Don’t Give Up :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Ron & Nathele Graham

Brothers and sisters, we need to stay strong. The things we see happening today are very trying on the nerves and emotions. The propaganda we’re fed by the news media can make us feel as if all hope is gone. There’s a feeling in the air as if something big is about to happen. All of this puts us on an emotional rollercoaster that affects everything we do. The signs of the times are flashing in big neon lights, and we know the Rapture can happen at any moment. This gives us a feeling of expectation and joy, but it also gives a sense of disappointment that it hasn’t happened yet. It’s good to yearn for the Rapture.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Add to this the concern we have for friends and family who haven’t come to know Jesus yet, and if you have a true heart for God, you’re also concerned for strangers who haven’t heard the Gospel. We do live in trying times. This isn’t the time to be discouraged or to give up. Christ will soon call us Home, and that’s encouraging. Arm yourself with the power of God by studying Scripture and applying it to your life. This will give you strength to face each day.

Christianity is under strong attack. The powers of evil are using weak-minded people to mock God and bring Biblical truth into question. Remember, the persecution and mockery aren’t against you. It’s against Jesus. As we face persecution and are tempted to give up, study the life of Saul and see what can happen when an evildoer meets Jesus. Saul was a very zealous man… a Pharisee among Pharisees. His goal was to arrest or kill everyone who turned from the Jewish life to Christianity. On his way to Damascus with orders to arrest all who had faith in Christ, Saul met Jesus. Jesus had a question for him.

“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4b).

Saul thought he was serving God, but in truth, he was persecuting God by persecuting Christians. Although he was used by Satan, Jesus had great plans for this man who was filled with anger and hate. Saul was blinded by the light he saw, and his companions led him to Damascus and got him lodging. He was blind and took no food or water for three days. The Christians in Damascus knew of Saul’s reputation and had much to fear from him. Then one of them, Ananias, had a vision from the Lord telling him to go to Straight Street and ask for Saul of Tarsus. Ananias wasn’t sure he understood correctly.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name” (Acts 9:13-14).

Ananias had been persecuted but hadn’t given up. He was strong in his faith, but when the Lord directed him to go and find the man who had done so much evil, he wasn’t sure he wanted to do that. He was much like us. Instead of witnessing to anyone who mocks us or causes us harm, we want them punished by God. Armed with the strength of the Lord, Ananias found Saul, laid hands on him, and Saul’s eyes were opened.

What if Ananias had given up in despair because of the persecution? What if he had refused to visit Saul?

God would have used someone else, but it was the privilege of Ananias to be the one to set Saul’s feet on the path of spreading the Gospel. We know Saul better as the Apostle Paul. Every Christian needs to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We also need to be equipped to give answers and mentor new Christians without fear. All of Scripture will strengthen our faith, and studying Biblical prophecy gives answers about the events of today.

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:13-16).

The word “conversation” isn’t just your manner of speech but the way you conduct your life. Live your life for Christ, never give in to fear, and never keep silent when God asks you to speak boldly. If we give up, souls will be lost.

After his conversion, Paul did exactly what he should. He began to serve Christ. Paul conformed his life to Christ instead of trying to make Christ conform to his. He began contending for the faith by preaching the Gospel in spite of all personal hardships, as did all of the Apostles. They all faced imprisonment, and torture, and brutal death. In spite of that, they never gave up. Because of their faith and desire to serve Jesus, God’s truth has been passed down through time to us.

Let me ask you this question, what are you going to do with the treasure of eternal life you possess? Are you going to hide your faith, or are you going to share it?

As Paul shared the Gospel, he established congregations of believers and left capable men to lead those congregations. One such man was Timothy, a young man with deep faith. Paul wrote two letters to encourage Timothy to stand strong and lead the Ephesian believers in the ways of God.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

Paul didn’t mean for Timothy to start fistfights for the faith but to contend with all struggles for the Christian faith. So must we. We have many examples in the New Testament of the persecution Peter, John, Paul and the others faced as they shared their faith. Shortly before his death, Paul wrote a final letter to Timothy. In it, Paul was able to look back on his life as a Christian and know that he had contended for the faith and that he had lived for Christ. There was a crown awaiting him.

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

How about you? Can you look back over your life and say you’ve contended for the faith? It’s not too late to start the good fight. All you have to do is surrender your life to Christ and stand firm upon Scripture…and never give up.

Those of us who have been watching prophecy unfold know that the Rapture will happen very soon. From pestilence to threats of wars to false teachers, we’re watching signs of the times unfolding just as Scripture says it will. Politicians are following the Satanic lead to a one-world government, one-world currency, and one-world religion. We can see how short time is, and many Christians who look forward to the Rapture are getting discouraged that it hasn’t happened yet. News headlines can strike fear into the hearts of non-believers as well as believers.

“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 usward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).

That isn’t talking about evolution but speaks of the patience of God. If you’ve accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for your salvation, then whether you die or the Rapture takes you Home, your salvation is secure. On the other hand, there are millions of people in the world who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ for salvation. God loves them and doesn’t want them to spend eternity in the lake of fire.

