Could this event be the rapture in 2007?

Could this be it? I found a web page about a Dark Star, a twin star of the sun, arriving to earth in 2007, sucking the people out of earth & wreaking havoc. Pls read article for more info. Amazing news. Christians be prepared.

The web page here: http://www.mrinbetween.com/pages/Dark_Star.html

Who Gets Raptured?

Q. I have been reading your website everyday for about two months now.

It was emailed to me as a link from a member of my Sunday school class. The first article I read was the Seven Major Prophetic signs of the Second Coming. After I read it I was hooked. I have read every article you have written on the rapture and prophecy related to current events. Thank you for your diligence and faithfulness to the Word.

I was looking through the FAQ section of (another site) and the author was fielding questions related to the rapture of children and anti pre-trib believers. He was suggesting that the children of unbelieving parents, as well as those who were against a pre-trib view of the rapture, would not be raptured.

For the record, I am a pre-trib believer who also believes that all children who have not yet reached the age of accountability will be raptured. I base this belief on Deuteronomy 1:39, "Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it."

I know this passage is not talking about the rapture, but to me it paints a picture of a God of grace who will judge each person according to his/her own choices and not the sins of the parents. If my application of this passage is correct it seems clear that God will most definitely rapture all children who have not yet reached the age of accountability. However, how do you reconcile this passage with other passages which talk about entire households being killed for the sins of the father (Achan, for example)?

Also, in reference to anti pre-trib believers not being raptured, I cannot find any support for this claim. Although I am confident based on your other articles that you agree with my view that they will most certainly be raptured with the rest of us, how would you answer someone who makes the claim that they will not be?

Thanks for you answers in advance. Again, I greatly appreciate your ministry.

A. I'm with you on the rapture of children and "non pre-tribbers". I guess my response to those who believe otherwise would be to challenge them to prove it by Scripture.

In one place (the other site) says, "The Word of God does not give us solid proof that Christians who oppose the pre-trib rapture will miss out on the blessed event." I agree. The Rapture is not a "salvation issue" and so what you believe about it doesn't effect your membership in the Church. When the Church disappears, all of its members will disappear with it.

The author also says that he doesn't think that children of unbelievers will be raptured. But I'm not persuaded by his use of the Flood and Sodom examples to prove that children of unbelievers don't escape judgment. Since non-believers think of pre-mature death as a great injustice, it's natural to see the deaths of the Flood children in the context of judgment, but as believers we're taught that death is a fast pass to heaven for the righteous. Viewed from that perspective, their deaths were an act of mercy.

Ask yourself this. How would the million or so children on earth at the time of the flood have benefited from being preserved through it? Who would have nursed them, fed and clothed them, raised them?

I think that all those children went to be with the Lord immediately, while Noah and his adult sons were preserved through the Flood as a model of Israel and Lot and his adult daughters escaped from Sodom ahead of time as a model of the Church. The Bible says that God doesn't judge the righteous with the unrighteous (2 Peter 2:9) and children by definition are righteous. (Romans 7:9) For all we know, they could have been "raptured" at the moment those judgments came.

As far as other judgments are concerned, I believe that any child below the age of reason who died in Old Testament times went immediately to Paradise. Today they go to be with Jesus.
I believe that all children below the age of reason will be taken in the rapture irrespective of their parents' spiritual condition.

http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/who-gets-raptured

ASSASSINATION RAISES CRITICAL QUESTION: WHO IS VLADIMIR PUTIN?

http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/2006/11/assassination-raises-critical-question.html

Turkey won't make it into EU

They won't make it no matter what they are trying to do. Below is snippet of news article:

'Turkey Prepared for any Scenarios in EU Talks'
By Cihan News Agency Wednesday, November 22, 2006 zaman.com

Turkey's Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan said that the worst-case scenario in relations with the European Union was unlikely to happen, adding that Turkey was prepared for all types of outcomes on EU accession talks.

Babacan assessed the situation regarding the relations with the European Union and the last improvements in economy last night on Turkish Samanyolu TV.

He said that Turkey was prepared for all kinds of scenarios regarding the future of Turkey’s accession talks, reiterating that Turkey won’t take unilateral steps on the Cyprus discord.

Stating that Turkey will continue negotiations for the Cyprus deadlock until the last moment, he explained that the European Union was both the player and the referee in the Cyprus game. “The best solution for the issue is at the United Nations,” he added.

For full article: http://www.zaman.com/?bl=hotnews&alt=&trh=20061122&hn=38547

They can try to negotiate till the cows come home but they won't be able to have a breakthru. Cos I don't think they will relent on the Cyprus issue. Altho I wish for a peaceful & friendly resolution to this, as much as i wish for peace, there won't be any resolution. Watch and see.

Last-ditch talks with Turkey over Cyprus fail - Prelude to Gog-Magog

Last-ditch talks in Finland between the European Union and Turkey aimed at averting an EU crisis with Ankara over the Cyprus issue have failed, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said.

