“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 16:25)

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20)

The Word ‘Rapture’ Is Not in the Bible

What Paul discussed as a group event was not “rapture” but “resurrection.” This is absolutely clear if you stay in context in the entire passage of this teaching in I Corinthians 15.

“brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that

1. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
2. And that he was buried,
3. and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
4. [Proof!] – And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also…Therefore whether it were I or they,
5. so we preach – the resurrection! –  and so ye believed.
6. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Continue reading “222) A Way That Leads To Death”

Today rapture theology has enormous influence in American politics through the close relationship between Christian fundamentalists and the Republican Right. Rapture theology shapes both domestic and foreign policies.

For instance, policies concerning the environment are increasingly effected by a theology that hopes for a rapturing away from a doomed earth. Reagan-era Secretary of the Interior James Watt told US senators that we are living at the brink of the end times and implied that this justifies clearcutting the nation’s forests and other unsustainable environmental policies.

When he was asked about preserving the environment for future generations, Watt told his Senate confirmation hearing, “I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns.”

But true followers of the Lord know the Lord’s mind about this.

“We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned…and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged…and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:17-8)

This confluence of bad ideology and worse theology is truly disturbing, but what is even more frightening is the impact on foreign policy.

Continue reading “SECTION XL: The Immoral Majority”

“There shall be false teachers among you…And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not…they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” (II Peter 2:

Continue reading “223) Promising Liberty, Themselves Enslaved To Sin”

Continue reading “224) Iniquity Abounds”

Continue reading “226) Sowing The Seeds Of Self Destruction”

“Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me…And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (II Samuel 15:4-6

There are two approaches to counseling – whether legal, psychological, political or spiritual.

• Like Absalom, support your client’s version of who is to blame, without determining the facts.
• Conduct a thorough investigation of the situation, including obtaining collateral witness testimony of the client’s version.

Continue reading “227) Religious Leaders Devour Their Flocks”

1. “The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. 
2. So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came…and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth…the redemption is thine…
3. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 32:6-8)

The reason it was so important for Jeremiah to recognize the word of the LORD was because Jeremiah’s response to this event was absolutely contrary to common sense. In the first place, Jeremiah knew that Judea would shortly be captured by Babylon, so it would seem he was throwing his money away.

In the second place, the priests in his home town of Anathoth were conspiring to kill him, so even if he could figure he would be one of the people left behind by Babylon to maintain the land, as did indeed happen, Anathoth would be the last place he would want to go.

However, against his common sense, Jeremiah being the good servant of God that he is obeys the word of the LORD.

“And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it…this evidence of the purchase, both

1. which is sealed,
2. and this evidence which is open…

may continue many days…”

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying…fields shall be bought in this land…for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:1, 32).

Jeremiah’s – and our – actions speak louder than words to prove our faith in Almighty God’s promise of restoration.

Continue reading “228) Sold Out One Way Or The Other”

“The Pharisees also [allied] with [normally their rivals] the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven…”

• Symptoms are self-reported by a patient such as “I feel sad/pain of 6 on a scale of 1-10″, or “like I’m going to throw up”,
• Signs are observed by the professional assessor such a hot and swollen joint, or a broken bone.

Obviously, signs are much more reliable than reports by someone who may be trying to sway the listener to give them what they want, or avoid giving them what they need. When I was 10 years old I falsely claimed not to be in any pain because I didn’t want to be left at the hospital overnight then have surgery in the morning. My rigid abdominal muscles, temperature, and facial grimacing were the reliable signs of appendicitis on which the doctor took action.

Informed followers of God’s Chosen Savior are supposed to recognize the signs of the End Times!

Recognize! Not interpret symbolically!

“He answered and said unto [the rulers of the Jews]…O ye hypocrites…can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-3)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us…what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? ” (Matthew 24:3)

I have no doubt that Jesus was just as frustrated with his disciples as he was with the religious leaders, because the signs that Jesus recited to the disciples are taken straight from scripture and they should have known them. As should we.

Continue reading “SECTION XLI: The Signs Of The Times Are Chastening Of God’s Sons”