Think back to the day you finally realized that you were a sinner in need of salvation. What if Jesus had called Christians Home one minute before you placed your faith in Him. Your eternal destiny would be eternal damnation. God doesn’t condemn people, but we all make our own choice to either accept or reject Him. Time is short, and we need to share the Gospel with friends, family, and even strangers. Eternity is at stake. Instead of being discouraged because you think God is slow in bringing this all to an end, rejoice that He is giving us time to witness to the lost and share the Gospel.

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

Live your life to honor Christ, but use words to share the Gospel. Don’t give up. We will be called home very soon, and we need to be about the Father’s business and serve Him daily.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-10).

The people of the world are watching. Believers and non-believers alike can see the world is becoming darker. The end of all things is indeed coming quickly, and Christians need to be a beacon of hope to those around us. Live your life without hypocrisy so people will know you serve Christ.

“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14).

It’s not easy to be mocked and persecuted, but if it comes because Christ shines in your life, rejoice. Glorify God in all you do, and don’t allow the attitude of scoffers to discourage you.

Brothers and sisters, remember we all serve Christ. He gave His life so we can live with Him for eternity. Keep your mind on eternal matters, and don’t allow the problems of today to hinder your walk with the Lord. Study Scripture to gain knowledge and understanding of God’s love. Share that love with others. Encourage fellow Christians, but always be ready to give answers to the lost souls around who will perish without faith in Christ. Keep Christ first in your heart, and don’t give up.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

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

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Pre-Trib Rapture Arguments :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR7 Category:Daymond Duck, General Articles

I have been away from my computer for a few days to speak at a conference, so here is a revised and updated version of an article that I wrote several years ago.

It is a list of 45 reasons why I believe the Pre-Trib Rapture is right (save it so you can give it to Mid-Trib believers, Post-Trib believers, unsure believers, etc.).

1) There are no passages in either the Old Testament or the New Testament that say the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.

2) The Tribulation Period is called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” [The time of unbelieving Israel’s Trouble], but it is never called the time of the Church’s Trouble (Jer. 30:7).

3) Gabriel told Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Daniel’s people are the Jews] and upon thy holy city” [The Holy City is Jerusalem] (Dan. 9:24). There is no mention of the Church.

4) The Church had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks, and it will have no part in the seventieth week [the Tribulation Period] (Dan. 9:24).

5) In the Book of Revelation, the Rapture occurs at Rev. 4:1, which is before the Tribulation Period described in Rev. 6:1-19:21. In the sequence of events, the Rapture is before the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments.

6) The Church is mentioned more than twenty times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but the Church is never mentioned in the description of the Tribulation Period between Rev. 4:1 and Rev. 19:1.

7) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph 1:15), but the Bible says, “God hath not appointed us [the Church] to wrath” (I Thess. 5:9).

8) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph. 1:15), but the Bible says, Jesus has “delivered us from the wrath to come” [delivered the Church from the Tribulation Period] (I Thess. 1:10; also see Rom. 5:9, Eph. 5:6)).

9) The Tribulation Period is called the Day of the Lord in the Bible (Zeph. 1:14). The Bible says, “the day of the Lord [the Tribulation Period] so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the unbelievers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them [upon the unbelievers], as travail upon a woman with child; and they [the unbelievers] shall not escape” (I Thess. 5:2-3). It clearly teaches that the Tribulation Period will come upon unbelievers, but it does not include believers.

10) Concerning the Rapture, the Bible says, “Comfort one another with these words” (I Thess. 4:18). There’s no comfort in the teaching that the Church will go through part or all of the Tribulation Period.

11) Jesus told the Church at Philadelphia, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [the Tribulation Period], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). God promised to keep the obedient Church members out of the Tribulation Period (not through the Tribulation Period).

12) According to the Bible, the marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven before Jesus comes back to fight the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period (Rev. 19:7-21). This means the Church will go to heaven [be Raptured] for the marriage of the Lamb before the Second Coming.

13) The end of the age will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Noah and his family were removed from the earth [got on the ark] before the flood. Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period] (Gen. 7:23).

14) The end of the age will be like the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the judgment of God [before the fire and brimstone fell] (Gen. 19:16). Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period].

15) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36). It seems unreasonable to believe Jesus would tell the Church to pray for something He is unwilling to grant.

16) The Bible says, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (II Thess. 2:7-8). The most common interpretation of this is that the Antichrist can’t be revealed until the Restrainer [who most commentators say is both the Holy Spirit and the Church] is removed. If the Restrainer is the Church only, this means the Church will be removed before the Antichrist is revealed [that’s the Pre-Trib. Rapture]. If the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit only so that the Holy Spirit is removed without the Church, this means believers will cease to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

It also means the Church will be left behind to go through the worst time the earth has ever seen [the Tribulation Period] without the help of the Holy Spirit. This would contradict the teaching of Jesus when He said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). And, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).

17) Isaiah wrote that God said, “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” (Isa. 26:19-21).

Notice that the dead rise first [that’s the Rapture]; next, God’s people are summoned to enter into His chambers for a short while until the indignation [a name of the Tribulation Period] is past. God will raise the dead and summon His people because He intends to punish the inhabitants of the earth [send the Tribulation Period].

