Recently, a group called Heaven's Gate joined the ranks of a number of other recent cults (the Order of the Solar Temple, the Branch Davidians, the followers of Jim Jones) who have sought to leave this world in search of a "better" place by means of suicide.
In response to the mass suicide, Time magazine ran a cover article in its April 7, 1997, issue entitled "Inside the Web of Death." The reporters had this to say about groups like Heaven's Gate: "As predicted, the approach of the year 2000 is coaxing all of the crazies out of the woodwork. They bring with them a twitchy hybrid of spirituality and pop obsession. Part Christian, part Asian mystic, part Gnostic, part X-files." This article also pointed out that the Internet is a powerful tool that is being used to propagate this thinking in a way never thought possible�globally and instantaneously.
What does this all mean? It is clearly a sign of the times?
"And many false prophets will appear and lead many people astray" (Matthew 24:11 NLT).
"But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and His true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way" (2 Peter 2:1-3 NLT).
Clever Deceptions
Why do people buy into these crazy teachings? Don't they know any better? The Bible tells us that in the last days, there will literally be a cult explosion�an ever-growing plethora of every belief system possible except the right one.
The Bible tells us that Satan will:
"Use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies. Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do" (2 Thess. 2:10-12 NLT).
You know something is popular when you start seeing the knock-offs or imitations. The Devil is not very original. He has always seen the value of copying something, and, in so doing, confusing the issue. It seems that whenever there is a genuine work of the Spirit of God, Satan will have his imitation.
Consider Pharaoh's magicians, who were able to duplicate the miracles of Moses, such as the plague of blood in the Nile, and the plague of frogs (see Exodus 7-8).
Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). In the story, a man planted wheat in a field, but his enemy came at night and planted tares (or the darnel seed) in the same field. Initially, this tare looks just like the wheat. But as time goes by, it actually uproots the wheat and ultimately destroys it.
These days while God is working, the devil is planting his tares. When they are exposed, people say, "See�they are all hypocrites!" As Peter said, "Christ and his true way will be slandered" through this. Yet, the presence of so many imitations should actually prove that there is an Original.
Whatever we have as Christians, you can be sure that Satan has a counterfeit version:
He has a false gospel that tells you that you can make up the rules as you go.
Along with this false gospel comes a false hope. People think that because they have gone through a certain religious ritual, they are eternally secure.
He has a false messiah. Satan always wanted the top job in heaven, and he has never gotten over losing his once exalted position. In these last days, he will thrust his imitation messiah�the Antichrist� on the world scene.
I contacted Greg Laury and asked him to reconsider some of his statements. I explained him that according to the Scripture the Rapture will be right before the second Coming of Jesus at the last trumpet sound.
I think he changed his opinion. We all make mistakes and we need to tell each other what is wrong to build up each other. If he will not change his wrong statements I will against contact him....:ROFL:
In other things his church is perfect. Very sound teaching. :yay:
Did you not say the Church will not be taken before the antichrist will be made know, or in otherwords believing the church will go through the tribulation.
Well I believe the church of the lord Jesus will be gone in the rapture, the current church now on the earth will not go thru the tribulation, and if you will study you will one looks like two raptures in the tribulation.
You can not get past not knowing the day and the hour, and those in the tribulation will know the day and the hour scripture is very clear on that.
Oh pj you do not believe that the Rapture will take place?
The Rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Matthew 24:29-31
29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Revelation 11:15
15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rapture as occurring simultaneously with the Second Coming of Christ. Upon Jesus' return, believers will meet him in the air and will then accompany him in his return to the Earth.
A trumpet is described as blowing at the end of the Tribulation to herald the return of Christ
29 ******Immediately after the tribulation******* of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with ******a great sound of a trumpet******, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Revelation 11:15
It is clear as the day that the rapture will be upon His return.
Talks about the dead in Christ rising first, then everyone else, who is born again believers, will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. So, believers will not be here to endure the great tribulation on earth.
Yes, I and man other Christina suppose that the Anti-christ is Putin (the future president of Russia).
He has friendly contacts with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syrian president, Turkey, China....and stated that Hamas is not a terrorist organization!!!!!!
He is accompanied by Medvedev ( we suppose he is the false prophet).
Russia founded an innovation center Skolkovo where I suppose they will invent micro-chips/the mark of the Beast/the Anti-Christ.
Skolkovo innovation center (also Russian Silicon Valley in Skolkovo) is a planned high technology business area to be built at Skolkovo near Moscow, Russia.
The site is intended to be an ultramodern complex created to encourage scientifically-technological based companies. It is expected that the complex will be constructed in the territory of the city settlements of New Ivanovo and Odintsovo, near the village of Skolkovo, located in the east part of Odintsovsky area of Moscow, 2 km to the west from MKAD on Skolkovsky highway.
The announcement for Skolkovo was made on November 12th, 2009 by Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev.
I am afraid that in this is one of the clear signs that Putin will attack Israel and lead 10 nations confederated under him to attack Israel. And during this war, Jesus and we all will RETURN to Jerusalem to reign with God Jesus for 1,000 years on earth.
We should be faithful to God and do not accept this micro-chip/mark of the Beast. We should be ready to suffer and die for our faith. Christians will be beheaded. It seems that it will be the reign of Islam on earth. Only they execute by beheading.:devil:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed:angel:� 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last:peace: trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible:angel:, and we shall be changed:angel:. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: �Death is swallowed up in victory.�
55 � O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?�
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
When?
At the last trumpet.
Who?
We will be changed and the dead will resurrect.
Then we will be raptured.
Our bodies will be changed.
When will be this trumpet sound?
Let's read verses 22, 23:
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive:angel:. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ�s at His coming.
