeo-Christian traditions found in our bibles. But in the past 200 plus years of this nation’s existence and rise to be the lone super-power in the world, can we still say that? I recall a past “POTUS” the “usurper in chief” proclaiming that we are no longer a Christian nation, but a mixture of all religions, with Islam a major contributor? OH, Really?? I looked up what percentage of the American people identify with the Christian religion, or claim to believe in a higher powerthan ourselves. When I did an online search of Christianity in America, I find these results via Wikipedia: “Religion in the United States is characterized by both a wide diversity in religious beliefs and practices, and by a high adherence level. According to recent surveys,83 percent of Americans claim to belong to a religious denomination, 40 percent claim to attend services nearly every week or more, and 58 percent claim to pray at least weekly. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a "very important" role intheir lives, a proportion unusual among developed nations.” That’s impressive on the surface, but I would like to dissect what it means to be a Christian. Are we still a Christian country, or has that changed? By the statistics,it appears that many attend a local church, some regularly, but does that identify what a Christian is? Many belong to that church, but does that identify who is Christian and who is not? What about tithing, or prayer, and how about reading the Words of Godfound in their bibles? How many put into practice what the words found in your bible say into their daily lives? Do these same folks put in an hour on Sunday because it’s fashionable and then depart to do whatever it is they wish to be doing for the rest ofthe week? In other words, they give an obligatory hour of being present before God, once a week. What do they do the other 6 twenty four hour periods, or for that matter, the rest of the day on Sunday? Or are they members of a modern “social club”? FALSELY BELIEVING IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHURCH Many people feel that if they attend services on Sunday, (some rarely, if ever) except on Easter or Christmas, or give a few bucks into the offering plate, or be a goodperson, then they are right with God, or their definition of God. But during the time that they are in front of the rest of the world, they exhibit none of the fruits of the Spirit. Paul speaks of this in Romans shows fruit as a product in both a bad and goodsense: "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having becomeslaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness and the end, everlasting life."(Romans 6:21-22) What is that fruit Paul speaks of? 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."(Galatians 5:22-25) As a plum tree produces plums and not some other crop like hedge apples, these are the fruits that come from the true Christian that believes in their heart. Those thatare playing the Christian role in name only, they produce maybe the aforementioned hedge apples, not of plums and the fruits of the spirit, but instead the fruits of the flesh. Then all the while they are professing a different Jesus Christ, not the One ofthe bible. They believe they are saved. Are they? 5:19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shallnot inherit the kingdom of God."(Galatians 5:19-21) As a people, on either side of this equation of good and bad fruit, do we battle these? If you live in this world, you bet you do. But the glory of the Christian who hasfaith and relies on the Holy Spirit for strength and comfort, they are the ones who persevere and in the end, will win. For the truly called out Christian, plunged beneath the blood of Calvary is “BORN TO WIN” for the glory of God the Father. Some would have you believe that being a Christian is an emotional experience. You are told about Jesus Christ and express elation that you understand that Jesus Christis the Son of God. You get excited, express joy and forget about it all in a few days. Is that all there is to being a Christian? I get pretty excited when the the Missouri Tigers win an invitation to the SEC championships to play against the opposing team, andit truly is emotional and exciting, but that knowledge does not save me. Head knowledge of Jesus Christ or the Missouri Tigers at Columbia being a good football team will last only a short while in this day and age. Let me explain. There is a difference between believing with your head, (your brain) and believing with your heart, (internalizing His sacrifice on the cross). And how do we internalizethat we have believed in the Only Begotten Son of God? A brother of mine, proposed on our forum, “Church of the Living God”, what do you say to the young child who accepts Jesus in their mind, by repeating the sinner’s prayer and then falls back into the worldlyliving as an adult? Are they still saved? What do you say to someone who has made a profession of believing Jesus is God, but lives an ungodly life, thereafter? James said it best in James chapter 2: 2:14 " What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"(James 2:14-20) GRACE VS. WORKS Let me make one thing perfectly clear to all who have read thus far. Works by themselves will not save you. This is not one thing you can do in this life by keeping everyaspect of the Law of God, although imperfectly, and think you are saved. Let’s look at what Paul said in Ephesians: 2:8 " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."(Ephesians 2:8-9) A lot of Christians, and I hope you’re not one of them, stop right there and say, see, all you need is Jesus. Truer words were ever spoken, but what do the next verses say? 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Godin the world: 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."