Ready Or Not, Here It Comes :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: July 10, 2022 by RR7

I’ve seen many articles lately with titles asking the question, “Are You Ready.” That’s a very good question, but what are you ready for? How do you prepare for something you don’t know about? The best way to prepare for anything is to study and learn about it. If the question is about the Rapture and the Great Tribulation, study Scripture. God’s word has much information about both of these events, and Scripture will give you a good idea where we are in God’s timing.

Let’s talk a little about each of these events. There is so much information in Scripture that I can only lightly talk about each one. The Rapture is also called “The Blessed Hope” and only affects certain people throughout the world. It will happen quietly, quickly, and unexpectedly. You may be having a conversation with a friend or family member, and suddenly they will disappear.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

The Apostle Paul was the one who was given the privilege of disclosing the Rapture. Although it is hinted at in the Old Testament, it was never openly declared. The first hint is seen in Enoch. At a time when the world was very evil, fallen angels mated with human women, and wickedness was everywhere, Enoch kept himself away from the activities of the world.

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24).

The writer of Hebrews also talks about Enoch. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

Enoch didn’t die but was taken to Heaven by God. God’s judgment was coming, and God took him prior to the judgment of the Flood of Noah. Enoch is described as a man who walked with God, and that’s the only way to be ready for the Rapture and miss God’s wrath pouring out during the Tribulation period. Turn your life over to God. Repent of sin in your life, and ask Jesus to forgive you.

God’s wrath is coming, but Christians can be sure we won’t face it. When Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, he commended them for turning from their pagan ways.

“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Those who have chosen to reject the free gift of salvation through Jesus will be left on earth to face God’s wrath. The Apostle John was given a look into the future and wrote what he saw in the book of Revelation. Jesus dictated seven letters to various churches, and those letters describe the history of the church age in advance. Once the last letter was written, John experienced the Rapture.

“After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:1-2).

John represents Christians who are Raptured when the Church Age is over but before God’s wrath comes. There are many passages in Scripture that describe those final seven years, including Daniel chapters 9 through 12, and Revelation beginning in chapter 6. It begins when the first seal is broken and the evil horsemen of the apocalypse begin their deadly ride. The Tribulation is a seven-year period of time that will affect the entire world. Satan will be unleashed, and pure evil will permeate everything. A completely evil man will step into power; he will be controlled by Satan.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

There will be a one-world economic system (keep your eye on the World Economic Forum) and a one-world religion. The evil world leader will require everyone to take his mark.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).

If you take his mark, you will forfeit your soul. You will have sealed your own fate. God’s judgments will begin sometime after the Rapture; we are not living in the Tribulation today. We are getting close to the judgments, but as of the time I’m writing this, the judgments haven’t begun.

When watching signs of the times, keep an eye on Israel; God hasn’t forgotten them, and they haven’t been replaced. They are ready to build the third temple, which will be the one the Abomination of Desolation (described by Daniel and by Jesus) will stand in.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

Studying prophecy will enlighten you, but does it prepare you? In some ways, yes. Don’t delay in accepting salvation through Christ. Many signs of the Tribulation are falling into place today, which tells us that our time on earth is very short. It seems the entire world is focused on dividing Israel, and God won’t condone that. Fighting near Damascus makes one think of the prophecy in Isaiah 17 stating Damascus will be a ruinous heap. Iran is about to have a nuclear bomb, which is a bad idea on many levels. The Jewish Temple is ready to be built, and that is a major sign. Earthquakes are increasing and occurring in unusual places. The covid craziness is a precursor to the pestilence of that time and the mark of the beast, and creating panic leading to government control. The wickedness seen around the world, as well as the moral decay, are signs.

How do we prepare for the total chaos of the Great Tribulation? We can stock up on food, medical supplies, and water, but is that enough? It’s better to accept Jesus and miss it altogether by being taken in the Rapture.

As you follow prophetic events, keep in mind that Satan thrives on chaos and lies; truth is found in Scripture, not on CNN. Satan puts stumbling blocks in your way to stop you from studying Scripture. He wants fear and confusion to blind you to God’s truth.

