THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Most of Christendom today preach a gospel of salvation, a gospel of grace, prosperity gospel, social gospel or a mixture of these variation. The preaching invariably centres on the Person of Christ -the gospel about Christ rather than the Gospel of Christ. However, the Bible is clear in stating the only Gospel that was preached by the prophets of the Old Testament and the same Gospel preached by Christ and His Apostles was the Gospel of the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, the phrase kingdom of heaven was used and in others, only the word kingdom was used. These terms are used interchangeably and they mean the same thing - the Gospel that Christ was sent by God the Father to preach to mankind. From the New Testament alone, the term kingdom, kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God was used a total of 136 times.

The Gospel is about the government of God that was lost at the Garden of Eden and need to be restored, among other things - restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). Christ came and qualified through the temptations at the wilderness to dethrone Satan - who is currently the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4) - and become King when He returns. But religious people misunderstood the signs thinking that His first advent was to overthrow the Roman authorities. Fearing for their own safety on guilt of treason and vested interest under Roman rule (the religious figures are kind of civil servants under Roman government) the religious rulers hatch a plan to get Christ crucified! Subsequently, the Roman emperors beginning with Constantine, refused to accept the Gospel of the kingdom of God for fear of being overthrown by 'higher authorities' from above. The gospel message OF Christ was changed to become the gospel ABOUT Christ - the Gospel message (the Good News) of the kingdom was switched to become the Gospel about the Messenger!

Moses prophesied of the coming Prophet (Christ) and we are told to listen to Him - that is, His Gospel message of the kingdom of God (Deut 18:15). Malachi also did prophesy of the same in Malachi 3:1 - the Messenger of the covenant. The Messenger (Christ) is one who brings a message - in this case, the Gospel message from God the Father (Luke 4:43) - and not about the Messenger Himself per se! Christ Himself affirms this when He said, 'Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.'  - John 14:10.

After Christ successfully overcame Satan in the wilderness, He began to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14) saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel' - Mark 1:15. The Lord Christ also commisioned His disciples to do likewise, 'And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven (God) is at hand' - Matt 10:7. One must believe the Gospel of the kingdom of God to be saved! The Apostle Peter preached the Gospel, differentiating between the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12) showing that the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ and His church are separate matters. Similarly, the Apostle Paul went to the synagogue and preached about the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8; 20:25) and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Paul too made a distinction between the Gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 28:31. If the gospel is about the Person of Jesus Christ, why is there a need for Paul to distinguish between 'another Jesus' and 'different gospel' (2 Cor 11:4) as two separate set of false doctrine?

For over nineteen centuries, the true Gospel of the kingdom of God was not being preached to the world. But in this last days, it will be preached and then the end will come (Matt 24:14). Had the true Gospel been preached faithfully for all these preceding centuries, the end of the age would have come for this verse to be fulfilled! It was Herbert W Armstrong who first proclaimed the true Gospel of the kingdom of God to the world since the early twentieth century - even to kings, queens and political leaders of the world at that time. Unfortunately, many mistaken him and his teachings to be a kind of cultic and ignore them completely to their own loss.

But the time will come when Christ returns, the governments of the world will be dissolved to make way for the government of God, with Christ as the Head of it all - the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ instructed the Apostle John to record thus, 'The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever' - Rev 11:15. This was long prophesied by prophet Daniel, ' And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom (kingdom of God), which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms (nations of the world), and shall stand for ever' - Daniel 2:44.

However, does it mean that Christ's role as Saviour of the world is denied? - absolutely not. Although Christ is not the gospel, He is to be preached in conjunction with the gospel (Acts 8:12; 28:31). His death and resurrection provide the means to the kingdom of God for which all true believers must seek to enter and inherit (Matt 6:33). There is no other goal higher than this calling - for all true believers must seek to be born again as immortal spirit beings into the eternal Family of God (Romans 8:29-30) with Christ as the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)-  with many more to follow at the First Resurrection!