(Ephesians 2:10-13) JESUS BROKE DOWN ALL WALLS In Old Testament times, there was a wall separating the Jews from the Gentiles in the Temple courtyard, but now Jesus has broken down that wall that all may come to Him.We are His workmanship and we have been bought with a price, namely His blood and broken body. As anyone that comes into an exclusive club will tell you, there are certain requirements of entering into that club. This is an exclusive organism, called the Kingdomof God and has its requirements of entering in. But in coming to Him, He has a high expectation of what you are in this life, and what you will become. And what is that? OUR INHERITANCE When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he asked the same questions that I ask you. How can a person be born again? 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of theSpirit."(John 3:3-8) What was Jesus saying here? It appears almost in conflict until you understand the message that Jesus was conveying here. There is an old saying in Christian circles thatyou must be “born again.” So true it is. Being born of the water and of the Spirit, there are different interpretations, but what does this mean? In the first part, Jesus speaks of water. He is speaking of baptismal waters as He was also baptized. The actof being immersed into the water is a symbol of the grave. By doing so, in our hearts we are to understand that. We are buried with Jesus Christ and raised to newness of life, hence the term “born again” is applicable here, but it goes much further in it’sdescription that Jesus told Nicodemus. Paul explains this concept in Romans: 6:4 " Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk innewness of life. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin."(Romans 6:4-7) We who have been immersed in baptismal waters, solely out of obedience to the command of Jesus Christ, is an act of total understanding and surrender to the power of Godand leaving this sinful life we had behind us, as humanly possible. We follow a new Master, a new Teacher who showed us how to live a sinless life. It does not mean that we will never sin again, but the Power of God will make our sins less and less as we growin faith and obedience to Him who first loved us. What about the second part of what Jesus said in John 3? Born of the Spirit? As you are reading this message from scripture, can you walk into the Kingdom of God as youare, as a mortal? He says flesh cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. What is Jesus saying here? Let me let Paul explain it to you, as he is a better teacher than I. Again, let’s go to Ephesians: 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spiritof promise, 1:14 Which is the earnest (translated deposit) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."(Ephesians 1:7-14) We, as believers in Jesus Christ were given a deposit of that future inheritance. As a example, I envision it as a seed of God delivered to the womb of a mother, which growsinto a fully developed baby ready to BE BORN. We are now, as children of God growing in the womb of God’s Heavenly Jerusalem that awaits our full adoption upon our birth into the Kingdom of God. When will this happen? When Jesus calls us out of our graves,or changes us in the twinkling of an eye, then we will be changed into spiritual beings that come and go, much as the wind does in the trees. Reread Jesus explanation to Nicodemus. Ponder that for a moment and turn with me to 1 John 3: 3:2 " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see himas he is. 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."(1st John 3:2-3) Jesus gave us the perfect example of what it is to be called a Christian. What example was that? His life was the example. From explaining what it meant in His Sermon onthe Mount of the intent of the Law He wrote with His own finger on Mt. Sinai, to the acts of love and mercy to all His fellow men, to teachings of righteous living based on His own life and the intent of His commandments in their spiritual application. Jesuskept the Law that He wrote perfectly all of His years on earth, but God in His infinite wisdom knew that man could not. So God became a man born of woman, fully man, and fully God to do what man could not….save himself. God in the form of Jesus Christ madethe ultimate sacrifice of His death on a cross and the emptying of the blood from His body on the altar of sacrifice.: 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."(John3:16-18) But remember what I said in the beginning of this message?. Even the demons believe that Jesus is God, but they are not saved or saints. Head knowledge must be heart knowledge.This is where the seed is planted. The Spirit of God mingles with your own. It is not implanted in your head that a person forgets in a few days and the excitement wears off. No, reader it begins in your spiritual heart. It’s the first day of the rest of youreternal life and you become a new creature. As Paul wrote by Holy Spirit inspiration of in 2nd Corinthians : 5:18 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."(2nd Corinthians 5:18-20) Then if reconciled to God, we have a job to do, out of sheer obedience as Paul speaks of in Ephesians: 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."(Ephesians 4:25-32) NOW LET US RETURN TO AMERICA Now that we have given a summary of what a Christian is, what we should be doing, and what the future is in store for those truly "born again", let’s return to the 83% ofAmerican citizens that call themselves “Christians.” Look around this nation. Does the landscape look like we are a Christian nation? Unfortunately, we are living in the end of days and the Laodecian era of the Church, a false church that Jesus condemned in Revelation chp. 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.