Guide to God, part 34/41: Mysteries And Distractions


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Topic: Religions > Bible
User: "Beelzebull"
Date: 13 Jun 2005 05:00:04 AM
Object: Guide to God, part 34/41: Mysteries And Distractions
Guide to God, part 34/41: Mysteries And Distractions
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Mysteries And Distractions
The Death Of Jesus: Did Jesus actually die? Yes and no.
Here is God's law regarding death: "The soul who sins shall
die." [Ezekiel 18:4] Since Jesus was the Ten Commandments
in flesh, and there is no sin in the Ten Commandments, it
was impossible for Jesus to sin. Since Jesus did not sin,
He was not worthy of death; if Jesus indeed died, then God
would be a liar in saying "the soul who sins shall die".
Referring to Jesus, it is written: "...whom God raised up,
having loosed the pains of death, because it was not
possible that He (Jesus) should be held by it." [Acts 2:24]
It is impossible (according to the law of God) that death
should hold the innocent (sinless) soul. "For none of us
lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we
live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the
Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that
He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."
[Romans 14:7-9] Thus, the body of Jesus died (and, through
the Spirit, He went to the domain of the dead) that He may
be Lord of both the living and the dead -- that He might
obtain the authority to resurrect the dead. "For Christ
also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that
He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh
but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and
preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were
disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in
the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water."
[1 Peter 3:18-20] Thus, when Jesus died, He went (in the
Spirit) to preach His message to the imprisoned spirits.
As you can see, though Jesus was "dead" in the flesh, He
was still alive in the Spirit. It is a medical fact that
the human body undergoes rapid decomposition immediately
following death. With this in mind, how did the spirit of
Jesus return to His three-day-old "dead" body and yet appear
as He was before His "death"? "You will not allow Your Holy
One to see (undergo) corruption." [Psalm 16:10, Acts 13:35]
"...he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection
of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did
His flesh see corruption (decay)." [Acts 2:31] "But He
whom God raised up saw no corruption (underwent no decay)."
[Acts 13:37] Thus, the physical body of Jesus (while
"dead") was preserved by an act of God. In conclusion:
Jesus was never (totally) dead, for Death has no power over
the sinless; the physical body of Jesus was, however, in a
state of "suspended animation" for three days (while in the
tomb); while in the tomb, His spirit went to preach to the
spirits (of the dead) in the prison of the spirits, but His
spirit was never a prisoner therein. Furthermore, Jesus,
being sinless, is not subject to the Day of Judgement, since
that Day applies only to those who have committed sin.
The Mysterious Shroud Of Turin: The Shroud of Turin is
alleged to be the burial cloth of Jesus, containing both His
imprint and blood. The proof or disproof of this claim lies
in the blood: The blood of Jesus came from God, not man;
and therefore is unlike any other blood found on the earth.
Jesus did not inherit the blood of Adam (the sinner); for if
He had, He would have been imperfect, and would therefore
have been rejected by God as a worthy sacrifice for the sins
of man. You see, according to Levitical Law, a sacrifice
must be perfect in order for it to be accepted by God.
The Rapture: "For the Lord Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
[1 Thessalonians 4:16-17] This passage of Scripture is
frequently quoted in reference to an event commonly referred
to as "The Rapture". The so-called Rapture is a scriptural
fact, however, the question is: "When will this Rapture
occur?" There are four popular opinions: The Rapture is
false, and hence will not occur; the Rapture will occur at
the beginning of the Tribulation Period; the Rapture will
occur in the middle of the Tribulation Period; the Rapture
will occur at the end of the Tribulation Period. So, when
exactly will this Rapture occur? Answer: It does not
matter, for the faithful servants of God are ready at all
times for all things. Remember the (ten) wise and foolish
virgins: Five were prepared to meet the bridegroom; the
other five were not. God accepted those prepared, but
rejected the others. The so-called Rapture is nothing more
than a distraction. Therefore, keep your eyes on the prize
of life eternal, while you diligently do the work of God,
knowing that God does not leave His servants in the dark:
"Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His
secret to His servants the prophets." [Amos 3:7]
Order Of Events: In order to understand the Rapture, one
must first understand the order of events which are to take
place in the Last Days. The Last Days refers to the final
days of man's rule on the earth. Within the Last Days is
a period of time (of approximately seven years) commonly
referred to as the Tribulation Period, in which the earth
will be ravaged by both "natural" and man-made disasters.