 

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Unknown to billions of people the world over, the origin of Christmas is not about celebrating the birth of Christ. In fact, it predates the birth of Christ and has it roots in paganism going back to the time of Nimrod - the builder of theTower of Babel! To give it some form of credibility, it has the stamp of  'Christianity' imprinted on it. Christ was NOT born on December 25th, more likely in the fall of September when the 'country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night ' -  Luke 2:8. For how could the shepherds walked their sheep in the cold winter night if it was December and probably rainy too? The fact is, December 25th was meant for the celebration of the Roman Saturnalia - the sun god pagans worship in ancient times for the planting and harvesting seasons as the sun provides the sunlight for a good harvest.

The mood of the Christmas season will bring cheer to merry-makers and businesses, especially those who cater to customers shopping for Christmas gifts, indulge in fine wine, dining and partying till the wee hours of the morning. But God is not impressed, and neither is our Lord Jesus Christ. There are calls from some Christian fraternity to being Christ back to Christmas - but in truth He was never there to begin with. People like to follow the crowd as there are safety in numbers - but they are sincerely wrong in thinking that celebrating Christmas is honoring Christ. Most of the practices of the Christmas festival originates from Roman custom and religion when the sun was worshipped in place of the Son. It is a time to honor the sun god of sowing for bringing in the winter solstice. Such idolatry is  a direct violation of God's first commandment when Christians are commanded, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me' - Exodus 20:3.

The Bible does not state the exact date of Christ's birth as it is probably not God's intention to reveal it to mankind for celebration. It is not God's commandment for mankind to celebrate Christmas, but purely the tradition of man. The festival of Saturnalia was a time to celebrate Saturn - the fire god of ancient times. Most ancient civilizations have a fire god. The planet Saturn was named after him because the bright color rings encircling the planet best represent rings of fire! Such practice was derived from Nimrod, the progenitor of all Babylonian gods whose worshippers offer child sacrifices to appease the gods of Molech and Baal among other names and is an abomination to the Lord (Jer 32:35). In Babylonian culture, Tammuz (another name for Nimrod) was the fire god.They are under the deception of Satan to believe that fire purifies their souls and the belief in purgatory to cleanse them of their sins arise from such practices.

The name Santa Claus is derived from the name Saint Nick. It is the Nicolaitanes that God hates for their evil deeds (Rev 2: 6,15). In fact, Santa is another name for Nimrod. All these have their roots not just in paganism but in evil doctrines and practices which Christ will return to destroy the MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev 17:5). The lighting up of the Christmas tree is actually a picture of the dead Nimrod returning to life with glory and honor. In Jeremiah 10:2-4, the prophet denounced the practice of putting up Christmas tree, '...Learn not he ways of the heathen...For the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest...They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.' All these goes to show that the practices of Christmas festivities were never God's idea, but merely the imagination of man. In modern times, it is propagated primarily for commercial reasons.

Syncretism is the term used to denote the worship of a true God mixed with pagan customs and practices. Serious judgment will befall the Israelites for those who disobey (Lev 18:29-30). Such is the spirit of the Christmas festivities when revelry and excesses were pushed to the limits in wine and spirits - albeit of the wrong kind! But many pagan practices are found in churches today and many church leaders even encourage their members to practice them almost without restraints. The Scripture is clear that God does not want His people to mix truth with falsehood, even if it is a very tiny portion of it - what more if it is substantially paganistic, and hence idolatrious in doctrines and practices. Christ is warning His called and chosen ones through the Apostle John to come out of her (Rev 18:4) - will you heed the Lord's warnings?