"An agreement could not be reached," Tuomioja, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters following talks held separately with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, and Cyprus, George Lillikas, in Tampere, in southern Finland.

For full article: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/061127/1/45400.html

Personal note: Yes, Turkey is almost out of EU. The bible has plainly prophesied that Turkey will join her Islamic brothers to attack Israel tog with Russia. Since she cannot be a member of EU to do this, so she won't be able to get EU membership now or in the future. Gog-Magog battle, here we come. Watch for it. Pray for the men in it who will die. May God have mercy on us.

Three Civil Wars in the Middle East!

Latest news. Civil wars in the Middle East. Couldn't find online but saw on TV news. Anybody can update me? One place is at Iraq.

Iraq may be slipping into civil war

By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press Writer, 2/16/2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Sunni politicians speak angrily of U.S. bias toward their Shiite rivals. Kurds are more outspoken in demanding self rule -- if not independence. And someone -- perhaps al-Qaida, perhaps Saddam Hussein loyalists -- killed more than 100 people in recent suicide bombings.

Rivalry and resentment among Iraq's ethnic and religious groups have become much more pronounced since Saddam's ouster in April. And those tensions are rising as various groups jockey for position with the approaching June 30 deadline for Iraqis to retake power.

The fault lines are emerging for a possible civil war.

Full news: Iraq Civil War

In the bible, we are told we will hear of wars & rumors of wars. & nation will rise against nation & kingdom against kingdom. Yes, nation means ethnic. Racism & ethnic stife. Sunni vs Shiite. Kurds vs Turks, Sudan, etc. This century alone we went thru 2 world wars. I wonder how this is going to play out. But I know before Jesus comes again, we will see more such big scale wars, ultimately leading to Armageddon. The threat of nuclear holocaust will cause the nations of the world to seek a false peace under the Antichrist. But it will lead to the bloodiest period in time. May God help us. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Rapture Mania

Commentary by Jack Kelley

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

As a management consultant I was often asked how much employees should know about the workings of their company, especially in financial matters. My advice was always the same. If you don't tell them the truth, they'll make up their own version and it will be detrimental to the company's profits.

For example, after taxes your neighborhood super market may only get to keep as little as 1/2 of one penny for every dollar's worth of sales. That means it takes $200 in sales to net them one dollar of profit. Admittedly, this is one of the lowest returns on sales in the business world. The average is 3-5 cents on the dollar. But according to surveys, the public thinks the average business makes a 35% profit on sales. They think it would only take $3 in sales to generate one dollar of profit. So would an employee be more concerned about wasting (or stealing) a dollar's worth of inventory or supplies if he believed it only took $3 in sales to make up for it, or if he knew that it takes $200?

"People can't tolerate a vacuum of information" I said, "Better they should know the truth than be susceptible to fantasy."

History Written In Advance

"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." (Isaiah 42:8-9)

The Lord has always used advance disclosure to validate Himself. We call it prophecy. Knowing the end from the beginning, He told His people things that hadn't happened, so that when they did, they would know that He is Who He claims to be. Since we know the truth about Him, we're not susceptible to fantasy.

But there's one area where the Lord has not been crystal clear where End Times events are concerned and that's the timing of the Rapture. For this reason the most outlandish formulas surface whenever world events take a significant turn for the worse, as people look for reasons to believe our time here is nearly up. Many of these formulas can be easily debunked with only a tiny bit of knowledge and discernment, but for some reason they gain traction in the Christian community because of our desire to believe what our itching ears want to hear. Not knowing the truth about the timing of the Rapture, we're susceptible to fantasy.

Full article: http://www.gracethrufaith.com/selah/prophecy/rapture-mania

Italy looking to activate the EU in the Middle East?

by Michael G. Mickey
(11-24-06)

Recently, I've commented on a new peace initiative that has materialized which we may have been hearing was in the works for some time now - an EU-led alternative to the Quartet's roadmap to peace. This is an intriguing development because we're told, in Daniel 9:26-27, that a prince (or leader) of Roman descent is going to confirm (or make strong) a covenant of peace in the Middle East that will be precisely seven years in length. The prince (or leader) I'm referring to will be the prophesied Antichrist - a deceiver whose actions will make him seem a hero in the eyes of the entire world, especially in the EU where he will rapidly ascend to holding tremendous power over the entire world. And his seven-year covenant of peace which we're told will be supported by a cast of "many"? It will mark the beginning of the prophesied seven-year Tribulation Period - the literal countdown to Jesus Christ's visible, physical, bodily return to the earth!

In what I can't help but find a bit of a chilling development in light of the prophet Daniel's predictions concerning the advent of the Antichrist, a Kuwait News Agency article dated 11-19-06 is quoting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi as saying Italy is seeking "to activate the role of the UN and Europe in the Middle East, as both sides are fundamental in the multi-lateral mechanism for peace."

