Christian Author, Philosopher, and Apologist
Now that all of the hopes of Jesus’ return on September 20-22, 2017 have not come to pass, many will wonder why He has not returned. Peter addressed this question as one that many people would ask in the last days.
...knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? —2 Peter 3:3-4 Continue reading “Why Jesus Has Not Returned”
This is my forty-second year watching for the return of Jesus. In 1975 when I first believed and began to follow Jesus, I was expecting the Lord’s return by the end of that year. I read in the scriptures how Jesus had come to earth the first time and these events were recorded for us in the New Testament. I believed what Jesus said when He promised to come again as soon as everything was ready. I understood from the scriptures that the time of the Lord’s return was sudden and without warning. I considered how people would begin to say in the last days: “where is the promise of His coming?”
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. —John 14:1-3
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. —Matthew 24:44
By Jesus words in Matthew 24:44, He is saying that after many years have passed people will stop expecting Him to return so that when He finally does, most will not be ready. Continue reading “Where Is The Promise Of His Coming? Not Losing Your Confidence In Jesus’ Return”
I have been following a group on Facebook that is discussing the Revelation 12 signs and the coming of Jesus at the Rapture. There are a great number who believe that the presence of the Constellations Virgo and Leo with the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, are a portent for the Rapture.
The text of Revelation 12 is about the nation of Israel and the Jews, not Jesus’ church. Whatever the signs in the heavens mean concerning Revelation 12, it is important for Israel and the Jews in the last days. Most likely, this sign is speaking of the beginning of the seven year Tribulation, not of the Rapture.
Continue reading “The Revelation 12 Signs Are Not Predicting The Rapture”
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. —Matthew 24:21
North Korea threatens the United States with Thermonuclear weapons. Texas experiences the most severe natural disaster in U.S. history. Florida encounters the strongest Atlantic Hurricane in history. Los Angeles endures the most destructive wildfire ever to occur. The United States sees its first Total Solar Eclipse in 100 years. A series of Blood Moon’s on key prophetic days that many Biblical Scholars see as significant for the nation of Israel and the return of Messiah. The conjunction of the Kingly Planet Jupiter with the Constellations Virgo and Leo in what some assert as a sign that something profound is about to take place with the nation of Israel. Others are warning that the return of Jesus may take place in the near future as a result of all these “signs.”
The Bible describes a period of history called “The Great Tribulation,” in which nearly two-thirds of the people of earth will die by a series of twenty-one judgements. The Book of Revelation begins its description of these events by seven seal judgements at chapter six. These are followed by the seven trumpet judgments and finishes with seven bowl judgments.
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 10, 2017, I was taking a break from the writing of a new book that I am trying to finish before September 20, 2017. The reason: about a week ago I realized while writing another book, that there have been many stunning events that have taken place in the past couple of years that have caught my attention. For nearly 42 years I have been studying, writing, lecturing, and teaching the prophecies of the Bible, and more specifically, those of the Messiah, Jesus.
I stopped writing and began to compile information for a new book that chronicles the events of the Great Tribulation. On September 21, 2017, the Feast of Rosh Hashannah or Feast of Trumpets begins. I have taught for years that when Jesus returns for His church at the Rapture, it will likely be during the Feast of Trumpets. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the first four feasts; Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost, on the precise days and in the specific ways that these feasts must be fulfilled. It is certain that when Jesus return for His church, it will be to continue fulfilling the remaining three Feasts: Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! —2 Timothy 3:1-5
We are living during days of unparalleled demonic activity in which the time of Jesus’ return is near and the devil knows that he has but a short time remaining. The Bible describes these days as “perilous.” When Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, He came to a town called Gadara. where he met two men who were possessed by demons.
When Jesus had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. —Matthew 8:28
The term, “fierce,” used here is translated from the Greek word χαλεπός chalepos. This is the same word that was used by Paul in describing the “perilous” days that will occur just before Jesus returns. The idea here is that people who are alive in the last days before the return of the Lord will be heavily influenced by demons. The Bible speaks of a time when the devil will understand from the scriptures that he will soon be chained in the Abusso and not have access to earth any longer. Continue reading “Living During the Days of Demons and Deception”
Many people wonder if there is a correlation between a solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017 and the return of Jesus to earth. The Bible is specific that God created the Sun and the Moon for “signs.”
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. —Genesis 1:14-15 Continue reading “Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017: The Sun and Moon as Signs and Jesus’ Return”
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Today, we are witnessing the unfolding of phenomenal events around the world:
One: a nuclear proliferation treaty with Iran, which greatly jeopardizes Israel.
Two: an American president who is perceived as weak and unwilling to take any serious military action to stop Russia or Iran.
Three: Russian president, Putin, who is using this weakness of president Obama, to move into the middle east.
Four: Increased violence in Israel by Palestinians that may lead to a new war in the Middle East.
