Four Revelations: "Goodbye"

In this post I return to the original spirit of this blog and am again writing simply - saying naught but what I have learned through relatively recent experience.

So let the story begin...

Due to the immense pressure placed upon me by family and coworkers I began dating in the vain effort to find a godly woman among worldly "Christians" This took place over the past 10 months or so, I dated three women (one at a time) they were all nice people, and being the optimist that I am I thought that perhaps it would be a successful effort. It was successful in every way, with the glaring exception of meeting the stated goal, that goal of finding a godly woman. So why then was it still a success?

Because it clarified exactly what I am looking for, and it “proved” (at least momentarily) to certain harassing people that finding a wife is no easy task.

First Revelation: The strongest reaction to discovering others sins should not be negative thoughts against them, but thankfulness that we are free from experiencing the consequences and guilt of that sin.

To realize what I mean by this let me first give some background. Undoubtedly the reader may think this sounds crazy – but it is true and has a considerable impact on my life. Sometimes I experience – I don’t know what you want to call them – but out of nowhere a “movie clip” plays in my mind’s eye. In my head I see a happening, an event, or an experience, so real it is as if I am there. It always involves myself – or a close member of my family or someone I care about. These “sightings” always involve situations of physical or spiritual danger that a loved one or I is going through – they have never been “real” that I am aware of, but things that could happen. For specific examples – I might see someone dying in an auto accident, or someone reject long held biblical teachings. When I see these things I feel anguish, terror, fear, sadness etc., as if, or nearly as if it actually happened, and it immediately causes me to pray about it, that it would not happen, that God would guard them about it, and ultimately ends in thanksgiving that such a thing has not really occurred. Though sometimes it may have occurred and I don’t know for certain, like a “vision” that someone committed some certain sin, in which case I pray that they can become free from it.

Second Revelation: Killing one’s self to escape a reality only traps one in the very thing they are trying to escape.

This one came to me as I imagined if I had sinned in the same way this one girl I dated had. I would want to kill myself, which made me consider that for perhaps the first time with sincerity that doing such a thing would merely be turning one Hell into another.

Third Revelation: Marrying a woman who disagrees with me on biblical teachings I feel strongly about would be tormenting.

In other words, agreeing to disagree only works for minor things.  This much I knew before, but I hadn’t realized how major certain things were that I thought to be minor.

Forth Revelation: "I KissedDating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris has a lot of good principles.

The third girl I dated, on our second date, she told me about the aforementioned book and suggested I read it. So we read it together. Not sure why or how come she was ever reading it, as our relationship ended due to the fact that she nearly completely disagreed with it, and I nearly completely agreed with it. Nevertheless, it was a good book, and one which brought me back to support justifications I had for why I wasn’t dating in the first place.

Stay tuned for a future post titled; Book Review: Why I Kissed Dating Goodbye. 

In The Book Of Life: Of The Bride Of Christ

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5

What is the Book of Life?

In Revelation 13:8 we see that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life shall worship the beast. We also see the fuller name or a description of the Book of Life; “…the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

In Revelation 17:8 we see that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life shall wonder when they behold the beast. We also see the Book of Life described as “the book of life from the foundation of the world”

In Revelation 20:15 we see that “…whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

In Revelation 21:27 we see that “…they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” shall enter the Holy and New Jerusalem (which is the Lamb’s wife and bride, the true Church, the true Israel). (See Revelation 21:1-2, Revelation 21:9-10, Colossians 1:24, Ephesians 5:23-32, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 9:15, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 9:3-33)

We see in Revelation 22:19 that “…if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city…”

Now this Book of Life is not just mentioned in the New Testament.

In Exodus 32:31-33 we see Moses pleading to God to forgive the people of their great sin. Moses says unto God “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”

In Daniel 12:1 we read that “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” The Book of Life may also be alluded to in Psalm 139:16.

Let us rejoice that we have life through Christ!