(meaning you make God sick, my explanation) 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do notappear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:14-18) Those are the ones who will be thrown head-long into the coming tribulation. So what has changed in the last 100 years or so? Is the “old time religion” still reigning in our land, namely Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Do the principles that made this country great still exist? Nobody wants totake responsibility for what is going on in this country and in the majority, it may well be so. You can make a difference in your own life and reach out to others to help them find out what a Christian really is. Ask yourself these further questions, do youfit the definition of the negative side of this equation, of what is a Christian in name only? Do you stand in the light of a true Christian, washed in the blood of the Lamb working hard to be obedient to the One who gave you eternal life? Don’t be fooled into thinking that the trappings of organized religion will do anything for your spiritual condition, just by belonging to organized religion or the latestemotional false prophet or pied piper who leads away men and women to their destruction by following their false doctrines. You can’t buy your way into heaven, you can’t be good enough, and you can’t rely on anyone, but yourself and the answering the convictiongiven by the Holy Spirit: 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."(John 6:44-45) Paul reinforced this in Philippians: 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."(Philippians2:12) You just might be part of that skewed statistic that tells you, hey, I’m alright. I said the “sinner’s prayer" and all will be well. Just because I live in America and “Hey,this is a godly nation”. Really? Many are beginning to believe that it is just not so and the nation that became the superpower in this world is destined, in my humble opinion, for a very hard fall. Manyare beginning to worry about revolution in this country, as they look at what the Usurper in chief “president” led this nation to and wanting us to be a One World Government and do away with our sovereignty. Not to mention NSA wiretappings, predator drones,and laws designed to take away your God given rights of free speech, assembly, and to bear arms. Can you see this nation becoming so caught up in its anger at our former way of life and capitalism that made this country grow rich beyond our wildest dreamsand wish to pitch it out the window, because of evil bankers and wall street lobbyist? OH, I know I can...I'll bet you can, too. I’ve even read comments of how the beginning of the Russian revolution started, and worse, the bloody French Revolution that sparedalmost no one. Heaven help us, but the winds of unrest are brewing. All it will take is for evil to be unfettered by the removal of the good in this country. Only thing that is keeping a lid on this brewing pot of sinful lust are true Christians (I quantifythat by meaning true, born again, washed in the blood Christians) still present on this earth. What will be the result when even that hindrance is removed? I speak of God's people who actually believe with their heart and have God's Holy Spirit residing withinthem. 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."(2nd Thessalonians 2:7-10) When He, (speaking of the Holy Spirit), that letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way, is the only thing that is keeping the lid on the brewing kettle of sin anddebauchery being God Himself and the presence of His Spirit in His people. When that hindrance is removed, it won’t be the 83% that professes their recipe of being a “luke-warm Christian” in name only, that will be taken. No, my friend, I fear that numberwill be much, much smaller. I fear it will be but a remnant of those who truly profess Jesus Christ and believe in their hearts and live like He’s coming today or tomorrow. If Jesus would come on any Sunday morning, I envision half of the congregation beingleft behind, as they have only been warming a pew for most of their lives. WHAT ABOUT YOU ??? Will you be caught in the snare of an evil generation that lives only for pleasure? Will you delude yourself to think that the statistics listed in the first part of thismessage makes you ready to meet Almighty God? Will you be deluded to think that you once said the “sinner’s prayer" as a child and all is good, even though you live like the devil? Only the things of God will stand. Everything else will be burned up by fire.There is a time coming when Satan will cover this earth with his forces of demon spirits to unleash his anger for he has been thrown from the halls of heaven. In other words, the devil has come down to Georgia, and the devil must be paid. He wants your life,he wants your soul, and he wants you to spend eternity with him……………..in torment: 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels werecast out with him. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethrenis cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath,because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."(Revelation 12:7-12) Whoever belonged to Jesus Christ will be with Him for all eternity and the hordes of demons commanded by Satan will destroy all who remain if allowed. If you are of thenumber who rely on your church, your priest, your shaman, or God forbid yourself , or anything else besides a true relationship with Jesus Christ and cannot wholeheartedly embrace the description of a believer, A TRUE BELIEVER, in Jesus Christ, then get readyfor a sudden thrust into an environment that beckons to the fires of Hell on earth. Because my friend, in all honesty, it ain’t head knowledge that will save you, but heart knowledge. PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM