By SHARON K. GILBERT
January 22, 2009
ALTHOUGH Stephen King hardly professes to believe in Christ as Savior, he does spend a great deal of his writing in a quest for spiritual truth. King’s complicated characters fight internal and external battles, and that is–for me, at least–why his fiction rises to the top of the secular heap: because it’s the internal struggle that is the real source of conflict.
In some ways, King’s supernatural monster is the McGuffin (a Hitchcock term for a literary ‘red herring’ used to lure you into the real meaning of the book or film). King’s protagonists usually shelter hideous personal demons within their spirits. It’s these inner monsters that often prove the real, and all too often unbeatable foe.
I bring up Stephen King, because, as I watched Tuesday’s ‘coronation’, I kept recalling one of my favorite King novels: The Stand. It’s a shame this book wasn’t written with a clearer, more accurate and Biblical portrayal of the real spiritual battle between ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’, for the characters and basic premise are compelling.
The plot is simple: A worldwide plague has killed nearly all of mankind, leaving those who survive on a living battlefield–with God and Satan as generals. King’s masterful storywriting imagines a massive, worldwide chess match, where humans can either submit as pawns to Satan (the default setting) or Stand.
A central character is Abagail Freemantle, a 108-year-old black woman who visits survivors in dreams from her Nebraska front porch. Freemantle bridges the world of human and divine in an almost Christ-like role. (Remember, this book is NOT Biblically accurate, but the general theme is worth contemplating).
Wearing ‘the mantle’ of post-apocalyptic prophetess, Freemantle instructs the dreamers to come to her, to choose the side of God, and of ‘good’–and many do. Some, however, who come to Nebraska, do so with reservation–with secret sins and dark inner voices. These later ‘fall away’ and ‘fall’ into Satan’s trap. (Shades of the apostacy to come–see II Thess. 2:3). T
he remnant who remain with Abagail are warned by her ‘to Stand’. The phrase implies courageous action, determination in the face of adversity, and an inherent refusal to sit down.
We see this same language in Daniel 12:1, when the Angel of the Lord tells the prophet:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people…
Michael is Israel’s protector and prince. His sole job is to act as Israel’s defender, and when he stands up, it’s to do battle.
The angel delivering this message to Daniel might be Gabriel, who has already visited the prophet twice before. If it is Gabriel, Daniel doesn’t seem to recognize him. Daniel is also very weak and barely alive from fasting for three weeks–seeing a heavenly messenger in such a weakened state has caused Daniel’s body to collapse. Whether this is Gabriel or not, this is a mighty angel, and the prophecy he brings is so important that ‘the Prince of Persia’ (most likely one of the Seventy who rule the Earth — for more in this, see Mike Heiser’s Divine Council) engages him in battle–an historic battle that lasts three weeks (in human time).
The Prince of Persia wants to keep the message of the Seventy Weeks from being delivered, and he might have succeeded, were it not for Michael. Seeing God’s messenger to Daniel needed help, Michael the Archangel stood up and joined in the battle against the Prince of Persia, remaining there so Gabriel (or the unnamed angel of Daniel 9) could be free to speak with Daniel, who is in living in Babylon, a land ruled by Persian King Cyrus at the time.
So, what does Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ have to do with Michael and Daniel’s vision?
With the inauguration of the ‘President of the World’, Barack Obama, the United States of America is now on the fast track to global governance without borders. Not just Americans but all the peoples of the world have been called to serve the ideal of freedom by the man known as the Leader of the Free World.
Up until January 20th, the peoples of the world would have begged to differ with such a presumptuous title. They tolerated Clinton, despised Bush, but oh, how they love Obama. O-ba-ma (Persian for ‘He is with us’) is the mantra on nearly every person’s lips. And it demands that you and I take notice–and that we choose.
The notion of a political leader who is worshiped by so many worldwide must ring alarm bells in the hearts of the Church. And those bells call us to wake up.
Is Barack Obama the one prophesied by Daniel — the ‘King of the North’? I honestly don’t know for certain. However, if December 21, 2012 is the midway point of the Tribulation period, then the timing would be right. The Winter Solstice of 2012 is when the new cycle of the Leviathan precession begins–the dawn of a ‘New Age’ or Aeon. At this time, the sun rises in Sagittarius, centaur with a bow–a symbol for Nimrod, out from the mouth of Leviathan (see David Flynn). A new sun ‘god’ will be born–Nimrod/Osiris will rise again.
Are those hoofbeats we hear? The time has come to determine which side you wish to take. Taking no side, is the same as taking the wrong side. In Revelation 3:16, Jesus says that the Laodicean believers nauseate Him, because they are neither hot nor cold. Lukewarm doesn’t cut it. Halfway standing up won’t do it. The default setting is not acceptable.
Many of you know that I love to sing. As a child, one of my favorite parts of any worship service was the singing of the old hymns. I can still picture the aging hymn books at Dupont Baptist Church with the ragged blue covers–some with crackes spines–all well-used and beloved. My friend Sandy or perhaps Mrs. Phillips would play piano or organ )or both on Sunday mornings), and every mouth would open to praise the King. One favorite hymn was Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!:
Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
The trumpet call obey;
Stand forth in mighty conflict
In this his glorious day.