For full article: http://www.rapturealert.com/2006/112406italymiddleeast.asp

Personal note: Finally another effort at the peace covenant between Israel & EU the beast kingdom. This time it's a new type of treaty being intiated by Italy primarily, ancient Roman capital. Are we seeing it already? Will this be it? 2007 is a great year to watch out for. Of all things the rapture & the advent of the Antichrist & 7 yr tribulation. I pray that Jesus comes quickly for the sake of the elect or there will be none left. I pray we will all be raptured up if possible.

A PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH – DOES THE BIBLE TEACH IT?

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15-17).

The above New Testament quotation describes the Rapture of the Church. The blessed hope of the Christian is Christ taking him to Himself forever, as He promises in John 14:2,3, “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.” The question is: WHEN?

“Rapture” is taken from the Latin word raptus, translated “caught up” from the verb rapere, which means “to transport from one place to another.” The Greek original is harpazo, which denotes a violent SNATCHING AWAY.

The Rapture is the time when faithful Christians are suddenly snatched away from the earth to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. A split second ahead of the translation of living Christians is the resurrection of “the dead in Christ.” In heaven, or in earth’s atmosphere, or in space, they will be judged before the Judgment Seat of Christ for rewards (2 Cor. 5:10 ; 1 Cor. 3:10-15) while on earth, for seven years, those left behind will be undergoing the test of their lives under the most terrible period of time known as “the Tribulation” (Matt. 24:29).

Full article: http://www.rapturealert.com/doesbibleteachpretrib.html

Open Vision of being Left Behind

What terror struck me upon this open vision! I really thot i was left behind while all the rest went up to be with Jesus! It was terrible. Demons were all around & people were confused but still carrying on normal lives. Governments are persecuting people esp left behind people who became Christians. The New World Order has arrived! Have to avoid the Antichrist's spies & informants. Have to flee from satanic police. Satan has come to earth & terror gripped the earth's inhabitants. God have mercy on me a left behind Christian! Sustain me O Lord & preserve my life! It was so real to me.

I heard the screams of ppl whose relatives have vanished into thin air before them. I heard the screams of women who are sexually assaulted by demons. I heard the mass persecution of Christians & mass executions. God have mercy! Jesus come quickly!

Don't let me be left behind. Pls rapture me up.

Oops, I guess I wasn't ready!

To believe in the rapture to go up

Just as one puts faith in Jesus & confesses that He is Lord of one's life to be saved from hell, one needs to put faith in the rapture to go up pre-trib. Just as we have faith in Christ as our Saviour & believes He died & rose again 3 days later to justify us, we must have faith in the soon coming rapture for us to go up. Although many people say God's grace will ensure Christians be raptured no matter their rapture beliefs, I still feel ppl have to put trust in God for the pre-tribulation rapture & believe that rapture will take place soon for them to leave before the Great Tribulation. Jesus told us to watch. Jesus told us to be careful to watch. What will happen to those who just wouldn't watch even if they are Christians? That Day will catch them unawares!

Just as we are justified by faith in our salvation, we are also justified by faith in our belief of the end time & pre trib rapture. The big hooha about being holy is a side issue. NOBODY CAN BE TRULY HOLY ENUF TO MAKE IT. So holiness is a side issue. What is at stake here is belief in the rapture & actively watching for Christ's return. We get salvation & healing by faith not works so we get raptured by faith & not works. Can we imagine if one doesnt have the faith that the world is going to end soon or be raptured up pre-trib, one won't be able to be raptured. So we have to believe to receive just like salvation& healing etc.

Maybe I am a bit too harsh but God's grace is conditional on faith - that we believe first. Faith is not works so holiness etc is not the issue here. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So how can one receive that thing (rapture) if he/she doesn't believe in the first place or have faith for it?

Just an opinion. God bless!

EVIDENCE #12 - LOT

Jesus said in Luke 17:28-29:

It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building . But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

The coming of the Son of Man is the same as Lot which is the same as the days of Noah. Sodom and Gomorrah (look at the story in Genesis 19) were wicked cities in the fertile plains of Jordan which Lot chose when Abraham in Genesis 13 gave him any choice of the land to go separate (both of their herdsmen were disputing with each other). Then Abraham rescued Lot in Revelation 14 when five wicked king formed an alliance and took captive everything in Sodom and Gomorrah including Lot. After Abraham rescued them, the two cities went on their wicked ways until God and two angels paid a visit to Abraham in Genesis 18. God decided to destroy those two cities yet Abraham interceded and bargained with God that if he found ten righteous people in Sodom then he would spare the city. The two angels only found four righteous - Lot, his wife, and his two daughters. The righteous were then taken out of the city away from the destruction that God would rain on Sodom and Gomorrah. This typifies the Pre-Tribulation Rapture because the righteous were taken out and put in a place away from the destruction and judgment of the wicked cities. In the same way, God will rapture his Church where they will be in heaven while the earth and those left behind will have to face the Tribulation.

Armageddon It!

Megapastor Rick Warren's Damascus Road experience

Posted: November 20, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

WASHINGTON – Rick Warren, the superstar mega-church pastor and bestselling author of ''The Purpose Driven Life,'' had a Damascus Road experience last week – and like Saul of Tarsus, one of the after-effects appears to be blindness.

