Prophecy is Being Revealed :: By Nathele Graham

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (Isaiah 28:16).

I often wonder what went through the minds of the prophets of old when God instructed them to write something like this. Did Isaiah think He meant that a building would be built there with a solid foundation and a perfect corner stone? Whether Isaiah understood it or not, he knew that these words were from God. The men who sorted through the scrolls to compile the Old Testament must have also thought it strange, but the Holy Spirit led them to include it in Scripture.

Centuries would pass before the meaning would be made clear by a fisherman who had followed Jesus and believed in who He was.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded (1 Peter 2:6).

Peter knew that Jesus is the corner stone and foundation that our faith is built upon. The Jewish leaders may have recognized their Messiah if they had believed prophecy, but they were blinded by tradition and misinterpretation. Have we learned from their mistakes? Not really. Many Bible teachers ignore prophecy because it’s “too vague” or they try to twist it to fit their purposes. We live in the end times disclosed by Biblical prophecy, and we need to pay attention.

A key to understanding prophecy is to believe what God says. Trying to force prophecy to fit human understanding is like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. If the square peg (human understanding) is adjusted to fit the round hole (God’s information), then it fits nicely.

Throughout Scripture we see that God’s prophetic messages are always correct. Daniel was a highly educated young Jewish man who lived in Jerusalem. Then the Babylonian army attacked, Daniel was taken prisoner, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Though living in a pagan culture, Daniel never failed to honor God Almighty throughout his life. He had a prophetic letter written by Jeremiah to those whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon.

For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place (Jeremiah 29:10).

Daniel didn’t try to come up with a replacement theology regarding who God really meant would return after 70 years, but he believed that God said what He meant. As time went on, he realized that the captivity was soon to be over and that the Jewish people soon would be re-gathered in the land and city that God had given to them forever.

In the first year of his reign I Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2).

Daniel took the prophecy of Jeremiah seriously, and his reaction was to fast and pray. We need to take a lesson from Daniel. Prophecy is information God gives us, and He means for us to understand. There are many end-time prophecies being fulfilled today, and we need to take them seriously. Maybe we should fast and pray.

Space restricts mentioning all of the end-times prophecies, but let me first state emphatically that the “church” has not replaced Israel. We have our own place in God’s timeline, but Israel is still the main subject of these prophecies. Let’s start by looking back to the time when Jesus began His ministry on earth.

Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies during the time He walked through the Holy Land proclaiming the Good News to all who would listen. When Jesus began His ministry He entered into the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:18-21).

The passage He chose is found in Isaiah 61:1-2a and described His first coming. He didn’t read the entire passage from Isaiah but said that this Scripture was fulfilled. What did the rest of the passage say?

…and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn: to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:2b-3).

Verse numbers were added long after this was written, and verses 1-3 are one sentence. The portion of the prophecy that Jesus read tells of the first coming of Christ, which is why He stopped where He did. The rest describes the Tribulation period when the wrath of God will be poured out and also the Kingdom Age. Today we can look back and fully understand that Jesus was the One prophesied, but we also need to understand that the full prophecy will be fulfilled in the future…the near future.

What do we miss by not taking God at His word? For centuries many so-called Bible scholars taught that Christians had replaced Israel since the Temple had been destroyed and the Jews had been dispersed to all nations. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s too bad these “scholars” didn’t believe prophecy just as Daniel believed it. God said that Israel would be reestablished as a nation, and in 1948 it happened.

“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them saith the LORD thy God” (Amos 9:14-15).

Israel was reestablished as a nation in 1948, and the Jewish people are returning. Many nations are trying to wipe them off the map, but God says that this time they are there permanently. I believe God. He also said that when they are brought back the second time they will be one nation rather than two (Israel had been the Northern Kingdom before being conquered by Assyria, and Judah had been the Southern Kingdom which had been conquered by Babylon).

“Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for Great shall be the day of Jezreel” (Hosea 1:11).

Today all twelve of the Jewish tribes are returning to the land God had given to Abraham, and it’s called Israel. There are many more prophecies regarding Israel being reestablished. These have been fulfilled, and we can be sure that all of God’s prophecies will be fulfilled.

I’m always disappointed when I look at the news and see what passes as newsworthy. In America it seems as if the latest Hollywood scandal is more important than what’s happening in places like Damascus and how that relates to prophecy.

The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap (Isaiah 17:1).

This prophecy speaks of an end-time event, and today Damascus is nearly a ruinous heap. There are many other happenings in the Middle East that are much more relevant to life than the latest celebrity who hates Donald Trump or who’s getting a divorce. Have you been keeping track of the peace deal that Jared Kushner is going to present to Israel and the surrounding nations? I’m not saying that Mr. Kushner is the Anti-Christ. In fact, speculation about that is silly. Christians will be taken Home in the Rapture before the man of sin is revealed.

On the other hand, we need to look at the signs of the times. There will be a covenant which this evil man will confirm; so this could be that covenant, but that’s speculation.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27). (Also see Daniel 12:11).

This is from a prophecy that was given to Daniel regarding the end of time. The “week” is a seven-year period of time that’s known as “Daniel’s 70th week,” and “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” This prophecy, as well as others, tells us that it has nothing to do with Christians…Christians don’t do sacrifices and oblations. The Jewish priests will do these sacrifices in the rebuilt Temple, which must be there in order for the man of sin to desecrate it.

