The Church is not prepared for what is to come.

[Helen]

How you think determines your choices and how you behave.
Forehead = how you think....what you believe....who you believe in
Right hand = the manifestation of priorities and how you behave.

Good one brother …AMEN .
Once a person changes their thinking and behaviour to comply with gov demands , then they have submitted …don’t even need a literal mark !

 

[quietthinker]

Good one brother …AMEN .
Once a person changes their thinking and behaviour to comply with gov demands , then they have submitted …don’t even need a literal mark !

The agency behind any coercion is Satan. He has ever been opposed to God's way of doing things. Knowing this it will be no mystery what the mark is when pressure to disobey God's commandments in favour of mens rolls onto the scene.

 

[liafailrock]

AMEN !! ( I thought this post needed a re-read by some. )
Well said

And then again, so many posts in this thread are wise and to the point .

@David H. Thank you , excellent thread .

Thank you, Helen. I think the Lord gave me some of of spiritual radar to sense these wicked schemes that go on behind the scenes in high places. The apostle Paul could not have said it better himself when saying about "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers ... "

 

[liafailrock]

Who is the real House of Israel?

A study of the first two chapters of Hosea shows us that Israel was to be cast off and divorced from God. They were to be scattered (“Jezreel”); they were to have no mercy (“Lo-ruhamah”); and they were to be no longer God’s people (“Lo-ammi”). But at the same time, God promised that they would be regathered under one Head (Jesus Christ) and come out of captivity. A decreed period; Ezekiel 4:4-6.

In fact, God told them He would “betroth thee unto Me in righteousness” (Hosea 2:19). The prophecy culminates with a Hebrew play on words. The name “Jezreel” means “God scatters,” but it also means “God sows.” (One must scatter the seed in order to sow it in the field.) Thus, at first the name prophesies that Israel was to be scattered; but ultimately it shows God’s Purpose—to sow Israel in the earth in order to multiply her as the sand of the sea, so as God remains faithful to His promise to Abraham.

Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art My God.

In other words, even though God did indeed cast off His people Israel, scattering them in the nations by the hand of the Assyrians, God’s ultimate Purpose was to sow them in the earth, so that they would multiply and fulfill the promise to Abraham. Furthermore, Hosea prophesied that; in the very place (of their captivity) where it is said that they are not God’s people (Israel), they would be Christians known as; “the Sons of the living God." Hosea 1:10, Romans 9:24-26


The problem is that most Christians try to make the Jews fulfill these prophesies, when the House of Judah, is fact, fulfilling an entirely different set of prophecies. God in His great mercy has allowed them nearly 2000 years to change their hearts to Him and to accept Jesus as Messiah.

If people realized that the Jews are to fulfill the prophecies of the House of Judah, instead of those dealing with the lost House of Israel, they would not have made this mistake. The Jews were certainly “cast off” in 586 BC and again in 70-135 A.D., even as Israel was cast off during 745-712 B.C.—but the difference is that the prophets uniformly prophesy good things for lost Israel even during the time of their captivity; while severe judgments were pronounced upon Jerusalem and the Jewish people.

Note that Ezekiel 21:14 tells of 3 Judgements. The next one, to come; will be by the Hand of the Lord Himself. Ezekiel 21:1-7


In Jeremiah 18:1-10, God says that the House of Israel was marred in the Potter’s hand, so God was going to beat down the wet clay and remake it into a vessel fit for His use. Then beginning in verse 11, God begins to prophesy about Jerusalem and Judah. First comes an indictment for their sins, and then in Jeremiah 19:1-15 we see that Jeremiah was to take an old earthen vessel (as opposed to wet clay that was pliable), he was to go to the city dump and smash the earthen vessel there, saying: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again, and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury. Thus will I do unto this place, says the Lord, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet.

God’s choice of an allegory to suit each House is amazing!

An old clay vessel, once broken, cannot be remade into another vessel. Only wet, pliable clay can be used to remake a vessel. The House of Israel is like the pliable clay; but the House of Judah will be smashed and never again be built into a vessel of honor.

At the end of the first Temple era, God departed from it and Ezekiel saw the glory depart. Ezekiel 10:4-19 It has never returned to the Temple. Even when Zerubbabel rebuilt the Temple in 515 B.C., the glory did not return to it when they dedicated it to God. The work was good and was allowed by God, but the site itself was cursed.

