Is Life Just A Numbers Game?; Revised

I tried to fix a font problem on the last blog post and ended up losing it completely....sigh. I changed some settings on the format of the blog, and hope it will help resolve some of the problems I was encountering....we'll see.....

You've heard it said that 

age is just a number....

...and it's usually said to flatter someone on their ever increasing number of birthdays or by a person of the higher range who wants to "date" someone of lesser number of years but however then that usually only works if the person that is the more aged also has a greater accumulation of dollars in their bank accounts, but is that truly all there is.....really?

To say those words "age is just a  number" seem so callous to me, as if the years we spend here are nothing more than valueless days adding up to empty years that contain nothing more than a digit or two attached. The older gentleman seeking the company of a much younger companion soon finds out that the difference between them is much more than simply a few extra years in between. The generational difference cannot be "fixed" with cosmetic surgery, hair plugs, and a pithy saying. When I talk with my grandchildren some of the things I used to do when I was their age, or when I mention a favourite old movie actor, and they then look at me quizzically to say "who?" ...after two or three minutes of trying to explain it to them I see that they have lost interest but are pretending to care to spare my feelings, and then I have to wonder what these "autumn - spring romance" couples can even talk about, besides food and the weather, and the possible problems of other family members viewing that youngster as simply a gold digger hoping for a large inheritance.

As a Christian I look at the years that have gone by and what the Lord has done in my life. How can an atheist exclaim that "there is no God" and still find a reason to live, if each day adds up to years of numbers that contain nothing of eternal value? Oh, but they will say that it is to pass on their wisdom and love to children and grandchildren....but those children and grandchildren also will add up to eternal nothings (according to that foolish logic) who will spent years that eventually will add up to nothing, and for what? What is it all for, if there is no God? I've never had one atheist explain that sad fact to me, not even once....and I think that perhaps the incredible increases in depression and suicides are explained by this same foolish logic coming to it's logical empty conclusion.

The Bible says "The fool says in his heart 'There is no God' " Psalm 14:1

Psalm 14:1-5 

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. 

Oh, but they will tell you that they are a "good person", and that they have no need of "a god" to be good. Hypocrites! We have all fallen short. We have all done something or other that requires our repentance, an apology, an act of penance to try to make up for our missteps... but that doesn't require the intervention of a Creator, does it?...well, in order for it to really be true, it does require His interaction with our action, or else it is fake, done for selfish ends to get our get out of the performance...to get others to like us, or give us what we want...but the act is not therefore sincerely done with the mindset of our sinfulness, our need to humble ourselves by the fact of our shortcomings. Only the grace of God can supply that Truth, the inner conviction of the fact that we cannot be perfect and require the graciousness of others to be considered any good at all.

And so, as the years go by, are there any good and true things that are stored up in those years for you? Or are they simply empty of any meaning, just moments wasted going through the motions, and then a waiting to die?

Ecc 1:2-3; 2:7-8; 3:8-9; 12:13-14

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.   

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?   

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 

 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.   

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

Let us therefore be wise and walk circumspectly knowing that each moment is given to us, a gift and a treasure from our Lord and our Creator and Saviour. Let us live lives that are numbered with the fullness and richness of lives fulfilled and meaningful, lives that when we reach our mortal end, we can look back with wonder and gratitude to a generous and merciful God who has graced us with many good things.

Is Life Just A Numbers Game?

For some reason I am having all kinds of issues on blogger, sorry about that. I had to remove this post because I couldn't get the font right, grrr!! Sheesh. I will try to repost this later. Ièll give the ole puter a reboot (again) to see if I can resolve this problem....

Final Thoughts on Rapture Timing (part 6)

I say "final" with caution, lol, because I might pick this topic up again, but if I do it will  be on the Bible Treasures blog.

Since the previous posting I've been looking through several post trib videos to try to find the one I think best represents what I find in scripture on the topic. The one I chose is "pre wrath" and although I agree with most of what he says there are still some minor points that I am at variance with. He believes the rapture happens right after the opening of the 6th seal, and I see the rapture happening as part of the 7th seal with the sounding of the 7th trumpet. I do agree that the rapture is mentioned at the ending of the 6th seal, but that the revelation given to the Apostle John then telescopes into the events of that with the 7th seal; a minor point, as I said above.

Also, the pastor in the video (I couldn't catch his name, I think the person in the intro says "Pastor Ganz, but not sure. If you know who this pastor is please leave that information in the comments, thank you 🙂 ) ...the pastor in the video says "I don't know" quite frequently, and I appreciate that rather than him making stuff up to fit his thinking. I notice that he mentions having believed pre trib at one time, so perhaps there are things that might still be lingering and hindering his thinking, but there are many things that I don't understand as well, many of which will clear up as we get closer to the time of His returning.

