Having Eyes To See.......

[Kathryn777]

You only need salvation to go up in the Rapture. Yet I wonder if some of the worldly Christians I know who tend to be the typical Sunday Pew warmers are actually saved? I don't know! I just hope and pray they are and not just coming to Church because it is a habit they got into or their family always went to Church but they have truly repented and received Christ.

I guess the "blind but saved" will go up in the Rapture with us and those who are "deluded and not saved" they stay behind and God have mercy on them as they go through the Tribulation.

I just began reading a book by Chuck and Nancy Missler called The Kingdom, Power, and Glory, The Overcomer's Handbook, and it addresses issues like this. It talks about the difference of being saved and being an "Overcomer" who is saved. I am really getting a lot of my questions answered in reading it and to me it really makes sense.
Here is a video of Nan about the book. VIDEO

[SheHulk]

Ya nailed it and this very topic has been a much discussed topic in the Caver household.

The only thing that seems to make sense here is a "gift", a latter day type spiritual gift.

I think that most acknowledge that when one becomes a believer, the Holy Spirit gives each of us one of several spiritural gifts that we are to use in furthering His kingdom. Could this be a new "gift", applicable to the latter days....the interest in and ability to see, understand, and relate today's news to scripture and the "lateness of the hour"?

If so, how are we to use it? What are we supposed to do with this "gift" and knowledge and understanding? That's our delima. Even rock solid Brothers and Sisters in Christ don't seem to want to discuss it, or can't see it, or don't think its important.

All we can think of is that we continue to watch, spread the word when we can, and be ready.....somehow and in some way, we are going to be presented with the opportunity to use it when it will mean something.

One final thought, is simply being here on RR, reading and commenting using it? We have to wonder....look at the growth in membership and then look at the number of people coming here and reading but not joining......you just have to wonder. Look at the number of "views" on some threads......huge numbers are reading. Are we doing our job simply by being here, being informed and communicating and fellowshiping in a public way with others that have been granted this "gift"?

We really aren't sure, by any means. We do not have the time to spend here that we used to yet feel compelled to be here at least an hour a day.

I don't know if this would be a New gift, but perhaps a version of Word of Knowledge or Word of Wisdom. Or simply the Holy Spirit operating as He always has, making the Word alive to those who wish to understand.

[acceptedintheBeloved]

I just began reading a book by Chuck and Nancy Missler called The Kingdom, Power, and Glory, The Overcomer's Handbook, and it addresses issues like this. It talks about the difference of being saved and being an "Overcomer" who is saved. I am really getting a lot of my questions answered in reading it and to me it really makes sense.
Here is a video of Nan about the book. VIDEO

That's the book some of us were discussing on a thread, here on RR, awhile back (probably just before the format changes), which I believe is not entirely biblical in the view it presents.

IMHO, I think the proponents of this view draw from Israel's Kingdom truths and (mis-)apply it to the Church... thereby making it possible for a Church-age believer to be altogether excluded from the Millennial kingdom (based on "reward" or, rather, lack thereof). Using the various "weeping and gnashing of teeth" passages, and so forth (which I don't have time to go into, right now).

There was a fairly good discussion about it (maybe even two, if I recall correctly). Not sure if it would be possible to find those threads now though...

[skypair]

I never considered that maybe I have a gift in that I am Rapture-conscious. That's an awesome perspective. If that is true, then I will continue to use my gift in the ways that I have been.

To some, what you have is "previent grace" -- the leading edge of the gospel of Jesus Christ today!

skypair

[skypair]

My parents are born again believers and have been for 29 years. I was the "prodigal" daughter, I'M the one that disputed their faith growing up, I'M the one that you "couldn't talk to" and after mom praying for me for many years (as mom puts it), now I'm excited to be able to have conversations with them, HOWEVER, when I approached dad to engage in a conversation about end times and the Rapture (which I try to do frequently each time something new happens in Israel or with Israel and her enemies), now dad tells me I'm obssessed , what a punch to the gut I'll tell ya . So, now I keep my thoughts to myself (and my RR family) and when I visit mom and dad we don't talk about our faith at all, how sad is that, eh?

But you can't fetch someone else's crown for them, Rev 3:11. Sad, yes. I'll pray for you. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me for 20 years about this. Right now I'm trying to tell some Methodists about it. Very frustrating.

skypair

[skypair]

I have a patient who used to be a pastor. We get into some deep conversations that often lead me to wonder where he gets his information. Yesterday, he told me that he didn't believe there was an actual Hell. He explained that, just like "the point of the Santa Claus story is to scare kids into being good, the idea of Hell is to scare people into wanting to go to Heaven." I could tell nothing I said would change his mind, so I just asked him to search the Scriptures and pray about it.

