August 17, 2024

My study on “the day of the Lord” has been good and eye-opening. I’m not sure if I’m finished with this study. However, I cannot reconcile the following verses with the pre-tribulation rapture teaching. They seem clear to me, but scripture seems to go against the teachings of some churches. These are Jesus’s words! I feel like the scriptures speak for themselves. Even Job knew. Though some in the 1800s who didn’t believe the pre-tribulation rapture were called heretics, I don’t believe your understanding of this subject will keep you out of heaven because we are saved by grace. Are we nearing tribulation? It seems that way, but hardships have happened in the past, and many thought the end was near, only to see the turmoil pass. Pray for understanding, pray for our country, and pray for the world. I will continue to dig deep, and if I come up with a different conclusion, I will let you know.

After tribulation we will see Jesus coming in the clouds: 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30

Heavens be no more and the wrath be past:

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! Job 14:12-13

August 16, 2024

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36

Don’t miss what’s going on around you. We are entering a challenging time; we may have to deal with the side effects of God’s recompense on the evil of this world. The enemy is stirred and lashing out. Are you sensitive to what is happening? Do you feel it? Stay vigilant and continue in your calling. God has not given us the spirit of fear! If not God, then who? Remember this: when fear strikes you, it’s the enemy’s taunting. Fear only comes from the enemy. Rebuke him and pray. 

August 15, 2024

Do not trust in man, but trust Jesus! He is about saving our soul, not our flesh or this world. Remember when Jesus said this:

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8

“Many shall come in my name; he does not mean in the name of Jesus, though there were some deceivers who pretended commissions from him, but usurping the title and character of the Messiah.” Matthew Henry 

Hmm, usurpers of the title and character of the Messiah; I wonder who is doing that right now. Nevertheless, we are not to fear what is coming.

“There shall be famines and pestilences, the common effects of war, which destroys the fruits of the earth, and, by exposing men to ill weather and reducing them to ill diet, occasions infectious diseases.” Matthew Henry

“Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them, Jeremiah 10:2. And, as to the famines and pestilences, you fall into the hands of God, who has promised to those who are his that in the days of famine they shall be satisfied, and that he will keep them from the noisome pestilence; trust therefore in him, and be not afraid.” Matthew Henry

I’ve given you a lot of quotes from Matthew Henry today because what he said is a picture of what we are dealing with now. He wrote this commentary in the 1700s. These words give me peace and assurance that we will prevail no matter which way the world goes. Have confidence that we are living out the plan of God, and he holds us in his loving hands. 

August 14, 2024

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like there has been a change in the atmosphere. The heaviness seems to have lifted. Did it have something to do with the 9th of Av, which was yesterday? In the past, it was a day that a lot of bad things happened to Israel. I feel thankful that we are beyond it. However, my reflection on the scriptures was deepened by the Holy Spirit, and anytime you spend a significant amount of time in God’s Word, he blesses you, and I feel that’s what happened to me. When God gives you clarity on someone or something, you cannot unsee it, and it’s a blessing that God trusts you to with that information. We may differ on some things we believe. However, there is one thing we can agree on: that we cannot live without Jesus. He is the reason for our holiness here on earth and our hope for the future. Nobody can do that for us; he is our one and only. We are blessed and secure in him. Rest now because this world is wild and will only worsen. Sleep in your armor, but know this: our Savior has commanded his angels to watch over us. 

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalms 91:14-16

August 13, 2024

After coming to grips with the possibility that we may be here during the tribulation, I have settled myself. We will not be the ones facing God’s wrath; that is what the unbelievers and persecutors will face. Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 10:28

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Believe me when I say I want to be raptured out of here before the tribulation begins, but the further I dig into the scriptures, the less I believe that will happen. I’m not trying to spoil your imagination, but I want you to prepare your hearts for the likelihood that the “Day of the Lord” is one day at the end of time. I’m starting to believe that Jesus will come in the clouds to gather his people right before he destroys the heaven and earth. With all the lies that we’ve been told about everything, why wouldn’t the devil infiltrate the church and steer us in the wrong direction so we would become complacent? If he surprises us because of a lie, we will not have time to contemplate our reaction to the mark and may take it because we thought we would be gone. All I’m saying is prepare your heart in case we are not raptured before tribulation begins. Confirm in your mind how you will react if presented with the option of the mark. If we are gone, praise God. I’m still hoping. 

August 12, 2024

The Day of the Lord will be unwelcome by those who exalt themselves and accept worship that belongs to God alone. Those who have put their trust in money, silver, and gold, or fake gods will be brought low. God is jealous, and anytime something or someone is praised above him, it causes him to seethe with anger. Those who aren't humble will be brought low that day.

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: Isaiah 2:11-12

However, that is different for us. We put no value on the physical things of this world and put all our trust in God alone. No other being can do what God does for us. We place our confidence in no one besides God and await that day with open arms as a Savior reaches out and relieves us of our weariness from our time in the enemy's dominion. Stay prayerful in the hope that those around us seek the Lord as we have and are saved from the wrath that will come upon the people and beings of the earth that day. 

August 11, 2024

In this day and age, we must be mindful of everything we see and believe. We live in a time drawing near the "Day of the Lord!" We wait in anticipation, but according to Paul, there are a couple of things that must happen first:

1. The falling away of the elite.
2. The Son of Perdition (antichrist) is revealed.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Matthew Henry's thoughts on the antichrist; "By pretended devotion, superstition and idolatry were advanced; and, by a pretended zeal for God and his glory, bigotry and persecution were promoted." He thought it was the Pope, but he may not be. Too much has happened to dismiss that idea.

Also, according to Matthew Henry, the second letter to the Thessalonians is to clarify the first. He is explaining that those who die that love the Lord will ascend before those who are still alive so they won't worry about their family who misses Jesus's return. Is there a difference between the "Day of the Lord" and the "Day of Christ?" Wouldn't the "Day of the Lord" be His third return if they were different days? You can see that I'm trying to work out my thoughts according to the scripture. I've prayed for understanding and that He would fill in the gaps in my mind. However, I don't want to wait until the end of the world to find out. I'm still praying for clarity and waiting. Does any of this matter in the whole scheme of things? No. However, I don't want a surprise. We must put our trust in Jesus because, ultimately, he is the One who will walk us through it. Keep your eyes on Him!