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).

Jesus took Daniel’s prophecy seriously. By reading Daniel 11:31, Daniel 12:11, and Revelation chapter 13 we know that this happens halfway through Daniel’s 70th week and marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Today the Temple Institute has everything they need to be used in the Temple as soon as they’re allowed to rebuild it. The signs of the times are happening quickly, so watch and be ready.

This brings us to the Rapture…a blessing for everyone who’s accepted Christ for salvation. The seven- year period in Daniel’s prophecy is the final seven years of the age, and Jesus said that the last half of that week will be worse than anything that has happened before. God’s wrath will be poured out upon those left in the world who will serve Satan and hate God Almighty. Remember, this is the time of Jacob’s trouble, which means that the nation of Israel will be the focus of much hatred.

The word “Rapture” isn’t in our English Bible, but if we had a Latin Bible we would see it. The Greek word is harpazō and means to be seized by force or snatched away. It’s used in numerous Scriptures, including John 10:28 &29, Acts 8:39, 2 Corinthians 12:2 & 4, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In Revelation we read letters to seven churches which give a prophecy of the church age, ending with the Laodicean church, which is very much like today. Jesus isn’t welcome inside the congregation. With that final letter, the “church age” is over and the next event is 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 (Revelation 4:1).

The Greek words “meta tauta” are translated “after this” and “hereafter” and means first the preceding happens and then the next thing. In this instance, the description of the church age is over, the catching up to Heaven is next, and John is told he will see what follows that event. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 tell of Christians in Heaven. It’ll be awesome. Revelation chapter 6 begins the judgment of God when the Lamb opens the first seal. The following chapters tell of the horrendous wrath that will be poured out upon those who rejected Christ and haven’t been Raptured.

Prophecy is one of the most intriguing subjects contained in God’s word. As we approach the final days of world history, the prophecies are becoming more clearly understood. When Daniel was given the end- time prophecy, he wanted to know the meaning.

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased (Daniel 12:4).

In other words, understanding would come when the end was near. We’re at that time in history. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the list of prophecies being fulfilled today. If you’re waiting for a better time to give your life to Christ, don’t delay. If there’s someone you’ve put off sharing the Gospel with, do it now. As rapidly as prophecy is being fulfilled, God could call us Home at any moment. Only faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross will save anyone from God’s wrath. Accept Him now because it will soon be too late.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

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After the Rapture #36 :: By Dick Ainsworth

After the Rapture – Part 36

Those falling away will be left behind

Sean Gooding always writes Rapture Ready articles I immediately go to when posted. One such is his “Lesson 6: Troubling Times” piece (posted June 14, 2018), and I will quote a couple of paragraphs from it that we all need to remember in these trying times:

“One of the hardest things and one of the most sobering things to recall is that Jesus knows. He knows everything. You are not going to surprise Him, not going to catch Him off guard, and not going to outsmart Him. He knows everything. Why does He know everything? Because He is God. He is the first and the last. He encompasses all of eternity, and He has already seen the end from the beginning.

“The Godhead knew what was going to happen before they ever spoke the world into existence. Jesus knew when he breathed into the man the breath of life (in Genesis 2) that that life would cost Him his, and yet still He did it.”

And since God knows the end from the beginning, He is fully aware of the apostasy or falling away that is presently going on that will accelerate more rapidly on earth after Christ removes His Church from this planet. The restraining influence of the Holy Spirit and the crazy uncles will be gone. No one left on earth to teach the truth or expose the deceptions. Those left behind will have to do it themselves until the 144,000 plus two witnesses accompanied by the Holy Spirit come onto the scene.

So the clergy and church-goers who got trapped in this falling-away will be left behind after the rapture. They are Christian in name only. This doesn’t have to be if those people would wake up to the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ now. But the falling away, I believe, will get worse after the rapture thanks to the “evil trinity” (Satan, antichrist, false prophet):

“Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there came a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Webster defines “perdition” as eternal punishment in hell for sins; a destroyer.

As it is now on this planet we have the remnant Church of Jesus Christ (true Christianity) in opposition with and openly battling the religious establishment. One only needs to observe the ongoing battle President Donald Trump has waged against the political establishment in Washington, DC, and we can clearly see the parallels between the two.

President Trump is battling against overwhelming political establishment odds as are the true Christians battling against the Satan-infiltrated and controlled religious establishment. Satan has nearly complete control and power of influence over most of the world’s so-called “Christian” churches today, and those left behind are in for really big and deceitful trouble.

There are groups within the religious establishment, just like President Trump has to battle liberal progressive secular humanism day-in and day-out inside the political establishment.

The president battles powerful influential groups with their assorted specialties which includes the abortion industry, the LGBT movement plus organized efforts for open borders, higher taxes, increased welfare, legalizing drugs, lowering public school standards, anti-police efforts, sanctuary city and state policies, etc., and you name anything anti-God and anti-Bible.

The political establishment usually has a well-funded group to lead the way against the American way. President Trump indeed has his hands full as he has to battle the many anti-American and anti-God “establishments” all at the same time. No wonder he only gets 4-5 hours sleep at night.

