All Aboard!
Life can be pictured as a journey. Think of it as a soul train, if you prefer. And although we exercised no control over how or when we came into this present life, the good news is that we can determine where our sojourn is destined to take us next.
With this in mind, our March column attempts to prepare us for the Easter season. We start by revisiting the compelling vision of Pastor David Wilkerson in "Be Ye Ready." We then follow this up with a presentation entitled “Listen to Your Better Angels,” contextual data providing a basis for why scholars believe we may be the rapture generation. An appeal by Franklin Graham on Christ's 2nd coming then follows.
And if our estimates are correct, you may wonder what’s the best use of our remaining time? In other words, what can we do individually, right now, that will make a difference in the lives of others for time and eternity? Given the ubiquity of digital media, we suggest you consider use of your social networks to expand your reach with a presentation entitled "Social Media Outreach,"
And if the idea of evangelism is unnerving, we also introduce you to a relational method for sharing your faith, with a downloadable presentation entitled “Soul Training.” Last but not least, we button-up this month’s column by taking time to address frequently asked questions, sent to the editor.
We look forward to Spring's renewal, and we welcome your questions and comments.
Roy J. Tanner
"Be Ye Ready" Is No Joking Matter
David Wilkerson - from a dream in 1998...
The following is part of a transcript of a sermon David Wilkerson (Times Square Church) gave following a dream he had in 1998. I recall quite vividly it was in 1998 that I myself became acutely aware of the coming separation of the church by resurrection. (The Bride Theft) It was also around that time that I became convinced of the Lord that resurrection would be such as David shared from his dream, that we would be taken in a heavenly vehicle with angelic escort. (Heaven's Vehicles) If this testimony speaks to you, you may want to listen to his anointed preaching, found here. Be Ye Ready Is No Joking Matter - audio mp3 download...
Matthew 24:42-44: "Watch ye therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
(Praying) Lord you spoke so clearly to me this past week in a dream. You told me to preach this this afternoon, and I obey you...
I don't get many dreams, and I don't preach on my dreams because I'm a Bible preacher, and anything that does not conform to the Word of God is to be rejected outright. I'm just telling you how God awakened my soul, how I should preach this more often...I want you to know this is not doctrine, it's not some new revelation, it's simply the Holy Spirit prompting me, and speaking to me about His coming, I don't want to build any doctrine about it, remember that. I don't have much confidence in dreams, any dream vision or revelation has to absolutely be framed in Scripture.
Now having said that, let me share with you without trying to talk to you about doctrine or anything else, just the Holy Ghost talking to me. In my dream I was suddenly awakened by the knowledge that I had been snatched, I had been caught up, and I was in some kind of conveyance, I don't know if it was a chariot, I didn't see the conveyance, but I knew that there were others in it and that there was an angel of the Lord... there was a sense of just racing swiftly thru streets and into houses, this conveyance knew no barriers and I had a sense that I was on my way home, I'm saved, the Lord has come.
I am being gathered by the angel of the Lord, the chariots of the Lord, there are thousands upon thousands, the coming of the Lord is as lightining is from the east to the west...there was a sense of swiftness, but it was almost as I was seeing it in slow motion, this lightning coming, I was seeing it in slow motion, I didn't see a driver, I didn't see an angel, I didn't see the conveyance, I just had a sense, I knew I was being carried and taken and it was moving swiftly, and people were being snatched from homes and from the streets.
And I remember specifically going into a particular home and there were 3 people that I recognized, 2 were friends and 1 was a family member, and we went right by, and there was as sense, a sudden sense, "oh God, they were being left behind", and the Lord allowed me to, for a few fleeting moments, to sense the terror of what it would be like to be left behind when the angels of the Lord come and gather His elect from the 4 winds.
I was made to know at that time that even those who call themselves Christians, were not really Christians, who despised the grace of God, went out and sinned and said I can easily confess, never forsaking their sin, there was a sense that even though they were sleeping they were aware, there was an awareness that the Lord is coming, and there is a sudden moment because I saw hands being raised, people reaching out and waving.
In fact as we kept moving on there were people that were moving and trying to get the attention of this driver, this conveyance, and I was screaming and yelling get out in the open, as if I thought if they were out in the open they could be seen and get caught up but it went swiftly on, but there was a sense that I have never experienced in my life, even though all my life my father taught on the coming of the Lord, my grandfather taught on the coming of the lord, taught about it.
The Bible says we shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, suddenly we're going to be changed, the bible says, this corrupt body shall put on an incorrupt body just like His. And the Bible says that we are to be prepared and ready, expecting, the Bible says He is coming for those who look for His appearing. And those who are expecting, even though sleep they are going to be caught, if it's in the middle of the night.
