The antiChrist is vicious against the Rapture of the Saints
Without question Satan hates everything about our Eternal God and, certainly, he hates the great truths of Holy Scripture.
But, Satan is a scheming enemy that has limited knowledge of the times and seasons and he especially battles against those prophetic truths that have come of age and are ready to be fulfilled. It is very apparent that he has chosen to draw a line in the sand (sinking sand, I may add) against the historic hope of the church, “our escape to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”
Jesus Christ the Lord gave the early disciples this hope as He prepared them for His suffering, death, and ascension. The Lord Jesus had become extremely close to His disciples. They were dependent on Him because then they were really young in the faith, almost like babes. In St. John thirteen Jesus deals with their weakness, even warns Peter that he will deny his Lord, but quickly moves to fill them with hope. The hope was that He would indeed be gone shortly, but that He was going to prepare a Heavenly place where He might receive them to Himself. His promise is extremely definite. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
There can be no doubt that this hope of His “coming again for them” became a rallying cry of the early church. Their greeting to each other after His ascension was “Maranatha” or “ The Lord Cometh.” The message of the two angels that appeared just a few days after His resurrection and at His ascension was essentially the same words as the Lord Himself had spoken. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
Jesus Said, “Do Not Be Discouraged, I Will Be Back.”
The most satisfying thought when someone you love is leaving is the certainty that they will be right back. The disciples immediately developed that mindset and it literally fills the New Testament model. They even had a little rumor going around that John was going to live to see Him alive when He came. But, then at Pentecost, the “Vicar” of Jesus Christ literally baptized them in the living presence of this resurrected Lord and their consciousness of Him was overwhelming. They could wait for His personal return, because now His Spirit effecting presence was their satisfying joy. In such a spiritual state they went out of the upper room to change the world and change it they did.
The New Testament writers constantly reminded the church that Jesus would be back. They spoke of His coming in general to set up His kingdom, but they spoke of this Rapture in particular to gather the saints unto Himself. Paul stated to the church at Ephesus, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him.” (Ephesians 1:10)
The same apostle uses similar words to open a discussion about the coming Antichrist by saying, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1) In this same chapter Apostle Paul ties the gathering to the removal of the restrainer to allow unhindered wickedness for its final onslaught. The early church was looking for Jesus to return and gather them to Himself.
A Warning About Losing This Hope
The Apostle Peter warned of men that would deny Him coming to gather the saints and called them scoffers, “worldly scoffers” walking after their own lust. Notice how this apostle approaches the subject. He states that this second epistle is to warn them of this denial. “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:1-9)
Peter spoke in verse nine of Jesus’ promise, which I believe is specifically His promise as stated in St. John chapter fourteen. He also says clearly that the holy prophets had spoken of this same subject that he was addressing. I will give two such documentations from the books of Isaiah and Psalms. Apostle Peter ended this Second Book of Peter by warning them of being “led away with the error of the wicked.” Notice the context. “And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” (2 Peter 3:15-17)
The subject is clearly a loss of hope and the steadfastness of that hope. Men are preserved by this life changing expectancy of the Lord’s coming. When you are charged with this hope as He ordained, it purifies your conscience to obedience and readiness.
Peter stated that the promise of the Lord’s coming was spoken of by the holy prophets, which specifically dated back to the First (Old) Testament. Many of my friends deny that the First Testament writers even addressed the rapture, but I believe they are wrong and these words of Peter express proof of that. Isaiah put the Rapture and the wrath or indignation of God in a beautiful order. “Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:19-21)
You have the gathering of the saints in verse nineteen and their entrance into His presence and a safe place (the chamber or location of the Marriage Supper) in verse twenty and the Wrath or Great Tribulation in verse twenty-one. The order is perfect and the fact of the resurrection in verse nineteen forbids this event to occur at any other time.
The man after God’s own heart also spoke of this location of the gathered saints. Look at this statement by King David. “Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.” “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he [is] thy Lord; and worship thou him.” “The king’s daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.” (Psalm 45:6-9, 11, 13-14)
This is clearly prophetic after the death of Christ and shows His Bride or wife gathered unto Him in His Ivory Palace and utterly glorious in her wedding attire. The hope of His return to gather the saints to Himself is a glorious theme in Holy Scripture and Satan hates this grand finale that is about to occur.