 

BIBLICAL HEALING

Millions of people the world over are plagued with sicknesses and diseases. Hospitals and clinics are often swarmed with patients - many in the prime of their lives - usually beyond what the medical profession can cope. The Bible teaches that it is not God's intention for us to be sick, 'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' (3 John 2). Christ suffered that we may be healed of all physical infirmities - '...with His stripes we are healed' (Isaiah 53:5). Human doctors can only diagnose and treat the symptoms with medication rather than treat the root causes of the problems. It is only God Who can heal our sicknesses and diseases, not men - however well respected the medical profession. The primary reason why men do not enjoy robust health is ignorance of God's physical and spiritual laws that govern health and physcial wellness.

While He was on earth, Christ performed many miracles of healing including casting out evil spirits and even raising the dead to life. Some of His chosen Apostles did likewise - in the footstep of the Master Healer. A point worthy of note is that wherever they went, they preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God and miraculous healing followed. For those who had not heard the Gospel, simple (human) faith in Christ resulted in healing. In the case of the two blind men recorded for us in Matthew 9:27-29, they received restoration of their sight by simply trusting in Christ's ability to heal them. Another instance of a woman with an issue of blood for twelve years was healed by Christ  to whom He later commented, 'Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague (Mark 5:34).

In today's modern context with advancement in science and medicine, most people will not believe the word of God regarding healing. They would choose to consult the doctors and medical specialists than believe God for healing, even for most Christians. In these last days, this is more so when Christ cautioned with a rhetorical question, ' Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?' (Luke 18:8). The Lord knew in advance that most people simply will not trust God and take His word at face value - they may mouth with perfunctory cliche, but in their hearts they simply will not believe and many are ignorant of the truth! Having said that, it need be stressed here that seeking healing through faith healing convention and similar public ministry is not God's way and could result in misrepresenting the word and promises of God. The biblical way is to seek the church elder through prayer and anointing of oil (James 5:14 - 16).

But what is real faith? Is it some kind of feel good experience, positive thinking or some charismatic church leaders that many were duped to believe? It has nothing to do with the five senses. Simply put, real faith is believing on the promises of God by taking His word at face value even though one cannot see it - yet believe - because God cannot lie (Heb 6:18). It has to grow from human faith to the faith of Christ (Rom 1: 17 - 'from faith to faith'). Unbelievers and a new believer can only have human faith, but it takes spiritual maturity to grow to acquire the faith of Christ. That is, to have the faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12) when He performed all the miracles and endured all the sufferings while He was on earth. Habakkuk 2:4 rings clearly on this point, 'But the just shall live by his faith' - a similar statement was also quoted by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:7. It is a tall order that takes time, effort and experience to acquire.

While faith is one key issue that keeps many believers from receiving healing from God, obedience to the laws of God is another prerequisite. This is another key to answered prayer - 'And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight' (1John 3:22).When a young man asked Christ how to be saved, the answer - 'keep the commandments' - Matthew 19:17. From a human standpoint, that may be impossible, but with the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you (Christ in you) that is possible. That does not mean we are perfect to keep all the spiritual laws of God in order to be healed, but it does mean we ought to be working towards it and seek forgiveness where we fall short. Understanding the cause and effect of health and sickness is crucial to receive healing from God. When we break God's spiritual and physical laws, the result is predictable, unless we repent and turn away from it. Note that God only give His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

The ministry of Christ was basically twofold - preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43) and healing the sick and casting out of demons (Luke 4:18; 7:22); and many of His first Apostles did likewise. For those who are Christ true disciples, we ought to follow in His footstep. A point to note here is that I am not against seeking medical treatment for sicknesses and diseases. I believe there is a role for the medical profession (especially the specialists) before God ushers in His kingdom here on earth. The point is that we ought to seek God first for our medical condition before rushing to the doctors at the slightest sign of cough and cold. Besides, not all have attained the level of faith and spiritual maturity to seek healing from God, and we must not judge a weaker brother or sister on that score.