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” - Romans 5:9-11



“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

See the Hymn "Christ comes quickly for His Bride"

He That Overcometh: He In Whom The Word Of God Abideth

Overcoming? These days many “Christians” do not want to think about overcoming Sin, Satan and the World. Many even point to John 16:33 and claim that Jesus overcame the world for us. True it is that Jesus overcame the world, but to claim that we do not also need to overcome it is to deny scripture. To claim that men need not overcome is to deny belief and faith, it is to deny being born again, it is to deny regeneration. We can see that we, apart from God in us, cannot overcome anything. But “whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.” (1 John 5:4) The victory that overcometh the world is our Faith. “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

Because of God in us we overcome the spirits of antichrist which are in the world. God is greater than those antichrists for “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (See 1 John 4:3-4)

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” In Revelation 12:9-11 “…they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb…and they loved not their lives unto death.”

We are to be willing and even to expect to suffer for Christ, to bear our cross, not to live for self, but to consider ourselves dead. We are to deny ourselves, to reckon ourselves, (our old man of flesh) to be dead with Christ that we may live with Christ. (Luke 9:23, Colossians 3:3, Mark 8:34, Matthew 16:24, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:11)

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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 in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:3-11

In 2 Peter 2:19-20 we read of those who are overcome, because they have been entangled and are in bondage to the pollutions of the world. When we overcome through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ then we escape corruption and are not overcome by the world.

In 1 John 2:13-14 John, when writing to the young men says that they have overcome the wicked one. How did they overcome the wicked one according to John? They overcame because the word of God abideth in them!

Does evil ever overcome good? The two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 are overcome and killed by the beast, but only after they had finished giving their testimony before the world. (Those two witnesses prophesied a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. They had power over heaven that it rained not, they had power to breath fire out upon their enemies, and they had power to smite the earth with all plagues whenever they wanted to.) After they were killed they which dwelt on the earth made merry and rejoiced. But Look! After three and a half days “the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” (See Revelation 11:11-12)

Evil may for a time appear to overcome good, but it Never will. Satan and his demons, those fallen angles, and those men who do not come to love and believe that Christ Jesus is who he says he is have much to Fear.

What is the reward for overcoming?

Jesus said “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7)

Jesus said “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Rev. 2:11)

Jesus said “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev. 2:17)

Jesus said “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” (Rev. 2:26, also see 2 Timothy 2:12, Rev. 20:6)

Jesus said “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Rev. 3:5, also see Rev. 4:4, Matthew 17:2, Matthew 28:3, Luke 9:29, Daniel 7:9, John 20:12, Acts 1:9-10, Isaiah 1:18, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9)

Jesus said “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Rev. 3:12)

Jesus said “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21)

Jesus said “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7)

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” - 2 Timothy 2:3-14

The ten kingdoms of the beast shall “make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (See Revelation 17:10-14)

See the Hymn "IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR?"

The Wrath of God and the Song of Moses and of Christ

In Revelation 14:9-10, and 13 we see that the wrath of God is for those who “worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” We also see that these shall “be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angles, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Then we hear a voice from Heaven saying “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth…that they may rest from their labours and there works do follow them.”

It should be said that the Lord does not delight in the death of the wicked, but the Lord God is Righteous and Holy and must therefore be Just and Judge Righteously. Think of all the prophets he has sent to warn the inhabitants of the earth and all that he has made possible for us in the death of his only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. These things show God‘s great Love and is a witness to the fact that he desires us rather to repent and believe than to face judgment and damnation. (See Ezekiel 18:30-32, 33:10-13, Deuteronomy 30:19, and John 3:16-21)

In Revelation 15: 1-3 we read that seven angels have the seven last plagues which are the wrath of God. We also see that the victorious saints are on a sea of glass and fire singing the song of Moses and of Christ saying;

“Great and Marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints, who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

In Revelation 16:1-2 and 6 we see that the wrath of God is poured out on the earth, but that it is only for those who worshipped the beast and received his mark. Also that his wrath is for judgment on those who have shed the blood of the saints and the prophets.

It can be clearly seen that the wrath of God is not for the saints and prophets, but for the deceived, for those children of disobedience. For we are saved from the wrath of God by Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. But those who do not love the truth and take pleasure in unrighteousness shall be deceived and shall worship the beast and be damned to suffer the wrath of God. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9, Colossians 3:6, Ephesians 5:6, Romans 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12).