I find many churches are getting involved with this "emerging church" phenomenon. It's a race to see how fast we can agree with the liberal church!

skypair

[skypair]

Well....I've had quite a different experience with this than many of you. Please bear with me as I explain.

First, we have to keep in mind that awareness of the times and belief in the rapture are NOT salvation issues. People can be strong believers and Christians and still not see, or not want to see, the times. Obviously that's not been the choice of us here (and for myself, I'll just say that God didn't give me a choice - He just popped my eyes open!)

Last fall I felt strongly led to develop a home Bible study on End Times. I didn't do it through my church, but just "put the word out" to a few friends. It was absolutely guided by God, because we started in mid-Nov. - just before the holidays - and yet I had seven women sign up! Also, only one of the women was somebody I already knew. The rest had heard about it from "friends of friends". We all laughed and said the Holy Spirit was in this, because what woman in her right mind would start a Bible study then?

I titled it "Are We Living in the End Times: If So, Why Should I Care?" I divided it up into three sections. First, we looked through the prophecies in Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 38 & 39, Daniel and Revelation. Each week I showed them headlines from reputable news sources (and thanks, all you friends here at RR! ) and we discussed the correlations. About the forth session in, one lady's eyes got real big, and she said "This is really happening, isn't it?!"

After we thoroughly reviewed the scriptures, I next went into the Rapture, giving info. on the four views,
and showing through scripture why the pre-trib rapture is the one best supported. We had lots of discussion, and they shared lots of relief.

Lastly, (and in my mind, this is the most exciting part!! ) we discussed what we're supposed to do with the new knowledge - after all, we're not just supposed to cringe behind closed doors and be fearful. All of the ladies felt strongly led to talk to others about Christ, now seeing that the time is short. In fact, one woman was able to get her husb. to attend church regularly for the first time, another shared her info. with her husb. - he was convinced - and he ordered 100 tracts on his own to start reaching out, and another is talking to her brother, who is slowly coming around. We gathered and shared info. on evangelism, had a speaker on "Life-style Evangelism", and they decided to continue meeting once a month after the study ended to continue sharing ideas and giving support to our efforts to share Christ. One woman said "This has changed my whole outlook on life." I'm just so excited about this I can hardly stand it!!

And there's even more to the story. I have a waiting list of people who heard about the study and want me to offer it again in my home. An Elder in our church heard about the study, and has asked me to pray about doing it as a Christian Education offering at church. Praise God!

So don't stop trying to tell people about the times! To me, it's one of the best evangelism tools we have. There are more people interested in it than you may think. Keep trying to find ways to reach them, always keeping in mind that God didn't intend the information to strike fear, but to comfort us, to encourage our own walks, and to inspire urgency to reach the lost!

That is so encouraging! I have been wanting to do that in whatever situation God put me in but it hasn't come off yet. Still, as I establish my "cred" in my retirement locale, I am hoping to get a group together to study that! God has really blessed me in this area but I have been a little frustrated wherever I've been so far.

skypair

[Mitsy]

I just began reading a book by Chuck and Nancy Missler called The Kingdom, Power, and Glory, The Overcomer's Handbook, and it addresses issues like this. It talks about the difference of being saved and being an "Overcomer" who is saved. I am really getting a lot of my questions answered in reading it and to me it really makes sense.
Here is a video of Nan about the book. VIDEO

I'l give Chuck Missler a miss there are much better and more accurate End Times Prophecy Teachers out there.

[Mish]

Skypair-

What did you mean when you commented on your frustration with regard to the Methodist couple?

Trust me, I'm not a bit upset/offended, however I do attend a Methodist church (so that is why I am curious ). Now I WILL say, I feel as though I stand alone with my passion for End Time prophecy and no one I talk to seems to "get" the lateness of the hour in today's world. Even my beloved (Christian) mom, tells me, "Now sweetie, people have been saying the same thing for hundreds of years ( Rapture being close), and the fact remains- none of us know God's time table, we could be looking at hundreds of years more before the Rapture and Christ's return". Our church never mentions a word about The End Times, both my sons attend a private (Baptist) Christian school and this topic is never mentioned there, either.

I'm not trying to sound rude or judgemental, but... "What is wrong with everyone?? Can they not see what's going on all around us? Have they not read God's Word, where this IS all spelled out?

I live in "The Bible Belt", yet it appears to me some one's taken off that belt and forgotten where they last left it... I live in a fabulous, Christ-centered town, but the only mention of the Rapture seems to be coming from me alone. I find this astonishing and frightening!

