What Could Be the Greatest Deception of Our Time?

 Hindsight is 20/20. I didn't realize it at the time as a younger believer, but in some cases, I believe I was persuaded of certain things being correct because they were so mainstream and popular, not necessarily because I had taken extensive time into really studying them out for myself and asking the hard questions. This isn't to say I didn't study and ponder these things, but that perhaps I didn't have the maturity, the depth of relationship with the Lord, the breadth of knowledge I needed nor the willingness to search out the harder questions. Maybe in some cases, as in the case with eschatology (the study of the end times), for instance, there were so many viewpoints and so much information that it made me so confused that I basically gave up trying to understand it! When I read the book Coming Again, a few years ago, which basically described every possible view (almost) of end times doctrine and I found myself agreeing or at least seeing the biblical basis for each one as being valid, I was convinced that this area was too much for me.

Yet, I want to be a Berean. The Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. They didn't just assume Paul was right, they checked what Paul taught them to see if it lined up with the Torah (Old Testament Scriptures... I don't like using the phrasing "old" as it has the connotation in our culture as being outdated). This challenges me. These believers didn't have degrees in theology. They had the Holy Spirit and the Word and that is all they needed. Sometimes, simpler is better. Sometimes, I get caught up in book reading and it clutters my mind in a way that makes it harder to read the Word objectively, afresh, and with the Holy Spirit alone to guide me.

Recently, a godly brother, whom I greatly respect, had challenged me on my pretribulational rapture views (the belief that Yeshua will come to rapture His Bride and whisk her away before things get real ugly here on earth for the period called the Tribulation). I pretty much hung on for dear life. I mean, honestly, who DOESN'T want to believe in a pretrib rapture? I am not sure of the statistics on this, but I would guess about 90% of believers hold to this view, if not more. Thanks to the Left Behind (which I of course read) series, movies and books as well as countless numbers of theologians and pastors who teach this view, it has become very mainstream indeed. And I got swept up in the current of this...why not? It sure gives a person warm fuzzies to think we won't have to endure the wrath of man (the antichrist) or go through the persecution described in Daniel, Revelation and elsewhere.

As I studied this out, I began to list my questions and really start to study these end time passages. I tried to study them objectively, forgetting I had any views and without any other books and commentaries. I poured over Revelation, mapping it out. I saw new things I hadn't seen before. This was very valuable! Granted, I had more questions than answers, but it really caused me to go deeper, to cross reference, to pray and to ask for Adonai to help me, as I really needed His help!

I do not think we are, as believers, going to experience God's wrath, but I don't think we can scripturally support that we will not experience man's wrath through the antichrist. Those two are separate things in my mind and I believe in the scriptures as well.  The question I had then, was how do I differentiate between these two things in Revelation and specifically the seals, trumpets and judgments? The wrath of God is not mentioned in Revelation until Rev 6:16 at the opening of the sixth seal, when there is a great cosmic disturbance, an earthquake and eclipses of the sun and moon and everyone on earth is hiding and saying,"Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" As the seals, trumpets and bowls are linked together, in other words, the 7th seal contains all the trumpets and the bowls. This seems to indicate that the wrath of God begins at the 7th seal. Alot happens between the 6th and 7th seal.  It is in this time period that the 144,000 sons of Israel are sealed, and it seems there is a rapture of saints from every tribe and language that no one can count (contrasted with the 144,000 who can be counted) who (Rev 7:14) are identified as those "coming out of the great tribulation". What are they crying out with a loud voice? "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" The have been saved, brought out of the great tribulation (this seems to indicate to me they have gone through part of it in order for them to be said to be taken out of it). Notice this occurs after the 5th seal, where many saints are martyred.

Why in each and every letter of Revelation that Yeshua writes to the called out ones, the believers, does He end with the statement, "To the one who conquers...." If we didn't have to stand strong and conquer something than why these letters, the warnings, the admonitions to overcome? It doesn't fit the pretribulational view AT ALL. If we are to be raptured and will not have to endure persecution and hardship then Yeshua said all this in vain. Of course, I don't believe that could ever be true. Above all, the Word is true!

