Be Prepared for His Second Coming
Hi Everyone,
Happy New Year! Today, we begin a new chapter. What will we do this year? Only God knows. But today is a day to plan. It is remarkable that I am writing about a vision the Lord gave me on December 7, 2023, which has to do with planning ahead.
Just this morning when I was asking the Lord which of the visions I should write about, the Lord gave me two additional visions. The first was a pair of scissors cutting the plastic wrap off a wide shallow bowl of two foods, which happened to be the vision on December 7th! He was telling me to “unwrap” this vision, to share this one with you!
This is a very important message, but it is also a long post, so please read to the end. Please do not dismiss what I share in this, for its message is one with eternal consequences. “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
Two Foods in a Bowl
The bowl in the vision, was actually be more like a pie plate, for it was as wide as a dinner plate, and as deep as a pie plate. There were two distinctly different foods in the bowl that must have been poured while there was a temporary partition in place, for there was an absolutely straight line separating the two foods. I have seen this done in a restaurant, when they bring two soups in the same bowl. The partition is there while the soups are poured and then removed just before serving so there is a distinct line between the two soups.
The vision makes a comparison between these two foods. On the left side, I see plain pinto beans, cooked and appearing to have come directly from a can. There is no preparation for this food, for its preparation was already done at the canning facility. On the right side of the bowl, I see sprouted mung beans. These have taken quite a bit more preparation. The beans are soaked overnight, and then placed in a cloth while still wet, and then transferred to the dark interior of a non-heated oven. It spends three days in the dark to allow the beans to sprout. After sprouting, the beans are then steamed. Onions and veggies are diced. Garlic is crushed and made into a paste. Then a green chutney is made with fresh cilantro, lime, coconut oil, tamarind, and peppers. Then all is combined with seasonings and finally served in the bowl.
The Lord’s message today is about preparing for what is coming. Just as it takes forethought, planning and time to allow beans to sprout, it takes time and thought to consider our options and make decisions in planning for the days ahead.
After receiving the first vision this morning about “unwrapping” the vision, I decided to ask the Lord to show me a passage in the Bible regarding the topic. I opened to 2 Corinthians chapter 1, reading the heading entitled: “Paul’s Change of Plans.”
Paul was writing to the Corinthians about planning to visit them on his way to Macedonia and then again, on his return from there. He stated:
“When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:17-22
Paul was speaking about the certainty of the promises of God, the certainty of His “Yes.” What God promises he will fulfill. What God begins, he will finish. God is faithful.
We are beginning a new year in the calendar, so it is time to plan for the year ahead, and to take inventory of where we have been, and what has been accomplished. It is a time to re-prioritize our commitments and to view them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
Knowing the will of God comes from spending time in His word and in spending time with Him.
Paul had stated that he did not make his plans in a worldly manner, where it is “Yes” and “No.” making plans in a worldly manner could mean to make a plan without a genuine commitment to those plans. We may make a plan to shampoo the carpet, but if by chance, something more interesting or desirable comes along, we may easily postpone that plan.
We may make plans to lose weight, exercise more regularly, or avoid desserts, but if we are not committed to our plans, nothing will happen.
Our plans with God cannot be both “Yes” and “No”. Notice in Paul’s statement, he declares that God is able to make you stand, so that your “Yes” to him will be a firm “Yes”. (“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.” ) The other idea that he presents in his statement is the idea of ownership. (“He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”) So to be able to truly fulfill the plans of the Lord, we must be completely his. As I have quoted often before:
“You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We are not our own. We were purchased by the precious blood of Jesus. We belong to him. We are his bondservants. We choose to serve him gladly with a heart that is devoted to him. It is only after submitting to his will, that we can become aligned with him. Jesus is our example of a life fully submitted to the Father.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42
If we understand what the Lord has done for us on the cross, and our desire is to be committed to the Lord, then we will declare those same words: “Not my will, but yours be done.”