Just look at the money, power and influence “the evil big three” (the entertainment industry, mainstream fake news media, liberal progressive socialist politicians) has and how intensely they use it. God blessed America richly in its beginning, and even though America through the years has snubbed their collective noses at and rejected His blessing, I believe God has a complete and just purpose in His end-times plan. For everything to turn out perfectly good in the end, it has to be His way.

The Bible tells us that in the end times all nations will rise up against Israel; so it appears that something bad and unexpected will happen to the Trump-Pence administration. “All” means “all” which includes the USA, so it appears that evil ungodly leadership will once again take over control of the highest USA political offices in the land.

But God doesn’t have to battle anyone. He can take all the evil ones out in the blink of an eye. He is letting Satan have much of his way in the short time he has remaining. It is up to the individuals within the various branches of the establishments to start making Godly decisions before it is too late for them to do so. God gives everyone free choice. Those that make the wrong choices and decisions will pay for it dearly for all of eternity.

The religious establishment also has their own collection of groups from within their worldwide structure. One would be those who do not believe in God at all. This would include atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, Big Bang theorists, Darwinism and the new age movement plus others. Those are religions without a god. They have no moral compass to go by. Just their satanic influenced hearts and minds.

Another group would be those who believe in a god but not THE GOD. This would include Islam, Hinduism, Buddha and a host of other false religions, sects and cults. Heathenism and paganism has grown rapidly worldwide in these closing years on earth. This makes up over half of the world’s population that has been tricked and deceived by Satan into false religions, rejecting and not recognizing the true God.

The next group would be those religions who have an altered view in their recognition of God and even His Son Jesus Christ in their literature and teachings. But they also have their own versions of the Bible (Koran, missiles, Book of Mormons, catechisms, etc.) with their own man-authored teachings that are widely accepted within their memberships. This would include Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientist, just to name four among many others.

The followers of these above-mentioned religions and beliefs need our prayers that the Holy Spirit of God should take immediate action in their hearts and minds to shine the true light of God’s truth into them. As it is at the present time, they are not on the “straight and narrow path” to heaven (Matthew 7: 14).

Early New Testament writers penned that in the end-times many mockers and scoffers would come onto the scene to deceive and distort the Word of God. The end-times began 2,000 years ago as soon as Jesus the Christ rose from the dead. And up until today we have witnessed varying degrees of mockers and scoffers popping up throughout the church age centuries, and they will continue until the 7-year tribulation period is completed.

In just one recent example, Pope Francis has expressed a desire to include Mary (the mother of Jesus) in the Blessed Trinity. Francis isn’t the first pope to lean in this direction on this subject, but this effort seems to have gathered more steam than with previous papal efforts. Many of the Catholic clergy and membership favor this move and have even elevated Mary up to the same level as Jesus while disregarding the fact that the Trinity is the Godhead, and only the three persons of God can be in the Godhead.

God is God, and the creator of all. Mary is one of God’s creations, and all of God’s creation are born sinners. Only sinless persons can be in the Godhead of the Blessed Trinity; thus, that belongs exclusively to the Three Persons of God.

Read “Is Mary the Mother of God?” at this link.

God has also placed evil and undesirable leadership to head countries and nations who have rejected His laws and blessings. A recent example here in the USA would be the 8-year reign of Obama. And maybe it taught some Americans a lesson?

But the Catholic church (RCC) teaches Mary was sinless and forever a virgin. Mary can’t be included in the Godhead because she is a sinner. She admits it in Luke: 1:46-47 when she spoke to her cousin Elisabeth (John the Baptist’s mother): “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (emphasis mine). Only sinners need a savior. Mary knew she was a sinner and acknowledged it by expressing a need for a Savior in Luke 1:46-47.

Mary wasn’t “forever a virgin” either as she had at least six children with her husband Joseph after her first-born son Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark 6:3 it is written, “Is not this the carpenter (Jesus), the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” The word “sisters” is plural, meaning at least two. That’s six or more siblings. These same details are also written and recorded in Matthew 13:55-56.

In Galatians 1:19, the Apostle Paul wrote and also recognized Jesus having a younger sibling: “But others of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.” Again, referring to and recognizing Jesus’ half-brother James (same mother, different father).

The Catholic people need to rise up against Rome’s erroneous leadership and insist that these false teachings (among others) stop immediately and begin the teachings of a literal interpretation of the entire Word of God in the Bible. The Catholic people and its leadership must start echoing God’s Word in their hearts, beliefs, practices and actions immediately before it is too late.

I doubt that the Vatican will ever change its ways anytime soon unless the uprising from within its membership is truly great and more than just noticeable. Since I was born and raised Catholic for the first 47 years of my 79-year life, I truly understand how deep the RCC teachings and family pressures run against Biblical truths that shines light on Rome’s man-made “scriptures.”

I left the RCC at age 47 much to the disappointment of my family when I became a born-again Christian and a literal follower of Jesus Christ. All I did was compare God’s infallible Word with the RCC’s authored word. It then became quite clear to me whom I was to follow (either God or man). You can’t follow both as they conflict and are in opposition with each other. And God is never wrong. So where does that leave the RCC?