This is consistent with the New Testament prophecies regarding the cursed fig tree, Matt. 21:21 the parable of the vineyard, Matt. 21:43-44 and the parable of the citizens who hated Him and would not allow Him to reign over them. Luke 19:27
The point is, these peoples must still be around to fulfill these distinct prophecies for Israel and for the cursed fig tree. The lost House of Israel must exist to be remade into another vessel and Judah must exist to be virtually wiped out. Isaiah 22:14

The problem comes when people think that the smashed vessel is going to be rebuilt into a vessel fit for God’s use, and when those same people wrongly think that the original House of Israel is lost forever and the Jews are the only Israel.


Plainly, the Christian peoples are the House of Israel, the Overcomers for God, as Jacob was. Jesus came to save the House of Israel, Matthew 15:24, who must be the Christian peoples; or Jesus failed in His mission.

The Jews will never change and Bible prophecy says they will be Judged and punished and only a remnant will survive. Romans 9:27, Isaiah 6:11-13, Zephaniah 1:1-18, +

Been saying this myself for years. Even once had a web site about it. It was frustrating then to see this basically go in one ear and out the other (and later on one can be accused of promoting 'racial supremacy'). I just wanted to know where the lost tribes ended up; that's all no matter who they were. So folks like you and me can just rest in the fact we were chosen to learn about this. Being older now, I am happy enough. Whereas before it could of caused some friction, I just look past that now. I got the feeling later on I was pushing something God did not want fully revealed to the masses yet. It's hard to kick against the goads.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

In particular, I’m on the fence thinking that the ‘equating’ the 7 feasts of Israel to the Church is borderline replacement theory. At a minimum, I suspect those replacement theory folks make that a significant part of their reasoning that God permanently set Israel aside in 70AD.

Well that is sad.

Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

1. Jesus death is the ultimate fulfilment of Passover
2. Jesus is the fulfiment of the feast of unleavened bread.
3. Jesus resurrection is the ultimate fulfilment of first fruits
4. Pentecost is fulfilled by the birth of the church.
5. Tabernacles will see its fulfilment in the millenial kingdom when the gentile representatives coming ot Jerusalem will be required to celebrate
6. Day of Atonement is fulfilled when one repents and receives Jesus.
7. That leaves trumpets.- fulfilled by the rapture

It doesn't even ride on teh same direction as replacement theology.

Further, if the 7 feasts were of any importance to Gentile believers during Pauls’ ministry, wouldn’t he have written about them in his letters? He clearly warned about Judaisers’ attempts to get Gentile believers ‘under the law’ and/or ‘other gospels’. His bringing the feasts of the Mosaic law would be completely contradictory to the Gospel of grace. (As I understand it, some Christians ‘celebrate’ the feasts in various ways. Isn’t that akin to their following the law?)

See above!

After much thought since my post last night, I’ll add that I believe that neither the ‘trump of God’ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 nor the ‘last trump’ of 1 Corinthians 15:52 literally indicate a physical trumpet being blown. 1 Ths 4:16 gives this hint:

We will find out for sure when it happens.
but if the Lord literally descends, and the Archangel literally shouts, and we are literally snatched away, why not a literal heavenly trumpet?

Jesus said His sheep know His voice. So will the Lord gently call His sheep with ‘Come hither’ while the unsaved hear only noise like happened to Saul on the road to Damascus? Or will it be more like what John heard in Revelation 1:10?

Don't know. We will know when it happens.

Are the trump(et)s referenced by Paul actually the Lords’ voice?

Paul in 1 Cor. 15 references only one trump- Called in Hebrew tekiah gedolah- the last trump!

Maybe we’ll be gone next spring?

In truth, we don’t have a CLUE as to when the rapture will occur. Like the timing of Jesus’ 2nd coming, God is keeping it a secret until it happens (Deut 29:29).

It can occur at any time. there is nothing that needs to happen for the rapture to take place. It is immenent. Meaning nothing needs to preclude it for the rapture to happen. It could have occurred at Pentecost and the two thousands years hence were just life. But it didn't. It could happen today and the tribulation doesn't have to staert for an indefinite time frame.