Let all his faithful serve him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger
And strength to strength oppose.Stand up, stand up for Jesus
As soldiers of the cross.
Lift high his royal banner;
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
His army he shall lead
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.
Soon, dear friends, Michael will stand up. Are you prepared to stand up with him and lift high the cross of Christ? Our battle is a spiritual one–our sword is the Word of God. Our helmet is Salvation. Our shield is Faith. We are not called to serve a human world leader but the King of the Universe, the only begotten Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ, Yeshua. We fight for the souls of those yet to proclaim Christ as Savior and Lord. Lukewarm will not cut it. Half stance will not work. We must rise up fully, stand up, set our feet upon the ground that God Himself created and proclaim Christ as King.
Soon–and very soon–the Lord Christ will soon return to take His Bride out of Tribulation, it is important that He find us awake and ready and watching–Standing as we lift high the Cross.
Gird up, dear friends. And prepare to Stand.
Amen , Sharon !
Thanks for your encouragement.
Ready to Stand with you!
My Sister In Christ:
I enjoy your website…
I try to reconcile Obama’s “mind-set” with the will of God. Of course, the American people elected Obama freely, but ultimately, it was God Himself who installed Obama as President. So, can I say that since God is fully in control, that He knew Obama would create “change,” that it is, indeed, God’s will that these events are occuring? The answer is yes…
So, it is safe to say that God is orchestrating the changes Obama is making, for He it ominscient and soverign. We Christians criticize Obama. We are judging him. God says not to judge anyone before its time.
What are we to do?
I totally agree with taking a stand, but as long as I have studied the bible, I cannot find the proof of a rapture. We have to be ready to stand and die if thats what it takes. God does not promise that we will be taken before the horrors begin. He promises that when He returns that the “dead in Christ shall rise first” . Either way, everyone who calls themselves a Christian better get right with the Lord.
Someone hit him in the head so we can know for shure. When did he ascend out of the pit and where are the locust? Did I miss the 5th seal?
I don’t know where I fit in here but check out the environmental movement. It appears “Mystery Babylon” IS New York City home to the criminal federal reserve, the UN-dead AND the modern religion of radical environmentalism, St. John’s the Divine. God, the real One, help all not yet sedated by THEM.
THEorYofLIVEvolution.com
Thankyou Sharon,
We need to encourage one another, by the word rightly divided. Jesus must be nauseated by members of the church which is his body who confuse the body of Christ with the Bride! of Christ. How can the Body, with Christ as it’s head also be the Bride!
Photon Girl: I recommend Peter Goodgame’s Red Moon Rising. Thoroughly researched and grounded in scripture.
WE are the Saints, We Will NOT Retreat…We are tired of this place and want to go home…But YHWH sends us all a Pep-Talk in Michael Boldea’s dream…It’s time to wield the sword of the LORD!
Michael Boldea’s Dream Blog Posted January 22, 2009 Homeward Bound http://mikeboldea.blogspot.com/2009/01/as-promised.html
If 12/21/2012 is the mid-point of the Tribulation Period, back date 1260 days and that put us at about 7/9/2009 for a last date for a Pre-Trib Rapture. Now we’re not suppose to set dates, but this is getting interesting.
Note the Apostle Paul stated the Church the Body of Christ was not to come under God’s wrath. Also, One of the 5 Mysteries revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ was the Church the Body of Christ (which is not His Bride). His Bride would be none other than the Nation Israel.
Amen! Thank you brother Phip?
For pointing out the Word rightly divided!.
The Church is the Body of Christ with our Lord Jesus it’s Head The Bride of Christ is the Nation of Israel in repentance, believingin ONE, accepting their true Messiah Jesus Christ. It can not please
God when members of the Body think they have Israel’s inheritance. According to the Mystery revealed to Paul the Church that is his body inherits ‘’the far above all heavens’‘
Isn’t the rapture a modern concept; coming forth from the 1800’s? I have read accounts by many biblical scholars and they usually agree that it’s not a biblical fact, it’s merely an interpretation based on a theory from some well-intended pastors of the previous 3 centuries and that LaHaye and his followers have done a great disservice to the world by writing bad fiction that people take as the gospel truth!
Very Good article Sharon.
The biggest crime we face in this earthly life is the destruction of the unborn. We must fight to preserve precious life from the moment of conception until it’s natural end. The new government is attempting to change everything a true Christian stands for. God is so merciful. I pray that our new President will have a change of heart and protect the innocent, then God will surely bess America for keeping the most important of his commandments – “Thou shalt not Kill”
The “Rapture” was the outgrowth of the thinking of John Nelson Darby of the Plymouth Brethren in the 19th century, one who believed in the theory of dispensationalism. It appears to contradict the express prayer of Christ, who is ever the same “Father, I ask NOT that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one”(Jn:17, 15)
We must resist the attempts of this new presidential administration to send us headlong into perdition. Stand up for Jesus, indeed, stand up, be heard, be not afraid for He is with us always. And as we see these signs proliferating and quickening, we must remember to lift up our eyes, our redemption is drawing near. We are covered by the precious blood of the Lion of Judah, we have no fear.
