3 Oct 2022

Oct to Dec Donation Drive

Since this will be the last donation drive for 2022, I must say how pleased I am about this year. We have been able to overcome obstacles and reach out to many thousands of people with the prophetic message. The Biden Administration has been blocked by the hand of God in implementing the core of its liberal agenda.

As end-time watchers, we always have to fear the worst. We are very close to the tribulation hour, so we should expect Satan to gain power with each passing day. The current situation reminds me of the 2021 collapse of the Arecibo Observatory, which was a radar telescope in Puerto Rico. Right before the support cables failed, causing the instrument platform to crash through the dish, a series of popping sounds could be heard. The noise made it clear that the weight of the platform was going to cause a failure. Every time a wire snapped, more strain was put on the remaining wires. Once a key bundle of cables ripped free of the connecting bracket, the whole structure failed in a matter of seconds.

I hear a similar popping sound in our world. We have all kinds of political, financial, and climatological problems that have no fix. The amount of difficulty in each category is all the more amazing. The currency of Japan, Turkey, Great Britain, and the European Union are All at record lows against the dollar. Each of these currencies could trigger a meltdown at any moment.

All these crisis points will eventually lead to a collapse that will be exploited by the antichrist and the globalist elites. I believe the rapture is very likely to be what triggers the disaster. The catastrophe at the Arecibo Observatory took several seconds to play out. The removal of the Church will take place in the blink of an eye.

I need to note the passing of Dr. Ed Hindson during the last quarter. His death reminds me of how many prophecy teachers we’ve lost over the years. When we lose someone of Hindson’s stature, they are not being replaced. The world’s understanding of Bible Prophecy is at its weakest point in many decades. This is the state that the Bible predicted would occur right before the rapture. Blessings to you folks for having a rare interest in prophecy. God promised us all a special crown for being good watchmen.

Please be sure to vote in this upcoming mid-term election. The Democrats are very motivated by the abortion ruling by the US Supreme Court. Republican candidates lost in three special elections because 60% of Republicans did not vote. Because of the poor quality of Senate candidates, the left will likely maintain their control of that branch of the government. If we can win the House, Biden will become a lame-duck president.

Please be a supporter of RR while you can. The day may come when you lose your job or your health. We have lost several people who once submitted articles to RR. Most have gone on to their eternal reward. Some have had to quit because of health issues. One had to stop because she needed to spend most of her time attending to her husband’s health issues. I’ve even had a few people stop writing because they ran out of ideas for new articles. I have my own reminder of human frailty. My insomnia has gotten so bad, I’m doubtful that I will ever attend another prophecy conference. It is my hope that instead of studying Bible prophecy, we’ll be looking down from above as it plays out before us.

I have special praise for our editor. She has saved me from having an occasional panic attack because I forgot to post something that should have been added two days ago. Our editor has been perfectly posting articles at set times during the week. We have multiple ways that people send us articles. A few had turned into unnecessarily long chains of shipping between various offices. We had people who would send an article to Terry, he would send it to me, I would send it to our editor, and she would send it back to me for posting.

It’s my prayer that God will intercede in 2023 to allow us to be equally productive. Thank you again for helping to make finances one of our smallest daily concerns.

There are three ways you can contribute to RR: You can send a financial gift via our P.O. Box address, you can make a one-time donation, or there is a frequent option that allows you to make monthly donations. If you’re interested in signing up, find the input links on the Donation Depot page. Donations can be sent to our P.O. Box at:

Rapture Ready
P.O. Box 969
Benton, AR 72018

–Todd


Peace and Safety Ponderings

Do you find it odd, at the very least, that while there are direct threats of nuclear attacks by the leader of Russia, here in the US it is pretty much business as usual? I mean by that there is nothing during this hour like the fears in America I remember as a 20-year-old back during the so-called Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possible use of tactical nuclear weaponry to achieve victory in the war against Ukraine. Now he has announced in his recorded message that there will be a major call-up of Russian men in a draft, Russian style. They are even taking prisoners from their gulag camps to flesh out their military muscle.

Putin threatened the US directly saying the nuclear winds could “blow your way.” This, even though winds blowing this direction would not be the case if Ukraine was the focus of his assault with nuclear weapons. The “winds” would blow into Russia, because of prevailing dynamics of weather, etc.

He meant, obviously, for Americans to infer that there might be nuclear missiles coming our way if he began using them against his Ukrainian enemies and if we dared to try to intervene.

Dmitry Medveded, former president of Russia and now a top Russian governmental official, has backed up the Russian dictator’s threat by saying they don’t rule out the use of tactical nukes, or even strategic nuclear weaponry–which includes ICBMs.

Have you noticed that there seems relatively little pushback or even significant rhetoric coming from the American State Department or this presidential administration against the Russian threats?

In 1962, the Soviet buildup and move into Cuba was met with tremendous counterthreats. President Kennedy even warned directly on television that any launch of Soviet missiles against the US or against any other nation would bring immediate retaliatory response against the Soviet Union.

