General Articles

A Strong Delusion :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10

It’s coming. Whether you believe in the Harpazō or not, you will be affected by it. If you’ve accepted Christ for salvation, then you will be taken to Heaven to be with Jesus. However, if you’ve rejected Christ’s offer of salvation, you will face God’s wrath. Scripture is clear about the Rapture/Harpazō, but many who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue what it is. I’m sorry to say that pastors seldom teach about it, and the congregation sleeps in the pews, never opening their Bibles to read, let alone study God’s word.

The Rapture is our blessed hope. It’s a promise that those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus won’t face God’s wrath and judgment during the final seven years of history on earth. There is much written in Scripture about the Rapture, but there are various interpretations, and it can get confusing.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

It’s always best to just believe what God says and not listen to man’s ideas.

Some pastors teach that there won’t be a Rapture. These same preachers are most likely in error on other clear Biblical truths. Most likely, they believe in Replacement Theology, which is the false belief that Christians have replaced the Jewish people in God’s heart. We haven’t replaced them: we have our own special place, and they have their special place. Then there is the ridiculous idea that Christians have to go through the Great Tribulation so that we can be purified. Really? That’s what Christ did for us. No human is sinless, and only the sinless blood of God can take our sin away. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, is fully God. He was also fully human because His mother, Mary, was human.

When the Apostle Paul was in Thessalonica, he taught them deep truth in a very short time. He was there for three weeks, and he not only taught them the truth of the Gospel but taught them about the Rapture. He also established a congregation there that was truly saved. They remembered his teaching about the Rapture, but they also saw tremendous persecution happening all around them. The Christians there forgot what had been taught to them and were concerned that they had missed the Rapture. Paul assured them they hadn’t missed it, then went on to explain the order of events. The Rapture is a fact.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).

Today, there are more and more people, even pastors, who deny the truth of the Rapture or else place it out of order when teaching on the end times. Christ will come for us before the events of the final seven years and before the Antichrist is revealed.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The Greek word “apostasia” is translated “falling away,” and there is debate over what Paul meant. Did he mean there would be many people who believe false doctrine, or did he mean there would be a departure? This could actually mean both. There are many, many false doctrines being taught, and according to Paul’s letters to Timothy, this is a sign of the times. Pastors go to seminary and learn to question God’s truth, then come up with their own interpretation of Scripture, write books, and lead thousands upon thousands of people astray.

Paul could have also meant that the man of sin cannot be revealed as long as Christians are on earth. The Holy Spirit resides in us and restrains the totally evil man from being able to come into power. As Christians become more worldly, it’s easier for Satan to work his evil, and all things are falling into place for the Rapture first, then the seven years of tribulation.

No matter what exactly Paul had in mind, there are many signs that the Rapture is drawing near. Things are getting unbelievably wicked in the world, and Christians are going along with the worldly ways that lead to destruction. Shame on us for not standing firm on God’s truth.

The Apostle John wrote that we need to test spirits. “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3).

Brothers and sisters, study Scripture and prepare yourself to discern God’s truth from Satan’s lies. Then stand firm on the solid foundation of God’s truth.

Paul agreed with John. “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; even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10).

John had written that the “spirit of antichrist” was already in the world, and Paul said that the only thing that holds this evil in check is the Holy Spirit. Only God can restrain Satan. When Christians are Raptured, the man of sin will have free rein to deceive all who are left behind. The Holy Spirit will continue His work to draw the unsaved and reveal God’s truth to all who are left behind, but you’d be wise to listen to Him now. Satan is a liar and is able to deceive anyone who has rejected God’s truth.

When Jesus walked this earth, He did many miracles. He healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, fed thousands with a few fish and some bread, and many more wonderous signs. These were true miracles, but Satan has some power, too. Nothing like the power of God, but he will empower the man of sin to work “signs and lying wonders.” He will deceive the people left here. Jesus talked about this.

“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:42-43).

If you don’t have the love of God in you, then you are open to the deceptive lies of Satan and the Antichrist.

God has done everything He can to bring everyone to salvation. He entered His creation and willingly allowed Himself to be crucified — the final sacrifice for our sin. He gave us Scripture, and there have been many Christians who share their faith. The Truth is available to anyone who seeks it. Unfortunately, many have rejected the truth. They will be left on earth to face the horrors of the Great Tribulation.

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

What’s the lie? There are many ideas about this. Some say that the lie is that UFOs are good and benevolent beings from a distant star system and that they have come to help humanity to live better. That is certainly a lie. As we draw nearer to the end of time, and Christians aren’t standing strong in their faith, we hear more about UFO sightings, and many people claim to have been abducted. These reports are too numerous to ignore and are something that Satan would do in order to bring fear and confusion.

Could the lie be that men think they are really women, and women think they are men? In his letter to the Romans, Paul goes into great detail about what happens when God is rejected as the Creator. A belief in the lie of evolution leads to sexual depravity. Jesus said that it would be incredibly wicked at the end.

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-29).

If you study what was happening during Noah’s time and Lot’s time, you will see very similar things that are happening today. You have to study Scripture. Most pastors don’t touch on this subject at all, and therefore many Christians haven’t any idea of what’s happening in the world around us.

Another delusion that will be strong is that the Antichrist is actually Jesus and worthy of worship. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:3-4).

