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A Spiritual Sign of the Last Days or End Times?


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#1 Tkulp

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Posted 05 June 2019 - 09:13 AM

During my time in the Word today something came to light that I had never connected with the End Times before.

 

Many of the prophesy teacher generally relate the following to the world political scene rather than to the group of people that call themselves by the name of Christ, even though they look, speak or act nothing like Jesus, nor produce good fruit, as coming from the vine, Jesus Christ.

 

Paul writes the following;

 

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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

 

The words “peace and safety” kind of jumped out at me. What do they mean in the Strong’s Greek Dictionary?  Peace means “peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity”.  Safety means “security”.

 

What have many pastors been preaching for years? I do not know your experiences, but I have heard about God’s love and that if you give you get prosperity. In regard to security, the message is that we are forgiven; past, present, and future. There is nothing that can separate us from this love of God. Faith gives people total eternal security.

 

Then, we have Jesus who spoke of those whose light is really darkness and how dark is that darkness.

 

Jesus also told the parable of the ten virgins who all fell asleep. Only the five wise awoke with sufficient oil (a type of the Holy Spirit) to provide light until the groom came. The five foolish virgins did not make it into the wedding. The groom said that He did not know them.

 

I encourage all who may read this to check it out. What does the Spirit of the Word reveal to you? Is the doctrine of 'Eternal Security' a sign of the end times?



#2 Charles Miles

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 01:37 PM

End times? Why be concerned about such things? Live life as if today is the end.  



#3 alcma2323!

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Posted 10 June 2019 - 10:29 AM

The prosperity gospel is a sign of the end.  An aspect of apostasy is mistaking gain for godliness.

Large parts of the "church" fall for this doctrine and cheap grace "God just wants you to be happy."

These false doctrines contribute to apathy in the face of great need.  The doctrines also cause

people to ignore biblical requirements for holy living and the sin quenches that persons ministry.

We need revival.  Thanks be to God for providing our opportunity for revival through 2nd Chronicles

7:14.   

          If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek

          my face and turn from their wicked ways;  then I will hear them from heaven, forgive them

          their sin and heal their land.

 

Commence praying, prayer warriors. 


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#4 Charles Miles

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Posted 17 June 2019 - 05:26 AM

Come Lord Jesus. Come quickly



#5 alcma2323!

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Posted 23 June 2019 - 04:48 AM

Amen.



#6 Tkulp

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Posted 15 July 2019 - 09:39 AM

al,

 

You mention "cheap grace".

 

God's way to give us true grace cost Jesus His life on a cruel cross in order that His Holy Spirit could live within true believers, influencing every part of their lives.

 

There are not many people that are willing to follow the crucified life that Jesus has made possible for us. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

 

Jesus says self must be crucified. Paul says that the flesh must be put to death. Both tell me that I must decrease and die that Jesus can live from within our shells of clay, our mortal bodies. Psalms 1 concept.

 

Paul talks a good deal about 'grace'. He also defines 'grace' in his letter to Titus, in chapter 2.

 

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people."

"It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

 

"He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good."    Titus 2:11-14

 

Strong's Greek Dictionary Grace - G5485 - "From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude)"

 

Too many that call themselves by the name of Christ talk and act more like the world than Jesus.

 

You will look and act like the influence that you daily yield to. 

 

If you continually sit at the feet of Jesus you will be delivered by His Divine influence. You will experience real Divine Grace! The influence of the Holy Spirit. You will be grafted into the vine, Jesus Christ.

 

You can not be conformed to this world and know the good and perfect will of God.



#7 BevW

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Posted 12 August 2019 - 11:24 AM

In response to alcma2323!

 

Your comment reminded me of the below (partly quoted) article that I read a few days ago -  thought it might interest you. … Bev

 

Misapplications of scriptures commonplace when ripped out of context

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Don Koenig

 

https://www.theproph...of-context.html

 

Misapplications of scriptures are common today because well-meaning and also some not so well-meaning people ignore the context. I will point out six common misapplications of scriptures here. I am sure readers can come up with others.

1. Who has not heard this misapplication of scripture claiming that God will heal America if Christians in America would repent for the nation.

2Ch 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Sounds great, but the passage quoted is not directed at Christians. The context makes it clear that God is talking to Israel. You really have to rip the passage out of its context to apply it to Christians living in Gentile nations. Try selling the American application of this scripture to Christians being persecuted in China, North Korea, Iran, etc. Tell the believers in Haiti that God will heal their land, if the believers there just turn from their wicked ways. I think they would rightly take that suggestion as an insult. Yet, many in America want to believe the lie that if believers In America obey this passage, unbelievers in America then receive a free pass.

God never promised Christians lands at all. Christians are a spiritual people and our home is in Heaven. If a nation has many wicked people, the few Christians dwelling in it will not save the nation. There is no instruction in the Bible that tells Christians to repent for others doing the evil.

The Christian mission on earth is more like that of Jonah to the Nineveh’s of the world. When God spared Nineveh it was because the whole city repented not because Jonah repented. Likewise, if a nation becomes wicked, the nation needs to repent of its evil. If the nation was really full of God’s people, it would have no need to repent. God’s people generally are not partaking in the evils of the nations they occupy. In fact, the evil they see occurring continually grieves their spirit.

The real problem in America is that most who identify as Christians are not really Christians. These non-believers need to repent and be saved. The land will not be healed if the majority unbelievers just go on practicing their wickedness. Wickedness in a nation is a sure sign that most in the nation have a reprobate mind. They deny that God exists (Rom 1).


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#8 Tkulp

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Posted 19 August 2019 - 07:04 AM

alcma2323 and BevW,

 

I see and appreciate the Truth of both of your comments.

 

Alcma2323, it is very true that people are misusing the Word of God and translators have not always helped. Pride is something that God hates. Humility is something that gets God's attention.

 

BevW, is not the Old Testament written for us as a major example of what we "should NOT do" or what we should not be. There also are the few examples of those that have gotten God's attention and are honored by Him as examples of what we should be.

 

Is in not correct that God would have saved Sodom if there would have been as few as 10 righteous men living there???

 

I  have a problem with the modern use of 'promises and claiming answers; not being aware of who is being spoken to and why. There are promises that God makes to believers and followers of Christ. I am not sure, though, that there is a valid promise in the entire Word of God that does not have a "condition". The little word "if" is used quite a bit.

 

John the Baptist and then Jesus introduced the new 'Kingdom' that  is to be 'with-in' true believers. The first requirement was 'real' repentance. John told those that wanted to be baptized because it was popular to go and 'prove' their repentance first and then he would baptize them. Hypocrites, actors, fakes, etc. are not new in the operation of anything of value. Satan is operating as an Angel of Light.

 

I believe that there are a number of examples that are warnings to individuals as well as nations to repent; turn around and go the opposite direction. If you do not, and are a child of God, punishment is a sure thing. If you are not punished it is because you are not a child of God.

 

Thank you both for your comments!!!

 

 

For others that may read this post.

 

Repentance is not sorrow, but Godly sorrow leads to Repentance. Repentance and obedience leads to relationship. Relationship, in a negative sense, leads to total death to my way and the control of the senses in the life of the true believer. Relationship, in a positive sense, leads to the total control of the Holy Spirit which produces the fruit of righteousness and the fruit of the Spirit.

 

When a believer has matured into the image of Christ the works of the flesh will not be present in that life.

 

Jesus died to set us free from the bondage to sin. Salvation is a deliverance from sin and all selfish enslavement, a new life focused on others, and the gift of a robe of purity and righteousness.