Are you a Prepper?

Some things to think on as the days get darker

What are you preparing for? A change in our presidency does not have any weight on Bible prophecy about the Tribulation. All will be fulfilled in God’s timing and in His way.

According to some Bible prophecy teachers all we have to look forward to is the Tribulation. So one must prepare now, become a "Christian Prepper."

Yes, the world is still headed toward the Tribulation. Bad and terrible things will take place. Do you think you are appointed for the worst time in the world’s history? No amount of positive thinking or good vibes will avoid this.

The day of the Lord comes as thief in the night. 1 Thess. 5:5-6 "We are not of the night nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."

I state this often because it is a first principle: You must get the whole picture first before you get the details, if you put the details first you will not get the whole picture correct.

See the signs. Jesus makes the point that most go through life unaware of their surroundings this is one of the reasons many people will reject the truth and accept the False Messiah and think he is the true one (2 Thess.2). Look at today, so many accept false teachers as true teachers of the word, so they are ready to be fooled easily by the greatest false teacher and Christ of all time when he comes.

The Apostasy comes before the Tribulation, not after; though it will continue to grow until there is a united religious front, it turns into a world religion that well accept all.

The Lord has always protected individuals, not always protected the church as group throughout history. So why would this change in the Tribulation? It would be obvious if no Christian is dying in the Tribulation everyone would join them.

 If you have no rapture or have the rapture in the end of the tribulation you have two choices, either the church overtakes the world (not biblical) or they are running for their lives to survive the antichrists annihilation of them. The post-tribber’s often mock those who want to escape but that is exactly what anyone would want to do and will look forward to, if they are in the Tribulation. Which will be the worst time period in world history for the whole world.

Some points to be made for those preparing for the worst when we should be preparing for Jesus to fulfill his promise that will come again and take us to the Fathers house (not believable anymore?)

If the whole church is returning with him from heaven as Rev.19 teaches then logically we are there in heaven before the tribulation ends. The saints return from heaven with Jesus at this event of his coming 

We read in Rev.19 at the second coming the whole church returns with him. This means that the marriage of the lamb has taken place in heaven, the rewards have been given and the bride is ready to rule under him as He comes to establish the kingdom on earth.

If the Rapture follows after the Tribulation, what would be the purpose of rapturing the saints if Christ is returning to set up His Kingdom? If you think this through, a Post-Tribulation Rapture does not fit for the church.

How does Jesus rescue Israel, destroy all his enemies and gather the church to him at the same time (especially if they are returning with him). Seems a bit cluttered, God is a God of order.

When Jesus returns to earth not only do we see the elect gathered but the goats are gathered in front of Christ who separates them in judgment (Mt.25).

This brings up another point. That the saved that survive the tribulation (the sheep) are not changed into immortal sinless beings as the church is, and they later have children that populates the earth. The church transformed are said to be like angels who have no children.  Which affirms this is not the same event as the rapture. For if all the saved are changed there would be no one to populate the Millennium (Remember Mt.25 all the goats are removed. Only those who do not receive the mark of the Beast are saved.)

The church rules over the growing population, given cities and nations to minister to.

Jesus said, I will come again for what?

His coming in Jn.14 where Jesus says I will come again, cannot be the second coming because he is speaking of mansions he has made where he now resides (heaven). He has been preparing these for his bride whom he comes to take away to be with him. He is coming to receive us to himself. He is coming to take us to these mansions built. These are not on earth. (The Jewish wedding is a great illustration)

Mark 13:32-34 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”

If Christ comes back at the end of the 7 years, would you know the day?  Yes, by counting the days from the beginning and the middle of the Tribulation period.

One of the most important statements Jesus made on this topic, Luke 21:35-37 “For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. (the snare is the Tribulation) Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 My hope is to be singing the song of salvation Rev.15:3.