The Tribulation Period is composed of two periods: The
first period is composed of 1260 days and is ruled by the
Two Witnesses (two Moses-like prophets who will strike the
earth as Moses struck Egypt (see Exodus 7-11 for details));
the second period is composed of 42 months and is ruled by
Satan, who will masquerade as God, thereby deceiving the
majority of mankind. At the end of the Tribulation Period,
God will capture and bind Satan for one thousand years,
thereby ushering in the Millennium, a one-thousand-year
period in which God and His Saints will rule the earth.
Understanding The Rapture: It should be noted that the
word "rapture" does not appear in Scripture; the Rapture is
synonymous with the First Resurrection. The Rapture is the
resurrection of the dead saints and the transfiguration of
the living saints for the purpose of reigning on the earth
during the Millennium. Scripture dealing with the First
Resurrection (the Rapture), the Millennium, the Final Battle
Between Good and Evil, the Death of Satan, the Resurrection
of the Dead, the Day of Judgement, and the Second
(permanent) Death (lake of fire) can be found in
Revelation 20.
Purpose Of The Rapture: God does all things with purpose.
What is the purpose of the Rapture? "Blessed and holy is he
who has part in the first resurrection (the Rapture). Over
such the second (permanent) death has no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with
Him a thousand years (the Millennium)." [Revelation 20:6]
Thus, the purpose of the Rapture is to equip the Saints
(both the dead and the living) with incorruption and
immortality in order that they may reign with the
Christ/Messiah during the Millennium. When does the
Millennium begin? Keep reading.
Time Of The Rapture: In order to understand the time at
which the Rapture will occur, we need to know the order of
resurrection of the dead and transfiguration of the living
(when the corruptible puts on incorruption and the mortal
puts on immortality): "But now Christ is risen from the
dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have
fallen asleep (died). For since by man came death, by Man
also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each
one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward
those who are Christ's (the Saints) at His coming."
[1 Corinthians 15:20-23] Thus, we see the Rapture occurs
at the coming of the Christ/Messiah.
The Coming Of The Christ/Messiah: The Christ/Messiah comes
to usher in the Millennium: "Then I saw heaven opened, and
behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes
war. And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their
armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on
the horse and against His army. Then the beast was
captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in
his presence, by which he deceived those who received the
mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These
two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with
brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which
proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And
all the birds were filled with their flesh."
[Revelation 19:11,19-21] Before the Christ/Messiah can
establish His kingdom on the earth, He must first bring an
end to the governments and teachings of man, symbolized by
the beast and false prophet, respectively. (Incidentally,
this is the time when the image of the man (symbolizing
man's rule on the earth) of Daniel 2 is destroyed.)
The Millennium Begins: The Millennium begins when the
Christ/Messiah comes to the earth and binds and imprisons
Satan for one thousand years: "Then I saw an angel coming
down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and
a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that
serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless
pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he
should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years
were finished. But after these things he must be released
for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on
them, and judgement was committed to them. And I saw the
souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to
Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the
beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned
with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead
did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection (the Rapture). Blessed and
holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over
such the second death has no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years (the Millennium)." [Revelation 20:1-6]
The Secret Rapture: How does the Christ/Messiah come --
secretly or openly? "For the Lord Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the trumpet of God." [1 Thessalonians 4:16] Note that
trumpets were used to make public -- not secret --
announcements and proclamations. "For as the lightning
comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be." [Matthew 24:27] Note
that lightning is a public -- not private -- spectacle.
