There is no question that we are in a time of great turmoil. On a daily basis, news reports come in to our homes and places of employment telling of wars and atrocities, financial disasters, famines, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis, and the list goes on. Jesus said we would see these things come to pass.
And when you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:7-8).The Greek word for troubles is defined as "disturbance, that is, (of water) roiling, or (of a mob) sedition." Jesus knew the effects we would see when the earth begins to quake in greater measure.
In the last article we learned what the abomination of desolation was, and how Islam has become a world-wide threat against Israel and against those who name the Name of Christ. Although the mainstream media report very little of such accounts, there are other news sources which give great detail of the horrible deaths of true believers in Jesus Christ. But He knew that His people would face such things.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:28-33).Countless souls have been brutally slaughtered because they refused to deny their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.[1]
As just illustrated, God knew long ago what was in the heart of man, and what would transpire throughout the days of time. He also had His prophets foretell of the defeat of the final enemy. Who is the final enemy? How is it defeated? Who and how are vitally important. So come a long with me as we look at this amazing plan of our awesome God--a marvelous plan, like a well-orchestrated symphony.
Let's start with what we might describe as . . . [to full article]
August 10, 2011
In this 21st century can be found innumerable prophecy experts, with each one being correct in his interpretation of bible prophecy. Books have been written, movies made, and every avenue possible used to promote these experts' spin on what God spoke for His people. He did not have His prophets record His words so that in this century, and last, mere mortals could take and twist those words so as to make themselves appear as being prophetic. With the plethora of experts out there, are there even two that agree? How can they all be accurate?
So what makes this article, with the title "Daniel - Unsealed," any different from all the other guesstimates by prophecy experts who would be deemed more worthy than this writer?
It is my belief that as you read here you will become as excited as I at what the Lord has brought to my attention. Over the past few years He has been opening up truths that I did not yet fully comprehend, although it had become obvious that the meaning of those scriptural events and people were of monumental importance in the end time scheme of things. A recent visitor to ekklesia4him.net sent an email, recommending the works of some others to whom the Lord has revealed amazing things in Daniel and Revelation as well as other books of the bible that relate to the end times.[to full article]
June 28, 2011
(Revised 6/28/2011)
The topic of "baptism" and how it relates to the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance, especially in these last days. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle. But can we rid ourselves of those spots and wrinkles? No--never! Some folks say that in order to be fit for eternity with Christ, we must be baptized in water. But is that not a work performed by man? What does the bible tell us? What has the Holy Spirit of Truth taught?
According to James Strong, the word "baptize" means "make whelmed." 1 The Greek dictionary shows no definition for "whelmed," but Webster's dictionary shows two words merged to make the word "whelm." Those two words mean "to overwhelm" and "to cover," so the resulting definition of whelm is "to submerge, cover, or engulf." 2 Thayer's Greek dictionary shows that the word "baptize" also means "to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe."
There are two types of baptism mentioned in the bible: the ceremonial baptism in water and the baptism by the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is widely used by many denominational and non-denominational groups. Whether this baptism should be by sprinkling or by total immersion is controversial. But that is not the issue here. We must get back to the true meaning of baptism according to the bible.
The ritual of water baptism is intended to signify the death and burial of flesh and the rising to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we fail to comprehend the profound significance and symbolism attached to water baptism by immersion? For the most part, baptism in water has become so ritualistic that the true message is lost. Have we overlooked the fact that the Holy Spirit's function, aside from giving life to a new creature in Christ, and teaching us, is to begin the process of "making clean"? That being said, let's look at how baptism was introduced. [to full article]
May 16, 2011
In the recent revised article on Apostasy, we briefly mentioned the increasing presence of "false christs," of which Jesus so clearly warned. They are becoming so prevalent that if we are going to speak of the glorious reality of "Christ in us, the hope of glory," we must make it clear that we are speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, and soon coming King. Those who are promoting the false christs will use the words "christ in me", but they deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that He is coming back again. Jesus said that we are not to believe those who say "christ is here" or "christ is there." It is the antichrist spirit that is behind these deceivers. There is a day coming when they will learn the truth about the true Lord Jesus Christ, but it will be a sad day for many.