Now, with Putin’s threats ratcheting up, the present occupant of the White House has gone before the UN to talk–not about possible nuclear war, but about the so-called climate crisis.

There seems no major concern within the ranks of Western diplomacy that Putin might initiate the world blowing up in nuclear conflict.

All of this started me pondering about the prophetic warning given through Paul the apostle.

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3)

Why, I ask myself, is there no cry for peace and safety, like in the days of yore? There should be. But I find in my observations that the people of the US seem oblivious to Putin’s threats for the most part.

For those of you who were alive and old enough to remember during the Cuban Missile Crisis, you will recall how it was a nerve-wracking time. Now, such threat seems just another ho-hum news story.

My own thinking is that an all-out nuclear exchange just won’t happen this side of the Rapture of the Church. Such a scenario simply doesn’t fit God’s prophetic Word from the pre-Trib view of Bible prophecy. Such a monstrous event would certainly take the world out of the time of “business as usual” that is indicated by Jesus’ prophecy as given in Luke 17: 26–30, as I’ve often parsed in these columns.

Such a scenario does fit, however, what I believe Jesus prophesied regarding His intervention in that Luke 17 passage.

The very day that Lot went out of Sodom (taken out by God’s angels), judgment fell. Jesus said it will be just like that when He next catastrophically intervenes.

In Sodom that day, that judgment completely obliterated everything and everyone left once Lot and his family were removed. Certainly nuclear explosions would do likewise when striking cities.

There seems no concern, no cry for peace and safety regarding this threat by Putin, who certainly holds sufficient nuclear power to carry out such judgment as Jesus prophesied. And that prophecy will be fulfilled at some point.

Maybe by the time this article circulates, that cry for peace and safety will be running wild. But as of this writing, the people of America, in particular, seem relatively quiet.

Russian people, on the other hand, are at of this moment leaving Russia en masse. Their roads and airports are said to be inundated with people trying to flee. They seem to have no doubt that there are about to be major nuclear exchanges–or some such military conclusion to the war Russia is waging against Ukraine and threatening to wage against the Western world, particularly the United States.

God’s Word foretells a cry for peace and safety that brings sudden destruction from which the peoples of the world will not escape. Jesus says it will be business as usual right up until, like in Lot’s time, His Church is removed. I must conclude, therefore, that a Russian nuclear attack, at least on a massive scale, just won’t take place–for now, at least.

Such a cry for peace and safety will no doubt be forthcoming when there are such nuclear explosions taking place. As a matter of fact, there will be a great peacemaker–a false peacemaker  the world will accept to the point of worship, who will make that covenant Israel will accept. It will be the covenant of death and hell described in Isaiah 28, verses 15 and 18.

He will be viewed as history’s great peacemaker. He will, in fact, be history’s most vicious tyrant, and will bring humanity to the brink of extinction.

We have recounted in these columns the many things shaping for that time of Tribulation. No need to recount them again here in detail. However, here are some in brief.

Culture and society within America and much of the world have become like in Sodom at the time Lot and family were removed. The globalists are constructing their one world order from which Antichrist will destroy mightily. These are bringing in a monetary/economic order that will fulfill Revelation 13:16–18, the marks and number system of 666. The religions of the world are proposing to come together somewhat, with the one whom they claim as the head of Christendom, the Catholic pope, preaching that there are many ways to God.

God has obviously, observably, turned America’s current leadership–and much of the nation—over to the reprobate mind of Romans 1: 28 because of those people turning their backs on Him.

Israel is in rapid-mode preparation for reinstituting Temple worship, with the recent five red heifers and rail preparation for train transport, etc.

With most people treating as ho-hum signals that point to the trajectory toward the Tribulation this doomed world is swiftly moving, Paul’s further prophetic warning is central in my ponderings.

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” (Luke 21:34–35)  

Here’s how to make sure to be kept out of the fear-filled hour described above.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)

—Terry  

Demons and Faith :: By Nathele Graham

Faith is important. Our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an eternal blessing.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The problem is, many who make a confession of faith don’t really believe what they’ve confessed. Or they choose to live by the standards of the world rather than by God’s standards. If you really stop and think about what Christ did for you, you might be more willing to live for Him, putting aside the selfishness of the human sin nature to live to honor Christ who shed His blood for your salvation.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

It is true that nothing we do is good enough to earn our right to a place in Heaven. Only faith in Jesus and His righteousness will bring salvation.

I am always amazed when I read about the people in Scripture and realize there was nothing superhuman about them. The only difference between them and me is that they put aside their fear in order to accomplish the task they knew God had asked them to do. For instance, Esther was just a young, pretty woman who happened to be Jewish. Through a series of events, she found herself married to King Ahasuerus. He was the rather temperamental king of Babylon. There were many Jewish families who had remained in Babylon after the days of the captivity were over, and a very hateful man named Haman desired to see all of them killed. His plan nearly succeeded, but because Queen Esther went to God in prayer and stepped out in faith, she was able to thwart the plan.

