First, I would like to say; As I look out among the many different churches, I see the Body of Christ. Not only in the Catholic liturgy, which is somewhat different than the true definition of the "body" of Christ, but in every different church, that says Jesus is Lord. And not only do I see the Body of Christ, I see my family; brothers, sisters, and children. I see the richness of all that we have as the Body of Christ. Not only spiritual things, but material things; both tangible and intangible. And I see the love that is in the Body of Christ for one another. How much help we give and how much good we do, here and around the world. God has prepared for us many great things, One of which is a City. New Jerusalem. Ever hear about it? Revelation 21. Because we believe on the Name of Jesus we are given this and more: Everlasting life! Which would be enough for me! Honor! Because we trusted Him. Glory! That we might be clothed like Him. Authority! That we might do His will.Power; over the nations. And Riches; The likes of which no man knows! We also have great responsibility, to do as we are told, at the time we are told, and do the job well, even if it's difficult. Most especially if it's difficult! We are even taken to task by Him, as we are told to work out our salvation by fear and trembling. There is going to be a giving of reward and a meteing out of punishment when the Lord returns, and there will be both life and death, good and bad, sin and righteousness until the Lord returns to put down our enemy, throw him in his cell and destroy the key. Then he sits in judgement over us to see about our works, whether we have gold and silver works, or wood and hay and stubble. Even though you are my family, and I love you like a family, I have to say all is not well and there are some things I have to say, things that might be difficult for the both of us. Jesus is coming, and I think it fair to tell you what I know, and to refute some popular beliefs.
Saints, we have all been awaiting this time from the moment Jesus set foot on the earth.
From the time of Adam, Jesus was foretold, and many waited on the Lord, even as we
wait. Except that the reality of His return is now only a short time hence. He is due to
come back as all the signs that He said would take place, are taking place. The
end approaches rapidly, though not as some think it might.
The Lord has given us
the kingdom. He has given us power and glory and riches beyond our wildest
dreams. We, even now, sit in judgment over nations. Not because we are set about in
courts and decked with judicial robes, no, and it doesn't matter. He promised it,
and it will happen. We will sit in judgment over the nations
after He returns to give rewards and mete out punishment.
The Lord loves us and
there is nothing He would not give us. He gave us so much before we even knew we
needed it, and He also gives us the things we ask for, because He loves us. The
Lord is going to remain with us at all times, through thick and thin. He will never
let us down, He has mansions in glory, waiting for us! He has positions of great
power and authority to give to us, established from the foundations of the world!
His power spans the ages, His glory is from everlasting to everlasting, as are His
mercies and His kindness. Great is the name of the Lord our God!
Our
establishment into glory, to be with the Lord, does not come without a price. For the
ones who enter in to the 70th week, that is; anyone who is alive
on the earth at the time that the Jews sign their pact with the beast; will attain the kingdom at the cost of their lives
or at least heavy persecution at the hands of Satan's minions. This is the sign of
the beginning of the last 7 years of this planet as we know it: The Jews sign a
pact with someone or some nation or group of nations, that will secure their borders,
give them peace in the land, and allow them to rebuild the Temple, on it's
original site.
Some say that the beginning of the 70th week is the "Parousia" of Jesus.
Some say that the Second Coming comes to take us all away before the
Beginnings of Sorrows and the period called "great tribulation". This is not sound
doctrine. For, the Lord tries the hearts and reins, and the ones who enter into the 70th week will have to earn their way
in to the kingdom by having patience, and waiting on the Lord. They will have to chose
between Jesus and the beast. We will all be faced with that choice, heaven or
hell, good or evil, life or death.
The church is made up of all the believers in Jesus. Any, who confess His name as saviour, are members of the church, the Bride of Christ. This also crosses denominational lines. I don't care what you call yourself, the fact remains; you are a member of the church if you believe in Jesus. The body of Christ is not an individual building, it's every individual that believes. The Body of Christ is made up of all the denominations, or divisions that exist today. This state of many denominations is a sad commentary on the health of the Bride of Christ. We should all be working together because we are all working toward the same end; salvation. We should be following Jesus, not our own petty doctrinal differences. This division in the body is what dooms us to the refining fire. The apostasy is not coming, it's here. We all fell away from the body, and we know it. This is the reason we have the pre-trib doctrine, we have to find a way to get out or we're in big trouble.
The church thinks that she will escape.
On the
contrary, she will be the focus of the wrath of the beast and the object of his
hatred.
He will attempt to wipe out the chuch and all it's members during His reign on earth, during a time called "Great Tribulation".