18) Malachi wrote that God said, “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:17-18). Pre-Tribulation teachers believe God is saying He will come for His Church [the Rapture], and then He will return with His Church [the Second Coming] to judge between the righteous and wicked.

19) In the Rapture, Jesus comes for His Church (I Thess. 4:16-17; John 14:3). When He comes at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come with His Church (I Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:14).

20) Concerning the Second Coming, Jesus said, “But of the day and the hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36). But if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know the day because it will be seven years from the signing of the seven-year covenant. Some will know the day because it will be 1,260 days from the day the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Rev. 12:6).

21) Concerning the Antichrist, many scholars believe the Bible teaches he won’t be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know who he is because he will sign the seven-year covenant (Dan. 9:24-27), he will head up the world government (Rev. 13:1-10), and he will try to force multitudes to worship him and to receive his mark, receive his name or his number (Rev. 13:15-17). Many of those who are here and being forced to worship him and take his name or die will know who he is.

22) The Antichrist is not supposed to be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will put a statue of himself in the rebuilt Temple (Dan. 11:31; Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15).

23) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and receive a deadly wound to his head that will be healed (Rev. 13:3). Some think he will be raised from the dead or at least fake the resurrection.

24) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and be supported by the head of the world religion called the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-18).

25) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he’s the one that will kill the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:7).

26) Many people don’t think the Church will go through the Tribulation Period because of verses of Scripture that say things like, “The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked he will destroy” (Psa. 145:18-20). Many believe God will preserve the Church from the Tribulation Period or keep the Church out of the Tribulation Period, not destroy the Church in the Tribulation Period.

27) There are verses of Scripture that say things like, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19). Some believe people have to throw away verses of Scripture to believe the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.

28) In the seven letters to the seven churches, Jesus said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” seven times (Rev. 2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). When we get to the Tribulation Period, Jesus said, “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9). He left out, “what the Spirit saith unto the churches” because there are no churches on earth to go through the Tribulation Period. The Church will be in heaven.

29) When the Rapture happens, the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the end of the Tribulation Period, the Church will come down to the earth with Jesus to witness what He does at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:14-21).

30) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God’s grace, love, mercy, compassion, etc. The Mid and Post-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God’s wrath. If husbands are to love their wives the way Jesus loves the Church, why would we believe He will let the Church go through the Tribulation Period (Eph. 5:25).

31) If the Rapture takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period, and all the wicked are removed from the earth at that time (Matt. 13:24-30, 47-50; 25:41), no one will be left to re-populate the earth during the Millennium. If all of the saved are Raptured and all the lost are removed from the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period, no one will be left to re-populate the earth.

32) The Antichrist will prevail against the saints during the Tribulation Period, but the gates of hell won’t prevail against the Church (Rev. 13:7; Matt. 16:18). Therefore, the Church won’t go through the Tribulation Period.

33) The twenty-four elders [representatives of the Church] will be in heaven before the seven-sealed scroll is broken (Rev. 4:4; 6:1-17).

34) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36). He didn’t say, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to endure some or all of these things that shall come to pass.”

35) There are no signs of the Rapture, but if the Rapture takes place during the Tribulation Period, it would have to be after the seven-year covenant is signed by the Antichrist and perhaps after several other things, depending upon what a person believes about Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc.

36) Jesus said, “When these things [the signs] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). He didn’t say, “After all these things have happened, your redemption draweth nigh.” He said, “When these things begin to come to pass, it’s close.”

37) The Church won’t go through the Tribulation Period because God intends to use the 144,000 children of Israel, the Two Witnesses, and an angel to preach the gospel during the Tribulation Period. He wouldn’t need or use Jews or an angel to preach the gospel if the Church was here.

38) We are ambassadors for Christ (II Cor. 5:20), and ambassadors are called home before war breaks out (before the Tribulation Period).

39) Daniel was a type of the Church and not present when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Jews; types of Israel) are in the fiery furnace (type of Tribulation Period).

40) If Jesus is already headed down to earth at the end of the Tribulation Period, there is no reason why we would need to be caught up to meet Him in the air.

41) If the post-Trib Rapture is true, those that are left behind after the Rapture will not need to hear the gospel from the 144,000, etc., because they will immediately be removed from the earth and cast into outer darkness.

42) If the post-Trib Rapture is true, and the Church is on earth during the Tribulation Period, but God uses the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, etc., instead of the Church, then the Church has rejected Jesus, or He has rejected the Church.

43) The Tribulation Period is meant for the redemption of Israel (Dan. 9:24), not for the redemption of the Church (Jesus redeemed the Church by His death on the cross (I Pet. 1:18-19).

44) There is nothing unusual about Jesus keeping the Church out of the Tribulation Period. He has a history of protecting His people from tribulation on special occasions. He protected the Hebrews from the Ten Plagues, Noah and his family from the Flood, and Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. He will seal and protect the 144,000 during the Tribulation Period, and He will protect the Jews in Judea that flee into the wilderness during the last half of the Tribulation Period. There is no reason to believe He won’t protect the Church.

45) The timing of the Rapture should be based on Scripture, not what others believed many years ago unless they backed it up with Scripture.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com