These events will only spell certain danger for Israel. The prime minister of Israel; Benjamin Netanyahu, understands this threat. It is certain that he is near the time when he will order a pre emptive strike against Iran. This will draw Russian into the conflict, and likely begin the events of God and Magog, which are destined to be fulfilled just prior to, or just after, the beginning of the seven year Tribulation period. This event may, in fact, be the reason that a seven year peace treaty is signed between Israel and the surrounding nations. This seven year treaty will be the beginning of the seven year Tribulation. Before this event takes place, Jesus will return to remove His church from the world.
We are living during some of the most exciting days of human history. Although the world is not looking for the return of Jesus, we who know Him and love Him, are ever-watching for His soon return. When we see events that are taking place around the world and compare these things with what the Bible states about the last days, we are struck by the similarities.
“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive
when he returns, we can live with him forever.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:10
Concerning the return of Jesus to the earth, here is what we know for certain: He came before, He promised to come again.
History is replete with many myths. There is no shortage of colorful people who have made grandiose claims over the years of recorded history. There are many critics of the Bible today who claim that Jesus is a fictitious person who never existed. When we examine the actual facts of antiquity, we find that Jesus not only existed and is a genuine person, history has left us a tremendous amount of proof for His existence. The detailed records of the Roman Senate, as well as the Jewish Talmud, both contain specific references to Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. These records are not complimentary nor sympathetic parties, but adversarial and hostile witnesses who describe Jesus as a false prophet, a disrupter of the peace, and the cause of great uprising in Israel during that period of history. The Romans and the Jews had no desire to preserve any record of Jesus life or death, yet this is precisely what they accomplished by their antagonistic comments in their preserved documents.
The records of the Romans and the Jews, both reveal that Jesus was in Jerusalem during the same period of time that the New Testament narrative places Him there.
Near the end of His ministry, Jesus promised His followers that He would come again when everything was ready. There were many events of world history that needed to take place first, before He could return. When theses things were completed, He said that He would come again.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. —John 14:2-3
When we speak of the “Last Days,” we should understand that this period of time began with the arrival of Jesus on the earth the first time. The last days will be concluded by “The Day of the Lord,” during the Tribulation period. The day of the Lord is specifically detailed in the book of Revelation chapters 6-19.
Some of the confusion over the timing of the Rapture has resulted from a lack of knowledge regarding the term: “The Day of the Lord.” This term is always used to describe the return of the Messiah to the earth, at the end of Daniel’s seventieth week; the seven year tribulation period. In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, Paul describes a very specific event in which He states that this information he is giving us, came directly from Jesus (by the word of the Lord).
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. —1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
The Greek word for “caught up” is Harpazo.
Harpazo means “to be snatched away or taken away by force.”[1] It is a word in the Greek language that is used to describe a general who takes hostages by force. Harpazo is also used in the New Testament as translated—by force.
When this verse was translated from Greek into Latin, the word that the translators used here for “caught up” was the Latin word “Rapturo,” which is where the English word “Rapture” originated from. This is why we use the word “Rapture” to describe the event of Jesus’ return for His church, as described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“We’ll be ‘caught up’ (Rapturo) with them (together with our loved ones) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Once again, this event is not the Second Coming of Jesus that is commonly spoken of. At the Rapture, we meet Jesus in the air, the atmosphere above the earth; not “tera firma,” earth itself.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. —1 Thessalonians 4:17
Jesus is coming for His church prior to His return at His second coming, when He will be returning with His church.
Notes:
[1] New Testament Greek Lexicon, Strong’s Number: 726
As chapter six of the book of Revelation begins, we see Jesus take a scroll from the right hand of the Father, who is sitting on the throne of God in heaven. All contracts in ancient Israel which deal with titles for property, had a clause for the redemption of that property. Upon its redemption, the seals of the contract are are broken one at a time and the one who is coming to redeem the land, will fulfill each of the terms that are specified. In regard to the earth and her redemption, there are twenty-one judgements that will take place. Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Bowls. Each of these successive judgments becomes more severe than the one previous.
By His death and resurrection, Jesus has already meant all of the terms of redemption for the earth, In the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation, Jesus opens each of the seven seals and allows the particular events that are described to take place. Continue reading “The Seven Year Tribulation Begins With Peace”
How current events in the Middle East, may lead to an attack on Israel by Russia in the near future.
The issue of who has the right to inhabit the land of Palestine is a primary point of contention amongst Jews and Arabs in the world today. Both cultures and people have occupied this land over several hundred years, both have deep roots in their ancestry to Palestine.
First, to establish a correct basis for this discussion, it is important to look at the true origin of all things on this planet. Man has lived upon the earth for such a great deal of time that he has now become accustomed to the idea that ownership or rights of possession can be conveyed to certain people.
By virtue of its creation, the earth is the property of the LORD, and not men. As God created the universe and made this planet habitable for us, it is His. He has given this planet to all people; to use, to enjoy, to care for, and to share. We should understand that none of us owns the things that we possess; they are simply loaned to us while we are alive. Continue reading “The Land of Palestine: Who Does it Really Belong To?”
