Wednesday, July 13, 2011

But, what if you've "missed the boat?"

There are some churches, and quite a few preachers, who maintain that missing the rapture means you've forever lost your chance at heaven. I have never understood whether this opinion is an error on the part of those who should know better, or an out-and-out attempt to cause resignation on those who have missed the opportunity. Regardless, those who support that idea are doing Satan's work in your church.

They claim that, with the rapture, all that is good is removed from the earth, therefore, God is also no longer here. There is a lot of proof to the contrary contained within God's word. We will look into some.

Revelation, chapter 6, ends with, "For the great day of the wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?" nlt This occurs between the opening of the 6th and the 7th seals, during the Tribulation. Four angels have been given the power to wreak havoc on the land and sea. A fifth angel appears before them, and shouts, "Wait! Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees, until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of His servants." (Rev 7:3) nlt

Consider, please, if there were no Christians on the earth at this time, there would be no need for the seal of God on anyone's forehead!

"After this, I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne, and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white, and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, 'Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!' " (Rev 7:9-10)nlt

Who are these people? The apostle John was asked this question, and was told, " '...These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.' " (Rev 7:14b)nlt

If they came OUT of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (accepted salvation and become Christians) during this period of time, then the Holy Spirit is still hard at work upon the face of the earth!

Please also notice that chapter 7 of Revelation also mentions the 144,000 that came from the 12 tribes of Israel. If God were not active on the earth at this time, what possible purpose would these individuals have? There is another counter-proof against the erroneous claim of hopelessness after the tribulation starts. "And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in sackcloth, and will prophecy during these 1,260 days." (Rev 11:3)nlt

There is no need of sending witnesses into hell. Those souls are forever lost. If God sends two witnesses to the earth to prophecy, He is NOT sending them here to preach to those already condemned! He wants to offer a last chance to those who have not yet accepted Him.

The tribulation will not be fun, and the great tribulation will be torture to those who have to endure it. Don't wait to accept God's gift of salvation, but, whatever you do, don't let some (lower-case) antichrist convince you to give up. You don't lose your chance for salvation and heaven unless you accept the mark of the beast. "So the first angel left the temple and poured his bowl over the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue." (Rev 16:2)nlt "And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast - miracles that had deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and had worshipped his statue." (rev 19:20a)nlt

***Every once in a while I notice that I've made mistakes in typing. If you find one I've missed, please let me know. Thanks, I feel it is critical to make no mistakes while representing Our Lord!***

Till we meet, in Paradise!

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