Now I'm not going to be get into the doctrine of the rapture, when this happens, before the tribulation, middle of the tribulation or after the tribulation, I am just telling you I had a sense of the horror it's going to be for those who knew the Gospel, who had one appeal after another, who knew the grace and the mercy of God and they were not ready. They were not taken, they were not gathered in this, and I remember the swiftness of moving, and seeing the people left behind, the conveyance just passing by, and this terrible sense. Lord I know I'm saved, I know I'm redeemed, I'm going home, but those 2 friends and that member of my family... and there was a terror. Two shall be sleeping in a bed, one shall be taken the other left...watch therefore He's coming as a thief in the night. He's coming folks.
There was no sense of speed , there was no sense of traveling, but suddenly I was stepping with everyone around me, we were stepping as out of a cloud,out of a fog, out of time, into eternity, suddenly. There was no sense of being carried out into a cosmos or anywhere else, suddenly we were...Home. We were in eternity and I remember this sense of absolute serenity, as we stepped out into eternity thru this cloud, there was a sense of peace, and all I could see around me people were feeling their bodies, they were feeling their hands, they were caressing their faces, there was no shouting. I didn't see Jesus anywhere, it was just a sense, it happened so quickly, it seemed to be a gathering place, the Bible say He's going to gather His elect from the the 4-winds, and suddenly I looked and there were my 2 friends, and my loved one coming through the cloud and into eternity.
Nobody was looking at each other, nobody, there was no embracing, there was just a peace, an incredible peace, and I experienced it for a moment, I am home, that earth that I was on is gone, I am beyond the reach of Satan, there is no sin, there is no possibility of ever being lost, I am eternally His, He did what He said He would do, He said He would come with His angels, He came with His angels, he did everything I preached, everything I said, it's true! He's all sufficient, He's everything that we need!
There was a peace and a a serenity beyond anything I could imagine... and people were just awed, in silence, there was an awe, there was a peace that was absoultely indescribable, and the sense... it was a sense, it's all over, it's all over, it was all... it was all true. That sense of reality and truth - that was not the real world, this is the real world, this is eternity, that's all passed away, it was just a dream, it was just grass, that's what the Bible says, the flesh is just grass, it comes up, it withers and it's gone. Time is just a little piece, eternity is a great big realm, God cut a little piece and He gave it to man, with His grace and mercy, saying, here is My grace, My mercy, My glory. He gives you space and time to repent and trust in Him...
But God wait a minute, all of these who didn't come, all of those who were left behind, who thought they were prepared and thought they were ready, they are not here, what about them Lord... they're lost, there was a sense in me, now folks that will not be there but I believe God was letting me feel the sense of this lostness of those who were gone, and suddenly as I was thinking about all those who had not been gathered, I woke up, I sat right up, and these words were like silent thunder in my head- "David, be ye ready is no joking matter." And I lay back in my pillow and God said, "My people are not taking it seriously, they talk about it but they are not taking it seriously, and many, many are going to be left behind- they are not ready... the age of grace is about to end."
Listen to Your Better Angels
Social Media Outreach
Soul Training
Q: What’s the objective of your ministry?
We’re a non-denominational outreach ministry that simply wants to reach the world for Christ. More often than not we serve as facilitators for larger ministries, offering our time, talent and treasure for the advancement of the Kingdom. For more information about this ministry see the "about us" statement at the end of each column.
Q: Why do end-time ministries focus on doom and gloom?
While A.D. 2018 prefers to focus on what’s uplifting, we’re also committed to preaching the full council of God, which includes both Scripture's blessings and curses. In addition to an emphasis on the coming millennial kingdom though, we also feature topics that foster spiritual formation and maturity.
The “big lie” that Satan has successfully inculcated into today’s thinking though, is that his perverted, counterfeit lifestyle is all there is, and that world-ending cataclysm is all that awaits us. It’s a message of deception however. After over 50-years of life experience (both on the mountain and in the valley), I can testify that doing things “by the Book” yields the greatest joy now, and it promises to give way to eternal “mind-blowing” joy in the final state of a renewed world to come.
Unfortunately, with all of this world’s subterfuge, we must strive to renew our mind daily if we’re to overcome Satan’s lies. But rest assured, we can be confident that “Garden of Eden” living will be restored. In short, you and I are offered the best of this life now in Christ, and life without end in a perfect world, surrounded by our family and friends, after the Lord returns.
Q: Who supposedly goes in the rapture, and who is left behind?
The short answer is that everyone who is “regenerate” is considered part of the Bride of Christ, and will be ushered into the Lord’s presence at the rapture. The rapture event essentially sets the table for the wedding supper of the Lamb. That said, the parables of Christ (e.g. 10-Virgins, Wedding Feast, Wedding Garment, etc.) are replete with examples of certain people being excluded.