Catholics must make the decision as to whether they will be raptured when Jesus Christ calls, or whether they will be left behind into Satan’s dreaded 7-year tribulation period.  Believe me, this will be extremely difficult for most Catholics to do, but it is a matter of heaven or the 7-year tribulation period. We pray that the Holy Spirit will show the many Catholic people “the way.”

Jesus gives the answer on how to avoid the backlash a Catholic may receive from family members and RCC church members when that Catholic decides to become a born-again Christian. Jesus plainly tells the Pharisee Nicodemus “Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven” (John 3:3, emphasis mine).

Jesus explains that personal one-on-one prayer and conversations with God should be done in private, and not in front of a crowd. Jesus said, “But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

So a Catholic can become born-again in Christ without making a public announcement about it. Family members, etc., need not know. It is none of their business anyway. This is between you and Jesus. You don’t need their approval. They have their own salvation to worry about. This is a prayer and conversation between you and God only. He knows your heart and hears all of your prayers. Go to Him, and His Holy Spirit will lead you to heaven.

I don’t believe Jesus means a literal closet but rather someplace private like your bedroom, outside alone in your yard, walking down the sidewalk, etc. Sure, you can use a storage room or an actual closet if you wish. And since Jesus gave these commands while He was still alive, now we should always open each prayer to the Father in the Name of His Resurrected Son.

Strangely enough, as I write this article on apostasy and the falling away, it was another of Christ’s half-brothers, Jude, who wrote the Epistle of Jude which is the lead-in Epistle to the Book of Revelation and our Lord’s messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor in chapters 2 and 3. The opening subject on apostasy is in Jude 1:4-8 which reads in part, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Mary will in no doubt have a very secure place in this afterlife in heaven because she is selected by God, but nobody will bow down and worship her or say prayers to her or statues and images of her (Exodus 20:4-5). NOBODY. All glory and praise goes to the most high God, the creator of everything. This sort of false teaching is part of the apostasy in the end-times. But it is a normal way of life for Catholics. The Catholic people just don’t realize it yet. They must ensure that their eternal salvation will be up in heaven.

The final falling away group is mainly a mix of protestant denominations. These are mainly those who don’t fit in with exact Bible teachings so they start their own denomination with their own dreamed-up and “inspired” teachings. Many just misinterpret the Bible. That is the main reason there are thousands of protestant denominations in the world today.

But it isn’t to say all protestant churches are lost. So much depends on the clergy and what teachings come out of their individual pulpits and their Bible study classes. Some non-denominational churches try to follow God’s Word exactly as written.

But there are also some non-denominational churches in that mix who stray from the Bible even though some non-denominationals are also in the remnant church. These are those who take the Bible literally and follow it as the Word of God teaches them to do.

But some so-called non-denominational churches are far from biblical. I think some of them like to call themselves “non-denominational” because it sounds good? It gives the impression they are outside the establishment when many are actually smack-dab in the middle of it.

Those falling away will be left behind and will “fall” into the 7-year tribulation period. This is the religious establishment. Too many churches are “going with the flow” and defending sin and evil.

Gay and lesbian pastors are increasing in number rapidly while abortion-affirming churches are springing up all over. The widening acceptance inside church circles of lethal drugs, openly practiced homosexuality, same-sex “couples” sitting side-by-side in the front row of church pews at services, abortion “rights” congregations, transgenderism, and legalized euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide, plus the false teachings of happiness and prosperity are here on earth that makes up their main calling cards while little or no mention of heaven and hell in the afterlife are taught. Instead they are teachers and promoters of sin.

The pastor’s choice of sermons on climate change and gun control have no place coming out of their pulpits. They can talk about melting Antarctica icebergs in the parking lot after church if they wish.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressively, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

If churches don’t openly attack sin and evil, they are guilty of lying by omission by avoiding those subjects altogether. For the benefit of the unsaved, Christ’s church cannot be silent about sin. The churches are supposed to be teaching heaven and hell.

Also, professing with your mouth isn’t enough unless you really mean it. True faith will show good fruits (James 2: 20-26). For a full explanation of that passage, see this link.

I truly believe that a person that can’t find a strict Bible teaching church is much better off to stay at home with their Bibles in their laps, plus follow the teachings of Biblically solid pastors on TV like Robert Jeffress, John and Matt Hagee, David Jeremiah, etc., plus follow websites like www.raptureready.com rather than go to a biblically-dead church. Also on radio, TV and YouTube are deceased pastors and their sermons from the archives like Adrian Rogers, David Breece, J. Vernon McGee, Dave Hunt, etc. And you can do the personal home services with self-communion anytime 7 days a week, 24-hours a day. Also see Article #6 in this series.

Satan has been trying to defeat Jesus for 2,000 years. The first time was on Calvary when Christ was rushed through a kangaroo court orchestrated behind the scenes by Lucifer himself and where Our Lord and Savior was mocked, spit upon, tortured and crucified on a cross. But three days later Satan’s plan blew-up in his boney ugly face as Christ rose from the dead with an unending mountain of love, forgiveness and grace. Our resurrected Christ walked and talked amongst over 500 people for 40 days before ascending up into heaven (witnessed by His apostle) to be seated at the right hand of the Father.