OUR BOOK ENTITLED “THE MASTERPIECE” CAME OUT OF MY HEART. I BELIEVE YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BOOK OF REVELATION AS YOU READ AND STUDY. PLEASE ORDER IT BELOW. My gift for today is a picture of a minister that denies the antiChrist and the pre-Tribulation Rapture. It is entitled, “Rick Joyner, and his Astral traveling up in the stratosphere.” I will send up to five free if you will share it with family or friends. Call 1 800 338 7884 or 704 391 0588. E-mail us at secretary@pawcreek.org
Mike Ilitch Jr
Hello,
Please send me one copy of Masterpiece and My wife and I will send you a personal check (plus a donation) for the cost of the book.
Please send ASAP to Mike and Noelle Ilitch, ————————- —————- ————————— . Please include the billing invoice for our records and expedient payment.
Thank you for your work in ministry and your service,
God Bless You and Yours,
Mike ( and Noelle) Ilitch
suez
Dear Brother Chambers. I humbly ask, Why is it you give only part of the scriptures to back up your beliefs? Finish the thing Paul was talking about…:”2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: FOR THAT DAY,SHALL NOT COME, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (We, the church, will see him!!!)
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” He continues on to say, LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU, (for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;) It saddens me, how some preachers try and get their points out without completing the whole of the scripture!!! You don’t finish it, because it goes against the UN-truth you are trying to get out. I love you in the Lord, but there are many scriptures that do not support a early escape, sorry. And for people to keep teaching people we will be out of here, is a dis-service to them. They can-not be prepared, if we should have to be here… is as bad or worse than what you accuse others of. I hope you are right, and it is pre-trib, but if not, people better be prepared. I would rather not be here either. But God has his reasons. Maybe to clean up the church for one, his Church is a total mess!! He is coming for a Church without spot or wrinkle. Do you really think the Church today is without spot and wrinkle??? Oh, but we will be, once we have to endure some bad tribulation of the Church. All denominational barriers and contentions will fall away at that point, because we will have to join together in UNITY!! Oh that word, UNITY, not seen much today. You quoted the scripture, ““That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him.” (Ephesians 1:10)” Fullness of times, is at the end, brother. Here is another one you can try and explain away, 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Hmmm, last trump??? Seven trumpets in Rev. The sounding of the 7th is the last trump as far as I know anyway. Here is another one. “Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” The tares are harvested first…hmmm You also may do a study of the elect. Who is the Elect?? The Elect is his Church, his body!!! “Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mar 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”
I know you will never change your mind, unless you call upon God to show you truth, instead of your man instilled beliefs. I love you in the Lord. I too used to believe in the pre-trib rapture until I started praying that the Lord would take every pre-conceived idea out of my mind,and every part of me,,, And replace them with HIS truth. Wow what a difference! God is truth, and to see scripture in his truth, instead of man made belief system is truly freeing. I know this will probably up-set you, but because of the Love of the Lord, I just had to say something. If nothing else, I would pray that you would humble yourself, to the fact you may not know it all. Pray for the Holy Spirit to cleanse your mind from man made or devil made ideas, and replace them with his truth. We all should do that, Yes? We are all frail human beings. All capable of being wrong, and all capable of having stinking thinking. May the Lord Jesus Bless you with all truth and Love. Yours in Christ, Suez
Ed Wood
I thought the people who visit this site might enjoy seeing some other “Resurrection Passages” from the Old Testament. Jesus was the first one to prove they are all true – for him and for us!
Samuel {2:6} The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
Psalm {17:15} As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Psalm {23:6} Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm {49:15} But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Psalm {71:20} [Thou,] which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Job {14:14-15} If a man die, shall he live [again?] all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
Job {19:25-27} For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day]
upon the earth: And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body,] yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.
Ezekiel {37:12} Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
Daniel {12:2-3} And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Michael
Suez…. All through scripture God demonstrates that the righteous are never judged with the wicked.
Revelation 3:10
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Secondly, you are making references to words that Jesus spoke to His Jewish brothers about their bloodline’s future…. “when you see the abomination of desolation… flee”…
Thirdly, you are, as many do, referring to the “Church” as the “Elect”. We are not the Elect, the Jews are. We are the “Justified”. There is a great difference.
Joseph B. D. Saraceno
AntiChrist will be a a false Christ and will deceive the majority of the world,
except the remnant faithful.