With that being said, there is another danger in our midst that is just as destructive, if not more so. This danger has been around for so long that millions have become desensitized to it. Instead, the danger has been welcomed with open arms by the masses. And that is why we must sound an alarm. We must plead with the blasphemers, and those they deceived, to come to repentance before it is too late.
A few weeks ago, while in conversation with another believer in Christ Jesus, I was suddenly struck with the reality of the spiritual condition of those I refer to here as "blasphemers." Grief and sadness overwhelmed me at the picture of countless men and women who seem oblivious to the fact that they will soon face a Holy God. The question that stayed with me for several hours was "Don't they even believe that the God they speak of is real, and that they will be held accountable to Him for the words they have spoken?" Then the Lord led me to the main passage He wanted me to use here.
Who are these blasphemers, and how can we recognize them? Does the bible clearly describe them, and warn against such? Oh, yes; most definitely! In both Old and New Testaments we read of them, as we will discover. [to full article]
May 3, 2011
(7/25/07 - Revised 5/02/11)
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)
Solemn Warning
As we come to the close of this age of apostasy, which will not end before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is an ever-increasing shaking being evidenced around the world. It is occurring in both the physical and spiritual realms. This shaking is necessary; it is the rebuke and chastening of the Lord, in order that those with ears to hear will repent -- and repent we must! Without repentance, or turning away from trust in self and the ways of man, there is no hope for those who do not truly know Christ Jesus, even though they profess to be His. Contrary to what some may believe, the call to repentance is not only for those "in the world," who have not yet come to Christ Jesus. There is a need for true repentance in every one of us who names the Name of Christ. The lukewarm "church" is full of people who believe they are "saved" because they said "the sinner's prayer." But this is what Jesus says to such: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. Therefore, since you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16 EMTV) Do you know Him? . . . do you REALLY know Him? "Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and I am knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and I will dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:19b-20 EMTV)
There has never been such deception as we now see in this day. The false christs, of which Jesus warned, are everywhere, preaching another "jesus" and infecting the minds of many with twisted scriptures that make sense to the undiscerning. The antichrist spirit is at work, knowing his days are short. The only way to be safe from the rampant error, is to seek the Lord Jesus Christ with all humility, listening to His voice -- and His alone. As Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28 EMTV)
Now let's take a closer at . . .[to full article]
April 6, 2011
The intensity of destruction in the earth, as seen in the recent horrors the Japanese have experienced, is rivaled only by the intensity of error being promoted by numerous folks who name the name of Christ. Some may ask how anything could be worse than complete towns being destroyed by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami; not to mention the nuclear threat that exists, with the potential to sicken and kill millions.
The simple answer would show us that the destruction of the body is of much less importance than the deception of man's soul in the eternal scheme. For those who die in Christ Jesus, having true faith in Him, they go on for ever with Him. But for those without Him, death is something to be feared.
With the increase of earthquakes in divers places, as Jesus said, and the resulting catastrophic destruction, there is a temptation to focus on those things. Jesus our Lord and Savior said, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28) At the same time, the antichrist spirit has infiltrated the "church"--the institutional as well as those who have walked away from organized religion, or spectator christianity. When we look in horror at the destructive antichrist teachings, and the resulting spiritual destruction, we must not yield to the temptation to focus on that--as grievous as it is.
