The Tail of the Dragon...

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It is apparent from the Scriptures that the closing days of the Church Age will reveal those who faithfully are serving God and those who are not. Those who set themselves to serve the Lord Jesus Christ will mature spiritually until they are qualified to govern with Christ when He returns.

The remainder of the believers will suffer at the hands of the ungodly They are trusting in a "rapture" to save them, but this is an unscriptural hope, to say the least.

(9/11/2011). Notice the following:

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months." (Revelation 11:1,2)

The meaning of the above passage is that those who are worshiping at the Altar of Incense, crying out "Not my will but Yours be done," will be judged and prepared to participate in the great end-time witness. Their preparation consists of the following:

They will learn to look to Jesus instead of to people for their survival and security.

They will confess the deeds of their sinful nature when the Spirit points them out, and turn away from them with the Lord's help.

They will count themselves dead to their self-will and ambitions.

They will live quietly before the Lord. They will not clutch any relationship or thing. They will give up all their idols.

They will practice the Presence of Christ in all they do.

They will obey God promptly and cheerfully when they know His will for them.

People who do not prepare themselves in this manner will not enter the Kingdom when the Lord appears. They wasted the time God has given us now so we can be ready for His appearing. Thus they will be abused by worldly people instead of participating in the end-time witness.

The Scriptures have quite a bit to say about the last days of the Church Age. It is clear that all the believers except for the true cross-carrying disciples of Jesus will fall on hard times, the majority of whom will turn away from God. Lawlessness will abound!

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12-14)

Notice in the verse above how most of the believers grow cold in their love for the Lord. They did not prepare themselves, wasting their time on the things of the world. But the faithful disciples of Jesus were participating in the glorious witness, the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. This is the true scenario of the closing days of the Church Age, not a "rapture" in which the frivolous "Christians" of our day are carried up to Paradise so they will not suffer any inconvenience.

Those who today are disarming God's people with the "rapture" error will be seen in the future as false prophets, having caused many to stumble spiritually and remain in an immature, "baby" state.

It is clear that dreadful, as well as glorious days, are ahead for the believers in Christ. Many will fall away from the Presence of the Lord, but a relative handful will count themselves "dead in the Lord" and consequently will perform exploits.

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

If the truth be known, we of today are doing wickedly against the covenant. Our Lord Jesus told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. How many believers do you know who are patiently carrying their cross a behind the Lord? They are as scarce as hens' teeth, as far as I can see.

I think many Christian believers are being flattered today. They are told how wonderful they are and that God never would let them suffer. The day is approaching that will reveal if they have been told the truth.

The following are a few quotes to point out the troubles Christian people will encounter in the coming days: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:25-27)

Many people who believe they are eternally secure will lose their standing before God, because the spirit of rebellion in them is not acceptable.

Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:33-35)

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:5-8)

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." (Daniel 12:7)

To those who could claim that the "holy people" are Jews, let us bring to mind that Paul never referred to believers as "Christians" but as "saints"—that is, "holy people." The current teachers who are saying that all of the unpleasant events of the Bible will happen to physical Jews might consider that we believing Gentiles are part of the one new Man, who includes Christ the Head, believing Jews, and believing Gentiles.

You know, we have a lot of unscriptural teaching in our day!

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7,8)

Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the LORD; it took away the daily sacrifice from the LORD, and his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the LORD's people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. (Daniel 8:9-12)

Do you see anything about a "rapture" in these verses? Neither do I. Maybe we better go to the Lord and ask for a "report card." What do you think?

I believe we are well advised to prepare ourselves for the events that are ahead of us. We already can see the one-world government taking shape, as people who do not know Jesus are attempting to end all wars and other conditions that are distressing to people.

Their goals may be admirable, but they are not including Christ in their planning. Therefore the sinful nature of people will manage to sabotage all attempts to bring world peace. The resulting moral wasteland would finally bring about the extinction of mankind, were Christ not to appear and take over the reins of government.

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