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect
(the Saints) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to
the other." [Matthew 24:30-31] Note that "all the tribes
of the earth" witness the coming of the Christ/Messiah, and
then He gathers together His elect (the Saints). "Behold,
He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and
they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen."
[Revelation 1:7] Note that "every eye" will witness the
coming of the Christ/Messiah, so how can the Rapture be a
secret event?
The Thief In The Night: The various "thief in the night"
passages of the New Testament are often cited as evidence
of a so-called Secret Rapture: The belief that the
Christ/Messiah will come secretly to "rapture" His Church
as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. However, the
various "thief in the night" passages indicate that the
Christ/Messiah will come at an unexpected time, taking His
hypocritical servants by surprise; however, His diligent
servants are commanded to watch and be ready at all times
for His coming. The pretentious servants of God are not
interested in His coming, since that event would bring an
end to their power over the ignorant masses. Note that
it is impossible for God's true servants to be taken by
surprise: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He
reveals His secret to His servants the prophets."
[Amos 3:7] The message of the "thief in the night"
passages is simple: If you are a true servant of God, be
ready at all times for His coming; if you are a pretentious
servant of God, His coming will surprise you (in more ways
than one): "...the master of that (hypocritical) servant
will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an
hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and
appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 24:50-51]
Recognizing The Saints: The saints are those from among men
whom God has chosen to reign with Him during the Millennium.
By what standard will the saints rule during the Millennium?
"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And
He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He judges and makes war." [Revelation 19:11]
Thus, the saints will rule according to the Standard/Law of
Righteousness/God; that is, the saints will rule the earth
in accordance with the Law/Torah. What are the
characteristics of a saint? Since the saints will rule
according to the Standard of God, they must possess these
traits: They know and keep every word of God; they have
conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil; they possess
no fear, for they are filled with the Spirit of God which
casts out all fear; they do not entangle themselves with
the (temporal) things of the world, but seek to win souls
to life eternal. The greatest surprise of the Rapture will
not be the transfiguration of persons, but that the number
of the saints will be so small. Do you count yourself
among the saints? Can you rule the earth in righteousness
in accordance with every word which proceeds out of the
mouth of God? Indeed, do you even know every word which
proceeds out of the mouth of God? And do you live by same?
Do you love God more than your spouse, children, and
parents? If God called you right now, would you forsake
all?
The Last Trumpet: The Last Trumpet of 1 Corinthians
15:51-52 is often confused with the Seventh Trumpet of
Revelation 11:15: These two events are not the same. The
Seventh Trumpet announces the end of evil in heaven and the
beginning of Satan's reign on the earth; the Last Trumpet
announces the final act of God before eternity begins --
the conquest of Death: "For He must reign till He has put
all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be
destroyed is death." [1 Corinthians 15:25-26] Trumpets
were used to make announcements. Therefore, the Last
Trumpet must logically announce the final act (regarding
the current creation) of God. Here is the passage of
Scripture dealing with the Last Trumpet: "Now this I say,
brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold,
I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but
we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling
(blinking) of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this
mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in
victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is
your victory?'" [1 Corinthians 15:50-55] It is widely
believed that the Last Trumpet announces the Rapture,
however, this is false; the Last Trumpet announces the
conquest of Death.
The Seventh Trumpet: The Seventh Trumpet marks the end of
evil in heaven and the beginning of Satan's reign on the
earth: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were
loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world
have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and
He shall reign forever and ever!'" [Revelation 11:15]
Note that this announcement refers to heaven, not the earth.
"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;
he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with
him." [Revelation 12:9] "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and
you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth
and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having
great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
[Revelation 12:12] When cast to the earth, Satan will rule
the earth for forty-two months: "And he was given a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given
authority to continue for forty-two months."
[Revelation 13:5] Thus begins the reign of Satan on the
earth.