 

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

The Lord Jesus Christ first gave a clue about the abomination of desolation in Luke 21:20 thus, 'And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.' When Jerusalem is surrounded by enemy forces, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan 11: 31; 12: 11) will be near (nigh), but not yet occur. In Matthew 24:15, it was recorded that the abomination of desolution was standing in the holy place - meaning that this had already happened at a later point in time than that stated in Luke 21:20 - and it is God's intention that those who read this prophecy understand its meaning (whoso readeth, let him understand). Similar statement was recorded in Mark 13:14 for emphasis - thus indicating its importance. Once the abomination of desolution is in the holy place - the holy temple in Jerusalem - that is the signal for God's people to flee from the imminent Great Tribulation to a place of safety!

History bores out that there was a former type of the abomination of desolation that took place during the time of Antiochus IV - the king of the north prophesied in Daniel 8:11 which is a type of an end-time civil ruler that embodies the Beast system. In 167 B.C. the evil Antiochus Epiphanes destroyed the holy temple in Jerusalem, took away the daily sacrifice of the Jewish people and even poured swine's blood on the altar, defiling the holy place. As Bible prophecy is dual, a latter type of such end-time civil ruler will appear on the world's stage at the close of the church age (Dan 11:31). The true church of God has been warned to watch and pray as events begin to unfold (Luke 21:36).

The man used by Satan that started the deception was Simon Magus - the sorcerer mentioned in Acts chapter 8. This Samaritan was a formidable magician who founded the sect known as Simonians and deceived the multitudes. A statue was erected in the Tiber River to honor him as god. To many of his followers, he was also known as Jupiter. Such is the Babylon Mystery Religion  (Rev 17:5) that God condemns.

Some time ago, it was reported that a bronze statue of the pagan god Jupiter reappeared in Rome, apparently recast as one of Christ's chosen disciples. It could well happened again that another statue could resemble the end-time civil ruler who will challenge the religious system of the Jews in Jerusalem. That could well be the abomination of desolation prophesied to appear in the holy temple in Jerusalem. While a rebuilt physical Jewish temple may not be necessary, something of the old religious order may have to be restarted for the abomination to take place.

The False Prophet together with the Beast will deceive millions of worshippers into submitting to their control, possibly even with signs and wonders invoked from the evil powers that be. God told the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy of the False Prophet who wanted to take the place of Him thus, 'Son of man, say unto the prince of Ty'rus, because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas, yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.' - Ezekiel 28:2. The masses who are so ignorant of the true teachings of the Bible will be deceived to even follow their command to fight the true Christ when He returns!




 

THE CONCEPT OF HELL

Most Christians were taught in Sunday School about the concept of hell and hell fire, believing that all unbelievers will go to hell and be burning there for all eternity. But Scripture is clear that the wages of sin is death, not eternal life of torment in hell fire. If that is so, the Bible will be unequivocal in what it says and says what it means. This is another man-made doctrine and idea that has its root from paganism - most notably from Greek philosopher like Plato and Roman poet Virgil. In fact, the concept of hell and eternal torment in hell was popularised by a Christian writer and poet named Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 AD) in his work titled Divine Comedy.

The concept of hell and eternal torment in hell is derived from the wrong concept that all human being has an immortal soul. Accordingly, when a sinner dies, his or her immortal soul will live on in hell to experience eternal torment forever. But the Bible teaches no such thing. What the Bible actually teaches is that man does not possess an immortal soul - for man is an immortal soul. Genesis 2:7 states thus, ' And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.'  This verse does not state that men possess souls, but that men are souls! Following on in verse 17, ' But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.'  The prophet Ezekiel wrote the death of soul thus, 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' - 18:4,20. This means that the soul can die, and will die due to sin - not an immortal soul as countless millions were made to believe!

Lest the readers be quick to conclude that these are Old Testament concepts, the Lord Christ affirmed the same in Matthew 10:28 thus, '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.'  Christ was stating that the physical body is destroyed at death - no matter what the cause, whether natural, through accident or even if blown to smithereens - but only God can destroy the soul in hell at death. The Apostle Peter also reinforced this truth in Acts 2: 29 and 34 stating that 'David...is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day...For David did not ascend into the heavens'

Solomon penned Ecclesiastes with this clear understanding that when men and animals die, they return to the dust of the earth without any life or consciousness of anything (Eccl 3:19-20; 9:5). Similarly, David addressed this in his Psalms, 'For in death there is no rememberance of thee:in the grave who shall give thee thanks?' - Psalms 6:5. ' The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.' - Psalms 115:17. 'His breath goeth forth, he returned to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.' - Psalms 146:4.

