Today’s Devotional – October 17th (Apocalypse When?)

By admin On September 15th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 17th

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Apocalypse When?

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Prior to 1948, the general consensus in the Christian community was that the Book of Revelation was an unfolding book, relevant for all Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Degelhadio.jpg throughout the history of the New Testament.

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They interpreted the 42 months (or 1260 days) of Antichrist’s reign as being prophetic months and not literal. In other words, this 42 month period was actually 1260 years, not days, in which Christians suffered persecution through those centuries by the Church of Rome (see Revelation 13).

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But when Israel became a bonafide nation in 1948, then theologians began to reconsider their position, more and more interpreting Revelation as being concerned with literal Jews being persecuted for a literal three and one half year period (1260 literal days) during a future great tribulation. 

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Degelhadio Raising Flag Monument – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

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THE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Late,_Great_Planet_Earth_cover.jpg

Then in the 1960’s, this idea became wildly popular, via a book about a Rapture, in which Christians would simply disappear (taken to Heaven), followed by a 7 year great tribulation.

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At this point, the “futurist” viewpoint quickly emerged as the dominant theory concerning the Book of Revelation.

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And along with this, the theory that God would once again begin to work with the literal nation of Israel, a time in which a literal temple would be rebuilt in Jerusalem on the same ground in which the Dome of the Rock is currently located.

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The Late, Great Planet Earth cover – Wikipedia – Non-Free Media Rationale

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HEAVY EMPHASIS ON THE WORD, “THEORY”

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Now, many Christians recognize that the “Pre-tribulation Rapture” is only just aBeware-of-dogma-wikimedia-public-domain (2) theory. But many others, however, believe it to be more than just a theory. Such have no doubt that the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” is an absolute and undeniable biblical truth.

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Well, as we all know, if you only hear one side of an argument, then you might be convinced of just about any idea. But when one hears both sides of an argument, then there begins to be a more balanced viewpoint.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kernmantle_climbing_rope_dynamic_Sterling_10.7mm_internal_yarns_and_plies-2.jpg.

And so, as lovers of truth, let’s spend a few moments looking at just a few “loose ends”, which raise some doubts concerning this so-called “Futurist Viewpoint”

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Beware-of-dogma-wikimedia-public-domain

Loose strands of climbing rope – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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GOD’S WARNING A LITTLE LATE?

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First of all, let it be known that Futurists mostly believe that the Rapture takes place prior to Chapter 4 of Revelation. So that means that the last 19 Chapters have nothing to do with the Church. The Church being Raptured prior to Chapter 4, according to this so-called “theory”.

Bridge Out!

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So one very glaring inconsistency immediately arises in Chapter 16, when Christ says… “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15. Now why would Christ insert this warning way back in Chapter 16, when the Rapture supposedly took place prior to Chapter 4? That would be like putting a “BRIDGE OUT” sign at the bottom of a river, wouldn’t it?

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But God does nothing in a willy-nilly manner! This warning has been put in Chapter 16 for a very good reason!

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So that is just the first loose end.

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5 APOCALYPSE “NOW” VERSES

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Next, there are five warnings in Revelation, that it is not for some future time:

.http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_315362/(after)-Jan-Soens/Saint-John-the-Evangelist-on-the-island-of-Patmos-writing-the-book-of-Revelation

1. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.” Revelation 1:1

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2. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for THE TIME IS AT HAND.” Revelation 1:3

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3. “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER;” Revelation 1:19

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John on Patmos – Wikigallery – US Public Domain

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.https://www.pri.org/stories/2011-08-10/revelations-book-revelation

Now these three verses are all found in the first chapter of Revelation. But the next two verses are found in the last chapter:

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Revelation – cropped image – courtesy Wikimedia – courtesy www.pre.org

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.http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_315362/(after)-Jan-Soens/Saint-John-the-Evangelist-on-the-island-of-Patmos-writing-the-book-of-Revelation

4. “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants THE THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY BE DONE.” Revelation 22:6

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5. “And he saith unto me, SEAL NOT the sayings of the prophecy of this book: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.” Revelation 22:10

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So both of these verses reveal that “the sayings” of this book must “shortly be done”, and we are not to seal these sayings, because “the time is at hand”.

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john on patmos – cropped image – wikigallery public domain

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BLOODY CHURCH HISTORY

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And so, has not the current popular theology done exactly what God warned us NOT TO DO!http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avvakum_by_Myasoyedov.jpeg?