Grace Under Pressure: Note that the saints are still on the
earth during the reign of Satan, who will attempt to wear
them out through severe persecution: "And it was granted to
him to make war with the saints and to overcome them."
[Revelation 13:7] "I was watching; and the same horn was
making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgement was made in
favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came
for the saints to possess the kingdom." [Daniel 7:21-22]
Note that the saints are still on the earth when the
Christ/Messiah (the Ancient of Days) arrives. "He shall
speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute
the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change
times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand
for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall
be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume
and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and
the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall
be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall
serve and obey Him." [Daniel 7:25-27]
Escapism: Those who hope to be evacuated from the earth
via the Rapture usually fear the Tribulation Period (a time
of intense testing designed to separate the good from the
evil). However, this anxiety is not necessary, for God is
able to preserve you through all things; and God will never
burden you with more than you can bear. Remember that God
is a shield to the righteous (the righteous are those who
keep the commandments of God). The Tribulation Period will
be reminiscent of the plagues of Egypt as recorded in the
book of Exodus; but note that God made a distinction between
the Israelites and the Egyptians -- even so will God make
a distinction between the good and the evil during the
Tribulation Period. Furthermore, remember that God
preserved the Three Hebrew Children through the fiery
furnace; and He also preserved Daniel in the lions' den.
(See the book of Daniel for details.) If you fear the
Tribulation Period, you can be certain that God is not your
Lord: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of
power and of love and of a sound mind." [2 Timothy 1:7]
If you fear becoming a martyr of God, you can be certain
that God has not chosen you for this task; if you fear the
refinement due a saint, you can be certain that you are not
among them: For the spirit of fear is not from God.
Rapture Falsities: It has become a popular notion that the
Rapture will evacuate pilots from airplanes, drivers from
cars, children from parents, parents from children, unborn
children from wombs, etc., thereby causing great
destruction, loss of life, and broken families: This is
false. The Rapture is the work of the LORD God; the LORD
is the God of creation, not destruction (Satan is the god
of destruction). It is not in the character of God to
destroy the innocent or to break apart families. Remember
that the purpose of the Rapture is to equip the saints with
incorruption and immortality so that they may reign on the
earth during the Millennium. The saints will not suddenly
disappear from the earth -- they will simply be changed into
immortal beings, for they must reign and rule on the earth.
The saints are trained on the earth so that they may rule
on the earth, not in heaven. The saints are few in number,
chosen of God, and separate from the world. If you have
become a busybody, eagerly awaiting the Rapture, stop it;
get on with your life; marry and raise children in the fear
and admonition of the LORD, that they may inherit the earth:
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
[Matthew 5:5] This inheritance of the earth refers to the
Millennium; and the meek are those who keep the commandments
of God.
Faith: "Without faith it is impossible to please God,..."
[Hebrews 11:6] What is faith? Faith is trust; faith in
God is trust in God. Does God expect man to blindly trust
Him? No. God expects man to test His word, to determine
if it be true or false: If true, trust Him; if false,
nothing matters -- for an untruthful God cannot render
justice. Faith, or trust, is the basis for an eternal
marriage. Remember that God describes Himself as a
Husband, and His followers as His Wife. If there is any
untruthfulness in a marriage, it will fail. If you do
not trust God completely, you will not be joined to Him
(in eternity).
Fear Revisited: God commands His followers to "fear not!"
If you fear man, you don't know God; if you fear the devil,
you don't know God; if you fear death, you don't know God:
For God is love, and love casts out fear: "Love has been
perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the
day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not
been made perfect in love." [1 John 4:17-18]
-----
The above is an excerpt from a currently-available book
which can be purchased at:
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.ca
Search "Books" for:
TITLE: "The Teenager's Guide to the Awesome God"
AUTHOR: "Arrant Knave"
ISBN: "1413755003"
-----
Excerpt from "The Teenager's Guide To The Awesome God"
Copyright 2000 Arrant Knave. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
taken from the New King James Version (R). Copyright (C)
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
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