READINESS

READINESS

Monday, January 6, 2020

GotQuestions.org: "How can I be ready to be caught up in the rapture?"

  The rapture is coming, and we should all make sure we are ready for it. Being ready for the rapture is much simpler than you may think. In short, you must receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. The rapture is for believers.
  Here is a clear prophecy of the rapture of the church: “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18). Note that Paul is writing to believers concerning those who are “in Christ” and thus have the promise of resurrection. Those who are saved are ready for the rapture.
  The unsaved are not ready for the rapture. In fact, that day of the Lord (which begins with the rapture) will come upon the unsaved “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Those who are left behind in the rapture will be those who do not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within them. Believers are ready: “You, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
  The children of God are ready for the rapture because of their faith. They are the five wise virgins in Jesus’ parable who have their lamps trimmed and burning and full of oil—a picture of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 25:1–13). Unfortunately, faith will be lacking in most of the people on earth; the time before Jesus’ coming will be characterized by spiritual coldness and unbelief. Jesus spoke of His return and asked, rhetorically, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
  Are you ready for the rapture? Jesus knows His own, and He will come for them (John 10:14; 14:1–3). The only way you will be left behind in the rapture is if you have not received Christ as your Savior. If you are not saved, then today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not delay another moment. Trust Christ now.

Recommended Resource: The Popular Handbook on the Rapture: Experts Speak Out on End-Times Prophecy by LaHaye, Ice, & Hindson

RAPTURE TRIBULATION TIMETABLE?

RAPTURE TRIBULATION TIMETABLE?

Friday, January 3, 2020

GotQuestions.org: "When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?"

  The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation is one of the most controversial issues in the church today. The three primary views are pre-tribulational (the rapture occurs before the tribulation), mid-tribulational (the rapture occurs at or near the mid-point of the tribulation), and post-tribulational (the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation). A fourth view, commonly known as pre-wrath, is a slight modification of the mid-tribulational position.

  First, it is important to recognize the purpose of the tribulation. According to Daniel 9:27, there is a seventieth “seven” (seven years) that is still yet to come. Daniel’s entire prophecy of the seventy sevens (Daniel 9:20-27) is speaking of the nation of Israel. It is a time period in which God focuses His attention especially on Israel. The seventieth seven, the tribulation, must also be a time when God deals specifically with Israel. While this does not necessarily indicate that the church could not also be present, it does bring into question why the church would need to be on the earth during that time.
  The primary Scripture passage on the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It states that all living believers, along with all believers who have died, will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and will be with Him forever. The rapture is God’s removing of His people from the earth. A few verses later, in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Paul says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The book of Revelation, which deals primarily with the time period of the tribulation, is a prophetic message of how God will pour out His wrath upon the earth during the tribulation. It seems inconsistent for God to promise believers that they will not suffer wrath and then leave them on the earth to suffer through the wrath of the tribulation. The fact that God promises to deliver Christians from wrath shortly after promising to remove His people from the earth seems to link those two events together.
  Another crucial passage on the timing of the rapture is Revelation 3:10, in which Christ promises to deliver believers from the “hour of trial” that is going to come upon the earth. This could mean two things. Either Christ will protect believers in the midst of the trials, or He will deliver believers out of the trials. Both are valid meanings of the Greek word translated “from.” However, it is important to recognize what believers are promised to be kept from. It is not just the trial, but the “hour” of trial. Christ is promising to keep believers from the very time period that contains the trials, namely the tribulation. The purpose of the tribulation, the purpose of the rapture, the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and the interpretation of Revelation 3:10 all give clear support to the pre-tribulational position. If the Bible is interpreted literally and consistently, the pre-tribulational position is the most biblically-based interpretation.

HENRY CLAY TRUMBULL

HENRY CLAY TRUMBULL



  Henry Clay Trumbull was born in Stonington, Conn., June 8, 1830. Though poor health kept him from formal education beyond age 14. At age 21 while attending Charles Finney’s revival meetings he trusted Lord Jesus Christ and immediately endeavored to serve Him, so much so that as a yielded and willing Christian he was an outstanding testimony then and continues to be so today. He became a world famous author, editor, and avid pioneer of the then new Sunday School Movement. Trumbull was awarded honorary degrees from Yale, Lafayette College, and New York University. He wrote 38 books. Wikipedia lists 16 of his published works. Christian Book Distributors still sell a number of his books. One is in my library, *HINTS ON CHILD RAISING. It is a book he wrote when 60 years of age.  “A book that’s been helping parents for over 100 years.”

  During his lifetime as a personal and public evangelist he traveled the world, was Union Army chaplain ministering to the wounded, spent time in several Confederate prisons, championed the new Sunday School movement, was a Biblical archeologist, and a much sought after speaker.