Many things are happening on a global level that indicate something big is about to happen. People “feel it in the air,” and Scripture tells us what signs to look for (Matthew chapter 24 is a good place to start). Be sure you understand the sequence of events and the difference in them. The Rapture will occur first and will take Christians to Heaven, then sometime later, the Tribulation will begin, and that’s when God’s wrath will be poured out. The Second Coming will happen at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. As we near the end, events of prophecy will seem to speed up and happen faster. Don’t live in fear, but study God’s word, and you’ll have peace knowing that God isn’t surprised by these events and loves His creation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Faith in Jesus is our only hope. Prophecies in Daniel warn the world in general, but Israel in particular, about very troubled times. The end of time is coming, and the signs are happening rapidly. The only way to be ready is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. In that way, you’ll be taken in the Rapture instead of remaining on earth to face the horrors of the Tribulation. God has warned us, but the choice to heed His warning is up to each person individually. The truth is, if you procrastinate, you may die before you accept Christ. Only faith in Jesus will assure that you spend eternity in Heaven with Him. Don’t think that rejecting Christ and spending eternity in Hell is going to be a big party and lots of fun. God describes it very differently. Eternity in darkness in the lake of fire that burns forever won’t be a party.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

It’s a choice that must be made prior to leaving this world. The good news is, if you’ve given your life to Christ now, you won’t be on earth for that final judgment. God always gives warning and doesn’t want any person to face the days of His wrath or eternity separated from Him. Turn to Him now, today, before it’s too late. What’s stopping you from asking Christ to forgive you and save you from damnation? Only you can make the choice for yourself. Look into your life. Is there anything you’re holding on to that’s worth eternity in Hell? Give your life to Christ now, and when the Rapture happens, you’ll be one who disappears and enters eternity and peace with God. Ready or not, it’s coming.

Make your decision now and find a Christ-centered, Bible-believing congregation. Fellowship with fellow Christians and witness to people who haven’t come to faith in Christ. God wants you to find peace, but Satan wants you to allow fear to blind you to God’s truth.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Biblical prophecy is very neglected by many pastors today. Don’t let that hinder your studies. Maybe you can teach your pastor a thing or two!

As you study Scripture, especially end times, remember many verses speak of the Rapture, and others speak of Christ’s second coming. These are two separate events. The Rapture will happen at least 7 years before the Second Coming of Christ. One day, if you notice that many people have gone missing, that’s the Rapture. You’ll probably hear many stories of alien abduction or “mother earth” purging herself of people who don’t care for her like they should. Those are lies. The truth is very serious, and you should pay attention to that truth now.

God’s judgment is coming. Huge hailstones will pummel the earth, water will be undrinkable, demonic activity will be seen everywhere, and your life will be worthless. Satan, in the form of the Anti-Christ, will become the ruler of this world and require everybody to take his mark. If you refuse to take it, you cannot buy or sell. On the other hand, if you do take it, you won’t be able to escape the final judgment, and you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. There will be some very brave people who’ll come to salvation during this time, but when the enemy catches them, they will be beheaded. The tribulation of that day will be unbearable. Ready or not, it’s coming.

Are you ready? Have you accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your salvation? Make your decision now. Ready or not, here it comes.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Quenching The Spirit :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: July 2, 2022 by RR7

Have you ever been very thirsty? Then you went to the refrigerator, pulled out an ice-cold glass of water, and quenched your thirst? Maybe when you were a child, you played with matches, and one dropped in dry grass. Hopefully, you acted quickly and quenched the fire before it spread. Those are two examples of when quenching something is a good thing, but Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The Holy Spirit should be the driving force in our Christian walk, but we have the ability to quench His power in our life. That’s not good at all, but many Christians do just that.

We sometimes think that the Holy Spirit was a new concept that began with the birth of the church. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, and we first see Him mentioned in Genesis. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

The Holy Spirit doesn’t draw attention to Himself but works in perfect harmony with God the Father and God the Son. He works in a very different way today than He did prior to the cross, but He was very active during the Old Testament times. There was much evil during the time of the Judges, but when God called a man to be a judge over Israel, that man was guided by the power of the Holy Spirit. For instance, Othniel was called by God. “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim” (Judges 3:10).

Other judges also had the Spirit of the Lord come upon them. They were all able to accomplish great things because of the Holy Spirit. Even King Saul had the Holy Spirit come upon him. Before the cross, the Holy Spirit would come upon people but didn’t indwell anybody. Unlike today, the Holy Spirit could be taken away. Christians today need to stop quenching the Holy Spirit and not accept sin. Because we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, evil is allowed to be legalized, and God’s truth is seen as hatred. Brothers and sisters, stop quenching the Spirit and go to battle with the powers of darkness and sin. First, remove the mote from your own eye.