I’m sure that really blew Satan’s mind, but now he is taking another stab at it by using apostasy as a way to pull people away from Christ’s Saving Grace using lies, deception, tricks and false teachings through a great falling away process and plan. And Satan appears to be having increasing success.

Satan was a big winner in Noah’s flood and the days of Sodom & Gomorrah’s burnings when you estimate the count in those days of the large number of souls lost forever that are now in torment (hell).

Satan’s way is to make people believe they are “good Godly people” with nothing to worry about. Paint them a fuzzy-warm picture of a happy sin-filled life and tickle their ears with cheerful sugar plum fairies dancing and prancing around while making sin look oh-so-good and inviting. After all, it isn’t sin unless you believe its sin? Right?

I am seeing a rapid increase in the number of articles and columns these days on apostasy and the falling away as the time of the rapture draws near. The Holy Spirit of God is moving many writers and teachers in this direction before the rapture for good eternal reason.

And it ain’t over til it’s over, as the late Yogi Berra might say. After the millennium, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit to take another crack at it. That is why it is most important to get as many as possible in the rapture NOW as Satan can’t do a cotton-picking thing to those who have been born-again, saved, raptured and glorified.

That is all a lot more saints need in order to gang-up and dog-pile Satan when his official end-times comes. Then it will be eternal peace and safety for the rest of us FOREVER.

Reader Feedback

ANTHONY HAMM emails us, “Dear sir, Love you much but I pray you please forget the firewood and gardens and winter retreats. They must keep on the move. There will be no safe place.”

(Dick’s response): I agree 100% that there will be no safe place, but too much movement can give you away also. That is why I suggest a lot of stash locations spread out over a large area. All will probably be on foot, so constant moving around might be okay for 2 or 3 people; but I suggest groups of 10 or 12 which creates a lot of visibility from excessive movement. If these widespread stash locations are established ahead of time, a group can move around and still have some of the bare necessities. More stash can be transferred to a new location by 10 or 12 people than by 2 or 3.

Seven years is a long time to play hide & seek with the devil. Those left behind have three choices: (1) become a new believer and follower of Jesus Christ and live through the 7-years and go alive into the millennium; (2) die as a new believer and follower of Jesus Christ and become a tribulation saint; (3) die or live through the seven years and spend eternity in hell.

I believe those left behind will have a certain amount of time after the rapture to collect wilderness survival gear and supplies and establish remote hide-out areas to relocate to. Needless to say, I doubt if any will do that before the rapture or else they would have been safely up in the clouds. And it is unknown how long and who will discover the left-behind boxes.

If a series of stash locations is established beforehand, then it can be used for its intended purpose. But if the plan is ruined for some reason or another, well, you can’t take it with you. The how-to manuals, instruction books, etc., and the knowledge you gain from them in your brain and memory can always travel with you. Those left behind that educate themselves with survival knowledge, this know-how is very lightweight and doesn’t take up any room in your Bug-Out bags!  Survival methods and techniques are important to learn ahead of time.

The moving about will be dictated by your individual situations.

Answered Prayers

PAULA PARSONS reports God is answering the many prayers directed towards health issues of her good friend Nicky White. She underwent her second round of chemotherapy and again became violently ill from it. So she was rushed to the hospital to control her severe vomiting. Paula prayed to the Lord to shrink her tumor so that no more chemotherapy would be necessary.

On June 25 her consultant did a scan and thus cancelled future chemo as the very large tumor has shrunk. Nicky is now on 4-weeks of radiotherapy and then another scan to see if surgery is necessary. Nicky is overjoyed and amazed with the power of prayer from so many prayer warriors, so please continue to pray for her.

Paula is very thankful that your prayers have led her dad Tony to finally accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Continue to pray for him so as to help him grow stronger in his faith. Paula also wants to thank all who prayed for her daughter Rachel who is now a follower of Jesus Christ. Let her grow rapidly in her faith and become a strong prayer warrior for those who need prayer.

KATHY FRAZIER reports good news concerning her mom’s cancer in that a recent CT scan came back clear of the 3-year old rare cancer, but a 7mm spot on her liver still exists. Kathy sincerely wants to thank everyone for their prayers in the past, and please continue to pray in the future.

Prayer Requests

Please note that I frequently rerun prayer requests for good reason. (1) Some readers might have missed it the first time it ran. (2) It never hurts to pray for the same things over again. God does not get weary with too many prayers. (3) The more we pray, the farther down the hole we stuff Satan. All prayer gets good results. There is no such thing as too much prayer.

I would also appreciate it if those of you who send in prayer requests would get back with me when you see good results from the group prayer. Just a quick email. I like to run these results as it is an encouragement to those who are praying for you and yours, plus it also encourages others to send in prayer requests as they see others getting positive results. And those total strangers praying for you appreciate your “thank you” and will pray again and maybe even harder.

Email your prayer requests to:  dick_ainsworth@sbcglobal.net

ELAINE BARNES emails “Dear Dick, First I’d like to say thank you for setting up this site.