Chew on what the Lord Christ instructed His disciples about this subject, 'Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which ALL that are at the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.' - John 5:28-29. The Lord Christ was instructing His disciples not to marvel at the truth that all who were dead are 'resting in the graves - rest in peace (RIP)'.  Many then, as of now, will find it hard to believe the very words of Christ when told the truth that only resurrection will bring all the dead to life! Till then when Christ returns, all the dead - including all the patriarchs and matriarchs of faith - were and are still resting in the graves awaiting resurrection. They have yet to receive the promise and hope of eternal life (Hebrews 11:13).That is why Christ instructed His disciples to watch and pray for when the time of His return looms near, their redemption draws near too (Luke 21:28).

Many Christians can quote verbatim John 3:16, but only few understands what it really means. '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.' Those who receive salvation will not perish but have eternal life. If the lost are destined for eternal torture, they too have eternal life in hell, but nowhere does the Bible teaches such thing! The Apostle Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 that all true believers (he used the term 'we') 'shall be changed' from mortal to immortality through the resurrection. If all men already possess an immortal soul, then why is there a need to change from mortality to immortality, when death is swallowed up in victory?

The word hell is translated from 'sheol' in Old Testament and 'hades ' in the New Testament. Simply stated, it refers to the grave where all the dead goes, irrespective of religious affiliation. Only in 2 Peter 2:4 is the word hell refers to 'tartaros' - a place of restraint reserved for some of the fallen angels. Many are troubled by Christ's teaching in Mark 9:43-48 about the term 'hell', when He was referring to Gehenna - a deep gorge on the outskirt of Jerusalem which acts as a large refuse dump that burnt up everything thrown into it, including human corpses. Those corpses that fail to make its way down to the burining furnace, but lodged on the ledge of the gorge will be consumed by maggots.

In Matthew 5:22, the Lord Christ refers to 'hell fire' - meaning the lake of fire which is the ultimate furnace where everything wicked and evil will be burnt to ashes (Malachi 4:1). It symbolises the final place of punishment, not punishing. John the Baptist introduced Christ as the One who will come to baptise the true disciples ('you') with the Holy Spirit and the wicked with hell fire ( Matthew 3:11) - at the lake of fire. A loving and merciful God will put the wicked out of their misery at the lake of fire to be totally annihilated with no possibility of resurrection - the second death (Rev 20:14-15)!







 

THE TRUE CALLING OF GOD

The traditional churches believe that their main mission is to convert everyone to Christianity in this church age. They go to great length to 'preach the Gospel' to every tribes and nations even at the cost of the lives of the missionaries and their loved ones. But if that is the will of God to save every soul under heaven in this age, then Satan must have the upper hand, since the large majority of mankind on planet earth had never heard the Gospel message, let alone understand and believe the truth!  If those who had never heard the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are going to eternal hellfire, then God is a respecter of persons when He chose the Jews to be the bearer of the truth.

Two millennia ago, Jesus Christ came to earth to qualify Himself as the King of the coming kingdom of God - the world government of Almighty God that will rule over all the earth. He did this by overcoming the temptations of Satan and all who are called into the one true church of God will have to overcome the temptations of this world - as Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4; Gal 1:4) - in order to become kings in the kingdom of God. Empowered with the Spirit of Christ, all of Christ's true disciples who are called and obeyed His commandments will do the Works of God. There are basically two great commissions for the church of God to do in this age - to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God and to equip the saints with God's truth so that they can develop the character of Christ and qualify to become members of God's Family when born again as spirit beings at the first resurrection.