And Paul’s statement declares that we can do his will because the Holy Spirit within us is a deposit that guarantees what is to come. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of truth, for Jesus said:
“He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:14
When we are obedient to the will of God, the Holy Spirit will reveal his plans, and we will see them unfold in our lives.
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
An Evangelist
I remember an evangelist coming to our church years ago, who said that as a young man, he knew that he wanted to make a commitment to the Lord, but that he was afraid that the Lord would send him to some remote, dangerous place to share the gospel. In front of him was a piece of paper which he was beginning to write down things that he was willing to do for the Lord. However, the Lord spoke to him saying “turn the paper over, and sign it.” God wanted him to sign a blank sheet of paper, with no questions asked, and holding nothing back. God was asking him to trust him with his life, to give it all to him, He was to make a full commitment with no reservations.
This is the kind of commitment the Lord would have each of us make with him. We cannot determine what tests we are willing to endure, or say we will do this and no more. It is God who orchestrates the events in our lives. Even when we abandon him to go our own way and do our own thing, God, being faithful as he is, will continue to lead us back to himself.
“A man’s heart plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Thank you Jesus, that you continue to be faithful even when we fail to be.
“It’s Time to Go Upstairs”
So what is coming that needs our preparation and foresight? How can we make plans for what is ahead, if we are not aware of what is coming? The Lord gave me a vision just about a year ago. I saw an angel come from behind a wall. He Looked straight ahead and spoke these words in a loud voice: “It’s time to go upstairs.”
Because he did not look directly at me, but made an announcement, the message is for all believers. When some people hear these words, they believe that it represents the rapture of the church, saying: “If it’s time to go upstairs, then the Lord must be coming back for his church.”
Jesus does say:
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3
Yes, I believe in the resurrection of the dead and of the second coming of Christ, but I do not believe as others do, that the Lord is coming back twice, once for his church secretly and another time for judgment. I believe as all people have for almost 2000 years, that the Lord is coming in the clouds at the last trumpet to gather the dead in Christ and his elect, to be with him forever. This is at the last trumpet (after the tribulation!)
It was not until Darby and Scofield came on the scene in the 1800’s, which introduced this new ideology of dispensationalism and the rapture. I do not believe that scripture supports these ideas, but just like evolution, these ideas took root and now the whole western world has embraced them.
I believe very sincerely, and from much study that the Bible shows that we will face three and one half years of Tribulation. We are to be overcomers, as the Lord asked from all seven churches.
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
Jesus also prayed:
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ” John 17:15
We are to be a light, a city on a hill. We have been given the “Great Commission,” to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, to make disciples of all people. We are to be overcomers, we are not to spend the Tribulation in heaven eating bonbons while the rest of the world goes up in smoke. “Who cares how the rest of the world will hear of the gospel? They can read, can’t they?” “We are the bride of Christ. Jesus won’t have his bride beaten up!” I actually heard someone say that!
On the contrary, Jesus continually warned believers:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14
Everyone’s faith will be tested. That includes us here in the United States where we have enjoyed the freedom to worship. However, we must be prepared for persecution, even here in the states. Jesus said:
“Everyone will be salted with fire.” Mark 9:49
Everyday our nation is plummeting deeper and deeper in moral decline and deeper and deeper in debt. It is by design, for those in power are looking towards “the great reset.” Our nation is heading towards its destruction by its own people. Our sin has surpassed the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. There is corruption throughout all branches of the federal, state and local governments as well as every government agency. There is corruption in the corporate world, in the social media giants, the news media, the sports and entertainment businesses, and in all levels of public education. Truth is not valued, it has been perverted. Everyone is at risk– financially, morally, physically, and spiritually. There is no lack of sin. It is evident everywhere. Even in some churches, the truth of God’s word is pushed aside to elevate the ideologies of man. They derail the truth in order to create an alternative, friendly social gospel. It holds no truth but merely offers the illusion of security attempting to make everyone feel welcomed and accepted, regardless of sin.