Warren went to Syria and could find no persecution of Christians. He could find no persecution of Jews. He could find no evidence of extremism. He could find no evidence of the sponsorship of terrorism.

Despite the temporary loss of vision that prevented him from seeing any evil in the totalitarian police state, Warren's hearing was apparently not affected – for his ears were tickled by what he heard and apparently accepted lock, stock and barrel from the second-generation dictator, Bashar Assad, and his state-approved mufti.

......

He let me know he is a close friend of President Bush ''and many, if not most, of the generals at the Pentagon.''

He also told me he did not tape anything while in Syria, ''because it was a courtesy call, like I do in every country.''

Warren explained that he had also counseled with the National Security Council and the White House, as well as the State Department, before his little courtesy call for a neighbor.

''In fact,'' Warren added, ''as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Oxford Analytica, I might know as much about the Middle East as you.''

He continued: ''I hope you'll not choose to believe Syrian propaganda even though, as you pointed out at the start of your article, you've been wanting to criticize me for some time. In spite of your rush to judgment, I think you write great, insightful columns. You are almost batting 1,000.''

For full article: http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53030

Personal note: Pastor Rick Warren a member of CFR? That's news. Now I suspect a conspiracy. Pls read full article for all info abt Ps Rick & his visit to Syria. The time for the apostasy is near or has arrived already. Fake shepherds trying to lead people astray. I wonder how long more before Jesus is here. Can't be longer. Look up for our redemption draws nigh! Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

The Book of 'Allegory'?

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17)

Take a moment with me to reflect on this prophecy, penned by the Apostle John sometime in the latter part of the 1st century. In John's day, there were perhaps 200 million people living in the known world of the Roman Empire.

None of them had driver's licenses. There was no such thing as an identity card. There was no central database containing the names and addresses of the Empire's citizens. There was no central banking system in place. There was no global economy, no Federal Reserve, no paper scrip, and no way to track either the movement or the economic activity of the general population.

In John's day, such strict governmental control was utterly impossible. It would be more than eighteen hundred years before any of the elements necessary to fulfill John's prophecy were even dreamed of, let alone invented.

For full article: http://www.omegaletter.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=5997

Personal note: Yes, we are the generation that John was talking about in the book of Revelations. But it's given by God thru Christ to John the Apostle. God knows when is the end. He is the Beginning & the End. How come so many people still so defiant or ignorant of the times? I pray God will save me & my family, friends & relatives. I pray God will save all people. The technology mentioned in Revelations wasn't existent until our time. See, the Bible is a very advanced book. God is more advanced than most think. He is ancient yet advanced. What paradox! May God have mercy on us all! Amen.

TOMMY THOMPSON: THE "CHIPPER" PRESIDENT?

By Liz McIntyre & Katherine Albrecht

November 17, 2006NewsWithViews.com

Election Bid Raises Specter of RFID Implant Threat

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson is considering a run for president in 2008, a move that should spark alarm among those familiar with Thompson's calls for widespread RFID chipping of Americans. The authors of "Spychips," Dr. Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre, who closely monitor the RFID industry, caution that his position on the Board of the VeriChip Corporation and his stock options in the company make Thompson one of the most dangerous figures in American politics today.

As head of Health of Health and Human Services, Thompson oversaw the scandal-ridden FDA when it approved the VeriChip as a medical device. Shortly after leaving his cabinet post, he joined the board of the VeriChip Corporation and wasted no time in using his clout to promote the company's glass encapsulated RFID tags. These tags are injected into human flesh to uniquely number and identify people.

For full article: http://www.newswithviews.com/McIntyre/Liz14.htm

Personal note: People would do anything for money & power. Sigh.

IDF girds for possibility of war with Syria, Hezbollah in 2007

By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent

Syria and Hezbollah are likely to start a war against Israel next summer, according to General Staff assessments that have been gathered during a series of meetings in recent weeks.

While there is no specific estimate concerning the timing of a potential attack, all preparations are being made to ensure maximum preparedness in advance of summer 2007.

Since the lessons of the war in Lebanon have not yet been finalized in reports, it was decided to consider 2007 as an interim period, and to make decisions concerning a multiple-year force build-up only at the end of that year.

For full article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/784053.html

Personal note: 2007 is indeed a very important & prophetic year to me. So much could happen. Like Isaiah 17 coming true of Syria being completely destroyed by Israel followed close after by the Gog-Magog battle of Ezekiel 38 & destruction of Russia & Arab allies. So much to look forward to. The future is indeed filled with promise & disaster at the same time. Good for those who are looking forward to Jesus' return & the rapture. Bad for those who are still unawares. Don't be caught off-guard. Christ is coming soon. Don't let the Antichrist fool you if you are left behind. God bless!