When we read the story of King David, we read about a man who loved the Lord, and his desire was to serve Him. Nevertheless, David committed a very grave sin, and as usually happens, one sin led to another. First, he lusted after Bathsheba, who was married to a very faithful soldier. When David found out Bathsheba was pregnant, he eventually had her husband placed in a position in which it was certain he would be killed.

When David was confronted by the prophet Nathan regarding this sin, David was deeply convicted and knew he was in danger of losing his anointing and faced the very real possibility that the Holy Spirit would be taken away from him. So, David did all he could do. He repented and was deeply sorry for his sin. He humbly cried out to God for mercy and asked to be cleansed of his iniquity. He didn’t blame anybody but himself for this great sin against God. We can hear his anguish as he poured out his heart to God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not they holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).

David knew he was nothing without God, and the Holy Spirit was his strength. If only Christians today weren’t so swift to live in the flesh rather than living in the Spirit, we would be much better off.

Jesus told His disciples that He had to die in order for the Holy Spirit to come to them, and to us. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-8).

After the resurrection, Jesus paid a visit to the locked room where the disciples were hiding in fear. He made sure they understood it was Him, even though they had seen the crucifixion and knew the tomb was sealed. He showed them the scars of the nails and His wounded side. “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:21-22).

He breathed on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. As born-again Christians, we have received the Holy Spirit. He is sealed inside of us. “In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). If you’ve truly placed your faith in Christ, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit until death or the Rapture takes you Home.

The disciples were the first to experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but they had to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. They waited in Jerusalem until the Jewish feast of Pentecost came. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:2-3).

I have never experienced such a marvelous thing, but I would like to. Study Peter’s life and how he reacted to Jesus being arrested and crucified. Jesus forgave him, and it was Peter who fearlessly stood before a Jewish crowd on that Pentecost morning and spoke words that accused the listeners of their sin but also spoke of forgiveness. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

Too many preachers today are very afraid of offending sinners, so they water down God’s truth to the point that the congregation is starving. Jesus had instructed Peter to feed the flock, and Peter was obedient. Although Peter did the talking that day, the other disciples were also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Because they all obeyed Christ and shared the Gospel, Christianity grew, and many people have given their lives to Christ since then.

Christians today are so afraid of offending someone who is lost in sin that we put stumbling blocks in our own way. Fear keeps us from speaking boldly of the Gospel and God’s forgiveness.

The Apostle Paul was a man who had been forgiven of his sin. It was a very great sin, done in the name of God, but was also opposed to everything God taught. When Paul met Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul was totally changed. He wasn’t afraid to share the Gospel of Christ with everyone he met. His letters are instructions as to how a Christian should act. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:28-30).

How do you grieve the Holy Spirit? Do you put any activity ahead of Jesus? Do you have time to read secular novels but can’t find time to study God’s word? Do you have plenty of time for sports, television, and building your bank account but are too tired to pray for the needs of others? Maybe you fly off the handle in anger if someone upsets you, but you can’t find forgiveness in your heart even though your own sins have been forgiven. Maybe you participate in activities that are contrary to God’s truth, forgetting that as you sin, you take the Holy Spirit with you down the path of wickedness. You are quenching the Holy Spirit and hampering His activity in your life.

There is a glorious life ahead of every Christian. Eternity with Christ will outshine anything of this earth. Don’t quench the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Paul had visited Thessalonica and was there for three weeks. In that short time, he established a congregation and schooled them in the Gospel. He also taught them about the Rapture. Has your pastor taught the Gospel or touched on prophecy and the Rapture? Many don’t see the need to equip Christians to be in the world but not of the world. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is filled with some very deep teaching, as is his second letter. He reminded them that the Rapture was coming and that they should be alert. They weren’t in darkness but were children of light. He encouraged them, and us, to be watchful and have no fear because we aren’t appointed to wrath. Paul encouraged them, and us, in their walk with Christ.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23).

Live to please Christ, not the world. React to situations in a Christian manner, no matter how you’ve been treated. You can let the Holy Spirit revitalize you, or you can quench His power. Remember the change in Peter and in Paul when they allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them. Thanks to these men, and many like them, you’ve come to salvation through Christ. Let the power of the Holy Spirit flow through you.

Stop quenching the Spirit by holding tightly to sin and living for worldly things. Let Him live through you.