Monday, November 18, 2013
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:5, 6 MSG)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Discerning The Times That We Live In Part 1
So we have heard about Harold Camping's prophecy that the world would end on May 21, 2011.
As you know by now, that didn't happen because you can see the date in which I wrote this blog. As a pastor, I teach and love the end times studies as we see what the evening news has to bring to us each day. How do we know that we are in the "Last Days' or in the "End Times"? How about that "Rapture" stuff? Is it going to happen or is it just something that someone made up? Maybe it is just to scare people back to God and church! Let's take a look at what scripture has to really say about this topic...
To watch this series click HERE
Matthew 24
Signs of the End of the Age
31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it]is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Enoch was the first prophet to talk about the Lord’s coming back.
Jude 14-15 “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
The Bible talks about the second coming:
The Bible revealed to the prophets that the Lord would come a second time before He was ever born the first time. (Psalm 102:16)
During the feast of the Tabernacles the Lord would be King over the earth. (Zach. 14:9, chapters 12-14 – The Lord’s feet would stand on the Mt. of Olives, break into parts)
Daniel 7:22 “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”
The End Times was to be hidden until the last generation:
Daniel 12:8-9 "I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" 9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand."
There was only a partial reveal with the Apostle Paul, Peter (Rev. with John): (Ephesians 1:4)
1 Peter 1:20 “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
Apostle Paul: Road to Damascus, (Acts 9:3-9) Paul was going to capture and kill Christians. Ananias, laid hands on the blind Paul (Acts 22:12-24) The Jews, when they found out that Paul had converted, were looking to kill him. So, Paul fled to the wilderness (desert).
Ephesians, Galatians, and the book of Romans, Paul talks about how there were mysteries from the foundations of the world made known to him. (7 revelations, one is…)
The Coming of the Lord:
1 Thess. 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:16, 5:2
1 Thess. 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Here's the big word, "RAPTURE"! Most Christians and some pastors don't understand what to make of this word and what it means. Some pastors think that the word rapture is some modern term that started in the 17th century, but that isn't the case. This word start a long time before that. Here is a little background to help guide you.
“Caught up” is the English word that we use for Rapture. There are other English words that are not found the in the English Bible: Trinity, Millennial Reign, and Demon (KJV), but we understand what their meanings are all about. Just because you don't see it in your English Bible doesn't mean that the meanings are not accurate.
Saint Jerome in 400 AD wrote the Latin Vulgate and he used the Latin word for rapture in 1 Thess. 4:17 (Rapiemur). As you may know, the English language is derived from many different languages including Latin. This is where we get the word rapture.
The church for over 1,000 years didn't understand what the end times really meant and most churches didn't teach on this subject because they didn't know what to make of all this weird stuff in the Bible. There is a reason for the lack of understanding from the Bible and even Daniel experienced this same problem during his time as a prophet.
Eph 1:9-10 “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."
There are two type of "Gathering together": 1) Dead in Christ, 2) Living Saints
Paul went to Arabia to receive the Word of God. Mount Sinai is found in Arabia where Moses received the Torah. It is possible by Paul's writings to believe that he may have been trained by Jesus in the very same place where Moses received his revelation.
Gal 1:16-17 "to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus."
Galatians 4:23-26 "His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother."
(Galatians 1:17) Paul just spoke about going to Arabia to receive the revelation of God, then mentions Mt Sinai there just a few verses later. I believe Paul is letting us know that he went to the same place where Moses received his revelation.
QUESTION??? Is the rapture is just a fabrication!
Some may say that, “the rapture is just for people who don’t want to go through the tough times.” (Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib) are the three thoughts on the 7 year Tribulation period. Very few people believe in the post-tribulation, there are some pastors that teach the mid-tribulation and they teach that the church needs to remain to be a witness and light during this awful time on earth. Most Bible and prophecy teachers lean more to the pre-tribulation thought. What is most important here is that we are to be ready no matter when He comes. We are commanded to be ready!
Everything in the New Testament that was a major prophetic event: Jesus dying, rising from the dead, when the Holy Spirit came, can be found in the fall feasts & spring harvests of Israel by pattern or by pattern in the first 5 books of the Bible.
We only need to look in scripture to see if there has ever been a time when "Rapture" like incidences have taken place. Is there a picture of the “catching away” in the Old Testament? Yes!
Exodus 19:15b "...the people were preparing for the third day by sanctifying themselves."
Hosea 6:2 "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence."
1 Thess. 5:23 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Back to Exodus 19, "16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."
“The Trumpet Blast” Hebrew: Tekiah Hagadolan “Great Blast” (Shofar- ram’s horn)
Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 28-30th of this year 2011) the trumpet call, 4 blasts, the last hold out as long as possible. Trumpet could be the voice of God.
Exodus 19:20 "The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up God came down and Moses went up to meet God."
Can you see what is right before your eyes? Picture the verse above. God from heaven. Moses from earth. God comes down, Moses goes up and meets each other in the clouds of the mountain.
1 Thess. 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."
A picture of the rapture and more in part 2.
As you know by now, that didn't happen because you can see the date in which I wrote this blog. As a pastor, I teach and love the end times studies as we see what the evening news has to bring to us each day. How do we know that we are in the "Last Days' or in the "End Times"? How about that "Rapture" stuff? Is it going to happen or is it just something that someone made up? Maybe it is just to scare people back to God and church! Let's take a look at what scripture has to really say about this topic...
