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Posts Tagged ‘second coming’

The Olivet Discourse…Luke’s Version

Posted in Antichrist, Christian Persecution, Days of Noah, Deception, Earthquakes, End Times Prophecy, Pestilence, Rapture, Salvation, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2015|

So often what we receive is a thin layer of Christian doctrine, history, and overall understanding of God’s word, but there is so much more.  As you dive into God’s word, it comes alive and I am constantly amazed at the depths of the wisdom and the foreshadowing that is on every page of the Bible when we take the time to explore it.

It really is true, “seek and ye shall find”.

Jack Kelly does a great job unpacking the Olivet Discourse as you may not have heard it before.

Remember, the darker it gets, the brighter and farther our little light shines!

Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

myblessedhope

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The Olivet Discourse…Luke’s Version

By Jack Kelley

Students of prophecy often pay more attention to Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse because of its greater length and detail. But when we bypass Luke’s account, we miss one third of the Lord’s message. That’s because the disciples asked the Lord three questions and in Matthew 24 He only answered the last two. Also, it’s Luke’s answer to their first question that confirms the whole message as it relates to the end times.

Here’s why: When a prophet revealed events that would take place beyond the lifetimes of the people he was speaking to, the Lord often provided a short term partial fulfillment to validate the distant prophecy. This is because He had told the people that if what a prophet said didn’t come true, then the people were not to fear him, for he hadn’t spoken for the Lord (Deut 18:21-22).

There are numerous partial fulfillments in Scripture that would serve as good examples of this, but perhaps the clearest one comes from John 5:43. Speaking to Israel, Jesus said, “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” He was referring to the Antichrist, who many in Israel will believe to be the Messiah when he comes on the scene at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week.

But just before Jesus was handed over to be executed, Pilate offered to free Him as a sign of Roman mercy, traditionally expressed on Passover. He gave the people a choice, the innocent Jesus who came in His Father’s name or a convicted killer named, Barabbas, who came in his own name. The people chose Barabbas. It was the partial fulfillment that validated the Lord’s prophecy of Israel and the Antichrist in the 70th Week.

And as we’ll see, the destruction of Jerusalem in 69AD was the partial fulfillment that validated the Lord’s prophecy of the End Times. Let’s take a look.

Luke 21:5-36

“Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.  But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’ ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’” (Luke 21:5-7).

According to Mark 13:3, it was Peter, James, John and Andrew who asked. And in Matt. 24:3 we can read their complete question. “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

This is our first hint that things will be different in Luke’s account. He only has the disciples asking the first question, the one about their immediate future.

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A Christian’s perspective of Judgement…

Posted in My Thoughts, Rapture, Salvation, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 9, 2013|

Judgement is coming.  (soon)

That is so un politically correct isn’t it.  It is mocked by this world.  They laugh and jeer and anyone mentioning it.  I have felt it, and I am sure you have as well.  But it use to be something Christians would hear every week and discuss daily.

But if you are truly saved, shouldn’t this be a good thing.  You have been promised to be saved from judgement.  Judgement is the time at which God will make all things right and the judgement that we were not supposed to assess will be assessed by the only perfect being Jesus Christ and His Father.  We are forgiven of all our sins, through our faith and believe in Jesus Christ.  Not just our sins today but all past, present and future.  That is good news, the best news and not something to dread.

It is only scary if we are not sure about where we will spend eternity.  That is not something we think much about in our current society is it. 

I am guilty of this as well.  We spend most of our time debating what we should buy next or if we are getting a good deal.  We spend our time telling others about our “fun” lives in person but now more virtually online.  It seems like we are on an endless quest for fun.  We spend time working (making money) and entertaining ourselves (spending the money we earned) with the infinite distractions this world has to offer. (On a side note, I am always amazed at people saying they are bored with so many choices and opportunities for them to partake.  It is probably either laziness or a frustration with not being able to fill the Jesus shaped hole in their lives with the frivolous things of this world.)  But back to the Jesus size hole, it is where we should be focused, and it seems it is the last place we (I) turn to when feeling uneasy.