EVIDENCE #11 - ENOCH, NOAH, AND THE FLOOD

http://www.geocities.com/stat23mj/prophecy/pretrib.html

Jesus said in Luke 17:26-27:

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Jesus said that the coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. I believe that the story of the Flood is a perfect "type" of the Rapture. Enoch wasn't mentioned by Jesus; he only mentioned Noah. Lets look at the story of Noah. Genesis 6:1-8 talks about the lawlessness of the Pre-Flood human population on the earth. God gave a command for humans to populate this earth and as men were increasing in number, daughters (as well as sons but we are focusing on the daughters) were born unto them. The sons of God (angels) saw that the daughters of men were beautiful they married any of them they chose (the beautiful daughters had no choice in the matter) and giants were born unto them. God saw this sinful union of angels leaving their first estate and mingling with strange flesh and said that his Spirit cannot be with man forever and so he decreed that man should not live more than 120 years. Man continued to be wicked and so God decided to destroy mankind but then he saw Noah. Noah found favor in the eyes of God and he decided to have Noah build an ark big enough for him, his family, two of every unclean animal, and seven of every clean animal, and supplies.

You ask where does this fit in with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture? The flood is obviously the Tribulation (God's wrath). God judged the world and destroyed all the humans because they thought of evil constantly and God's Spirit couldn't contend with man. Enoch in Genesis 5:24 was translated or raptured so that served as a type of the rapture while Noah and the ark going through the flood and at the same time being protected typified Israel when they hide in the wilderness for 1260 days.

Preterism! I Can't Believe It

http://www.raptureready.com/rr-preterism.html

One of my key reasons for believing in the pre-tribulation rapture is the fact all other views are always trying to undermine pre-tribulationism. Up until now, the most vocal group of opponents has been the post-trib and pre-wrath folks. I'm amazed to find preterism now on the attack, gaining ground by mostly converting pre-tribbers.

What is preterism? This theory argues that all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled; it states that nothing remains on the prophetic calendar. According to preterism, events like the rise of the Antichrist, the tribulation, the rapture, and the Day of the Lord all took place around 70 AD, the year the Romans invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the second Temple.

I just cannot understand how anyone can follow a preterist line of thinking in light of current world events. As in many cases, pride is one of the most common reasons people begin following doctrinal error. They believe that they are part of a special group that has discovered a hidden truth. Never mind the fact that millions of people have joined them in supporting their folly.

Up until now, I've largely been ignoring preterism because it seemed equivalent to the Flat Earth Society. Well, I can't stand by and watch error run free, so it looks like I'm going to have to add preterism to the list of erroneous rapture views that I need to actively refute.

The heart of this error is based on Jesus' statement that "this generation shall not pass, till all things be fulfilled" (Mat 24:34). It seems easy enough to claim Jesus was speaking about a first-century generation; however, logic ends there when one contemplates the fulfillment of all Bible prophecy.

In order to make 70 AD the magic year, we would have to delete dozens of prophecies that were never fulfilled. When was the Gospel preached to all the nations? When was the Mark of the Beast implemented? What about China's 200-million-man army? When did 100-pound hailstones fall from the sky? And what date was it when the Euphrates River dried up?

The questions are endless. Why did we have the rebirth of Israel? If Jerusalem was forever removed from being the burdensome stone, why has it now returned to that status? When did all the Jews shout, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," as Jesus said they would?
After being so strict in their interpretation of Matthew 24:34, preterists then run roughshod over many clear statements of Scripture. They say that although the "resurrection" happened in 70 AD, the bodies of Christians were left in the grave.

Preterists take the dangerous step of spiritualizing all passages of Scripture that relate to the nation of Israel, and claim that these refer to the church, the "New Israel." They teach that the "old earth," which Scripture says will pass away, is the Old Covenant. The new heaven and new earth, they say, is the New Covenant, and the "elements," which Scripture says will burn with fervent heat when this happens, are the "elements of the law."

Preterism produces some bizarre explanations for why the world is still experiencing suffering and calamity. One explanation I ran across cited God's need for population control as the reason for mankind's suffering. Here is what one preterist author wrote:

"I believe that people are born and people die. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. God is the providential population controller. He brings famine, disease, natural catastrophes, wars and tumults. One-third of the population of Europe was destroyed by the Black Plague in the early part of this millennium. Eight hundred fifty thousand were killed in the 1556 earthquake in the Shanghai province of China. Two million were killed in World War II. Thirteen million were killed under Stalin and 6 million under Hitler. God is very equipped to control population."

Coming Attractions In World Affairs

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Psalm 2:1-3)

At the prophetic level, the results of the recent US election make perfect sense. Think about it. The Bush Administration's vision for the Middle East was a string of robust democracies from Lebanon to Iraq with leaders chosen in free elections enjoying the popular support of newly prosperous citizens who after generations of oppression feel like they're finally in control of their own destinies, and who desire nothing more than to live at peace with their neighbors. You can almost taste the sense of freedom and dignity they'd all enjoy. Kind of like the US was sixty or so years ago.

If President bush had been able to maintain the loyalty of his allies abroad and the members of his government at home, we'd be well on our way to making such a beautiful dream come true.