I agree with this pastor that those who hold the pre-trib position won't be kept out of heaven for holding to a wrong doctrine. Many saved Christians that held to pre, mid, or post trib positions have already passed on to be with Jesus and are enjoying His presence.

If you hold to the pre-trib position, it is my hope that you can listen to the entirety of the video, and then add your disagreements or whatever you wish to add or ask in the comments only after hearing it all out. Please examine these scriptures that he references in their proper context and pray that Jesus will reveal the whole truth of the matter to you, regardless of what you have been taught in the past.

One more note that I don't think I have clearly commented on and that isn't really examined thoroughly in this video is the term "the time of Jacob's trouble". Pre-tribbers cite this as a reason why only Jews will be here for the great tribulation. From how I see it the scriptures say when I look at what is happening before our very eyes is the Church Age has already passed (or at very least is well on the way to having passed). Many churches are closing their doors, sadly. In my area there are many closed churches. One street over from us is a church that just had it's final meeting last Sunday. Many church buildings in our area are being remade into homes or businesses. The churches that do remain are a shadow of what they used to be, mostly teaching "prosperity and health" as compared with "repent for the time is at hand, turn from sin to Jesus or go to everlasting punishment" is seen as "old fashioned" or not keeping with the times. Many of us "old timers" that like that kind of preaching are passing away as well. That is why I believe the church age is fading away as attention is shifting more and more to Israel, and I believe that the main thrust of the antichrist's persecution will be focused on Israel, but of course those few who still truly believe in Jesus that won't take the antichrist's mark will also feel his (not the Lord's) wrath.

Again to reiterate, I ask that you please watch the entire video to the end before making a comment or question. Thank you. 💗

The Church and The Great Tribulation (Rapture Thoughts part 5)

 Photo I took a couple years ago...

I've heard it said that because the great tribulation is also called "the time of Jacob's Trouble" it means the church is not present during the great tribulation. I want to hear what the Bible says about it and see if that is indeed what the Bible tells us.

Those who hold to the pre-trib version of eschatology will say that the elect mentioned in Matthew chapter 24 cannot be Christians but must be Jews that convert to become Christians after the Church has been raptured away prior to the beginning of the great tribulation. So let's examine the word elect in the rest of the New Testament to see if it only refers to converted Jews only.

First let's look at the word "elect". The Greek word is eklektos which comes from a word meaning selected  and is by implication "favourite" or "chosen". It is used a great many times in the new testament. Jesus uses this word, and He of course spoke with Jews, and the Jews today are still referred to as "the chosen people", but does that therefore mean it exclusively refers to only Jewish people?

In Matthew 24 Jesus tells His closest disciples this when they  ask Him about the end of the age:

Matthew 24:24, 29-31  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect....
  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Other places that this exact same Greek word is used the Bible is directing its admonition to all believers:

 Colossians 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

and here in this next verse, Paul who is called the apostle to the Gentiles says to Titus:

Titus 1:1  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Was Titus Jewish? According to Answers.com:

Where is Titus in The Bible from? 

As per Harper's Bible Dictionary (1954) pg. 765 "Titus, whose home was probably in Antioch or its neighborhood, was born of Gentile parents (Gal 2:3) and was a convert of Paul (Tit 1:4)". 

Also it is said of the saints mentioned in the book of Revelation that they are not Gentiles, but Jews that convert after the rapture because the word "church" only appears up to chapter 4 of the book. Does the Bible say that the term saints only applies to Jewish converts?

 Revelation 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

 Revelation 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

 Revelation 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 Revelation 13:7-10  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.   And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.   If any man have an ear, let him hear.   He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 

In fact, in the new testament the word "saints" every reference is always to the church....but according to the pre-trib tradition it changes to mean "Jewish converts to Jesus after the rapture of the Church" after chapter 4 of the book of Revelation begins and then magically again becomes all believers including the church after Jesus returns.

This is the verse that mentions what happens at the end of the millenium:

Revelation 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

So are the saints mentioned in Revelation 20 only Jewish converts from the tribulation period? Or is the church counted in with those saints...? and if so, why isn't the word church now so stated?

Anyway, these are some things to ponder and bring before the Lord in all honesty, wanting the truth only, not man's traditions or wishes or fears dominating one's eschatology. In Jesus we have nothing to fear because if Jesus is for us who can be against us? They can kill our bodies but not our souls. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.

In my next post I shall share a video that tells even more about the problems with the pre-trib position, stating it much more concisely than I have done here. I hope that you will give all these things serious consideration, having the love of the real and whole truth always as the final reason for what we believe.