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink, three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

The king could have had her killed for coming to him on her own without being summoned. Her faith was strong, and her motives were pure. As the story unfolds, God used her in a marvelous way, and the Jewish people were saved. Esther lived her faith.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a definition of faith, as well as examples of people who stepped out to serve God and make changes to the people and circumstances around them.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith is the difference between obedience to God and failure to serve Him. Faith in Jesus Christ is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. The world around you may judge you by your works and appearance, but Christ judges you by your faith. Our faith should show in our actions, and indeed it should affect the way we treat others and our attitudes. If you have a strong dislike for people and have no good things to say to people who annoy you, then you aren’t living your faith. If you only show disdain and anger when another human says something that you take to be demeaning to you, then you are showing selfish pride and are far from living your life for Christ. It’s Satan who is governing your words and actions, not the love of God. You can combat this spiritual attack on your faith.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:7-8).

Double-minded? If you profess faith in Christ while speaking and acting in ways that represent Satan, you are double-minded. You need to draw close to God and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

Sometimes we talk so much about Jesus and His love that we begin to think that everything we do is OK. It’s true our sins are forgiven when we truly believe in His sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean we have a license to sin all we want. If you have truly placed your faith in Him, then your life should reflect that faith. Works cannot and will not bring salvation, but if there’s no change in your attitude, maybe you need to examine your true faith.

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

Don’t think that works only consist of helping old ladies across the street or knocking on doors to share the Gospel. Works are anything you do trying to earn salvation. For instance, Christians should show grace and mercy to other people for no other reason than it glorifies Christ. Pride of self should be set aside, and Christ’s love should rule your heart. Yes, that’s adding “works” to your faith, but living a Christ-like life is a good idea.

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20).

Don’t be deceived; you need to let the Holy Spirit live in you and through you. Anger, sarcastic words, and disdain for fellow human beings are attitudes that don’t come from God. God is love, and Satan is hate. Which one do you serve?

It’s easy to just allow your human sin nature to rule, but by doing so, you aren’t honoring Christ. That makes others question whether your faith is real. You see, you might believe in your mind that God is real, but so does Satan and his minions.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

Look at that verse carefully. Of course, the demons believe there is one God. They live in the spiritual dimension, and they’ve seen Him. But does the verse say anything about their response to Him? Does it say that they’ve asked for His forgiveness? No. Does it say they’ve accepted His death as payment for their sins? No. Does it say they’ve received Him into their heart? No. Have they repented and made peace with Him? No. All it says is that they believe there is one God. If you continue in your sin after you’ve confessed faith, then maybe your confession wasn’t honest. We can look to Scripture and see that demons are real and they can control the actions of people. We can also see that they are no challenge to Jesus.

In the Gospels, we read an account of a man in Gadera who was possessed by demons. We can gain much insight from studying this event. The young man was tormented by these evil beings. He was violent and an outcast from society.

“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him” (Mark 5:5-6).

The demons who possessed the young man recognized Jesus and ran to worship Him. The demons hadn’t repented or asked for forgiveness, but they “worshipped” (gave lip service) to Jesus. Jesus simply told them to come out of the man. He didn’t use “holy water” or fancy words but only commanded them to come out of the man. They had to obey Jesus, and they entered a herd of swine and ran into the sea. Demons recognized Jesus and trembled, but their worship wasn’t true worship, and they didn’t follow Him. Jesus knows the difference between a repentant soul and one that is just trying to get to Heaven.

Be sure you worship Christ in spirit and in truth. Time is running out, and soon Jesus will call all who have earnestly called on Him for salvation to go Home in the Rapture. When the Rapture happens, the Church age will be over. After that, people may come to faith in Jesus, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit won’t happen. These “Tribulation Saints” will be beheaded when their faith is made known. They are the martyrs who won’t worship the Anti-Christ or take his mark. They will wish they had truly loved Jesus prior to the Rapture. There’s no excuse for anybody to be left behind to face Hell on Earth during the Tribulation.

“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40).

God doesn’t want anyone to spend eternity in the lake of fire and has given us Scripture to guide us on how to avoid eternal death. The Bible is available in any bookstore, and it’s usually easy for most people to find a place where God’s truth is preached. If you’re a professing Christian with a bad attitude and vicious words on your lips, you may push people away from Christ instead of being the means of showing His love and drawing lost souls to Him. In Muslim nations, it may be very difficult to find true Christians, but you can always pray and talk to God.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Those are comforting words. Faith is the key.

Don’t be like the demons who give lip service but have no true faith. Jesus entered His creation to bring salvation to mankind. He became human in order to save humans. Give Him your heart and allow Him to cleanse it. People around you will hear you say you’re a Christian, but they will also hear your lips speak evil of others and watch to see if your actions honor Christ. Don’t allow the evil in the world to dictate your life. Even the demons believe and tremble. Let Jesus be your example and guide.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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