  Though a busy man, he and wife Alice Cogswell Gallaudet (Whose father founded the American School for the Deaf. Alice was named after Alice Cogswell, the first student at the school.), they raised 8 children.

  Henry Clay Trumbull died in 1903 at the age of 73.

EBB4 (Compiled from several sources.)



*192 pages. Table of contents lists:

1. Child Training: What Is It?                                                        2. The Duty of Training Children

3. Scope and Limitations of Child training                              4. Discerning a Child’s Special Need of Training

5. Will-Training, Rather than Will-Breaking                            6. The Place of “Must” in Training

7. Denying a Child Wisely                                                              8. Honoring a Child’s Individuality

9. Letting Alone as a Means of Child Training                        10. Training a Child in Self-Control

11. Training a Child Not to Tease                                               12. Training a Child’s Appetite

13. Training a Child as a Questioner                                         14. Training a Child’s Faith

15. Training a Child to Sabbath Observance                          16. Training a Child in Amusements

17. Training a Child in Courtesy                                                  18. Cultivating a Child’s Taste in Reading

19. The Value of Table Talk                                                           20. Guiding a Child in Companionships

21. Never Punish a Child in Anger                                             22. Scolding is Never in Order

23. Dealing Tenderly with a Child’s Fears                               24. The Sorrows of Children

25. The Place of Sympathy in Child Training                           26. Influence of the Home Atmosphere

27. The Power of a Mother’s Love                                            28. Allowing Plat to a Child’s Imagination

29. Giving Added Value to a Child’s Christmas                      30. Good-Night Words



PS. I encourage acquiring and prayerfully reading this book as a parent, grandparent, and for personal edification.

NEW DAY STILL ONE DAY

NEW DAY STILL ONE DAY

Wednesday, January 1, 2020



  It’s New Year’s Day, meaning what?

  My plans involve daily morning United Health survey weigh-in and questionnaire, sending required heart history scan to cardiologist, take first meds with others to follow throughout, continue DT waking ponderance, reading, study, and keyboarding, breakfast of cereal and banana, complete DT and thrice edit before publishing, fetch and read the early delivery of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, air (monthly tires topping off) and water (bi-monthly house plants refreshing), communicate with folks and others, read from one or more of the magazines I subscribe to, complete viewing a documentary, read a bit more from magazines or one of books I’ve got going, enjoy unspectacular but enjoyable lunch, then read a bit more (sometimes involves dozing), do some research, fill in some form blanks of family tree, and a number of other things mixed in including 10pm reading another chapter of Napoleon and French Revolution history and then falling asleep.

  Maybe, for as I said, “My plans”, for I may not accomplish all or even any single item on my list.

  The only certain thing I do know is this new day is still one day that God has made, and I should, I shall rejoice in it. (Ps.118:24; Phil.2:16)

EBB4

LESS THAN THE TIP OF AN ICEBURG

LESS THAN THE TIP OF AN ICEBERG

Tuesday, December 31, 2019



“Lord, You know everyone’s heart,”



  As another calendar year approaches many would like to know more about events -- the public, intelligence agencies including our FBI and CIA. An impossible task regardless of IQ, facility, or size of staff. Comprehending the quantity of happenings, their speed, flux, and actual complete meaning are far beyond natural human capability.

  This is not so with Jehovah God Almighty, for He alone is omniscient: 1Kings 8:39; Psalm 139:1-4, 15-16; Isaiah 45:9-10; Matthew 9:4; 10:29-30; 12:25; Mark 2:6-8; 14:13-15; Luke 6:8; John 1:47-48; 4:18; Acts 1:24; Philippians 2:7; 1John 3:20.

  Then there is the matter of God’s justice with full knowledge as opposed to man’s stumbling manipulation with limited knowledge. The latter that has proven unavoidable, leaving us wondering about our next collisions. The difference being that His John 1:12 children may experience life with insight and the peace of God exceeding normal understanding keeping our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:6-7; 2Tim.2:1-7)

EBB4

RAPTURE <> SECOND COMING

RAPTURE <> SECOND COMING

Monday, December 30, 2019



GotQuestions.org: "What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?"

  The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.
  The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?

1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).

3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters 6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time of trouble for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).

The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences. In summary, the rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.

WORSHIP - WORTHSHIP

WORSHIP – WORTHSHIP

Sunday, December 29, 2019

   Revelation chapter 5 … they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.



  What makes for the greatest quality of worship?

  Ambience with its distinctive atmosphere of stained glass, lighting, art and statuary, the quality of the music, liturgy and order, the reading of and preaching on The Word; Or a keen high sense of appreciative respect and adoration for Jehovah God, He who is Sovereign in all things; God of love, justice, and righteousness? 

  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised … (Ps.18:3)

  You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created. (Rev.4:11)

EBB4