But where would that have left us in the prophetic scenario? No leader, no matter how charismatic, could gain the traction necessary to take over the world in those conditions. God's plan for the End of the Age, already in motion, would have been set back a generation or more.

Full article: http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ikvot/coming-attractions-in-world-affairs

Personal note: God is working already. He is finally bringing abt the closing of the gentile age with the removal of the church soon. This article is aptly titled the "coming attractions in world affairs". Much like a movie trailer. But this time, bible prophecy will come true. The ME is being positioned for the Gog-Magog battle & then Armageddon. Some great things gonna happen. God is going to show He is God! I pray He will forgive me for my sins. I have been unrepentant over certain sins. I pray I won't be led into temptation. I pray God oh God for your mercy & grace. I am waiting for Jesus but how long more? Can i make it O God? Pls come quickly or i may never make it. People the time has come finally. Rejoice & be glad! Our Saviour is coming. He is coming. Amen.

16 Proofs of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

by Kent Crockett of Fellowship Church

Proof #1: Revelation 19:11-21 doesn't mention a resurrection.

The rapture is a resurrection of those "in Christ" (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Isn't it a little bit odd that in Rev. 19:11-21, which is the clearest picture of the second coming of Christ, there is no mention of a resurrection? The rapture will be the biggest event since the resurrection of Jesus where hundreds of millions of Christians will be resurrected and translated, yet there isn't any mention here. Don't you think it deserves at least one verse? The rapture isn't mentioned because it doesn't happen at the second coming.

Proof #2: Zechariah 14:1-15 doesn't mention a resurrection.

This is an Old Testament picture of Jesus returning to earth at the second coming. Again, no mention of a resurrection.

Proof #3: Two different pictures are painted.

In the Old Testament, there were two different pictures painted of the Messiah—one suffering (Isa. 53:2-10, Ps. 22:6-8, 11-18) and one reigning as King (Ps. 2:6-12, Zech. 14:9,16). As we look back on these scriptures, we see they predicted two separate comings of the Messiah—the 1st coming as a suffering Messiah and the 2nd coming (still future) as a reigning King.

In the New Testament, we have another picture added. Again, we have two pictures painted which don’t look the same. These two different descriptions of Jesus’ coming point to two separate events we call "the rapture" and "the second coming."

Proof #4: The Known Day and the Unknown Day

Concerning the return of Jesus, the Bible presents a day we can't know and a day we can know. Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while Revelation 12:6 says the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begins when the Antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God (Matt. 24:15-21, 2 Thess. 2:4) This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven year Tribulation (Dan 9:27). The Antichrist has authority to rule for 42 months, which is 1,260 days (Rev. 13:4) and will be destroyed by Jesus at His second coming (Rev. 19:20, 2 Thess. 2:8). The known and unknown days must happen at different times, meaning they are two separate events.

Proof #5: A door open in heaven (Revelation 4:1)

The door in heaven is opened to let John into heaven. We believe John's call into heaven is prophetic of the church being caught up at the rapture (see proof #6). In Revelation 19:11, heaven is opened again, this time to let the armies which are already in heaven out. This is the Church, which has been raptured at a previous time, following Jesus out of heaven at the second coming.

Proof #6: "Come up here." (Revelation 4:1)

A voice called for the apostle John to "Come up here," and immediately he was in heaven. This could be a prophetic reference to the rapture of the Church. The words "Come up here" are spoken to the two witnesses who are killed in the middle of the Tribulation, who are resurrected and ascend into heaven (Rev. 11:12). Therefore, the phrase "Come up here" could mean the church is raptured in Rev. 4:1. The word "church" is mentioned 22 times in Rev. 1-3, but is not mentioned again until Rev. 22:17.

Proof #7: The 24 elders have their crowns.

After John is called up into heaven, he sees the 24 elders with their crowns (Rev. 4:4-10). We know that Christians will receive their rewards (crowns) at the rapture (2 Tim. 4:8, 1 Pet. 5:4). We will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Luke 14:14). The elders couldn't receive their crowns unless the resurrection (rapture) has taken place.

Proof #8 Holy ones are already with Jesus in heaven (Zech. 14:5, Rev. 19:14)

The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, follow Jesus out of heaven at His second coming (Rev. 19:14, Zech. 14:5, Col. 3:4). These are not angels because Rev. 19:8 tells us the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. In order to come out of heaven we first have to go in, indicating a previous rapture.

Proof #9: Kept from the hour of testing (Rev. 3:10)

Revelation 3:10 says we will be kept out of the hour of testing which will come upon the whole earth (the Tribulation). Some have wrongly believed "keep" means to keep through, or protect through the Tribulation. Suppose you approach a high voltage area with a sign that says, "Keep Out." Does that mean you can enter and be protected? No, it means you are forbidden from entering the area. But this verse also says He will keep us from the hour of testing. It is not just the testing, but the time period. If a student is excused from a test, he still may have to sit in the class while others take the test. But if he is excused from the hour of testing, he can go home. The Church will be called home before the hour of testing.