In this age, God is calling only a small group of people to form the firstfruits, with Christ as the firstborn among many brethren (meaning the first to resurrect among the firstfruits who are the called of this age) - Rom 8:29. 'For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called' - 1 Cor 1:26. Christ made this clear when He said, 'No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day - John 6:44.  The Lord was referring to the end of the church age when those who are called and chosen will be in the first resurrection at the last trumpet call. That is why Christ spoke to His called and chosen disciples in parables so that those who are not called in this time will not understand His teaching - ' Because it is given unto you (the called) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (God), but to them (those not called) it is not given.' -Matt 13:11. The calling is something given unto those who are being called. The church is the firstfruits (James 1:18), and there will be subsequent fruits from subsequent harvests yet of the future.

Many people wrongly assumed that if they are given a wonderful opportunity too good to be true or are having some kind of unexplained emotional feeling, then God has 'called' them into some kind of ministry or some missionary work in a foreign land. But this is not what the Bible is talking about. Simply put, a calling is when a person begins to understand the truth of God  like never before when he reads, sees or hears them. Things begin to make sense and not be deceived by false doctrine and sway by all kinds of man-made teachings and practices. The question is - do you begin to understand the Bible like never before and all its teachings like the Gospel of the kingdom of God, God's Plan for mankind, Bible prophecy and the one true church begin to make sense to you? If it does, God is calling you. Those who are not called will find it almost imposible to understand and make sense of what the Bible is teaching despite reading it umpteen times!

Does it mean that those who are not called in this age are being discriminated upon? The answer is NO. The vast majority of mankind who has ever lived  are neither saved nor lost as they are not being called now but their time for salvation is yet future when the whole truth will be made known to them at God's timing. Those who are called in this age will be given the task to teach and minister to the countless billions who will be resurrected in the second resurrection to come towards the end of the Millennial Age. They will be given the whole truth and opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and hence eternal life (Acts 4:12). The true church of God is like the advance party called to be trained to help reap the great harvest yet to come during the Millennial Age.

The Apostle Paul stated this clearly in Romans 8:29-30, 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he (Christ) might be the firstborn among many brethren. Morever whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified.'  The meaning of these two verses are impregnated with the truth of God's Plan for those whom He called at this time - before the Second Coming of Christ. God knows the motivation and make-up of each of those whom He intends to call before they were even born - from the time they were in their mother's womb - foreknow. Next, God helps them to chart the course of their life to know and understand the truth of God so that they might be set apart from Satan's worldview and value system - predestinate. They would then be sealed and empowered with the Holy Spirit to be overcomers and conform to the image of Christ to have the Christ-like character essential for membership into the Royal Family of God when borm again into immortality - justified. Lastly, those called with be in the first resurrection on the last trumpet call (1 Cor 15:52) at the Second Coming of Christ - glorified!

However, many churches are still part of the Babylon's system of this world and God's will for them is to come out of her (Rev 18:4)  so that they will not be partakers of her sins. Are you being called, and if so, will you obey the call of God and be counted worthy to be in the first resurrection - a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35). The choice is yours to make.


 

PLACE OF SAFETY

For years, I have been sold to the doctrine of pre-tribulation rapture where all who trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will be raptured away to heaven just before the seven-year Great Tribulation is prophesied to occur towards the end of this church age. How wrong I was! What the Scripture really teaches is not any rapture but a place of safety on earth for the true church of Jesus Christ during the period of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord - a total of three-and-a-half years or 1,260 days. The rapture doctrine was birthed as a result of the Council of Trent in 1545 based on the theory of futurism conceived by a Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera to counter Catholic doctrines and traditions. An Anglican preacher named John Nelson Darby later refined it and the doctrines of dispensationalism and rapturism were conceived. It was never taught by Christ or any of His appointed Apostles and certainly not mentioned anywhere in the Bible! It is purely a product of human ideas and invention.