 

[marks]

I'm 'late' to this discussion, but will throw in my 2 cents worth...

As Ron Nolette indicated, Paul had no clue of the 7 trumpets. So, presumably, Paul is writing in regard to the last trump during the Feast of Trumpets.

I'll use 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 8:6 to disagree with both of those ideas:

1Ths 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (KJV)

Paul writes of the trump of God, NOT the trump blown by men, which the Feast of Trumpets is.

Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (KJV)

It is the angels that are holding and blowing the trumpets, not God.

So, since it can neither be the Feast of Trumpets nor the trumpets in Revelation, what is it? I'll postulate it is still a secret (aka, mystery) known only to God per Deuteronomy 29:29.

Hi Bruce,

I enjoy that you pay attention to these distinctions. And I agree, this trumpet is not something otherwise spoken of in the Bible. I tend to relate it to the trumpet that called the people at Sinai, but that's only my speculating.

Much love!

 

[marks]

In particular, I’m on the fence thinking that the ‘equating’ the 7 feasts of Israel to the Church is borderline replacement theory. At a minimum, I suspect those replacement theory folks make that a significant part of their reasoning that God permanently set Israel aside in 70AD.

However, if the feasts are prophetic concerning Israel, then they can still signal coming events for the church.

In truth, we don’t have a CLUE as to when the rapture will occur. Like the timing of Jesus’ 2nd coming, God is keeping it a secret until it happens (Deut 29:29).

Perhaps there are some clues though!



Much love!

 

[marks]

1. Jesus death is the ultimate fulfilment of Passover
2. Jesus is the fulfiment of the feast of unleavened bread.
3. Jesus resurrection is the ultimate fulfilment of first fruits
4. Pentecost is fulfilled by the birth of the church.

Each of these have first and direct and full application to Israel. Pentacost giving of the Holy Spirit was when the kingdom was still being offered to Israel, and before the Gospel was sent directly to the gentiles, signalling the abeyance of Israel's kingdom promise.

5. Tabernacles will see its fulfilment in the millenial kingdom when the gentile representatives coming ot Jerusalem will be required to celebrate
6. Day of Atonement is fulfilled when one repents and receives Jesus.
7. That leaves trumpets.- fulfilled by the rapture

Day of Atonement will receive it's fulfillment, I think, when the redeemer comes to Zion, and takes away the transgression of Jacob. And the feast of Trumpets, I don't know, I could go a dozen different directions. Perhaps the rapture? Or perhaps nothing to do with Gentiles. Perhaps the day Jesus sits on His throne? We speculate . . .

Much love!

 

[Waiting on him]

I'm 'late' to this discussion, but will throw in my 2 cents worth...

As Ron Nolette indicated, Paul had no clue of the 7 trumpets. So, presumably, Paul is writing in regard to the last trump during the Feast of Trumpets.

I'll use 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 8:6 to disagree with both of those ideas:

1Ths 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (KJV)

Paul writes of the trump of God, NOT the trump blown by men, which the Feast of Trumpets is.

Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (KJV)

It is the angels that are holding and blowing the trumpets, not God.

So, since it can neither be the Feast of Trumpets nor the trumpets in Revelation, what is it? I'll postulate it is still a secret (aka, mystery) known only to God per Deuteronomy 29:29.

Could these seven angels be the seven that John was to write epistles to in the first two books of revelation?

 

[Waiting on him]

Hi Bruce,

I enjoy that you pay attention to these distinctions. And I agree, this trumpet is not something otherwise spoken of in the Bible. I tend to relate it to the trumpet that called the people at Sinai, but that's only my speculating.

Much love!

This trump appears more to me as the one that brought the walls down at Jericho.

 

[marks]

We will find out for sure when it happens.
but if the Lord literally descends, and the Archangel literally shouts, and we are literally snatched away, why not a literal heavenly trumpet?

My own thought on this . . . nothing more than that . . . we shall each here our Savior call our name as He calls us up to Him.

Much love!

 

[Bruce Atkinson]

Well that is sad.