Proof #10: Angels don't resurrect people when they gather them for judgment.

When the angels are sent forth to gather the elect at the second coming (Matt. 24:29-31), some have wrongly interpreted this as the rapture. There is one huge problem with this interpretation. If we are resurrected at this time, why would we need angels to gather us? In the resurrection, we will be like the angels (Matt. 22:30), able to travel in the air at will. Obviously, these people who are gathered are not resurrected, therefore it can't be the rapture. No one would claim the wicked are raptured at this time, yet Matthew 13:39-41, 49 says the angels will not only gather the elect, but also the wicked. This gathering is not a resurrection.

Proof #11: Both the wicked and the righteous can't be taken first.

First Thessalonians 4:13-17 says the righteous are taken and the wicked are left behind. Matthew 13:30, 49 says the wicked are taken first and righteous are left behind. This points to two separate events, the rapture and the second coming.

Proof #12: Jesus returns from the wedding.

When Jesus returns to earth at the second coming, He will return from a wedding (Luke 12:36). At the rapture, Jesus is married to His bride, the Church. After the wedding, He will return to earth.

Proof #13: Jesus will receive us to Himself, not us to receive Him (John 14:2-3).

Jesus said He would prepare a place for the Church in heaven, then He would come again to receive us to Himself. Why would Jesus prepare a place for us in heaven and then not take us there? At the rapture, He will come to receive us to Himself, "that where I am (heaven), there you may be also." If the rapture occurred at the same time as the second coming, we would go up to the clouds and then immediately come back to earth. That would contradict John 14:2-3.

Proof #14: The one who restrains is taken out of the way.

In 2 Thess. 2:6-7, Paul says "the one who restrains will be taken out of the way" before the Antichrist can be revealed. We believe this refers to the rapture because the Church is clearly the biggest obstacle to the Antichrist becoming a world ruler.

Proof #15: The separation of the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:31-46)

If the rapture occurred at the second coming, why would the sheep and the goats need to be separated immediately after the second coming? A rapture at the second coming would have already separated the sheep and the goats. With a Pre-Tribulation rapture, the people saved after the rapture will need to be separated after the second coming.

Proof #16: Who will populate the Millennium?

If the rapture occurs at the second coming and the wicked are cast into hell at that time, who will be left to populate the millennium? Only people in their natural (non-resurrected) bodies will be able to have children (Matt. 22:30). With a Pre-Tribulation rapture, the people saved after the rapture who are alive at the second coming will populate the earth during the Millennium (See "Who will populate the Millennium?" Bible Study).

The Hope That is in You

In Defense of the Faith
Monday, November 06, 2006
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor

The Bible divides the world into four regional power blocs in the last days. The western alliance [the Revived Roman empire of antichrist - Dan 9:26], the 'kings of the south' [Africa and Islamic North Africa - Dan 11:40] the 'kings of the east [China and Southeast Asia -Rev 16:12] the Gog-Magog alliance [Russian-Arab-Islamic alliance - Ezekiel 38-39].

The Bible also outlines a specific scenario for the last days, giving detailed descriptions of these four global spheres of influence.

Currently, there are five. Four of them are in a state of flux, realigning themselves, almost against reason in some cases, to conform to the scenario outlined by Scripture.

The fifth, the United States, grows increasingly isolated. Washington is so lonely it has gone into denial, sometimes even pretending it has real friends.

For full article: http://www.omegaletter.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=5992

EVIDENCE #10 - WHERE IS THE CHURCH FROM REVELATION 6 -18?

http://www.geocities.com/stat23mj/prophecy/pretrib.html

The Church is so prevalent in Revelation 2 -3. Earlier I said that the seven churches of Asia represented the seven ages of church history (Look at the chart above). The Church is mentioned 20 times from Revelation 1 - 3 but when you look at the rest of the book of Revelation, the Church is not specifically mentioned BY NAME until Revelation 22:16 but Revelation 22:7-21 occurs during Revelation 2 - 3 meaning that the warning that Jesus is Coming is TODAY for the Church and the unbeliever that is reading the Book of Revelation. You see no trace of the Church in Revelation 6 - 18. The fact that in Revelation 4 - 5 you don't see the "word" because the 24 elders are representative of Church because they already received their crowns (Revelation 4:4) which indicates that the Judgment Seat of Christ is occurring (believers who did more works probably got their crowns first) or it occurred since Revelation 4:1. The fact that the 24 elders are singing a song of their redemption in Revelation 5:9-10 proves that the Church is in heaven. As you read the Book of Revelation, you see traces of the 24 elders from chapters 6 - 18 but ULTIMATELY THE WORD CHURCH IS NOT IN REVELATION 6 - 18 AT ALL! Why? Because the Church is in heaven because it was raptured before the Tribulation. Some people say that the word SAINT in Revelation 6 - 18 proves that the Church is in the Tribulation. The word SAINT occurs 13 times in the whole book and 10 times from Revelation 6 - 18. The fact is that the word SAINT can refer to anyone - Israel or the Church. The word SAINT used in Revelation 6 - 18 refers to Tribulation Saints - Jewish or Gentile believers who are saved during the Tribulation who got Left Behind. The word SAINT doesn't always refer to the Church. Mid and Post Tribbers like to think so but they are not. The absence of the Church can only suggest that they were raptured before the Tribulation started.