(Dick’s comment): Thanks, but I didn’t set up the site. It was the Godly folks at www.raptureready.com (RR) who allow me to submit articles which they in turn post. Aside from their site being a Biblical goldmine of accurate end-times information and guidelines, they allow me to include the prayer sections. I would urge all prayer warriors to offer prayers for those in my articles but also go to RR’s home page (if you haven’t already) and on the left-side column entitled “Rapture Ready’s Most Active Pages,” go down the column’s list to their 5th page titled “Prayer Center,” and it’s RR’s listing of prayer requests that is updated and made current every Sunday).

Elaine continues, “I will pray for you, your ministry and the brothers and sisters who have asked for prayers for their loved ones.

“Secondly, I too have family members that have rejected the Truth of God’s saving grace and the mercy He gives. I ask for softening of the hearts and open ears for my brothers Kevin and Ken. Please pray that the teaching they received as children will be remembered and they will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

“Thirdly, I ask for prayers for my children, Emily and George, that they will open their hearts to the careers and spouses God has prepared for them. I pray that God will continue to use us in His service until we go home to meet Him in the clouds.

“God bless you.

“Elaine Barnes”

TANJA MICHAEL emails, “Please pray for my husband Jeff who stubbornly refuses to accept Jesus as his Savior. We are both 70, and I’ve been saved since 1979.

“Also my son Jason and his wife Claire and my granddaughter Eva, my brother-in-law Phil and his wife Kim and their children.

“We live in Queensland, Australia, in the Sunshine Coast near Brisbane.

“Thank you prayer warriors. To God be the Glory.

“Tanja Michael”

MISTY writes, “Hello Dick, I hope you are feeling well in your illness. I pray that your family will come to be saved. I thank you for your wonderful articles.

“Please pray for my son, Samuel. He is a disabled adult who is struggling on so many levels, especially anger with God over his condition. Please pray for his healing, peace, and future.

“Please pray for my brother, Rob. He is a homeless, unsaved, drug addict. Pray for the salvation of his soul.

“Thank you and God bless you.

“Misty”

CHRISTINE CIAK emails, “I have five children; one is saved. Please pray for the other four plus my two oldest grandchildren.

“Also my mother and sister are staunch Catholics, as are my in-laws. Please pray that God will tear down the barriers that Satan has put up so they may know the truth.

“I have six other brothers and sisters who have fallen away (or were never really saved); pray that they too will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

“Lastly, pray for my husband (not saved) and me as I struggle with a sadness I can’t seem to shake.

“Thank you, and I’m praying for your requests, too, dear brothers and sisters.”

“MARANATHA

“Christine”

My name is ROBERT BAKER . I am requesting prayer for the salvation of my wife Kerry, my three sons and their wives or girlfriend, my 7 grandchildren, my 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their families, my 3 sister-in-laws, my sister-in-law’s boyfriend John who is going through testing for possible pancreatic cancer. Pray for our overall health and my strength in the Lord.

“Thank you my Lord Jesus.”

JEANIE CANNONE is requesting prayer for her daughter Mel and also for her granddaughter that they may soon open their eyes and hearts to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jeanie also just finished chemo and radiation treatments and is bedridden with two fractures in her sacrum. She knows the Lord’s grace is sufficient for her healing. Please pray for her and her daughter and granddaughter.

MIRA AND HER FAMILY are requesting prayer for Jennie, Bradey and family. Please pray for their family as they grieve. Their daily struggle of coping with their September 2017 tragic loss of husband and father Brian has yet to lessen. They are still trying to live through their new normal.

And please pray for Sandra as she is going through some health issues.

JENNIFER McPHAIL is requesting everyone’s prayers for many of her family members who are yet to be saved. “Please pray that the Holy Spirit would move into the hearts of my five sons and my husband to put a deep desire in their hearts to know Him more intimately, to read His Word and to pray.

“I would also like prayers for boldness and courage to share the Gospel, and that I would be a blessing to my Lord and Savior.”

COLLEEN BOUTWELL is asking for your prayers for her adult son (Nick). Pray he will come to know Jesus as his Savior. He suffers from depression and anxiety, and this has become very crippling for him. Pray that he will become financially secure with a decent job that he will be able to handle.

“Pray also for my family, my sister Robin, BIL Stevens, my nephews Taylor and Jake, my niece Stephanie and all those in my family that need to be saved.

“Please pray for relief of medical bills for my daughter Jennifer and SIL Stanton.

“Thank you so much,

“In Christ

“Colleen Boutwell”

KAT WERBELOW is requesting that you keep praying that she can find a church home and fellowship group in or near Clovis, California (Fresno County). Kat can be reached at: katwerbelow@yahoo.com

Kat is also requesting prayer for her son Chase who admits knowing and accepting the Lord in his heart but who still lives in the world and does not trust churches. Kat isn’t sure if Chase is saved or not based on his fruits. Please pray that the Lord will shake him up to living for and loving the Lord Jesus.

Kat is also requesting prayer for her daughter Sierra who is a wonderful Christian woman and is dating a wonderful Christian man who is getting ready to propose to her in marriage. Kat writes that he doesn’t seem right for her, and Kat requests your prayers to guide Sierra in making the right decision and choice.  Kat writes, “I’m not sure this is the husband I’ve been praying for—for her! Please help me pray she listens to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance!