This, of course, happens after the Rapture. Christians will be in Heaven with Jesus, but the Antichrist will be alive and well, deceiving those left behind and causing everyone to take his mark. When a person takes the mark of the beast, they can no longer be saved. The world is being prepared for the end times, so be very careful what you allow into your body.

God has given us all the information we need in order to avoid being deceived. We all have a choice. You need to study Scripture – really study and not just read it or believe everything the preacher says. Otherwise, you might find that you are believing things that God doesn’t say in Scripture. It’s easier to be deceived if you don’t have facts.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Don’t be deceived or fall for any of Satan’s lies. It’s easy to be deceived if you don’t know truth. Study Scripture and don’t compromise God’s truth.

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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Extreme Weather in Prophecy: Part 1 of 3 :: By Nathan Jones

Published on: by RR10

According to Genesis 1, at the beginning of human history at the Creation, everything that exists was made by God to be originally perfect. But then, sin entered and corrupted everything, so God placed a curse upon the world (Genesis 3). Mankind has long awaited the restoration of the Creation, which will happen upon Christ’s return, for then “the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

Christians have long been waiting for that glorious day when Jesus Christ returns and fixes all that has fallen into sin. But, in the meantime, we live in a world where nature has been thrown into a great upheaval. Because of this great upheaval, extreme weather often occurs due to our out-of-kilter weather system.

Weather Used to Signify Important Events

God, at times, uses signs in nature to underline the importance of major events.

For example, when God etched the Ten Commandments and then gave them to Moses and the Israelites, the Bible says in Exodus 19 that this divine event was covered in smoke and rumblings and great fire on the mountain.

“Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled… Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly” (Exodus 19:16-18).

Also, when Jesus was born, God placed the star of Bethlehem up in the sky to show people where the Messiah had been born. The wise men asked: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

And again, when Christ was crucified, for three hours, darkness blotted out the daylight, and Jerusalem experienced a great earthquake: “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land… and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:45,51).

God used and still does use weather to point to significant events in history.

Weather Used as Remedial Judgments

At other times, God uses the signs of nature, such as extreme weather, as remedial judgments for the purpose of calling wicked nations to repentance. For example, in Deuteronomy 28, Moses warned the Israelites that if, as a people, they became exceedingly wicked, exactly which curses would befall them:

  • “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks” (v. 18).
  • “And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed” (vv. 23-24).
  • “You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes” (v. 30).

Moses noted God’s purpose for His remedial judgments should the Israelites refuse to repent and return to Him and live by His moral law:

“Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever” (vv. 45-46).

Sure enough, once the Israelites had become steeped in sin, God would inflict them with remedial judgments through extreme weather. When the Prophet Elijah called King Ahab and the nation of Israel to repent, Ahab flat-out refused, and so God sent a drought that withered the crops for three-plus long years (1 Kings 17-18).

Another time when Israel had become lethargic in their relationship with their Heavenly Father, God cursed the land with a great locust swarm that quickly consumed all of Israel’s crops. As God had desired, the Israelites did repent (Joel 1-3).

Also, after the Jews had returned from captivity in Babylon and were tasked with rebuilding the Temple, they only got as far as the foundation before they gave up and stopped working for 14 long years. God waited until, finally, He decimated their crops with root rot and mildew and sent furious hail storms to cut the remaining plants down. Again, as God had desired, the people repented and right away started back working on the Temple’s reconstruction (Haggai 1-2).

Now how do we know the difference between a natural disaster caused by a fallen world and when God uses nature as a remedial judgment? Three points. One, the timing of the event as it relates to the sins of the nation can help the people discern which is which. Two, the magnitude of the event reveals whether God is speaking or not because remedial judgments are designed to produce great shock value in order to capture people’s attention and force them to think with an eternal perspective. And three, the prophet’s declaration, for the prophet speaking for God would say, “I am doing this to get you to repent.” So, we can know the difference based on the timing, the magnitude, and the prophet’s declaration concerning natural disasters.

Pointing to Christ’s Return

Some may be thinking, “That’s the Old Testament! Aren’t we living in the Age of Grace? God doesn’t use the sign of nature anymore, right?” Well, not according to Jesus Christ. In the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13), Jesus provided ten signs that would point to His soon return. He said they would increase in frequency and intensity – like the birth pangs of a woman in labor – the closer we got to His return. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). Note in particular how birth pains increase in frequency and intensity the closer to the baby’s birth.

Some of the signs of the end times that would grow increasingly worse until Christ’s return: war: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). Other signs would involve “fearful sights and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). Likewise, “there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

This is the point when these signs become so violent and happen so frequently that “then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Haven’t Christians been longing for Christ’s return? Jesus adds great hope that “when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

The Apostle Paul confirmed that Christians are meant to be able to discern the signs that point to Jesus’ soon return so as not to be taken unaware. He noted this in 1 Thessalonians 5:1.

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day…” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5)

For those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are a son or daughter of the light and son or daughter of the day. They can most certainly recognize the signs of the times that Jesus has provided that foretell His return to this earth.

In the second part of this teaching about the end times sign of nature as it relates to extreme weather, we will scour the data to see if, in truth, natural disasters are indeed increasing in frequency and intensity.

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