Pentecost and the Rapture of the Church

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

As a follow-up to last week's article, I've been asked to outline my position supporting the Jewish Feast of Pentecost as a likely day for the Rapture of the Church. Let me begin by repeating that I don't believe the Rapture must necessarily fall on any Jewish Holy Day, but if it should then Pentecost is the most likely and here's why.

Pentecost comes in the early summer (May-June). It's the only Holy Day between the 3 Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits) and the 3 in the fall I reviewed last week. Its Hebrew name is Shavuot. Pentecost is a Greek word and translates "50 days" since it comes 50 days from First Fruits, the day we should know as Resurrection Morning (read Solving the Three day Three Night Mystery). The Feast of First Fruits is celebrated on the day following the first Sabbath after Passover and Pentecost on the day after the Sabbath seven weeks later, (Lev. 23:15-16) giving rise to its nickname "Feast of Weeks." Since the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, both these Holy days are Sundays.

For full article: http://www.gracethrufaith.com/selah/holidays-and-holy-days/pentecost-and-the-rapture-of-the-church

Personal note: Could the rapture happen at Pentecost? I have been speculating about Pentecost being the rapture date. Next year's Pentecost is coming soon & very likely could be the rapture. As i said, 2007 is a very significant year, being 40 yrs from 1967. God will perform His promise surely. We are that generation! God bless you all! Be ready Christians at all times now. Seek to enter thru the gate.

Signs of the times

Posted: November 4, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern

Greg Laurie is the author of 12 inspirational books, which are available online.

I don't know about you, but I am beginning to distrust the weatherman. It seems like when they tell us it will be warm, it's cold; when they tell us it will be rainy, it's sunny. It seems like I could do just as good of a job of predicting the weather for the day by simply looking out of my window.

Jesus said, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather – why can't you read the signs of the times? (Matthew16:2-3 The Message)

In the same way, all you have to do is pick up your morning paper, watch the news on TV or read WorldNetDaily to see "signs of the times." And what do these "signs" tell us? That Jesus Christ is coming back!

Jesus mentioned certain signs, or "birth pains," that would indicate the time of His return and the end of the world:

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)

Are we seeing evidence that these signs are appearing in greater and greater frequency in our generation? Let's consider some of the facts.

The facts at: http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52768

Two Great Books To Recommend

Tensions Rising

I heard Iran is testing missiles & US is about to invade or at least destroy North Korea's nuclear facilities in the news. Israel has invaded Gaza. The situation is tense. These are rumours of wars as prophesied will come in the end times.

Matt. 24:6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all F131 these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."

Mark 13:7 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet."

Yes, the end is not yet but these things are already coming to pass. There is only a little time left before He comes again. I suspect regional war will happen in the Middle East soon & over at North Korea. Iran & Syria will continue to sponsor Hamas & Hezbollah under the "protection" of the UN troops. Things don't look too good. I guess true peace will come only when Jesus comes back. A fake peace will occur before this but the world will enter its greatest tribulation of all time. I pray for all our souls. May all escape this coming Great Tribulation by His blood.

EVIDENCE #9 - ESCAPE ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

From: http://www.geocities.com/stat23mj/prophecy/pretrib.html

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (LUKE 21:36)

Jesus told the people to always be on the watch. We as Christians should always be on the watch for Jesus will come like a THIEF IN THE NIGHT. Jesus also warns us WATCH AND PRAY LEST YOU ENTER INTO TEMPTATION. We as Christians should not let our guard down for when Jesus comes, we will be LEFT BEHIND. I believe that any believer can lose his/her salvation if they backslide and continue in their sin. As Christians we have to repent and turn away from our sins so that we can be ready and blameless at the time and hour of his coming - the Rapture. As I said earlier, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture lets Christians live for God NOW in expectancy of his coming. It is not a false security but allows Christians to live Holy lives.

Luke 21:36 tells us the same thing. ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN is obviously the Seven-year Tribulation so if Christians watch and pray and continue to live holy lives then we will be able to ESCAPE ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. This is a great evidence for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture because the verse doesn't say ESCAPE FROM SOME OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN (Mid-Trib) OR EVEN NO ESCAPE FROM WHAT ABOUT TO HAPPEN (Post-Trib) BUT ALL OF THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN (Pre-Trib).

THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN means that after the Rapture you will be with Christ forever. This goes according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 where we will Christ with Christ (the Lord) in the air and be with him forever. This verse also suggests the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. After the Rapture we will stand before the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) and will be judged according to our works. Since the 24 literal human elders are wearing crowns in Revelation 4 and singing a song of redemption in Revelation 5 and the Tribulation starts in Revelation 6 then the Rapture is Pre-Tribulation. I love Luke 21:36!