Let us be worthy, washed by the blood of the Lamb that we may sing the song of Moses and of Christ. Amen. (Romans 5:9, Ephesians 2:13, Colossians 1:20, Hebrews 9:12, 10:19, Matthew 10:37-38, Luke 3:8, 21:36, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:12).

Tribulation? Rapture? The Second Coming of Christ?

A Short Defense for the Historical Post Tribulation Rapture

First, if Church history is understood and considered regarding the rapture and the tribulation it will appear that a pretribulation rapture is a rather ridiculous idea. But I do not plan to go into history at all in this article, but merely point out that understanding the views of earlier church leaders, and history itself would alone make the common day “pretribulation rapture belief” appear foolish.

Rather, the focus will only be on the word of God, as he has spoken quite clearly on this matter which is more than evident. The fact is that whenever in scripture that the tribulation and the rapture are mentioned together the rapture ALWAYS comes after the tribulation. Those who believe a pretribulation rapture split Christ’s coming into two. They say he has one coming for the church in the rapture, and another when he comes to rule on the earth. Never in scripture does the rapture come before the tribulation. The 2nd coming of Christ is always spoken of as one occurrence in scripture. This should be simple enough to understand, but some have cleverly devised lies and wrested the scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

First, consider John 17:15. Here Jesus prays to the Father that we (Christians) would not be taken out of the world, but that we may be kept from evil. This shows us a theme in the Bible that had perhaps begun with Deuteronomy 4:30-31. That theme being that we are to have faith in the Lord calling upon him to deliver us in time of tribulation. This is just as true in the tribulations we face commonly as it would be if we were to experience the great Tribulation.

There are three arguments that will be considered which revolve around four subjects; the last trumpet, the plagues of Revelation, the day of Christ, and the abomination of desolation/son of perdition. The strongest and clearest argument will be saved for last.

First, it appears that the “trump of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the “last trump” of 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and the trumpet in Revelation 10:7, 11:15 (see Rev. 8:2, 9:1, 9:13 for context) and Matthew 24:31 are all the same trumpet. This would fit the rapture in perfectly with the order of events in Matthew ch 24 and Revelation (and shows the rapture as after the tribulation).

Second, the plagues of revelation (of the tribulation), namely the locusts of Rev. 9:2-4, and the angels horsemen of Rev. 9:14-21 were sent to torture only those who had not received the seal of God (Rev. 6:9-11, 7:3, Eph. 1:13, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22; we are sealed after we believe by the Holy Spirit) . It can be clearly seen that those who are marked with the seal of God are still on the earth at this time, but they are protected by God from these plagues. I also believe that they are protected by God from the other plagues of Revelation chapter 8. So how are the servants of God harmed during this time of tribulation? They are “slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held” as is seen in verse 11 and 9 of Revelation chapter 6 (Also see Matthew chapter 24).

Now from the letter’s of the Apostle Paul we are given perhaps the clearest argument, but the references to other books of scripture to which Paul refers will also be pointed out. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 we can see a number of important details. In verse 1-4 we see Paul telling the Thessalonians not to be troubled and that they should let no man deceive them. He says that the day of Christ shall not come “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be reveled, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” It should be noted that verse 4 refers to the same event as Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 11:36 (The antichrist, and when he is there is tribulation). So in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 it is said that the day of Christ shall not come until after the falling away and the antichrist comes first (Also that those who do not love the truth will be damned.) In Philippians 1:10 and 2:15-16 we can see that the day of Christ is the final, or last thing that Christians are to be blameless until, and should be able to rejoice in, unless they have failed to “hold forth the word of life.” So the order of events should be more clear by the pointing out of these verses and there relation to each other.

We see in Romans 14:8, Luke 20:38, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10 that weather we live or die (in the flesh) we are with the Lord. But when Christ returns at his second coming the dead shall be raised first and then we who are alive and remain shall also go to be with the Lord (in our new resurrected bodies, see 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and Philippians 3:20-21). So to be clear, both the resurrection and the rapture take place at the same time when Christ returns after the tribulation.

Also see

http://post-triborpre-trib.blogspot.com/2007/06/end-times-bible-prophcey-conference.html