“Kat”

PLEASE PRAY for all the people and pastors who are FALLING AWAY from God’s Word in today’s churches. Pray that the Holy Spirit will turn them around in the right direction and follow God instead of chasing the cares of the world.

Also pray for those who don’t know the true God at all and those who follow false gods, that they will know the truth and come to His Saving Grace.

Pray for all those who are witnessing to the lost and unsaved people of this world living in darkness that the protective hand of God will guard them from Satan.

DIMPLE MERIDEITH is asking for prayer for her great-granddaughter who is so unhappy over being bullied at school that she is suicidal. She is undergoing therapy at this time.

“Also, please pray for my son to accept Jesus and repent of his sins. He was raised in the church but was mistreated as a boy and is very bitter towards the church.”

KATALIN is requesting prayer for her husband, sons and their girlfriends, nephew, sister-in-law and parents-in-law to be saved. “We have an awesome God and He hears our prayers.

“I am also praying for everyone on your prayer list, too. Keep writing. May the Lord bless you and your family, too.

“Love,

“Kali in Sydney (Australia)”

EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY for all those who do not know God’s word and promises and that the barriers of Satan will be torn down and Jesus’ light and truth will shine through before the rapture. Pray for Ron M. that the truth of Jesus Christ will soon become clear and evident to him as the time of the rapture and Christ’s Coming grows near.

KAY CREED is requesting prayer for her daughter and three grandchildren that they will come to know JESUS before it is too late.

“Their names are Audrey (daughter), Malcomb (16), Emmett (13), and Nile (11). So every time you say “AMEN” you have remembered this earnest plea for their Salvation in JESUS before it’s too late.”

Audrey’s husband, and the kid’s daddy (Joel Olson) died suddenly and mysteriously while out of the country (in England) 6½ years ago. Details at:

https://www.upress.umn.edu/press/press-release/author-joel-olson-dies-ai-45

or you can Google: Dr. Joel Olson PhD ….. Political Science Professor (agnostic and liberal) NAU. Flagstaff Arizona.

Joel was also one of Kayla Mueller’s professors at NAU (maybe you remember her being held hostage in Syria ….. and was killed by Islamic terrorists that took her hostage and held her for years while they tortured her to death).

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/15/kayla-mueller-final-months-detailed/23455047/

Kay’s daughter (Audrey age 48) made a profession of faith when she was eleven but turned away from The LORD in her 20’s and is not raising the children to know the LORD. “My heart is breaking! She has completely rejected The FAITH, me and all of my values. Nothing about her life from that time forward makes any sense to me. I am just desperate for them to come to KNOW JESUS IS LORD and SAVIOR!…. I know our time here is short.

“THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR MY LOVED ONES! WE ARE ALL IN HIS CARE!

“Kay Creed”

SANDY MERRIFIELD is requesting prayers for God to continue to strengthen her family’s walk with the Lord and also her own greater strength and peace in her own personal walk with the Lord. She is also requesting prayer for all of our family members in Christ worldwide who are being persecuted in His Name. Pray for strength, comfort and peace for all of them.

COLLEEN urgently requests your prayers for her lost family. She writes, “Please pray that my 2 nieces and 8 nephews, 3 brothers-in-law, one ex-sister-in law, one brother and 4 sisters will have a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, that they will accept Him as their Savior. Please pray that they will have others that know Christ who will come into their lives.

“Please pray that each one of them will have their eyes opened to the truth of who Jesus Christ is and their need for Him. Please pray that my husband will have a hunger to follow Christ.

“Please pray that God will cure my health issues so that I might have the physical strength to serve God and seek after Christ. Please pray that my heart will be surrendered to Him and that I will be led by God and His Spirit.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have lost my focus and will to even know how to be a testimony in these times.

“In Christ alone,

“Colleen”

(Dick’s comments): Colleen hasn’t lost the focus and will as to how to be a testimony for Christ. People who have lost their focus and will can’t write a prayer such as what Colleen just did. Satan is the author of confusion, and it is he who tricks people into believing they have lost their focus and will. If Colleen wasn’t doing God’s Will, Satan wouldn’t be battling her so fiercely trying to convince her otherwise and for her to just shut-up. But Colleen is a true prayer warrior who doesn’t let illness and physical ailments stop her from serving God and being a strong witness.

KATHY FRAZIER is requesting prayers for several of her family members. Her 87-year-old Dad is not saved and has a very hard heart towards anything to do with God.

“Also please pray for my older brother and his family, my younger brother and his family, that they all will come to Christ. And also my daughter that she draws closer to Jesus.

“And please continue to pray for my Mom, who has been diagnosed with a rare cancer three years ago, and so far has been in remission (she’s outlived the prognosis by 2½ years!).  The most recent CT scan came back clear of cancer! However she does have a 7mm spot on her liver that will be looked at again in 3-6 months but the doctors are confident it is benign. I love my Mom so very much. Please pray for her.

“And please pray for my husband’s parents who are not saved either. Please pray for them!

“Thank you so very much, prayer warriors! You are so appreciated.

“In Christ,

“Kathy Frazier”

SHERRY asks for your prayers for salvation and deliverance from drugs for my adult son …… His name is Joe. And also for her daughter, Amy, for her relationship with the Lord be restored, and for her healing from several health issues she has been having.