Hebrews 10:1

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

In my statement that Paul didn't write of the feasts in his letters, I should have added: "to the church" at the end. Although some theologians disagree on Pauls' authorship of Hebrews, I have little doubt he did write it. So I have to ask how a letter to the Hebrews (no Gentiles) applies to the Church? Of note is that he doesn't reference the (his) Gospel in Hebrews. It's clear he's showing the Jewish people that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin and they should turn to Jesus as their Savior and Messiah as evidenced in Hebrews 9:12-14 and other verses -

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)

Paul goes on in chapter 11 driving home 'faith, faith, faith' to tie Jesus' shed blood to righteousness & salvation. But he leaves it up to the Hebrews to put the two together as far as I can tell.

Maybe 8-10 years ago, one of my Bible study teachers at church presented how Jesus perfectly fulfilled the 7 feasts you listed. It's really a good 'match up'...almost. It's also perfectly logical. Being a retired mainframe computer consultant, logic is everything! I even secretly longed to be more like Spock on Star Trek many years ago. And ever since, I'd check when the Feast of Trumpets was with Google every year thinking: 'It's so bad right now, He HAS to take us home this year!' Only to be broken hearted over and over. But for the last couple of years, I've thought: "Maybe they'll be right this year..." to no avail.

The problem with matching the Feast of The Trumpets to the rapture is...how can I say this delicately?...DATE SETTING! Isn't it? I just checked on next years' date...September 27, 2022. 51+ weeks from now! Since Jesus stated only the Father knows when He will return, doesn't it make sense that only the Father knows when He will send his Son to collect His bride?

Isaiah 55:8-9 comes to mind:
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV)

And if it matters, doesn't matching the Day of Atonement (10 days after Feast of the Trumpets) to when someone repents and is saved putting the horse (salvation) after the cart (the rapture)? Or are tribulation saints/martyrs being counted in that as well?

Lastly, is it possible that the 'last trump' in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is like the phrase 'last call' in an auction or at 2AM in a bar? Or perhaps 'last chance?' or 'last straw' (as in fed up)? But God doesn't get 'fed up'. How about the last note of "Taps" played at the end of the day at every US military base worldwide?

"Live long and prosper!"

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Each of these have first and direct and full application to Israel. Pentacost giving of the Holy Spirit was when the kingdom was still being offered to Israel, and before the Gospel was sent directly to the gentiles, signalling the abeyance of Israel's kingdom promise.



Day of Atonement will receive it's fulfillment, I think, when the redeemer comes to Zion, and takes away the transgression of Jacob. And the feast of Trumpets, I don't know, I could go a dozen different directions. Perhaps the rapture? Or perhaps nothing to do with Gentiles. Perhaps the day Jesus sits on His throne? We speculate . . .

Much love!

We;ll that is the marvel of feasts 5-7. Their fulfiment has not happened yet so it leaves the door open for numerous opinions. but we will know for sure when they are fulfilled.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

In my statement that Paul didn't write of the feasts in his letters, I should have added: "to the church" at the end. Although some theologians disagree on Pauls' authorship of Hebrews, I have little doubt he did write it. So I have to ask how a letter to the Hebrews (no Gentiles) applies to the Church? Of note is that he doesn't reference the (his) Gospel in Hebrews. It's clear he's showing the Jewish people that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin and they should turn to Jesus as their Savior and Messiah as evidenced in Hebrews 9:12-14 and other verses -

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)

Paul goes on in chapter 11 driving home 'faith, faith, faith' to tie Jesus' shed blood to righteousness & salvation. But he leaves it up to the Hebrews to put the two together as far as I can tell.

Maybe 8-10 years ago, one of my Bible study teachers at church presented how Jesus perfectly fulfilled the 7 feasts you listed. It's really a good 'match up'...almost. It's also perfectly logical. Being a retired mainframe computer consultant, logic is everything! I even secretly longed to be more like Spock on Star Trek many years ago. And ever since, I'd check when the Feast of Trumpets was with Google every year thinking: 'It's so bad right now, He HAS to take us home this year!' Only to be broken hearted over and over. But for the last couple of years, I've thought: "Maybe they'll be right this year..." to no avail.