Thank you for this eye-opener!!! I am a catholic and am praying to St. Paul for the conversion of President Obama!! Maybe then there is hope for our country.
The only hope we have is that Obama will undergo a full conversion of heart, mind, and soul to fully comprehend that abortion is murder, clearly and unequivocally and then denounce it altogether. If he does not, I will never believe that God put him into his present position. If he does not, I will continue to believe he is antichrist.
God Bless you Sharon for being willing to speak out for the Christian faith. It is under attack like never before in history.
There won’t be a rapture. But get ready for the Warning. Check out the prophecies of Medjugorje. God will send the Chastisement, but not without Warning us to shape up. Like Photon girl said, either way we better be ready.
Linda
Right on!!! I totally agree with you!!! Somewhere in scripture God says (and I paraphrase) I will let be gotten up in there own ways and th
I cannot find the exact passage, but the evil will be shown for what itis!!! I cannot find the exact place(Book) of these verses…I believe it was referring to homosexuality, but certainly applies here about obama!!!
America will never recover from this totally insane election of a true muslim…
Linda
Right on!!! I totally agree with you!!! Somewhere in scripture God says (and I paraphrase) I will let be gotten up in there own ways and th
I cannot find the exaxten the evil will be shown for what itis!!! I cannot find the exact place(Book) of these verses…I believe it was referring to homosexuality, but certainly applies here about obama!!!
America will never recover from this totally insane election of a true muslim…
Linda
Right on!!! I totally agree with you!!! Somewhere in scripture God says (and I paraphrase) I will let be gotten up in there own ways and th
I cannot find the exact passage, but the evil will be shown for what itis!!! I cannot find the exact place(Book) of these verses…I believe it was referring to homosexuality, but certainly applies here about obama!!!
America will never recover from this totally insane election of a true muslim…
Dennis,
One important point here, is that God gives free will. If we choose to cooperate with God’s will then we can say that through divine providence, God is acting through us. But man can decide not to cooperate and thus, do according to his own human will. In the end God intervenes in human affairs in two ways: He either allows events to occur, because He will bring a greater good from them, or He will orchestrate something using human obedience to His will. It is probably safe to say that Obama is likely not cooperating with God’s will, but the Lord is letting human free will play out. We get the president we deserve…
There is something we can do everyday and that is to protect the unborn and the children all over the world from the wrath of Satan. Prayer has no barriers, it can reach a child who is in danger of harm from anyone. Each day early in the morning or anytime during the day, let us pray for them and cover the unborn and the children with the most precious blood of Jesus and ask the Lord to send his angels to protect and defend them from all evil people who are bent in the destruction of the children.
Read :Divine Mercy in My Soul: by Santa Maria Faustina , a book whose contents have been rigorously scrutinized by the Church prior to her canonization. You will find statements there that will surely affect you.
Thomas.
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT WAS BOUGHT. GOD SAID YOU SHALL NOT KILL. OBAMA IS O.K. WITH KILLING IN ABORTION LITTLE HELPLESS BABIES. GOD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH KILLING AT ALL. THE ELECTION WAS PLANNED AND SET UP BY FREEMASONS TO SET UP THE NEW WORLD ORDER. THIS IS A CHRIST CENTERED NATION FOR OVER 200 YEARS. SO SHALL IT BE. TRUST IN OUR GOOD LORD JESUS CHRIST HE IS THE ONE THAT SAVES US. NO SMOOTH TALKING LEADERS CAN SAVE US. WE HAVE FREE WILL TO CHOOSE LIFE OR DEATH. SIN & DEATH GO HAND IN HAND. ABORTION PAYING FOR IT FOR OTHER NATIONS BY THE U.S.A. IS ON A CLEAR SIDE OF DEATH & SIN. DEAR GOD PLEASE SAVE US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD FROM THE DARKNESS OF EVIL ALL AROUND US. PRAYERS & LOVE, PAUL
If you want a fuller understanding of who the BRIDE is then I suggest you read the manna at http://www.remnantbride.com
If you want a fuller understanding of who the BRIDE is then I suggest you read the manna at http://www.remnantbride.com
If you want a fuller understanding of who the BRIDE is then I suggest you read the manna at remnantbride.com
Trust in Jesus. He does not make mistakes. !
Dear Sharon,
It seems premature to me to assert that our new President is the Antichrist. The Bible tells us the revelation of the Antichrist will take place as he enters the rebuilt Temple and declares that he is God. Every one who has named the coming man of sin has been wrong, and has hurt the cause. Many like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton have been slandered by professing christians who were positive they were the Antichrist!
Yes, we must stand up for Christ in these days of apostasy, but let’s be careful to temper our zeal with understanding.
