John 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
An update from “Encouragement for our Ministries”:
It’s been around three months since the word of the Lord was delivered to our church; the call to come to feast. When the Lord spoke in times past about the message He wanted given to our church He said that only a few would hear. Though we all nodded our heads in agreement, said “amen”, clapped our hands only God knows who truly heard and are doing what the word commanded. (At this point I know only one other person besides my parents that I believe have truly received what the Lord gave; the same brother I emailed previously about the prophecy/warning given to our church).
I was at ease for a few weeks as I believed that the job had been done; “the ball was in their court” so to speak, the word was given and they appeared to agree and accept Truth. However old concerns soon resurfaced when during Bible study I spotted the DVD for the book series: ”Left Behind” which I believed to be about the pre-tribulation secret rapture of the saints. I thought on whether to say anything but decided to watch some of it online to confirm my concerns. The following week the DVD was there again and so I thought “hmm ok Lord” and prayed about it the following morning and the Lord said: “Hide not the Light”. In other words share the truth concerning the coming of the Lord with the saints. Though in the past I’ve only heard visiting preachers preach the pre-tribulation rapture I didn’t know the beliefs of our church members on this doctrine so I first asked the brother and the Bible studies teacher. I was greatly blessed by the brother’s response:
Subject: RE: Left Behind?
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 15:31:21 +0000
Greetings Bro.James,
Apologies for my tardiness and delay in replying to you email it has been a very busy week both contractual work and ministerial duties.
Thanks for your question below, the Church will be secretly rapture prior to the revelation of the man of sin, the persecution of the Church and great tribulation? I am not sure I understand the bible to say secretly rapture and why would God want to hide from anybody????. According to st Matt. 24:21-31 please read this. it is very clear regarding his return.
VS 29 state that immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; then the star from heaven will fall, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. These are the words of Jesus Christ himself while he was with us. If you have time read the whole chapter of St Matt. 24, also 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 or the whole chapter if you have time.
My brother please study the words for yourself, there are some clever and very educated people who will tell you a whole lot of stuff, i dont believe anything is wrong in watching a DVD or a religious film but bear in mind sometimes material is included for entertainment puropses therefore dont follow line by line of a Christian DVD as some parts may have been sensationalised for entertainments.
However seek the Holy Spirit to overshaw you when you go into study of his words, remember the Holy Spirit will bring you into all truth. St John 16:13.
Well my brother be strong in your faith because tough times is ahead of us all and unless we stand strong it will be difficult for the very elect to make it, en quote St Matt. 24:24.
God bless you and family,
Love Bro. Lenford.
However our Bible studies teacher didn’t reply but she decided to change the topic of study to look at end-time teaching. I mentioned to Ryan how I greatly respect her as she is one of the few people in our church I believed truly conformed to the image of Christ and that she allows the liberty of the Spirit during Bible study meetings. However my heart was grieved when she made it apparent that she believed strongly in the pre-tribulation rapture; along with the members of Bible study. In our previous meeting we looked at 1 Thessalonians 4; the part concerning the coming the Lord this being the foundational scripture for many to justify a pre-tribulation rapture.
Over the years I have noticed a common theme amongst the believers of this doctrine in that there are so many different interpretations of the scriptures they use to justify it. Such as: “Thessalonians shows how Jesus only comes in the air and not to the earth hence the pre-trib rapture”. “When Jesus called Paul only Paul saw, so will it be when the trumpet sounds”. “When Paul spoke of the falling away the proper translation means the ‘departure’ which means the rapture must come first”. “The falling away means falling away from biblical doctrine only”. “When the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth along with the Church then the anti-Christ is revealed”. “Jesus didn’t mention the pre-trib because He didn’t know about it”. “Jesus promised that we shall escape it and stand before Him”. “Jesus said He shall keep us from tribulation in Revelation three”. “Revelation only mentions the Church in chapters two and three”. “Revelation four ‘Come up hither’ speaks of the rapture”. “I’m going up in the first resurrection”. “The tribulation is about the Jews not the Church”.
Our church’ perspective is that the signs Jesus mentioned are for the Jews, “there are no signs for the Church” concerning His coming meaning that it could be at any moment. “Matthew was written for Jews; the Church will not go through Great Tribulation” and that the only way up will be martyrdom as shown in Revelation 7:9-17. I was very confused by this understanding to say the least, but everyone else seemed to agree with it.
I went home that evening and prayed on it asking the Lord to help me understand their perspective and whether this is correct and I was wrong.
The Lord then said: “Truth is given to those who are as little children”(05/01/10).
Matthew 18:3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord revealed that Truth (even all truth) is given to those who are as little children, meaning their “child-like” faith qualifies them to receive it. They trust and rely on God for all their needs; all their understanding and knowledge of Truth they seek from God as they see God alone as the provider of such. It’s simple; they believe and trust God in all things. So many for whatever reason will not humble themselves to receive all truth; so often the simplicity of Truth is made so complicated by mans own interpretations. Being as a child requires us to recognise our own inability to comprehend Truth without the Holy Spirit’ sole input. In the context of the pre-tribulation rapture; another pattern I’ve noticed is that many who believe in the doctrine were taught by someone else (passed down from teacher to teacher, books, seminars etc) and never actually took the time to really seek God for the truth from Him themselves. Those I know of who understand the truth of Jesus’ coming has sought it themselves from God and they read the scriptures themselves. Though they may not be in line to get a “prized” theology degree, their faith nonetheless is pleasing to God. It is a reminder for me to ensure I trust God for everything and to maintain that child-like dependency and humility in Him as the cost of not doing so even a little is great (eternal).
Luke 18: 17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein
If a man loves Truth he must humble himself to receive (understanding) and not allow his personal beliefs, emotions or desires to replace it but rather die to them. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; what could be simpler?
The Lord then gave another scripture to take with me to our next meeting as I look to point out the errors in this doctrine and stir others to seek the truth.
Mark 13: 23But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things (yet the pre-trib rapture was not mentioned). 24But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let 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; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Thank God for the simplicity of the Gospel.
Love in Christ,
James