The problem with matching the Feast of The Trumpets to the rapture is...how can I say this delicately?...DATE SETTING! Isn't it? I just checked on next years' date...September 27, 2022. 51+ weeks from now! Since Jesus stated only the Father knows when He will return, doesn't it make sense that only the Father knows when He will send his Son to collect His bride?

Isaiah 55:8-9 comes to mind:
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV)

And if it matters, doesn't matching the Day of Atonement (10 days after Feast of the Trumpets) to when someone repents and is saved putting the horse (salvation) after the cart (the rapture)? Or are tribulation saints/martyrs being counted in that as well?

Lastly, is it possible that the 'last trump' in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is like the phrase 'last call' in an auction or at 2AM in a bar? Or perhaps 'last chance?' or 'last straw' (as in fed up)? But God doesn't get 'fed up'. How about the last note of "Taps" played at the end of the day at every US military base worldwide?

"Live long and prosper!"

Well I see it happening on a feast of trumpets future, but that doesn't mean it will take place on trumpets. It is not date setting but speculating and using human logic which can be 0-100% wrong in this.

 

[marks]

We;ll that is the marvel of feasts 5-7. Their fulfiment has not happened yet so it leaves the door open for numerous opinions. but we will know for sure when they are fulfilled.

I've been giving a lot of new thought on these feasts. I've realized how much my ideas on the feast have been affected by the Christianization of the feasts in teachings I've heard over the years.

So now I'm more focusing on what they tell us completely apart of anything to do with the church. It's interesting to think about!

Much love!

 

[Oseas]

The Church is not prepared for what is to come.

The answer is with JESUS: Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for MANY, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

 

[BARNEY BRIGHT]

The Lord put this on my heart as i was trying to fall asleep, so in obedience I am writing this post. Use Discernment.

What we are seeing come to fruition in this country and around the world is a registry of all the people who will not comply with mandates of the One world government. This is leading to concepts such as "vaccination passports" Which are really no different than the registry of Jews in Nazi Germany.

Watch the Project Veritas video in the link to see this.
FDA Official Says Use 'Nazi' Type Registry of Unvaxxed Americans: 'Like the Jewish Star' - Video Report (westernjournal.com)

This is all leading up to the mark of the beast.

The church is not prepared to face this.... there are those who doubt they will have to worry about the MOB.... those who outright deny this is the MOB..... those who do not fully trust in the providence of God..... those who will be so concerned with their wealth and prosperity that they will not think twice....

They control the media, they control the Medical establishment, they control the educational system, They control the militaries, they control the legal system, they control the travel, They control most religious organization.... There is no avoiding this, there is no hiding from it, You will soon lose all your rights and freedoms if you do not comply. But if you do, you will be able to live normally.... this is the seduction of the mark of the beast, and many will fall into it. An outcast is what we will become, an outcast denied basic human rights, food, clothing, housing, medical care. The Only Place for the outcast is the wilderness. It is there we will discover the providence of God, Just as Israel did after forty years there and entered the promised land.

So all encompassing this system will be that many will choose to worship the beast saying;
"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4)

Even those who sit in the pews, for they will be so seduced by what is to come.

Pray, get into the Word of God, seek His Providence, Repent. We are on the edge of cliff, are you ready to take the leap of faith, or will you fall to the sea below and drown?

You say the church isn't prepared. What church are you speaking of? I believe the true church that is founded on Jesus Christ and has him as the head of that church will be prepared. Obviously the church you believe in, you don't think it will be prepared, but I know you're not talking about the True Church not being prepared. God's servants who are his Only Begotten son disciples, God will have them prepared, that isn't impossible for the True God to do, so the True Church will be prepared no matter how much others may think God can't have the True Church prepared.

 

[Bruce Atkinson]

I've been giving a lot of new thought on these feasts. I've realized how much my ideas on the feast have been affected by the Christianization of the feasts in teachings I've heard over the years.

So now I'm more focusing on what they tell us completely apart of anything to do with the church. It's interesting to think about!

Much love!

The more I look at the feasts, the more I'm convinced they were commanded by God TO Israel and FOR Israel. Their 'Christianization' of the feasts and other portions of the OT is completely wrong in my book.

Like Gods' 8 covenants with Israel...they apply to Israel ONLY. Some Christians try to make the 8th covenant, the 'New Covenant' apply to Christians, but nothing could be further from the truth per Jeremiah 31:31-33 - what part of verse 31 don't they understand?