It should be noted, in my opinion,that since the days of the apostles the church has always believed that the Antichrist would emerge out of the apostasy, and if there is anything we can be certain about it is the dark apostasy in the modern day church. It would seem wiser to me to spend more time warning of the deceptive marks of the current apostacy,rather than spending so much energy pointing out who we think the Antichrist is before he is revealed.
I would suggest that our greatest need today is not idle speculation about who is the Beast, but rather, the false deception, the doctrines of demons, the empty professions, the false assurance, and the millions of unsaved religious people who have Christianity, but have missed Christ! There are more people who are deceived and lost in our pews and pulpits than most can imagine. May God send us a real spiritual awakening . This is the real apostasy nobody wants to talk about.
What is happening in America, with the election of President Barack Obama who is a pro-choice and abortion advocate, is a wake-up call indeed for all peoples, not only for Americans. We are now paying for the sins of those women who had aborted their babies long before abortion was even legalized and even before Obama’s time. Unfortunately, he (Obama) is making a big mistake by what he just did. He needs all the prayers we can offer for his enlightenment that he will not allow himself to be used by the evil ones to kill the most helpless creatures of God. And yes, God gave us free-will, then let’s use that free-will for God’s glory and for the salvation of our souls.
And by the way, if women were fully aware of the consequences of their action that, first and foremost, they have to answer to God, then I honestly believe that they will think many times not only twice before aborting their babies. Lack of education or to some simply telling themselves that they have a right to do what they want with their bodies may be the answer why women chose to abort their babies, or for some other reasons only known to them.
Let us pray more for God will always listen our prayers from the heart, specially if we pray for others.
All this obsessive curiosity about the end times is counterproductive if it doesn’t lead to Christian perfection. Here’s a great video about the Final Judgement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZBrDHG0Fk8&feature=channel_page
You are all insane.
“BY THY HOLY AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, O MARY, DELIVER US FROM EVIL.”–Prophetic Prayer taught by Our Lady of America to Sister Mary Ephrem, Convent of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Rome City, Indiana, in 1956.
I would like to respond to Dennis: Yes, God is in control. Is it God’s will that these events are occuring? Who can say. Maybe. Don’t forget that when Jesus chose Judas as his disciple, he did it with the full knowledge of what Judas was to do. Why did he do it? To fulfill prophecy. Stay awake, be ready, you do not know the hour when the Lord is coming.
We are truly living in interesting times. Fortunately, the Bible has all the answers we need, if we will search for them with the whole heart. Search the Scriptures.
We are truly living in interesting times. Fortunately, the Bible has all the answers we need, if we will search for them with the whole heart. Search the Scriptures.
God gave Israel a Saul when they rejected him as their King. Saul was a king of the people and he ruled them as such. He was just as self serving as his citizens and we know how that worked out for Israel and Saul. The thing I keep in mind when considering the times we are living in is the fact that Saul had to come pass before they could get David… Is Obama our Saul and is our David on his way…. to me it is bittersweet… True Christians will shine in dark times and although the Lord told us it would be few it will still be enough to lead some out of the darkness and that is our testimony to the Lord of our love for him; being a light in the darkest hour to lead any who will come into safety…
in regard to comment #2-“…Of course, the American people elected Obama freely, but ultimately, it was God Himself who installed Obama as President. …etc”
_________________________
PLEASE. Human beings are given free choice which is MORE than what is given to God’s heavenly angels,they do HIS bidding only. We have free will, a choice and are TOLD to choose life. Common sense ALONE would let you know that the MostHighGod does NOT endorse abortion,infanticide,etc.,so please refrain from claiming that He installed obama.
The Heavenly Father knew who gets elected but did NOT select obama as
ACORN,massive unprecedented fraud,a shoddy educational system promoting a valueLESS system without Constitutional knowledge is what selected this man.
As for judging obama or anybody else,Scipture makes it crystal clear that those living a sinful life style or anything out of alignment with God’s Word needs correction or else you are also guilty of a sin of “ommission”. Now exactly how does a person know right from wrong or that their own child,friend,POLITICIAN,etc is in the wrong ?
I really wish that i had the time to get into what JesusChrist Himself MEANT by “judge not,lest ye be judged…” Has absolutely nothing to do with calling an abortionist an abortionist or a communist a commie. How do you get through the course of a day without making JUDGEMENTS ?
Of course the Most High God is in control,He always is,always was and will honour His Covenant with His children 100%.
Fear not and as StPaul the Apostle also reminds us all,”Pray without ceasing.”
This is the time for us to light our lamps and place them on the lampstands. We must remember to “fear not”that Jesus is with us. Today is the time to decide to stand with the Lord.
Jesus told Pilate he wouldn’t have authority unless it were “given to him from above,” but did that make Pilate a righteous ruler? Even though the most evil ruler would not be in power unless God allows it, the good news is that God brings good out of evil and evil men cannot thwart God’s plans; if nothing else, evil rulers test the mettle of Christians, who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb and sometimes shed their own blood in their testimony to Christ.