To watch this series click HERE
Matthew 24
Signs of the End of the Age
31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it]is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Enoch was the first prophet to talk about the Lord’s coming back.
Jude 14-15 “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
The Bible talks about the second coming:
The Bible revealed to the prophets that the Lord would come a second time before He was ever born the first time. (Psalm 102:16)
During the feast of the Tabernacles the Lord would be King over the earth. (Zach. 14:9, chapters 12-14 – The Lord’s feet would stand on the Mt. of Olives, break into parts)
Daniel 7:22 “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”
The End Times was to be hidden until the last generation:
Daniel 12:8-9 "I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" 9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand."
There was only a partial reveal with the Apostle Paul, Peter (Rev. with John): (Ephesians 1:4)
1 Peter 1:20 “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
Apostle Paul: Road to Damascus, (Acts 9:3-9) Paul was going to capture and kill Christians. Ananias, laid hands on the blind Paul (Acts 22:12-24) The Jews, when they found out that Paul had converted, were looking to kill him. So, Paul fled to the wilderness (desert).
Ephesians, Galatians, and the book of Romans, Paul talks about how there were mysteries from the foundations of the world made known to him. (7 revelations, one is…)
The Coming of the Lord:
1 Thess. 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:16, 5:2
1 Thess. 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Here's the big word, "RAPTURE"! Most Christians and some pastors don't understand what to make of this word and what it means. Some pastors think that the word rapture is some modern term that started in the 17th century, but that isn't the case. This word start a long time before that. Here is a little background to help guide you.
“Caught up” is the English word that we use for Rapture. There are other English words that are not found the in the English Bible: Trinity, Millennial Reign, and Demon (KJV), but we understand what their meanings are all about. Just because you don't see it in your English Bible doesn't mean that the meanings are not accurate.
Saint Jerome in 400 AD wrote the Latin Vulgate and he used the Latin word for rapture in 1 Thess. 4:17 (Rapiemur). As you may know, the English language is derived from many different languages including Latin. This is where we get the word rapture.
The church for over 1,000 years didn't understand what the end times really meant and most churches didn't teach on this subject because they didn't know what to make of all this weird stuff in the Bible. There is a reason for the lack of understanding from the Bible and even Daniel experienced this same problem during his time as a prophet.
Eph 1:9-10 “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."
There are two type of "Gathering together": 1) Dead in Christ, 2) Living Saints
Paul went to Arabia to receive the Word of God. Mount Sinai is found in Arabia where Moses received the Torah. It is possible by Paul's writings to believe that he may have been trained by Jesus in the very same place where Moses received his revelation.
Gal 1:16-17 "to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus."
Galatians 4:23-26 "His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother."
(Galatians 1:17) Paul just spoke about going to Arabia to receive the revelation of God, then mentions Mt Sinai there just a few verses later. I believe Paul is letting us know that he went to the same place where Moses received his revelation.
QUESTION??? Is the rapture is just a fabrication!
Some may say that, “the rapture is just for people who don’t want to go through the tough times.” (Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib) are the three thoughts on the 7 year Tribulation period. Very few people believe in the post-tribulation, there are some pastors that teach the mid-tribulation and they teach that the church needs to remain to be a witness and light during this awful time on earth. Most Bible and prophecy teachers lean more to the pre-tribulation thought. What is most important here is that we are to be ready no matter when He comes. We are commanded to be ready!
Everything in the New Testament that was a major prophetic event: Jesus dying, rising from the dead, when the Holy Spirit came, can be found in the fall feasts & spring harvests of Israel by pattern or by pattern in the first 5 books of the Bible.
We only need to look in scripture to see if there has ever been a time when "Rapture" like incidences have taken place. Is there a picture of the “catching away” in the Old Testament? Yes!
Exodus 19:15b "...the people were preparing for the third day by sanctifying themselves."
Hosea 6:2 "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence."
1 Thess. 5:23 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Back to Exodus 19, "16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."
“The Trumpet Blast” Hebrew: Tekiah Hagadolan “Great Blast” (Shofar- ram’s horn)
Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 28-30th of this year 2011) the trumpet call, 4 blasts, the last hold out as long as possible. Trumpet could be the voice of God.
Exodus 19:20 "The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up God came down and Moses went up to meet God."
Can you see what is right before your eyes? Picture the verse above. God from heaven. Moses from earth. God comes down, Moses goes up and meets each other in the clouds of the mountain.
1 Thess. 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."
A picture of the rapture and more in part 2.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Flag Of The United States Of America
Flag Etiquette
STANDARDS of RESPECT
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are: The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
Note: Most American Legion Posts regularly conduct a dignified flag burning ceremony, often on Flag Day, June 14th. Many Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Girl Scout Troops retire flags regularly as well. Contact your local American Legion Hall or Scout Troop to inquire about the availability of this service.
Displaying the Flag Outdoors
When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right...The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger...No other flag ever should be placed above it...The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
Raising and Lowering the Flag
The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night. The flag of the United States of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.
Displaying the Flag Indoors
When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
Parading and Saluting the Flag
When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried, the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
The Salute
To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.
The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem
The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
The Flag in Mourning
To place the flag at half staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On Memorial Day the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave.
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