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Theologians have told us that the last 19 chapters were to be delayed by 2,000 years from the time these warnings were written. Thus, the last 19 chapters being postponed for 2,000 years later doesn’t exactly sound like these last 19 chapters were part of the above warnings, “the time is at hand”, does it?

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But just look at history! Theologians don’t seem to be bothered by the fact, that the Church has gone through a very bloody history! They don’t seem to give much thought as to just why was the Church persecuted, tortured, banished, and many even murdered for a period lasting over a thousand years; and all this persecution was brought upon God’s people by the apostate churches of Europe!

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They don’t recognize the Revelation 13 Beast for what he actually is: The unbelievers of this Antichrist world-system, along with the false brethren in the Church, being used by the Dragon of Revelation, Satan, to destroy God’s Church!

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Avvakum (burned 1682)_by_artist, Myasoyedov 1897 Wiki. Pub Dom.

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ANTICHRIST PERSECUTION FOR 1,260 YEARS!

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This long tribulation lasted for many centuries! And during much of this time, the Bible was a forbidden book, banished and burned by the prelates and rulers of Europe. Torture chambers were constructed, and many Christians were burned at the stake, because they refused to pay homage to the established Church of that day. And one great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Santo_Domingo_y_los_albigenses-detalle.jpgreason why so many Christians fled to America was to escape the tyranny of the European Church.

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And it is a recorded fact that those persecuted Christians took much comfort in the Book of Revelation.

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Now just suppose we were to go back in time and tell those weary and persecuted Christians that the great tribulation wasn’t occurring for them?

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No, we could never convince those persecuted Christians that the Book of Revelation was for some time in the far distant future! Just read the pre-amble to the King James Bible. It tells exactly who they believed the Antichrist to be!

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And even well-respected reformers such as Martin Luther believed the Pope of Rome to be the fulfillment of the foretold Antichrist.

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book burning Santo_Domingo_y_los_albigenses-detalle wikipedia public domain

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JUDGMENT DAY COMING QUICKLY!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Global_warning%5E_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1719373.jpg

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Now having said all this, it seems very likely that the Book of Revelation will have a very horrific climactic finale in the near future. Yes, Judgment Day is at hand! And the time just before us will be a time when God’s people will no longer have any earthly support. This is also known as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (see Jeremiah 30:6, 7).

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But be that as it may, those Christians today who believe we will miss out on this soon-coming finale, because we will be taken out of the world, prior to this great and terrible Day of the Lord, need to really consider this:, by taking a relaxed attitude, and NOT preparing themselves, we might just arrive at that day greatly, or even totally unprepared!

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christ coming by Julian Osley – cropped image – wikimedia share alike license

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Now these are just a few of the many “loose ends” which makes this Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory an un-provable theory! And if the Reader will read the many other related devotionals and articles on this website, many other loose-ends will be high-lighted. 

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Loose strands of climbing rope – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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TIME TO ARMOR UP!

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So in closing, the following passage is offered… “Finally, my brethren…take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10, 13.

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Now if there’s no battle ahead for us, why in the world would God tell us to be fully armored?

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Just some food for thought.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to understand the Book of Revelation, and how it relates to me personally. And help me to armor up for the evil day…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon, The Beast & His Image & His Mark” or you can also read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?”. You may also read… The War Nobody Prepared For, Part 1″

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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LOOSING THE BANDS OF ORION

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God spoke several times of Orion, in Scripture. His question to Job was a very mystifying question, to say the least… “Canst thou…loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31. Such a strange question, indeed! How could a constellation have its bands loosed, much less, even have bands? Puzzling, puzzling!

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But now, He is revealing this bright and beautiful constellation in a way that has never before been seen. God Himself is loosing Orion’s bands, as He is just now unraveling this age-old mystery. And we are beginning to understand that this most infamous of all constellations is nothing less than a remarkable metaphor concerning Jesus.

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THE 5 OFFICES OF ORION

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But like most of the other Signs which this website reveals, Orion too, has much more to say as he changes his position in the sky. And this Soldier in the Heavens puts on different garb, as he presents the five awesome aspects of his various offices. From Orion the Soldier’, and ‘Orion the Reaper’, and Orion the Archer’, and The Cross of Orion’, and last but certainly not least, “Orion, The Good Shepherd”. This amazing constellation presents a very complex revelation of the God’s magnificent love for a fallen planet.

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So read on and discover “things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 13:35

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Orion Phenomena”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:American_Idol_Title_Card.png

TOMORROW:

“October 18th (Heaven’s Idols, Part 1)”

American Idol – Wikipedia – Fair-Use Rationale

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth)ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #288 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo. 

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