I seem to have an increased feeling of uneasiness these days both in intensity and frequency.

Do you ever feel like as a Christian you are being surrounded and evil is encircling you?  In every aspect of your life when interfacing with this world.

I think we have well overstayed our welcome here, as Christians, and the rise of the evil forces of this world is growing & strengthening.

This is where that Jesus sized hole becomes even more important.  Our Lord and Savior did not want us to be fearful or surprised at what was coming.  Those two things go hand in hand, we are always more fearful of the unknown, that is why Jesus wanted us to know what was coming and gave us His word and prophecy so that we could put our minds at ease that He is in control and every word He spoke is the truth and unchangeable.  We need to fill ourselves daily with His word so we remember what He said more than what this world is screaming at us daily.  When we see these things come to pass we should look up and rejoice that our Lord is coming for us.  Not only that but all pain and fear will end and only joyful rejoicing will replace it. 

That is how as Christians we should think of Judgement and Christs second coming.  Not as this world has tried to frame it.  And really from their perspective, they should be fearful.  They have chosen to turn their backs on God and reject His free gift of salvation through His works on the cross.

That is the good news and what we are called as Christians to spread.  But we have to spread both sides of the message, for if a non-Christian does not understand the current state at which they find themselves, they will have less motivation to change and a lesser understanding of the magnitude of the gift God is offering to all of us.

Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

myblessedhope

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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

It is The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To learn more check out the following link.

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Until His return…

Posted in Aloha Sermon's & Prophecy updates, Christian Persecution, Church Falling Away, Deception, End Times Prophecy, Rapture, Salvation, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 27, 2012|

So we are all anxiously awaiting the Lord return for His Church.  I know I am, but what are we to do with all this anxiousness and anxiety while we wait faithfully and patiently (besides cracking our knuckles, tapping our pencil, or clicking our pen cap, my wife hates that).  The Lord was very specific and Peter gave some very interesting words about what we should be doing while we wait.  And wait really isn’t the right word, we are supposed to be busy doing the Lord’s will.

In 2 Peter 3:12, Peter drops a subtle hint that we can impact the timing of God’s plan and that should be our goal.

2 Peter 3:11-12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! (emphasis added)

We are not just to be looking for His return.  That is important, but we are to be hastening the coming!

Can we really do that?

Yes, we know that God has a specific number of gentiles that must be brought to Christ before Christ’s return.  We can certainly help by spreading the Gospel.  Not only should we live it but we need to get aggressive about spreading God’s wonderful promise.  Especially now as things are looking bleaker and bleaker, what better time for Good News!

Pastor JD and Ryan both have good discussions of this topic below, JD in this weeks Aloha prophecy update and Ryan from an article posted on RaptureReady.com.

Maranatha – Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

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I Am Calling You Out, Church

By Ryan Vanderstelt

Where are you Church? Are you reading this? Are you as ready as I to go home? If you are anything like me, you have been waiting a LONG time for Christ to return. We have been standing in the train terminal with our bags packed, peering down the tracks for the faintest glimmer of light, testing the ground for that particular tremor and waiting for the sound of that Glorious Call. We watch for Feasts. We watch for the planets and stars to be in the right positions and the right color. We watch for those things while we hold our breath: “Is this it? Is it going to be tonight? Maybe while I sleep tonight? Will I wake up to Glory…or just wake up?”.

And yet, here…we…are – still standing in the train station checking our watches. Is the train late? We don’t know. He gave us some indications of when to expect him and we see those indications all around us, but still no train Home.

Truth is, there is something lacking that we, and I include myself here, seem to be overlooking. The one thing He said would hasten His arrival. We are waiting on some passengers to arrive at the station. We cannot expect to go until there are enough of us to fill the train to capacity. So instead of looking at all the things that are swirling around us, things we can all see are pointing to His return. I make the following proposal.

I want to form an “army” of sorts. A kind of Army of God. Please hear me out – I can hear the rustlings in your mind thinking this smacks of the Crusades of the Middle Ages, but I don’t mean exactly that. I am tired of waiting. It is time we start DOING!

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