Monday, April 6, 2009

That Which Withholds Has Been Removed

"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; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8a)
Barnes' Bible Commentary on this verse: "The most natural interpretation is that which refers it to civil power, meaning that there was something in the form of the existing administration which would prevent this development until that restraint should be removed."

I did not know what to expect on the first day of the Great Tribulation, and so I prayed and asked God for revelation, and I received the song, "This mountain shall be removed by My Spirit, sayeth the Lord."
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace to it." (Zechariah 4:6b-7)
The "great mountain" during Zerubbabel's time was the empire of Babylon, which is called the "destroying mountain" in Jeremiah 51:24-25. Mountains refer to empires or kingdoms. I think in order for God to accomplish what He intends to do in the Middle East, He needed to remove the United States of America. The first war the United States of America encountered after becoming a nation was with the Muslims in 1801 who had declared war on all Christian nations. They were known as the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. General Eaton told the new Secretary of State, "It is a maxim of the Barbary States, that 'The Christians who would be on good terms with them must fight well or pay well.'" At first the US paid their extortion money for safe passage, but when they took the ship and imprisoned the crew which brought the money, the US marines successfully stormed the shores of Tripoli. [http://www.daddezio.com/italy/barbary/history.html]

Today, President Obama declared to the Turkey parliament, "Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam." He further clarified, "Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject." President Obama continued, "But I also want to be clear that America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaeda. Far from it. We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground." Each demonstration of American weakness and withdrawal emboldens the jihadists. Now with America subdued, the Antichrist may soon appear and declare himself to be god.

God's Hand ready to put those who hate Him into the Fire
There was also a unique sign in the heavens reported today. "In a new image from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, high-energy X-rays emanating from the nebula around PSR B1509-58 have been colored blue to reveal a structure resembling a hand reaching for some eternal red cosmic light." [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C512767%2C00.html]
"Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against you: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows on your strings against the face of them." (Psalms 21:8-12)
"Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures for ever: forsake not the works of your own hands." (Psalms 138:7-8)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Great Tribulation Begins April 6, 2009

In your spirit you know something big is about to happen. The earth has begun its death spiral: more floods, more tornadoes, more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and more volcanic eruptions. Though there are still pockets of peace and sanity, most human institutions have disintegrated. You thought you'd be raptured before the Great Tribulation, but now you find yourself in the midst of it.
John, the apostle, taught believers in Jesus would go through the Great Tribulation and many would be martyred in Revelation. Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught believers would have to persevere through great trial and that the dead are resurrected prior to the living being raptured at Christ's one and only return to earth. They all warned us not to be deceived. Keep believing in Jesus even though you have to stop believing in a pre-trib rapture.

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)

Principles of Geology was written by Charles Lyell in 1830 espousing the new idea that the great canyons around the world were not the after effects of a world-wide flood (cataclysmic), but the constant erosion over hundreds of thousands of years (uniformitarian; "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation"). Until that time, the Bible's description of creation and the cataclysm of Noah's flood were accepted facts. Charles Darwin took a copy of the Lyell's book with him on the S.S. Beagle to the Galapagos Islands, leading to his harmful theories of evolution and the superiority of the white race. Uniformitarianism and evolution eroded people's faith in the historical truth of the Bible. This has led to much false teaching in the church (1 Timothy 6:20) including the pre-tribulation rapture theory, which has led to a lack of holiness, love and power in the church, and a resistance to the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-8).

Deriving the Day of the LORD and the Start of Great Tribulation
Astronomers from the east ascertained the correct year of Christ's first coming, and astronomers from the west (Mayans) have predicted the correct year of Christ's second coming. But the Mayans worshiped the heavens, and so decreed the world's end on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. God has appointed seven feasts for His people. Jesus fulfilled Unleavened Bread (sinless life), Passover (Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world), First Fruits (He rose from the dead), and Pentecost (He sent His Holy Spirit) during His first coming. The Fall feasts are Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths which Jesus will fulfill during His second coming. September 16th, 2012 is the new moon of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets are prominent in the resurrection and rapture and return of Jesus Christ (Psalm 47:5-6; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Joel 2:1-16; Revelation 11:15-19).
John describes the duration of the Great Tribulation as 42 months, 3 1/2 years, and 1,260 days. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16th, 2012 brings us to April 6, 2012. Hebrew days begin and end at sunset. Sunset in Jerusalem will be at 7:02 pm that day.

What Event Starts the 3 1/2 Year Clock?
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.(Rev. 11:2-3)

Two groups who will be involved throughout the Great Tribulation. The Muslims ("Gentiles") continue to occupy the Temple Mount, so doing so for another 42 months will not seem unusual. The Two Witnesses (Jewish and Gentile believers) are already present and proclaiming the gospel, though not to the point of withholding rain or praying plagues upon our enemies to demonstrate God's power. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16, 2012, the Great Tribulation clock begins on April 6, 2009.
All Great Tribulation days and times are according to Hebrew days and Jerusalem time. Dusk in Jerusalem on April 6, 2009, the first day of the Great Tribulation, might not have anything occur physically at all, or it may be very apparent. The war between Israel and Iran might see a major attack. China could stop buying US bonds. Any number of global "natural" disasters could hit.
God starts the Great Tribulation clock. It may be when He tells Michael to release Satan, and Satan "knows that his time is short". Satan's possession of the Antichrist and his deity declaration ("abomination of desolation") may follow shortly thereafter. It may be when God tells the four angels to start sealing the 144,000 (which must occur prior to the first trumpet), or when he tells an angel to announce the everlasting gospel with a loud voice to the world (Rev. 14:6-7).
The more important question is whether your faith can endure until Christ's coming. Jesus has waited to get His Bride for two thousand years. King Jesus is worth waiting for.
For a booklet describing the timing of the events in the Great Tribulation, go to http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/seals-trumpets-and-vials/6668840.