Also pray for the salvation of Sherry’s two grandsons.

“Thank you and God Bless all of you.”

RHONDA WILLIAMS is requesting your prayers for the unsaved members of her family which includes her two grown sons (Daniel and Charles), her two granddaughters (Amiyah and Saniyah) and three sisters and a brother (Faye, Vickie, Sharon and Greg). Please pray for them all.

Also, she has nine (9) nieces and nephews who do not know or accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So Rhonda is requesting prayer for all of them by name: Brother and sister Christopher and Misty need Christ in their life. Misty claims to be Wiccan. Also pray for nephew Jake. Brothers Travis and James also with brothers and sisters Tabitha and Matthew, and Steven and Christine.

Rhonda also says, “It’s exciting to know our prayer requests are going around the world.”

MARILYN YORK requests pray for her entire family including her brother and sister.

GRETA BRYANT needs prayer for her lost family that consists of three grown sons with families plus her husband and his family.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD ministry in India continues to struggle trying to recover from the devastating Hindu terrorist attack that burned their church building to the ground plus many of their teaching materials, tracts, Bibles, etc.

Please pray for God’s Blessing over Pastor Param and wife Asha’s youngest daughter Amulya and her husband Solomon in their recent marriage. This is Deevena’s younger sister. May God Bless the entire family ministry as they continue to serve Jesus during their many hardships and stumbling blocks placed upon them by the devil.

Also pray for their safety as they travel to remote areas to preach the Gospel to young and old alike. May God guide and protect them with his protective hand against the evil that confronts them continuously. May God protect their street pastors who witness on the streets of their cities bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and unbelievers. Pray for the widows, orphans and others in need of God’s Blessings. And also for their youth Bible class groups.

You can contact and get more information on this ministry from Sister Deevena at lightoftheworld_90@yahoo.com

CYNTHIA is most grateful for everyone’s prayers for her family, and she reports that her daughter is now getting close to Christ Jesus. Please pray for this to continue and for Cynthia’s atheist son’s eyes and heart to be opened to the gospel of Christ. There are also health concerns for her daughter and concerns for her grandson as well, who is unhappy with his atheist dad and his live-in girlfriend. God knows all the details involved, and He loves prayers.

Also, her husband had a heart attack this week. The doctors found blocked arteries and opened one and put a stint in it. But they say the others are 75% to 90% blocked, and he will need to have a heart bypass within the next few weeks. Please pray for him.

THE USA NEEDS GUIDANCE from God’s Holy Spirit to lead many lost people to God’s Saving Grace. The president and his family along with the vice-president and his family needs protection from Satan and his deceiving ways as our nation’s leadership try to lead this country back closer to God. The president’s administration and staff are under continuous attack from the earthly forces of the devil and need God’s help to battle through these evil forces to do what is righteous for Americans in the eyes of God (Daniel 2:21). So please pray for the entire Trump administration as they try to follow and enforce God’s Laws and Commandments.

Also pray for America’s many enemies and adversaries within the USA and from the four-corners of the earth that they will come to Jesus Christ and their hearts will be changed for the good, and away from evil.

MATT JACKSON requests prayer for the Rohr family and their daughter Rachel as they are practicing Catholics. He also wishes the Lord would find a way for him to come into contact with this family again so he can continue to witness the ways of the Lord to them.

DICK wants to express his sincere appreciation to those who have prayed for the salvation of his family and his improving health. Some of his family members are really coming alive spiritually and it is easy to witness to them now and answer their questions. But please continue to pray for them as some are not on solid ground yet.

Dick is also requesting prayer for his long-time school classmate Jim Harris who has recently rejected Dick’s efforts at witnessing the Word of God to him.

The doctors told Dick he is showing improvements health wise. Pray his health will still improve as he has been taken off the antibiotics. Dick does not fear death as he knows eternal life awaits him. But he prays to God he can be raptured by Our Lord while still alive on earth rather than raptured out of the grave, as he wants to do the Lord’s Work up until the very second Christ calls him home (Philippians 1: 23-24).

DICK is also requesting prayer for his brother-in-Christ Rusty Wagner who is due to serve his time in a Pennsylvania State Prison on June 24, 2020. He was a real hard case for many years but found Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior seven years ago and has turned his life around. Pray that he will pass his GED and get his diploma. Also pray that his sister Nancy and brother Brian will again connect with him as family.

PAULA PARSONS and her daughter Rachel are both requesting prayer for the health and saintly well-being of Paula’s mum/Rachel’s grandmother who is Catholic. She has yet to come to Jesus as her Savior; thus, is still suffering violent dreams and haunting nightmares along with intense fears of death, all of which is placed in her mind by Satan as she sleeps. When she awakes, Satan has placed the fears of death in her heart and soul. Pray that she will soon accept Jesus and that Our Lord and His restraining Holy Spirit will place barriers around her to block all of Satan’s evil tricks and deceptions. Our Lord will protect those who belong to Him.

Also both of them truly seek your prayers in that Rachel’s job opportunities remain solid and growing.

Email prayer requests to:  dick_ainsworth@sbcglobal.net