Is The Rapture Imminent?

In the light of current world events, and Biblical prophecy, many Bible scholars are convinced that the return of the Lord Jesus is very near.  And most agree that there are no more events that have to occur before the return of our Lord.  One thing we are sure of is that His return is now 2000 years closer than when He lived on earth.  While it is not appropriate to set dates, we are told in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 of conditions that will exist at the time of the Lord’s return, and prior to the seven year tribulation period.  Both Matthew and Luke describe conditions on the earth at Christ’s return as being similar to those that existed in the days of Noah, and at the time God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  With the increase in violence world wide, the breakdown of  moral standards, increased frequency of earthquakes, and fulfilment of many other prophecies, the latter days of the end times appear to be nearing.  However, most Christian authorities believe that Christians will not have to suffer through the tribulation but will be caught up in the rapture, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

I Thessalonians 4:16,17  ‘For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the  dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up  with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…’

John 14:2,3   ‘I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’

Revelation 3:10  ‘I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.’

Do you believed Christians will be raptured before the tribulation?

Do you believe the return of Jesus Christ is very near?

Are you ready for the Lord’s return?

Canada will soon become one of the few Western countries that has enacted legislation to allow ‘doctor assisted death’ or ‘doctor assisted suicide’. Read this article.  Which begs the question ‘what should be the position of Christians on such a law?’   Although the language surrounding the issue has been sanitized to be less offensive, such as ‘aid to dying with dignity’, the right description for this legislation is the ’empowering of doctors to end a persons life. There are stronger words, however; we’ll leave that up to you to decide.

God alone is the giver of life, and He alone has the right to determine when it should end.  When a person is born he or she has an appointed time to live and to die, as indicated in Ecclesiastes.  However, man in his wisdom or lack thereof, has elected to play God, and decide when a person’s life should end.  He (man) has already decided that many should not be born by legalizing abortion….

Christians are not exempt from suffering; however, they have a promise that God will be with them, even when they ‘walk through the valley of the shadow of death’ and beyond.

Doctor Assisted Death

Deuteronomy 32:39  ‘See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand.’

Ecclesiastes 9:8  ‘There is no man that has power over the spirit (life) to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death…’

Job 1:21  ‘And (Job) said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I depart: the Lord gave and, the Lord has taken away; blessed be  the name of the Lord.’

Ecclesiastes 3:2    ‘A time to be born, and a time to die:’

Do you find ‘doctor assisted death’ acceptable?

Do you believe anyone has the right to determine when a person should die?

How should Christians respond to questions about this issue?

Holiness, Is It Optional For Christians?

In today’s Christian community, holiness often seems to be a forgotten concept.  You have no doubt heard it expressed that it is difficult today to tell the difference between saints and sinners.  Christians, in general, seem to enjoy the same entertainment, whether music or cinema, dress in similar clothing, indulge in the same eating and drinking habits, and follow, for the most part, the same materialistic lifestyles as the rest of the world.  In John 15:19, Jesus said that ‘I have chosen you out of the world’, and in John 17:14He says that His followers are ‘not of the world, even as I am not of the world.’  Yet it seems that worldly pursuits are often the main priorities of far too many Christians.  Although Paul says in I Timothy6:17 that ‘God gives us richly all things to enjoy’, it follows an admonition in verse 11 that the ‘man of God should follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.’  The pursuit of these attributes is undoubtedly a reflection of the desire and commitment to living a life of holiness.

Scripture verses to consider

Leviticus 20:7        ‘Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.’

2 Corinthians 7:1  ‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.’

Hebrews 12:14      ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.’

How would you define holiness?

Do you feel that you are living a life of holiness?

Do you think a holy life is possible in today’s wicked world?

Should All Christians Expect To Be Healed?

James 5:14, 15 ‘Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.’

Matthew 4:23 ‘And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Isaiah 53:5 ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions: He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, he went about healing the sick and raising the dead. Nowhere are we told that He refused anyone who came to Him for healing. And in his letter, James instructed us that we should call the elders of the church to pray for the sick, and the Lord would raise them up. Shouldn’t Christians follow these instructions and expect that God would heal all who are obedient in faith and prayer? Some believe that healing is available because of Christ’s suffering on the cross – that provision was made both for spiritual and physical healing. However, we know that, in spite of the evidence of God’s supernatural healing, both in the past and today, there are times when our prayers for healing are not granted. The decision to heal or not to heal is one which must be left to the omniscient wisdom of God, Who decides what is best in each individual situation.

How do you believe we should pray for healing?
Do you believe all healing is from God?
Do you think Christians should expect to be healed in response to prayer?

Because He Lives

I Must Tell Jesus