Pretrib Rapture – Hidden Facts !
How can the “rapture” be “imminent”? Acts 3:21 says that Jesus “must” stay in heaven (He is now there with the Father) “until the times of restitution of all things” which includes, says Scofield, “the restoration of the theocracy under David’s Son” which obviously can’t begin before or during Antichrist’s reign. Since Jesus must personally participate in the rapture, and since He can’t even leave heaven before the tribulation ends, the rapture therefore cannot take place before the end of the trib! Paul explains the “times and the seasons” (I Thess. 5:1) of the catching up (I Thess. 4:17) as the “day of the Lord” (5:2) (which FOLLOWS the posttrib sun/moon darkening – Matt. 24:29; Acts 2:20) WHEN “sudden destruction” (5:3) of the wicked occurs! (If the wicked are destroyed before or during the trib, who would be left alive to serve the Antichrist?) Paul also ties the change-into-immortality “rapture” (I Cor. 15:52) to the posttrib end of “death” (15:54)! (Will death be ended before or during the trib?) If anyone wonders how long pretrib rapturism has been taught, he or she can Google “Pretrib Rapture Diehards.” Many are unaware that before 1830 all Christians had always viewed I Thess. 4’s “catching up” as an integral part of the final second coming to earth. In 1830 it was stretched forward and turned into a separate coming of Christ. To further strengthen their novel view, which the mass of evangelical scholars rejected throughout the 1800s, pretrib teachers in the early 1900s began to stretch forward the “day of the Lord” (what Darby and Scofield never dared to do) and hook it up with their already-stretched-forward “rapture.” Many leading evangelical scholars still weren’t convinced of pretrib, so pretrib teachers then began teaching that the “falling away” of II Thess. 2:3 is really a pretrib rapture (the same as saying that the “rapture” in 2:3 must happen before the “rapture” [“gathering”] in 2:1 can happen – the height of desperation!). Other Google articles throwing light on long-covered-up facts about the 178-year-old pretrib rapture view include “Famous Rapture Watchers,” “X-Raying Margaret,” “Revisers of Pretrib Rapture History,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Wily Jeffrey,” “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” “Scholars Weigh My Research,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Pretrib Rapture Desperados” and “Deceiving and Being Deceived” – all by the author of the bestselling book “The Rapture Plot” which is available at Armageddon Books online. Just my two cents’ worth.
Mark is right
What is all this Rapture nonsense? Dont you love God enough to suffer for Him? If you love Him, then skippin out is not a good way of showing it! Very typical of Americans to want to take the easy way out. To sit back, and when things get really bad and expect God to zip them to safety. How silly! If you really think this will happen, then you will not be ready when you need it. Grow up and run to your Savior, for he is your fortress.
Your Brother in Christ
Dennis
I read an article on line featuring a prophecy by an old man in Kenya, written decades ago. Paraphrase. A tall black man will lead the west and the united states will burn and be desroyed, because of him.
I repectfully don’t believe for a second that God installed Obama as President. He gives us our free will to chose — each and every one of us. Of course he knew what the outcome would be, for it was so before time began.
Your great nation has brough curse upon curse on itself for chosing darkness and death over the light and the way — Jesus.
Do any of you think the the slaughter of millions of his creation in their mother’s womb go unnoticed by the Father? What about our lifestyle choices … homosexuality is now considered to be the norm. He will bring us all to our knees by letting events unfold that we his creation are responsible for having brought upon ourselves in the first place.
It comes down to free will…we chose…blessing or a curse.
My refuge and hope is in his mercy regardless of what is to happen.
Be ready. Jesus, I trust in you!
#33 and #43 – insanity does reign, but we are quite sane.
And on the Feast of St. Paul’s Conversion, let the scales fall away…
We are called to be Saints, in every season. As someone stated earlier, ready yourself, arm yourself (with the Sacraments and the Word and teachings of God) and keep you eyes on Him.
Truly you are all mad! Mad and deluded!
Sorry Derek, but a broad reference to some obscure book does not address PhotonGirl’s concerns regarding a rapture. Please provide Scriptural Evidence of your belief in a Pre- or Mid- Tribulation rapture. To do anything else is dishonest.
To read all of this post it would seem you people would have preferred to hav as president someone who divorced his wife and is therefore an adulterer rather than an honourable man of great intregrity. racism rears it’s ugly head again and again. If he was white none of this woulf=d be said.
OH YES, A CHASTISEMENT IS IMMINENT. BUT-LIKE JENNY (ABOVE) SAYS, THERE WILL FIRST COME A WARNING (A TERRIFYING, MIND-ALTERING REFLECTION OF OUR PAST DEEDS) IN ORDER TO HELP US TO CHANGE FROM OUR SELFISH, SELF GRADIFYING WAYS. AFTER THAT, THOSE WHO STILL DO NOT BELIEVE WILL SUFFER GREATLY BECAUSE WHEN THE CHASTISEMENT COMES, BELIEVING AND PLACING TRUST IN GOD WILL BE OUR ONLY COMFORT. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE PUNISHMENT, WE SHOULD NOW (BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE), DEVELOP A MYSTICAL UNION WITH CHRIST. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO ‘DECREASE IN SELF IN ORDER TO LET GOD INCREASE IN US’.