One particular text really stood out to me from 2 Thessalonians which made me turn a corner in what I believe to be true. This was not a new passage to me at all. Isn't it funny how you can read a passage over and over again and then years later come to a totally new revelation on that same passage? 2 Thess 2:1-4 "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

I am not really sure why I didn't see this before. This scripture seems to indicate to me that certain things have to happen FIRST before we are gathered together to Him (raptured if you will). This basically debunks the pretribulationalist's view of imminency which says that the rapture could come at any moment and that there is nothing we are waiting for to happen first. Paul says here that two things have to happen first. The rebellion and the man of lawlessness (antichrist) has to be revealed (made known). Traditionally, it is the midpoint of the "week" when this occurs, when the antichrist goes into the temple and defiles it, making himself known and revealing his true colors, so to speak. It seems to me, from this passage and others, that we will be here to see this happen! The 5th seal is martyrdom for those who don't take the mark of the beast and worship the antichrist. I think we will be here for that too.

Revelation 3:10 gives me hope and is very sobering as well. I don't think this refers to the rapture but refers to a divine protection in some way during the great tribulation that the saints will have to endure. This is given only to this one body of believers in Philadelphia, indicating that this is a small remnant."Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth." This body of believers is faithful and receives the most glowing report of all the congregations. Because of this, they have already "passed the test" with flying colors and proved themselves, so they will be kept in some way from the testing and trial that is coming on the whole earth. What is the test and trial? I believe this is a time where we will prove who and what we believe. For those who have already shown that, they will be kept from this final test. If this doesn't cause us to consider if we are truly faithful to Him, I don't know what will.

Could the pretrib rapture view be the greatest deception of our time? Could Satan be involved in this deception which would cause believers to not be prepared at all mentally, emotionally, spiritually, for this time of testing and trial? I have to answer yes to these questions. As I have pondered this, I have grieved over the possibility that this belief and hope in our being raptured out before things get difficult will cause those who hold firmly to this view to lose their faith. If the rapture doesn't occur as they thought it would, will they wonder what they know to be true at all? Will it cause them to lose their faith and wonder if they can trust the Word of God? Will there be such disappointment that it will lead to discouragement, depression and disbelief? I think so. I at least think it is a very good possibility. This concerns me because I am part of the Body of Yeshua! I am being bold here, because I love my brothers and sisters too much to say nothing and I am convinced the time is so very short.

Let me just end with this thought. Be a Berean. Don't believe what I say, read the Bible for yourself! Do not trust what any teacher, church father, theologian (no matter how many degrees he or she has) or preacher says without reading the scriptures for yourself and pouring over them, asking the Lord to give you wisdom. Try to think outside the box and with an objectivity that the Holy Spirit can direct you and teach you the truth. Consider that you could be wrong and others could be wrong on some things. Man is fallible. God's Word is not. It always makes sense, it always agrees and is never contradictory. There is much deception and false teaching in our day. If we don't think we could ever be deceived, we are already half way there.

May He open our eyes and ears to His Truth!

A Time of Separation Coming

What an incredible time to be alive. There is a sense in my spirit of being chosen for such a time as this. The LORD speaks to whomever He pleases. He gives dreams and visions to believers and unbelievers and can even speak through a donkey! In Joel 2:28-29, he speaks of a time when "your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit". It seems that there are more dreams and visions and prophecies coming forth than ever in history in our day.

What are some of the themes of these messages? Well, I can only say from my perspective and limited viewpoint, but there does seem to be some unity in the message. Destruction and judgment is coming. We live in perilous times. From David Wilkerson's "Urgent Warning" to so many others, the message seems clear to me. This is a time for repentance, obedience, seeking the Lord and being on our knees. The time is so short. The Lord recently told me, "Make straight the path for I am coming! The paths are all crooked now." I am amazed at the continuity of the Word of God. It is the same message being spoken before His first coming as now, before His second coming. Repent. He is coming soon. And His winnowing fork is in His hand. He is coming to do some separating!

Not a warm and fuzzy message, I realize, but truth is often like that. When the Lord gives you a warning that something is coming, with it, comes the responsibility to share it. So with that, I give you, with fear and trembling, a dream the Lord gave me back in October 20, 2009. I do this to be responsible, but also to see if anything resonates with you and to get your feedback. Feel free to comment!