Fortunately, the Bible has several tests for genuine faith. In addition to love for God, repentance, humility, devotion, prayer, worldly separation, spiritual growth, and obedience, you might also want to see this commentary on assurance: http://www.scribd.com/doc/23743627/Assurance
Last month’s column at A.D. 2018 also provided a study of the 7-Churches of Revelation. Prophetically representing various times in church history, the types presented here also point to a variety of churches and believers today. For more information on what to look for in genuine faith see: http://ad2018.blogspot.com/2010/02/know-greater-love.html
Last, I would also recommend some fascinating new research on the Jewish feasts that seems to indicate three types of harvest (barley, wheat, and grapes) representing the spiritual condition of three types of people (rapture saints, tribulation saints, and the ungodly). Review the 13-clues found there, which explore every facet of the rapture, especially who goes, who’s martyred and who suffers God’s wrath (specifically clues 6 & 13). For more information, visit The Bride of Christ site at: http://loafofbarley.webs.com/
Q: What’s the assumed length of a generation and the basis year that should be used to approximate end-time events?
While an average generation's lifespan is listed as 70-years in Psalm 90:10, it’s also is associated with the 40-year exodus, a 50-year Jubilee, and so on, up to 100-years. In fact, if the 42-generations listed in Matthew are divided into their historical length, it averages about 52-years. That said, depending on the basis year selected (e.g. 1917, 1948, 1967, etc.), many of these generational epochs culminate on or before A.D. 2018. More often than not though, scholars reckon on the year 1948 (Israel’s founding), accompanied by a 70-year generation, to estimate a not-to-exceed year of 2018. They then make adjustments based on a 7-year tribulation, the Torah calendar’s feast days, and new moons, before calling for a rapture watch.
Q: How do you validate the notion that we're the rapture generation?
Extrapolating our relative proximity to Christ’s return can be validated much like using GPS to determine your car’s position relative to your destination. GPS units determine their location by cross referencing multiple satellite positions and geo-coded map information. In this example the car would represent our generation, satellite positions would be geo-political events, and the geo-coded map information would be the predictive prophecy found in Scripture.
So by triangulating our place in history, with what’s called for throughout Scripture regarding end-times, we might expect news headlines to be trumpeting global economic decline, or war and rumors of war in the Middle East, or a rise in seismic activity, or perhaps reports on global pandemics. Does any of this sound familiar? The ancient Book of Daniel alone specifically cited the rise and fall of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (hundreds of years in advance) as they intersected with Jewish history.
This same prophetic book correlates with other Scripture to also describe the restoration of Israel, the reunification of Europe and a false Middle East peace treaty that will be negotiated during the last days. OK, tell me something I don’t know. Well how about if I suggest that unfulfilled prophecy also calls for the destruction of Damascus, another war between Israel and the neighboring states, as well as a Russian confederation marching on Israel, all prior to the war of Armageddon.
In future columns, we’ll devote more focus on the multitude of signs that confirm we’re the generation that will see the Lord’s return.
Q: What are the windows this year that are significant?
Now that it's been determined 2010 may be prophetically significant (using the 70-year generation theory), ideally, the spring and fall feast days would be the most likely windows (since Christ's death, burial and resurrection coincided with feast days). That said, compounded errors in calendar dating make it virtually impossible to know exactly when the feast days occur. As such, adding 30-days of margin to each festival is both prudent and consistent with notion that the exact day of the rapture cannot be known.
Q: With so many others wrong on dates, why will you be right?
Our confidence is based on promises made in Scripture related to Christ’s 2nd coming and the generation alive at the rebirth of ancient Israel as a nation. So we have a high degree of confidence that Christ will be ruling by 2018. Interim theories though, related to new moons, feast days, or geo-political events are helpful in determining our relative proximity, but they’re really nothing more than educated guesses.
What We Believe...
Regarding Last Things (Eschatology)
The Rapture of the Church
We affirm the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation (1 Thess. 4:16; Titus 2:13) to translate His church from this earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:15-5:11) and, between this event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according to their works (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
The Tribulation Period
We affirm that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18) the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 16), and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (Matt. 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 2:7-12). At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (Dan. 12:2,3; Rev. 20:4-6). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27; Matt. 24:15-31; 25:31-46).
The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
1. After the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (Matt. 25:31; Luke 1:32,33; Acts 1:10,11; 2:29,30) and establish His messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth (Rev. 20:1-7). During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (Ezek. 37:21-28; Dan. 7:17-22; Rev. 19:11-16). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world (Dan. 7:17-27; Rev. 20:1-6).
2. The kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel (Is. 65:17-25; Ezek. 37:21-28; Zech. 8:1-17) to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience (Deut. 28:15-68). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (Matt. 21:43; Rom. 11: 1-26) but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-32; Rom. 11:25-29).
3. This time of our Lord's reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (Is. 11; 65:17-25; Ezek. 36:33-38), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (Rev. 20:7).
The Judgment of the Lost
We affirm that following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ (Rev. 20:7), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth andgather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven (Rev. 20:9).
1. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10) whereupon Christ, who is the judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne judgment.
2. This resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment (John 5:28,29), they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:11-15).
Eternity
We affirm that after the closing of the Millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:7-15), the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (2 Pet. 3:10) and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells (Eph. 5:5; Rev. 20:15,21,22). Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven (Rev. 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another (John 17:3; Rev. 21,22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor. 15:23-28) that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Cor. 15:28).
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