You ask, "What has this to do with a path to a sinless life?" The answer is "Everything." Let me explain, by first asking once again . . . [to full article]
March 17, 2011
(12/20/07)
Over the past several months we have been uncovering the ineffectiveness of the present-day "gospel" message. We have looked at the source of sin [death], which is the knowledge of good and evil, and the fact that it is only through relying upon Christ for salvation [belief/faith] that we can have life. The issue is death and life - the reason Jesus died. It is not about the things we have done; as dreadful as those deeds may be. It is about receiving the Life of Jesus and making us the Righteousness of God in Him. His Spirit in us will mortify the deeds of our flesh - both good and evil. Mere forgiveness will never change us and we, as hard as we try, can never change our deeds to make us righteous. That kind of "righteousness" would be "self-righteousness" - the dead works that "self" produces. "Self" must die if the fruit of Righteousness is to manifest.
So, you may ask, what has this to do with the Sabbath? Let's take a look.
There are many people today who preach about and adhere to the belief that it is necessary to keep a sabbath day. There is much debate over when the Sabbath begins and when it ends, and whether the "Sabbath day" is Saturday or Sunday. Although many Christians say that Sunday is the "Lord's day," it is anything but His. It is a day of turmoil; rushing to "church"; listening to someone else speak of Him, and "worshiping" within a particular time frame dictated by a ritualistic schedule. At the end of the day, it is not only the preacher who is exhausted. And they call it a "day of rest." The word "rest" is taken from the Bible but its true meaning has escaped many.
The question is, Have we entered into His rest, the sabbath He planned for all even before He gave to Moses the Ten Commandments? There is a link at the end of this article to the study of "sabbath" and "rest." In it you will learn what "sabbath" is and is not. [to full article]
March 1, 2011
The fallen world needs a system of laws to maintain some degree of order. People who still live by their own will need something to restrain their selfish nature. God has therefore provided law, along with human governments, to restrain the evil that naturally rises out of people who live for themselves. "Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person {those who walk by the Spirit in holy love}, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners." (1 Tim 1: 9) In other words, the law is needed to restrain people who are still living by the flesh.
Written laws are needed until Christ is able to establish His heavenly Kingdom-life of perfect love within the heart. Once the heart has become "one" with God in His life of love, there is a new divine nature that naturally fulfills His spiritual and moral laws. (Rom. 13: 10) The anointing with the Holy Spirit teaches the believer everything he needs to know to remain in an abiding relationship with Christ's heavenly life. (1 John 2: 27) It is the Presence of Christ that actually produces the new life of "true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4: 24) "But if you are led by the Spirit {and living under His anointing}, you are not under law. " (Gal. 5: 18) "He will guide you into all truth." (John 16: 13) "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. " Eph. 5:9)
God will one day do away with the human governments that He has used to maintain order in a carnal world. These human means are incapable of producing the perfect order that is required in God's heavenly kingdom. The only governmental system that can produce perfect order is Christ's Kingdom-life, which needs to be established within the heart. (John 17: 22-23) Once He is reigning without rival on His throne within the heart, His "rivers" of heavenly life flow from under the throne and well up into a constant supply of "righteousness {perfect love} and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." [to full article]
February 1, 2011
Over the past three years I have written several articles on the topic of "antichrist." In them we spoke of how the antichrist spirit has infiltrated the church, and must not be seen solely as some tyrant who is to come. This is not another antichrist article, although understanding of those may be greater with the reading of this one.
In the most recent articles we covered the folly of exalting the written record of the words of God above the Lord himself. Man's translation of His words should never be placed in authority above the absolute authority of Jesus Christ the Son of God. To do so is idolatry, and is a dreadful thing, to which man will give answer in the Day of Judgment.
The compilation of writings that make up what is commonly referred to as "the bible", is full of both physical and spiritual applications. This is especially true of the end times books, such as Daniel and Revelation, as well as the words of Paul in 2 Thessalonians where he speaks of the "man of sin."
What or who is this man of sin? Where did he originate? Is he someone who suddenly appears in these last days? Or is he simply exposed for what he is? [to full article]
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Stella Paterson | Box 22003 BDPO | Brandon, MB R7A 6Y9 | Canada