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Time is Short
Posted by Debbie on Thursday, August 7, 2008 05:08 pm
I am about to write things that some may find offensive. But, I feel I must.
Over the past 9 years, I have studied the Bible voraciously. I have come to believe that these 66 books that were written over hundreds of years by over 40 different writers are THE WORD OF GOD! EVERYprophecy that isn't about the future has been fulfilled EXACTLY as the Bible predicted. Every day I see more and more prophecies lining up just as the Bible tells. Because of this, I believe that prophecies about the future will be fulfilled exactly as the bible says. That said, I am convinced that Jesus Christ will come back very soon. The bible says that although we cannot know the day or the hour, that we can know the season of Christ's return. The "Second Coming" of Christ is in two stages. First, the "rapture" of the church, in Greek, the "harpazo" or the snatching away. At this time, Jesus returns in the air and His followers meet Him in the air. The bible calls all those who have believed on Christ's salvation through His death and resurrection on the cross "the body of Christ", the church, and "the saints". the bible states that first those who have died in Christ will be resurrected and given their "glorified" or immortal bodies. then those that are alive and remain will be caught up in the air in a moment. I believe that this includes all those who are innocent. Children who have nort reached the age of accountability and those who are developmentally delayed and thus, innocent.
Imagine the chaos that will ensue after millions of adults and all children around the world suddenly just vanish! It is only then that the "man of
perdition", or the anti-christ, will come onto the scene. He will offer the world an explaination of the disappearances and will unite the world through peace. We will finally have a One World government, currency and religion. People will believe that this leader is the savior of the world. He will sign a seven year peace treaty with Israel during which time the third temple will be built in Jerusalem. It is the signing of this treaty that ushers in the "tribulation". This is a time when God Himself pours out His wrath upon the whole world. Earthquakes, famines and
pestilences are just the beginning. Halfway through this seven year period, the anti-christ will set himself up in the Holy of Holies in the temple in Jerusalem andproclaim himself to be the messiah. This will enrage the Jewish people and the anti-christ will seek to destroy all Jews and all who oppose him. He will force people to take his mark upon their foreheads or right hands as a sign of allegience. Those who refuse will be killed. The bible is clear on this point, if you take this mark, you will forever be damned. Multitudes will turn to Jesus during this period and will be killed. at the end of this seven year period, the whole world, led by the anti-christ, will wage a war against the one true God. They meet in the valley of Megeddo, or Armegeddon. At this time, the Jewish people will cry out to God and sccept Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus then comes down to Earth, accompanied by all the angels in heaven and all that were raptured. With one word, Jesus slays all those who opposed Him. This ushers in the millenial kingdom of Christ's rule on Earth. Those who were raptured will rule and reign with Christ during this period. Only the believers who were left alive at the end of the tribulation will go into the millenial kingdom in their earthly bodies and they will re-populate the Earth.
Fairy tale? What about the beliefs of the Mormons, that Jesus is Lucifer's brother and that we will all become "god-men", or the Scientologists, new-agers, Buddist, Muslims, and others? I think I'll place my trust in the one God who was willing to become a man and take my sin upon Himself so that I could be saved.
But what about those who believe they are "basically good" or not perfect but sincere, or those who believe that they can earn their way by good works? God says that EVERYONE is a sinner. All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Only those who don't sin can be saved. but, we all sin! So what can we do to be saved? The answer? NOTHING! THere is absolutely nothing that WE can do to earn our salvation. God, knowing this, became a man in Jesus. At the crucifixion, He took upon Himself all of our sins. That's every sin that you or I or anyone who ever
lived ever committed. He BECAME sin for us. He took OUR punishment and became separated from God the Father. Just before He died,
Jesus said, Tetelisti", which means, "paid in full". That means there is nothing that we can add to what He did for us. To even try is an insult. Would God have allowed His only son to go through this if there were any other way? NO!
So, what do WE do to be saved? We accept the free gift that Jesus offers, that He has taken the penalty and paid our fine. We do this by
repenting of our sin, that's turning away from it, and trusting in Jesus and the salvation that only He can provide. When we do that we become
"born-again" That means that Jesus gives us a new heart and we become a new creation in Christ. We no longer have that "sin nature". "But, I know lots of Christians who sin!" people argue. Well, yes, we still sin, but the differnce is that we don't make it a habit or lifestyle. When a Christian sins, they are convicted of that sin by the Holy Spirit which now resides in them, and the repent.
Now, back to the title of this blog. TIME IS SHORT! We never know from moment to moment what will happen to us. Christ could come back at
any moment or we could be killed or have a heart attack. Who knows. Given that it is only the choice we make in this life that determines how and where we spend the rest of eternity, isn't it vitally important to make that decision while you can? Don't put it off another moment! This
moment may be your last!
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