Since God is not the Author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33), the rapture doctrine cannot hold any ground as it leads to mass confusion and hayhem with innocent lives lost when Christians would be raptured away from planet earth with classrooms, airplanes in flight, moving vehicles and many others left unattended and in jeopardy! What the Bible teaches is that there is a designated place of safety on earth (not in heaven) for all true believers for a period of three-and-a half years (Rev 12:14; Psalms 91) - shielded from all the cataclysmic events unleashed upon planet earth. That is why Christ warned His elect to watch and pray always so as to be counted worthy to escape all these things (Luke 21:36) - there is a personal responsibility involved right up to the very end. Sadly, few would take His word seriously!

Christ says that no one has ascended to heaven except Himself who came down from heaven (John 3:13) and He also told His audience that 'Where I go (heaven) you cannot come' - John 8:21, 13:33. The rewards of all true saints are the kingdom of God which will come on planet earth ( Daniel 7:27; Matt 5:5; Rev 2:26; Rev 11:15). Many preachers have misunderstood the words of Christ in John 14:1-3 to mean the saved will have 'mansions in heaven' awaiting them upon physical death. The correct translation for this should be 'rooms' to indicate different positions of authority of temple priests. In like manner, Christ will dispense to the true saints different positions of authority as rewards, depending on their faith and obedience, when He returns to earth. Christ's teachings on the parable of the pounds found in Luke 19: 11-27 is a clear reference to this truth about rewards in the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 put it succintly, 'That flesh and bood cannot inherit the kingdom of God... We shall not all sleep (physical death), but we shall all be changed...At the last trumpet...the dead will be raised incorruptible...and this mortal has put on immortality...Death is swallow up in victory.' If all the dead in Christ have gone to heaven, all these verses make no sense! Besides, there is no indication of a rapture in any variation whatsoever. This proves that the dead in Christ are 'sleeping in the grave' awaiting the sounding of the last trumpet (Rev 11:15) to be resurrected to immortality - to be born again as a spirit being (1 John 3:9) as compared to our physical birth as a human being. The dead in Christ will meet Him in the air (clouds) and return to earth when Christ will then descend on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4-5) to begin His rule on the kingdom of God with the headquarters in Jerusalem.

The Bible clearly states that Christ will come back to earth and every eye will see Him (Rev 1:7) - not the saints going to heaven to be with Him! Christ will then begin His rule on earth (kingdom of God) together with His saints for the next one thousand years (Millennial Age) - Rev 20:4. That is an undisputable fact despite what theologians and preachers may teach and preach. Those who hold contrarian views are sincerely wrong and deceived! For those who are called and obey His word, they will be counted worthy to escape all these global calamities just before Christ Return which God has promised to protect them (Luke 21:36) that are prophesied to come upon the whole earth like a snare (Luke 21:34-35).

To the era of the Church in Philadelphia, Christ promised all His true disciples (those who believe and obey His word) that He will keep them from the hour of temptation - meaning the Tribulation (Rev 3:10). He also promised to come to reward those who are faithful and exercise good stewardship on all that were entrusted them (3:11). To the true New Testament church ('woman'), God will provide a physical place of safety for three-and-a-half year, or 1,260 days (Rev 12:6) to shelter them from the global calamities. Daniel 12:11-12 indicates a period of 1,290 and 1,335 days, a countdown to the Return of Christ. From 1,335 days to 1,290 days, a period of 45 days is for the true church to finish its work of warning the nations and make preparation to flee to Judea, and the period of 30 days from 1,290 to 1,260 days (period of God's protection) is for the journey from the gathering place to the place of safety.

Simple faith by 'just believing in Jesus alone' may fall short of God's standard and expectations from those who will be protected during the coming Great Tribulation. They have been misled to believe that Christ will take care of everything once they believe in Him, and disregard personal responsibility. The truth is that one has to have the right belief coupled with obedience to be counted 'worthy to escape all these things'. Those who have ears let them hear!