THIS CAN BE DONE BY PRAYER, FASTING, AND SACRIFICE. THESE WAYS TEACH US TO DECREASE IN SELF, THEREFORE LETTING GOD INCREASE IN US. LIKE VR29 ABOVE SAYS, WE WILL HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR IF WE ARE COVERED WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
We get the leaders we deserve.
The current worldwide economic depression can be the occasion for a conversion of hearts to value family (this means marriage & children) over materialism.
An amazing book dealing with interpreting “signs of the times” without presuming to guess when the anti-christ manifests is “Apocalypse Letter by Letter” by a Catholic layman, Ron Paul. Read reviews of this book on Amazon.com; and if the method this man used to look at what the original Greek REALLY says makes sense to you, then buy the book and you will see a method of reading the Book of Revelation correlating it with the Book of Daniel that will open your eyes to what all previous English translations have missed.
FYI: The spirit of the anti-christ is to “seem to do good without reference to God” –which is why so many intelligent “spiritual but not religious” people fail to recognize what’s happening until it’s too late.
To Dennis McLLend. Do you remember King Menassa? The Israelites demanded a king. God told them that a king would do great harm to them and to their children. It was not God’s will for them to have any other king but Him. The Israelites persisted and God gave them a King. What happened? The people suffered direly especially the children. I don’t believe that Obama’s actions are the will of God. God does not will for Chinese women to have their babies killed by injection and then delivered dead. This is what is done in China and Mr. Obama has lifted the ban on funding to the UN for China. May God have mercy on us and on all the dead babies and sorrowing mothers
To Whoever Thinks that Mr. Obama is the antichrist, Don’t worry. The antichrist is going to be very handsome. I think Mr. Obama is ugly, ugly, ugly. He cannot be the antichrist.
To Jane Adoni:
None of this has anything to do with the color of a man’s skin. Rather, it has everything to do with a leader who fully embraces the practice of killing the innocents within the womb of their mothers. The God of Creation cannot allow this practice to continue. We pray for a conversion of the heart and mind of our newly elected leader, for unless there is a drastic change of course for this nation, our merciful and loving Lord will take drastic steps to bring about the changes that are so desparately needed.
It is true that God has permitted Obama to be elected. However, I don’t believe that God’s perfect will is for the U.S. to promote abortion that would contradict everything God stands for, so there must be another reason for His decision. It is therefore much more likely that this is being permitted for the purposes of purification or chastisement. Either way this will have painful consequences for the U.S.
Listening to Obama’s address he neglects to mention the name of Jesus but mentions God a lot. He speaks pf the values which are the fruit of christian belief and practice such as sacrifice, placing others before ourselves , helping those who are vulnerable but then he signs off on abortion free for all. This is a false religeon he promotes. Values without Jesus and at the same time the destruction of the most innocent and vulnerable. Get ready for the persecution of Christians who stand for the truth. The unspiritual will fall quickly into his trap. Nevertheless I pray for his conversion. Nobody is beyond redemption.
I believe God permitted Obama to be president because the people of this country chose this man to lead them. God respected the free will of the majority of people and they will (and the others who did not vote for him, such as myself) will pay for the consequences of this very bad choice. God’s choice is not of death but of life and a man who supports abortion is never a man who promotes life. There is not justification for deliberately promoting abortion and making it easier to be performed. Just three days after becoming president he canceled the ban on U.S. money for institutions that perform abortion. Soon it will be FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act). This is a slippery slop toward the U.S. becoming a godless country. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus! Lord, God Almighty: For the sake of His sorrowful passion, Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
When I mentioned U.S. money for institutions that perform abortion I forgot to mention “perform abortion overseas”. Soon Obama will mess with the situation of abortion in this country and seek to approve FOCA to nullify laws that protect the unborn and make abortion more widespread. May the Lord not allow this evil to happen. Mother Teresa of Calcuta has said that a country that abort its own children has no hope.
Hey don’t forget that Revelations says there will be two beasts. The first will give power to the second beast. Obama has wooeed the crown and they’re drunk on koolaid. That sounds like a settup for an anti christ to slide in on. We gotta pray for the conversion of this nation. PRAY PRAY PRAY
Psalm 1 – Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.
They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.
But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind.
Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.
The LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Psalm 11 – In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains!
See how the wicked string their bows, fit their arrows to the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright.
When foundations are being destroyed, what can the upright do?”
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven. God’s eyes keep careful watch; they test all peoples.
The LORD tests the good and the bad, hates those who love violence, And rains upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone, a scorching wind their allotted cup. The LORD is just and loves just deeds; the upright shall see his face.
Glory, Honor and Praise be to our God!
Peace mercy and grace of God be upon you. Self inflicted pain. Who destroys who? We face difficult times, yet, not for the first time. Let’s look back into History.