-Mish

[carlos.c304]

I really want to thank everyone who has shared their feelings and experiences about this. It helps me to persevere knowing I am not alone. It has touched me more than any of you can imagine. I feel so isolated sometimes because there is no one here to talk to about this. RR is the only place I can talk about this stuff and not have to feel like an outcast. I thank God for each and every one of you who have helped to give me the courage to press on telling people Jesus is coming very soon. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[notdecieved]

I always think of how blessed we all are here at RR, to come here on a daily basis and fellowship and learn with like minded believers, read articles of news not presented anywhere else, especially on our filtered media. Finding out things that are happening the world over and how they all pertain to end times in the bible. We can come here, ask questions, read articles presented by our many scholarly members and learn from them daily. Knowing that we can share here with our fellow Brothers and Sisters and not be riduculed or scorned. Especially when we want to share our Blessed Hope with others and they want no part of it, its like banging your head against a brick wall.
I guess what I really wanted to say was that RR is a blessing for all members and those who are just lerkers and I would like to personnaly thank all our Adm and mods for giving us such a warm place to fellowship while we wait for the Rapture.

[ThankfulHeart]

To Mish: Regarding your mom and what she said to you, I've had the same experience with at least several members of the church I attend- I start talking about the rapture and it 'doesn't compute' with them. But that won't stop it from coming when it does and they just might be a bit surprised .

[Waiting4Jesus]

I feel so isolated sometimes because there is no one here to talk to about this. RR is the only place I can talk about this stuff and not have to feel like an outcast.

I hear ya, Carlos!!! I have NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON I can talk to about the Rapture, in "real life." That is why I am so grateful for RR!!!!!!!!! It is astounding to me that even many Believers are very FRIGHTENED by talk of the Rapture and will have none of it!!!

[Watcher_On_The_Wall]

There are so many parts of this thread I want to comment on.

• "Watered down sermons" yes yes and yes. I can't remember the last time I heard the word "sin" from my pastor. And he's in his 50's and that word USED to be in his vocabulary. Everything is feel good, don't make anyone uncomfortable, so don't talk about the tough stuff.

• The concept that there's no hell...and subsequently no heaven or end times. That's just an EXCUSE for me to sin and not feel guilty. I mean if there's no Hell....and no judgement...what's it matter if I do this one little thing? Then you make the leap to "kingdom now" and "heaven on earth," etc....because it's all about ME.

• I need to accomodate other religions, rather than demanding that they recognize me. After all, I'm a global, informed citizen, and [fill-in-the-blank] worships the same God, and who am I to judge them? So instead of insisting on my Christian identity, I'll adapt to your world view. Everything is about acceptance, tolerance and change -- without ever stopping to think that I've lost a key component of my faith along the way.

In terms of witnessing to family members and friends, I approach it over a series of conversations -- tied to US politics, world events, scripture. Maybe I don't approach it strongly enough -- but most of them do agree with what I've laid out...and the ones who don't, are generally those who've drank the Obama kool-aid. Part of the discernment I've been pushing -- is understanding how corrupt and mixed up things are right now...

...be ready, be right with God, understand what you will or will not do. Would you die for Jesus? What about your kids, spouse, siblings? That's the question I ask. How deep is your faith?

[aluminium]

To Mish: Regarding your mom and what she said to you, I've had the same experience with at least several members of the church I attend- I start talking about the rapture and it 'doesn't compute' with them. But that won't stop it from coming when it does and they just might be a bit surprised .

Same thing happenned to me. I was at Bible Study one night, and before we got started, was talking to a couple sitting behind me. We were talking about current events, and he mentioned something that he thought would happen, and I replied, "i don't think we'll be around to see that". He looked at me as though I had three heads, and said, "well, I'm not ready to go just yet". I don't think they got the rapture event I was referring to, rather they were thinking of death.

[Trance]

I used to respond to posts regularly but with things moving at the break-neck pace that they are, all I can do is just gape in jaw hanging wonder. I can hardly imagine what the tribulation will be like. At one time I couldn't understand how people could miss the signs during the trib. Today the signs of Christs return are overwhelmingly clear, yet most people, even some in the church, seem to not see. I am in shock that Bible believing, God fearing Christians don't see what is taking place. I am on sensory overload from it all, yet when I try to talk to some people in the church about it I get patronized like a child . I don't claim to be any more spiritually in tune with things than anyone else but the blindness that covers some peoples eyes is, well, it's something. Is it that they can't see? Are they in denial? I don't know. What I do know is that there are fewer that see than should be. The groundwork for a one world government, one world currency, one world religion, ect. is firmly in place and beginning to take shape before our very eyes, yet people either can't or won't see. Is this the beginning of the strong delusion spoken of in the Bible? God knows, but spirtual blindness abounds here where I live in West Virginia. Does anyone else see this in their part of the world?

God Bless

Excellent posts and when I see the signs unfolding right before us, I'm like 'How can you NOT see it'? I think some of it may be willful ignorance, akin to an ostrich who hides his head in the sand. And I think others are so enticed by the trappings of the world, they really ARE blind to it.