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (KJV)

I suspect that much of the 'Christianization' comes from various denominational (my fingers initially typed: demon before I caught myself) faiths and perhaps believers such as myself that grew up in a denominational church and later saved. I think it stems from not keeping law separated from grace, a problem most baby and toddler Christians have, in my opinion. I had the same problem mixing them together the first couple of years I was saved. Once I separated the two, virtually everything I learned in Gods' Word fell into place.

 

[Bruce Atkinson]

You say the church isn't prepared. What church are you speaking of? I believe the true church that is founded on Jesus Christ and has him as the head of that church will be prepared. Obviously the church you believe in, you don't think will be prepared. I know you're not talking about the True Church not being prepared. God's servants who are his Only Begotten son disciples God will have them prepared, that isn't impossible for the True God to do.

The church in this post means the global church of all saved believers.

Most people in various denominations are unsaved, and they're definitely NOT ready for what's coming next. They will certainly believe a lie that millions and millions of people that instantly disappeared were abducted by aliens. It would take millions of UFOs to do it, but that doesn't matter to those left behind. In short, they have NO CLUE about the tribulation as few ever read and study Gods' Word.

I'll make exception, however, to a very smart, very Catholic friend of mine that knows the tribulation is just around the corner. He's sort of a 'doomsday prepper' and now retired, has moved to a rural area more than 100 miles from any major city and has been 'armed to the teeth' for many years. He's an expert hunter and marksman as well, as is his wife. He's been taught to believe that Matthew 25:31-46 is his salvation and he intends to be alive at the end of the tribulation. How much food and supplies he's stored away is anyones' guess.

But then we get to many saved people that haven't progressed very far from being a baby Christian. In the independent Bible believing baptist church I'm a member of, I'd estimate that at least 50% of the members fall into that category. It doesn't appear to me that they know Gods' Word very well and from what I've seen, avoid both group and individual bible studies. They're content with reading 'Our Daily Bread' and coming to church on most Sundays. I talk with several of them most weeks and they sort of know the rapture is coming, but not much more than that. Perhaps they're better off and will be 100% 'blown away' when they open their eyes in heaven. The more learned will be 100% blown away as well, but will be thinking: 'we finally made it!...so THIS is what heaven is like...' 'Prepared'? Yes. 'Blown away'? Yes. 'Surprised'? Not so much.

 

[BARNEY BRIGHT]

The church in this post means the global church of all saved believers.

Most people in various denominations are unsaved, and they're definitely NOT ready for what's coming next. They will certainly believe a lie that millions and millions of people that instantly disappeared were abducted by aliens. It would take millions of UFOs to do it, but that doesn't matter to those left behind. In short, they have NO CLUE about the tribulation as few ever read and study Gods' Word.

I'll make exception, however, to a very smart, very Catholic friend of mine that knows the tribulation is just around the corner. He's sort of a 'doomsday prepper' and now retired, has moved to a rural area more than 100 miles from any major city and has been 'armed to the teeth' for many years. He's an expert hunter and marksman as well, as is his wife. He's been taught to believe that Matthew 25:31-46 is his salvation and he intends to be alive at the end of the tribulation. How much food and supplies he's stored away is anyones' guess.

But then we get to many saved people that haven't progressed very far from being a baby Christian. In the independent Bible believing baptist church I'm a member of, I'd estimate that at least 50% of the members fall into that category. It doesn't appear to me that they know Gods' Word very well and from what I've seen, avoid both group and individual bible studies. They're content with reading 'Our Daily Bread' and coming to church on most Sundays. I talk with several of them most weeks and they sort of know the rapture is coming, but not much more than that. Perhaps they're better off and will be 100% 'blown away' when they open their eyes in heaven. The more learned will be 100% blown away as well, but will be thinking: 'we finally made it!...so THIS is what heaven is like...' 'Prepared'? Yes. 'Blown away'? Yes. 'Surprised'? Not so much.

I believe the True church that has Jesus as it's foundation and him as head of that church to be a global church. I just don't believe that the True church has divisions in it, what some call denominations. I can understand that church not being ready, I just don't believe it to be the True Church.