I was on a high mountain looking down into a large valley below. It was evening and there were lights in the towns and villages below. I was with a group of believers and we were looking out into the valley. Suddenly, a huge plume of fire and smoke erupted in the valley, then another and another all around in different places. We turned to flee the area and got into vehicles. When I got into the car to drive, there was a man sitting in the passenger seat. He had a newspaper of sorts on his lap. I asked him, "What day/time is it?" He replied to me, "40/40".  I remember thinking I didn't understand that at all. As we drove away, looking back at the destruction, I saw ash falling all around us, but not hitting our vehicle. Somehow, I felt safe and protected. We ended up meeting other believers at a house that was visibly shaken. I found the man that was in the car with me and asked him what 40/40 meant, and he replied, "Passover. A time of trial and testing, but God's people will be protected."

The dream seems fairly straightforward to me. Although, at the time, I didn't understand what 40/40 meant. Numbers are always important in scripture and in dreams. 40 is a number we know something about. This number always represents, trials, temptations, testing. I am thinking of 40 years wandering for the Hebrews, 40 day temptation of Yeshua, Noah's flood, etc. When numbers are repeated, it is for emphasis sake, meaning double of what the number represents. That is a warning in itself.

Then of course, we have the Passover mentioned, which is very significant. I have been studying and celebrating all of the Feasts of the Lord now for about a year. Read Leviticus 23 to understand what these are. The first 3 spring feasts have been fulfilled by Messiah to the very day. He was crucified on Passover, rose on Firstfruits and then the Holy Spirit was given on Shavuot (Pentecost). We await the fall feasts as we know that His second coming and end time events will correlate with these fall Feasts of the Lord. Leviticus tells us that they are not Jewish feasts, but they are HIS Feasts. Many historical events of importance have happened on days related to the biblical calendar/Feasts of the Lord. Many people don't know, as I did not, that God has a calendar and He always keeps His appointments! He is faithful. The Hebrew mind and the Word of God works time in cycles, not in a linear way the way we normally think. These feasts are divine appointments and rehearsals (mow'ed) that the Lord wants us to keep as they often correlate to important events.

 Interesting as I think about Passover, it was a time when Adonai distinguished between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. There was a clear distinction after the 3rd plague and on through the rest of the plagues right through the crossing of the Red Sea when the Holy One of Israel triumphed over Pharoah and his chariots. This was a time of judgment, testing, separating, redeeming.

The dream seems to be a warning of what is to come. Does this mean this event will happen on a Passover? I don't know. But I do think it could mean that. The next Passover is soon approaching, April 18-19, 2011.(I give two dates because a day to the Lord is evening to evening, encompassing two of our days as we know them to be.)

I have had other dreams with earthquakes, strange storms and other events, but this one was more detailed. I don't know what this means in terms of if it is a terrorist attack, natural disaster or something else. What do you think it represents? What are you sensing and hearing from the Lord?

Malachi 3:16-4:4 says this,

      "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. 'They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.  Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.  For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. (Here is the part that is usually left out because this is an end times future event, referring to this next verse 4) Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for ALL Israel."

Those who are His treasured possession will be spared and a distinction made between two kinds of people. Those that fear Adonai and serve Him are those who keep His commands, including those given to Moses, also a servant of Yahweh. Evidently, we needed a reminder that Moses' laws were part of our responsibility to keep during this time, or Adonai would not have said it! I believe this is a Word for us today in these last days leading up to the Day of the Lord, "remember the law of my servant Moses"! This is a prophetic end time scripture, but I don't think I have ever heard verse 4 quoted in this context. Seems like this verse has been conveniently forgotten.

I am thinking of all the parables of Yeshua written in the New Covenant regarding separating the good and bad fish, wheat and tares, wise and foolish virgins, faithful and wicked servant. All of these describe those who are IN the kingdom, not outside of it! Yeshua is giving us a warning here, that a sifting, separating and distinction will be made from the sheep and the goats among those who call themselves "His people".  The sheep are those who follow Him because they recognize the Good Shepherd's voice. Yeshua came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24) He came to turn the hearts of the lost sheep to Him and to follow Him as He became the Word made flesh. A truly living and active Word!

May we obey ALL that He has commanded us and be able to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master!"