I must agree that God knows everything and He does allow things to happen. People fail to realize that He is the BOSS. He does allow things to happen or He puts a stop to it. That simple! Is on Him. It’s a mystery. Yet, I must say in the long run, He works things out for the better. He loves us and is a merciful, forgiving God. He does chastise us and quilty or not the INNOCENT will always suffer. This is the Truth of long ago!!! This Nation and the world has given their backs to God over and over again. Truly worldy! Mind you we are called to live the spiritual life beginning here on earth. He promised the Eternal Life that goes beyond. God is taken out of everything, like He doesn’t exist. Out of sight out of mind. His children don’t need Him and refuse to repent and be transformed. The darkness hates the Light because ALL EVIL WILL COME TO SURFACE FOR ALL TO SEE, THAT IS SOONER OR LATER. Patience! We have to struggle through trials and tribulations trusting in our God and working together. Look at the Old Testament, the more God poured His love, mercy, forgiveness and promises the more people sinned and turned away from Him, worshipping false god’s and false promises. Human nature. We just have to keep up with what is going on, pray unceasingly and we shall see what God has for us as a whole. Men destroy men not God. God is a God of Life! There is no respect and reverence for God in our Nation. The God of all Nations! THE SMOKE OF THE EVIL ONE IS IN…..Yet, in the long run, God is Victorious and Triumphant. Pray and Trust! Fight a good fight and press on!. Stand firm with your faith and the hope given to thee!
Blessed days!
Christians must stand together – all Christian denominations or we will fall together. Obama has brought darkness to the world through his actions against helpless unborn humans. Babies come with Angels of Light and now around the world darkness will reign. He took an oath, something went wrong, and he did it again, without a bible. All moral values of family life are to be discarded. There is a move afoot to remove the Constitution – that anyone who is not a US citizen could become President – to divide and conquer? Henry Kissenger has publicly suggested that Obama become the leader of a one world government. The British press nicknamed the car he rode in to the inaugral platform – ‘the beast’. God is in charge but since we have not listened to his words, followed his commandments, we will have to live through a tremendous time of punishment as Scriptures (Revelation) states. Obama was taken to the top of the mountain, shown the world, promised it, and sold his soul. Many so called Christians/Catholics who knowingly voted for this man, despite guidance from their leaders, will have to answer too. Many, hopefully, if we storm Heaven with our prayers, will wake up and find the strength to join the battle against his policies of murder and mayhem. Our Lady of Americ asked that her image be placed in Washington DC (why can you think of?) and she promised if this was done and it became a national shrine, that many miracles, more even than Fatima, would occur. She also said that America would become again, a moral, respected country. She asked that the Bishops lose no time to do this. What are they doing about it? Why are Catholics around the country not pressing their Bishops to do this? Why, just as in the election, people ignore a message that can save the country untold destruction? The time is here and it is urgent to stand as a soldier of Christ, as we were all baptized to do. We still have a voice but for how long?
I found the article interesting and agree with some of it. However, the Rapture Trap is one of recent origin and is a bad mistranslation of Paul’s writings. If the Rapture were true we would have 3 coming of Christ – i.e. his birth, rapture and the last judgement. From all I have read there are only 2 comings of Jesus Christ – birth and last judgement. If He had to suffer and die what makes us think we are above the Master in this part of life?
We are now living in end times. Pray for President Obama and the whole world. God will reveal everything in due course.
Stay strong in your faith. Obama was meant to happen, but I did not vote for him. I am catholic and pro LIFE….We will all suffer, but keep your faith no matter what it is….do not let SATAN fool you.
Obama will bring in the new world order, microchips, and evil. He will work hand in hand with the antichrist….so be brave, call on your guardian angel for protection, and
keep on praying….THE LORD WILL WIN THE GAME….and you can bet on it.
WE WIN….Good bye satan….
FIRST: Thanks Sharon…well stated.
SECOND: Derek, sorry, Steve #49 is right. Now, DOES it REALLY matter? Yes, IF one is going to be minimalized by a false hope…
THIRDLY: Michael, #40: Your choice of “lighting our Lamps” is VERY accurate! It ALSO pertains to the “TEN VIRGINS”, waiting for their BRIDEGROOM to come & CONSUMATE their marriage! Hey! WHAT a radical “parable”! Worth giving THAT some prayer…
FOURTHLY: Sir B.O.’s “divinity” is questionable, but I believe that Daniel 8:5-12;{esply. 8-9}, makes it clear that that “little horn” came out of ONE of the FOUR Divisions of Alexander’s Kingdom: Greece, Assyria, “the pleasant land”,{Psm.48:2 – Yeru’salem Ysra’el: Mount Zion}, and Egypt. Now, granted, “The GREAT B.O.” IS African…but, it wasn’t HAM that was cursed, {Africa}, it WAS Ca’anan, & he was the progenirator of the “Ca’ananites”, which are “Gaza-ites” these days. SOOO…B.O. just doesn’t harken from the right stage, honey.