How could things possibly get worse? Paul warned Timothy:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
That pretty much sums up our current culture. The Lord wants us to be aware of the times and to be prepared for his coming. We must know him and know his word to be ready to face difficult times. However, those who are complacent, who feel secure in their mediocrity, and are waiting to be raptured, will not be able to face the tribulation of the days ahead. They will feel cheated, offended at the Lord, emotionally undone.
Their faith may fail under persecution. For the word speaks of a great falling away before the coming of the Lord and being gathered to him:
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day (the coming of the Lord and our being gathered together to him) will not come, unless the rebellion (the falling away) comes first, and the man of lawlessness (the antiChrist) is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2-12
Notice here in 2 Thessalonians, that Paul writes that two things must happen before “that day,” (the coming of the Lord and our being gathered together with him), comes. The first is that there will be a great falling away, a rebellion against the true faith. People will be disillusioned, (why didn’t the rapture take place? Why are we suffering persecution? This isn’t supposed to happen like this! I am not prepared to die!) And secondly, the antiChrist is revealed. (I am supposed to be out of here before the tribulation! Why do we have to deal with the Mark of the Beast? This evil person is obviously the antiChrist!)
In the words following the passage above, Paul warns the people to be aware of false teachers and false doctrines. I personally believe that the teaching of the rapture is a false doctrine, because it is a message that “tickles the ears.” It is a comforting message saying: “Don’t worry before it gets bad, you’ll be whisked up to heaven!”
The rapture is a concept that has to be taught, because the direct reading of scripture will not support the idea. The scripture above clearly depicts that the gathering together of the saints with God will not happen until the antiChrist is revealed. This is clearly a tribulation event. And the gathering together will not happen until there is a falling away. It is through the fires of testing that the Lord will see whose faith is genuine and whose is not.
Those believers whose faith is not genuine, will fall away under persecution. Paul points out that often people do not want to acknowledge or value the truth. Because of this, God will send them a powerful delusion:
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Some proponents of the pre-tribulation rapture hold out this scripture:
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10
The word “from” is a preposition. And like many languages, the preposition can be interpreted in several ways: in, through, during, etc. Therefore the sentence can be interpreted as:
..I will also keep you in the hour of testing..
..I will also keep you through the hour of testing..
..I will also keep you during the hour of testing..
God is able to keep us through the hour of testing that is coming on the whole earth to test those who live on the earth.
In the scriptures which speak of the end times, there is an “abomination that causes desolation” which is set up in the temple. The Lord tells those in Judea when they see this, they should flee to the mountains.
“Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24:16
In Revelation, this same event is mentioned and there is a fleeing to a place where God will take care of the church for the duration of the tribulation (3.5 years or 1260 days).
“and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.” Revelation 12:6
Jesus used Noah to show how God provided for him on the earth while he brought destruction and judgment on the inhabitants. He used Lot to show how God provided a place on the earth away from Sodom and Gomorrah. In all these situations, the Lord did not remove them from the earth. Jesus does not say that he is coming to take us out of the earth, while he pours out his wrath on the earth. Even when the plagues were being poured out over Egypt, the Lord kept his people in Goshen, still part of Egypt. He kept them through the hour of trial.
The Lord is able to keep us through the hour that is coming upon the earth to test those who dwell on the earth. That is all the inhabitants of the earth, not simply the wicked.
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15
Also, the book of Revelation, reminds us, the saints, to endure patiently. This passage is found well into the tribulation:
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:11-13
And again the Book of Revelation speaks of the saints, believers in Christ Jesus:
“It (the Beast) opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.” Revelation 13:6-7
And again the Book of Revelation tells the saints that they must endure:
“If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:10
These saints are people of God who patiently endure the tribulation. Those who die, will prove themselves worthy:
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:13-17
These are the saints that stood the tests and trials of the tribulation. This is what is expected of the church, not to sit in heaven while the earth has no witness. The Lord wants none to be lost. This is the last opportunity for people to turn to God in repentance and to receive the gift of salvation. The Lord wants “all hands on deck.” It is not time to hide our light under a bushel basket, but to put it on a stand for all the house to receive its light. So I repeat:
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:13-15
At the very end of Tribulation, in Chapter 19, we see that the dead in Christ are raised to life. This is called the first resurrection. This is after the battle of Armageddon. Notice it is also when those who died during the tribulation are raised.
“Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead (the wicked) did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
There can be only one first resurrection. Notice how Paul describes this first resurrection:
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
So when does this “first resurrection of the dead occur”? At the last trumpet. At the end of the Tribulation. Who is included in the first resurrection of the dead? Those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. So included in the first resurrection of the dead are saints that have come out of the tribulation. This could not be a pre-tribulation event!
Where is the silent rapture? It is not silent at all; it is at the Last Trumpet!
And there is one more thing to clarify: Who is gathered first? And where are they taken? Let’s look at Luke chapter 17:
“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Luke 17:24-37
So it will not be a quiet, disappearing of the saints of God into the air. It will be like lightning that flashes across the sky! It is the very day the the Son of Man will be revealed (not hidden!)
Who will be taken? It is the spiritually dead that will be taken first. “Where, Lord?” They will be taken to the place where the vultures gather:
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” Revelation 19:17-21
So those that are taken first are the spiritually dead. This also agrees with the Lord’s parable of the weeds.
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43
Notice that the master leaves the good wheat to grow with the weeds so that they are not accidently pulled up early. The Lord leaves both believers and non-believers to co-mingle until the end, when the weeds are taken first. They are tied into bundles to be burned. Then the wheat is harvested and brought into the barn.
Those that are left behind are the saints, the believers. It is the wicked that are taken first.
In Conclusion
I believe that the Lord wants to prepare his church for his second coming– not the rapture.
In the vision of the two foods in a bowl, the first food, the pinto beans came straight from a can. This food represents the idea of no real preparation necessary. It represents the rapture. There is not much a believer must do to prepare to escape the tribulation. This is an attractive, simple idea, appealing quite nicely to our relaxed western culture— “Don’t sweat it! “We’re outta here!”
The second food, the mung beans, takes much preparation. It represents the reality of the teachings of Christ. The Lord tells us to count the cost.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-33
Unfortunately, the American church has not truly been taught the full gospel. The unpleasantries have been avoided for years in order to fill the pews with less than committed Christians. Even the topic of sin is simply glossed over. It is dealt with as a cheap salvation, “just say this prayer and you’re in!” The American church has done the believers a great disservice by watering down the gospel and teaching about the rapture. It is like the teaching of purgatory. “Don’t worry, if you miss the rapture. You will have a second chance, but when you have to go through the tribulation!” What nonsense!
Consider these words of the Lord, all written in red:
“In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world!” John 16:33“He who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:13
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
And consider these words of the Lord’s apostles:
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:32-39
Preparation for persecution, overcoming, and endurance is quite different than preparing to escape. I hope you understand that everyday that we should live in anticipation of meeting the Lord. He could return at any moment.
Let us pray that the power of God will convict people of sin, and move people to get right with Him. The time is short – shorter than it was yesterday. No one knows the day or the hour, but we must be faithfully watching for his return. These are the Lords words to the churches:
To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…I will also give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:26
“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:5-6
“He who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.I will write on him the name of my god and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:12-13
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22
For those of you who still believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, let me share a video that I believe gives a good summary of the main ideas.
4 Reasons We Don’t Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture–Dalton Thomas (Maranatha Global Bible Studies - FAI Studios)
The message of the vision from the Lord is to plan ahead, and be ready. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit, and puts a genuine love for other people in our hearts, for the Lord wants none to be lost. We need to gather people into the kingdom of God for Jesus said:
“He who is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.” Matthew 12:30
Be blessed. I hope I have stimulated an increased appetite for the Word of God and to discover for yourself, its message of hope for eternal life with Jesus our Lord and Savior. Please take this message seriously and share it with everyone, those that are saved and those who are not. Let’s get ready for the return of our King! God bless you and your family!
