~ THE RAPTURE - NOT YET THE END ~
Bishop L. H. Martin, Jr. - Presiding Prelate
As we approach the end of this world, we will hear of many predictions from those who claim to have unverified proof to back up their false claims and predictions.
We are warned in: 1 John 4:1 (The Message) – My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
The Lord has taken the time to warn us of what would be happening in the days preceding His return, not to scare us, but that we would be aware and not easily fooled by the lies of the many false teachers and prophets who will arise.
We read in: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT) - 1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Even though the times we are living in are often fearful and seemingly uncertain; we must maintain our faith in what the Lord is saying in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. These things must come to pass, but do not think our present troubles are a signal that the end is near. We must also look at the things the Word of God has outlined for us, which must come to pass before the end truly comes.
Do not allow yourself to be deceived by current events or what influential people may say. You must always compare what you hear with the Word of God. By doing this, it will help you to maintain Peace of Mind because your mind will “be stayed on the Lord” and not your present crisis or situations.
Before we can “be caught up” to be with the Lord in what has become known as the Rapture, Christians must come to a place of righteousness and holiness. We cannot allow the “things of this world”, to cause us not to maintain our faith and beliefs in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, along with His infallible Word, “the Holy Bible”.
The church as we know it, is not ready for the return of Jesus Christ. It is full of divisions, bitterness, and unbelief. Our Lord is not coming back for such a defiled church and people, but rather those who have crucified (put to death) their fleshly desires towards this world and life as we are admonished in: Ephesians 2:1-13 (KJV) - 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
We are “ONLY” in the beginning of the sorrows leading to the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We read in: Matthew 24:4-14 (The Message) - 4-8Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming. 9-10"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. 11-12"In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. 13-14"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
All of the above things “MUST” take place before the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is no easy fix or early departure for the church. It will take all the above (in Matthew 24:4-14) to bring the church into the right relationship and obedience to God.
So, “WHEN” will our Lord return for us? I cannot answer that question because it is not for us to know ahead of time. The Lord wants us to be prepared and ready for “WHENEVER” that time may be. We read in: Matthew 24:36 (KJV) – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
The Lord gives a promise to all “True Believers”, as well as a warning to those who fail to “REPENT” according to the Word of God. We read in: Revelation 22:12-15 (KJV) – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns, He will do so “QUICKLY”, which means those who are not ready and living right, will not have time to fix their lives or even to repent. The time to prepare is “NOW”! We can no longer be fooled by the false teachings and predictions circulating throughout the world. Whatever does not line up with the Word of God should be counted as “TRASH” good for nothing, but to be thrown out with the rest of the garbage. Do not allow your soul to be polluted with the evil desires and cares of this world. Use this time to work on crucifying (putting to death) your sinful fleshly desires, and becoming the consecrated Bride of Christ. The Bridegroom, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be coming back to receive “His Bride” unto Himself.
May our Lord’s blessings and encouragement ever be with you as we read in: 1 Peter 5:10 (KJV) – But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Amen.