FIFTHLY: #33;43; & 48; Your day of celebration is coming:
A Judge in FL. recently determined your day to be April 1st: “April Fool’s Day”! Because, “The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no God!”
Therefore, April Fool’s Day is your day to celebrate! Enjoy….
My belief is that Satan runs ‘this’ world, and he is responsible for placing people into positions of power….people that don’t think about others feelings, what others don’t have, what others have lost….due to the Elites greed for POWER!!!
I want to be able to say “I’ll stand & fight for what’s good & true”, but having never been placed in the situation where I surrender my life for my beliefs….I don’t want to roll over. I feel many others, when having to make the decision to either stand or die….what choice will we actually make. We have never been put into that situation, but we all know we soon will be.
Y’shua knows us, and he realizes that we will HAVE TO CHOOSE…..so, either thru our death at that moment, or on the day of our judgment….I want to stand in the presemce of our Lord, and say “I stood for you!!”
Steve (49) and Christian (67): I don’t feel compelled to engage in a debate over the timeline of the apocalypse in the comments section of Sharon’s article. Rather than being dishonest, I merely suggested that PhotonGirl take a look at a book I consider an excellent analysis of the subject.
If you like, you’re free to read Mr. Goodgame’s research, which is heavily footnoted and illustrated with charts to make his theory clear. Because Peter considers this such an important topic, he has graciously published it to the web for you to read in full at no charge. Red Moon Rising is an essential addition to our library.
If you’d rather listen to an interview with the author first, click here to hear our discussion with Peter about his research and how he arrived at his conclusions.
As for me, I don’t feel led to re-invent the wheel on this topic.
DOLCINO? DUH!
Eschatological enforcer Thomas Ice claims that someone named Dolcino taught a pretribulation rapture in 1304 A.D. What Ice doesn’t like to reveal is that Dolcino’s “proof” DOESN’T EVEN EXIST! So what does Ice’s claim rest on? Well, LONG AFTER Dolcino’s death an ANONYMOUS person wrote a SECONDHAND history of what Dolcino reportedly penned – a history that was CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES between the 1300s and the 1900s! If you’re wondering about Thomas Ice’s qualifications as a scholar, Google “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers)” and “Thomas Ice (Hired Gun).” Many are unaware that after the Communists took over Russia and China, there were Christians in those countries who became violent with pastors who had constantly assured them that they would be raptured before anything resembling end-time horrors. Can Ice and other pretrib rapture merchandisers rest assured that if such scenarios occur in America and some other “rapturized” countries, Christians won’t be just as violent towards them?
The NEWEST Pretrib Calendar !
Hal (serial polygamist) Lindsey and other pretrib-rapture-trafficking and Mayan-Calendar-hugging hucksters deserve the following message: “2012 may be YOUR latest date. It isn’t MAYAN!” Actually, if it weren’t for the 179-year-old, fringe-British-invented, American-merchandised pretribulation rapture bunco scheme, Hal would still be piloting a tugboat on the Mississippi. roly-poly Thomas Ice (Tim LaHaye’s No. 1 strong-arm enforcer) would still be in his tiny folding-chair church which shares its firewall with a Texas saloon, Jack Van Impe would still be a jazz band musician, Tim LaHaye would still be titillating California matrons with his “Christian” sex manual, Grant Jeffrey would still be taking care of figures up in Canada, Chuck Missler would still be in mysterious hush-hush stuff that rocket scientists don’t dare talk about, and John Hagee might be making – and eating – world-record pizzas! To read more details about the eschatological British import that leading British scholarship never adopted – the import that’s created some American multi-millionaires – Google “Pretrib Rapture Diehards” (note LaHaye’s hypocrisy under “1992”), “Hal Lindsey’s Many Divorces,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers)” and “Thomas Ice (Hired Gun),” “LaHaye’s Temperament,” “Wily Jeffrey,” “Chuck Missler – Copyist,” “Open Letter to Todd Strandberg” and “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “X-Raying Margaret,” “Humbug Huebner,” “Thieves’ Marketing,” “Appendix F: Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “The Unoriginal John Darby,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “The Real Manuel Lacunza,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Pretrib Rapture – Hidden Facts,” “Dolcino? Duh!” and “Scholars Weigh My Research.” Most of the above is written by journalist/historian Dave MacPherson who has focused on long-hidden pretrib rapture history for 35+ years. No one else has focused on it for 35 months or even 35 weeks. MacPherson has been a frequent radio talk show guest and he states that all of his royalties have always gone to a nonprofit group and not to any individual. His No. 1 book on all this is “The Rapture Plot” (see Armageddon Books online, etc.). The amazing thing is how long it has taken the mainstream media to finally notice and expose this unbelievably groundless yet extremely lucrative theological hoax!
If anyone wants to figure out when the “sudden destruction” of wicked persons takes place in I Thess. 5:3 (and also when “death” is ended in I Cor. 15:54), he or she will know where to place the rapture on their prophecy chart because those passages talk about the “times and seasons” (and also the “when” and “then”) of the rapture. Neat, huh?