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Raptured In Christ

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RAPTURED IN CHRIST 

As with any of the Word of God it must be revealed to us by the Spirit of God for true understanding and revelations.  My post is intended to open and broaden our minds to analyze and seek the Lord for the truth and the full counsel of God. 

I am not here to debate pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post- tribulation.  I am here to share what the Word of God says according to the Spirit of God as it was inspired and written by the Spirit of God.  As for me Heaven is my home and it is where I chose to live, dwell and occupy daily!  Earthly people have a house, but children of God have a dwelling place and home in Christ Jesus.  The spiritual man dwells in Christ.  Elijah was taken by a “whirl wind” (Just as in Acts 2:2) to heaven as Elijah lived and dwelled in the Spirit of God which is in Christ seated in Heaven,  Just as we should dwell in Christ just as Christ dwells in us. 

Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

1         He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

2             Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

I would suggest you read and meditation on the book of John 15th chapter which will expound more.  I will post a couple of excerpts here.

John 15:10 (NKJV)

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 14:15 (NKJV)

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1 John 4:18–20 (NKJV)

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Upon reading some of these scriptures we should all analyze ourselves as the Word and Spirit of God requires.  Why do we fear?  The Word states that if we keep His commandments we will abide in His love and God’s perfect love casts out ALL FEAR.  Do you have total peace in this world? Are you keeping the commandments of God and love God with all of our heart?  Do you love your earthly life or your spiritual life in Christ Jesus?

1 John 2:15 (NKJV)

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Revelation 12:11–12 (NKJV)

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

The Lord has just put on my heart to share another point on a different topic but it will help to bring revelation to help with this topic.  I will start with a question which hopefully will open up our minds to seek revelation.  Where was David when he was inspired to write Psalm 23?  I am not referring to a region, nation but much, much larger! 

David was on the earth and who is the prince and power of the air?  Psalm 23 wasn’t written for the dead it was written for those living in Christ on earth.  The valley of the shadow of death is the earth as we are surrounded by people that are physically alive but spiritually dead as well as surrounded by evil spirits.  Now read Psalm 23 below.

 

Psalm 23 (NKJV)

Psalm 23

The Lord The Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

 It would be good to meditate on this and also remember the fifth line is prophesying of partaking in Christ as in the last supper.  No matter where we are, how much evil we are subjected to or surrounded by, we too can partake in the Bread of Life!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!

It would also be worth noting that Elisha may have followed Elijah but he did not idolize Elijah or praise Elijah but rather called on the God of Elijah to part the water!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord God! I say this because there is much idolatry in the church structure and we are told to lift up only one NAME which is Christ Jesus.  We have ONE MEDIATOR, ONE TRUE LIVING GOD and ONE NAME which salvation may be acquired and found.

Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

2 Kings 2:14 (NKJV)

14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

One particular church the Lord sent me to was having a bible study and two pastors were reviewing the book of Revelations with the group.  It was more a reading than a study and I can read the bible myself.  I was hoping for the “meat” and not the “milk” of God’s Word. 

One pastor said we needed to tell people about the book of Revelations and the things that will happen so people will accept Jesus and avoid the tribulation by being raptured.  Nothing of repentance, cleansed by the Blood or the Gospel just save your earthly life mentality.  The other pastor didn’t really comment only just read what the bible stated.  I said to the both of them I was already raptured and according to Matthew 24 THESE THINGS WILL COME TO PASS, THEN THE LORD WILL RETURN.

 

They looked at me like I was a fool but I stood my position.  I said that a born again Christian was seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.  Isn’t Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, isn’t Jesus our dwelling place according to Psalm 91.  Didn’t Jesus say the world would love us if we were of this world but it hates us because we are no longer of this world.  Didn’t Jesus say that He wished the Father would not remove us from this world but keep us from the evil one of this world. 

John 15:19–21 (NKJV)

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

John 15:18–19 (NKJV) 

The Relationship of Believers to the World 

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

 

John 17:15–19 (NKJV)

15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Let us read together what the Word of God says.

Ephesians 2 (NKJV)

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 

Christ Our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

Jesus repeatedly spoke of HIS PEACE and Jesus is the Prince of Peace so why do so many live in fear?  Is Jesus a liar, certainly NOT!  In Jesus you should have perfect peace for Jesus has overcome the World and we are called to dwell in Christ who has overcome the world. 

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

I pray that the love and peace of God would dwell richly and deeply within you and that the well spring of life bring forth living water to a thirsty and needy world.  Let us walk in the love and peace of Christ Jesus.  May our lives bear true witness of Christ Jesus not just in mere word but in the love, peace, mercy and grace of Christ Jesus bearing witness by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom my brothers and sister in Christ Jesus.

Reprobate Minds – Spirit of Delusion

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Reprobate Minds – Spirit of Delusion

This morning in my quiet time with the Lord, the Lord spoke the words “reprobate mind” to me as I was reflecting on the following scripture and meditating on the times we live in.

Matthew 24:37–39 (NKJV)

37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

Just as Noah was a preacher of righteousness and only 8 people were allowed on the Ark the rest of the people/humanity had reprobate minds and refused the righteousness of God.  People called, believed and promoted evil as good and called good as being evil!  It was not because they were not warned or did not hear the truth of God’s word but their denial of the truth while promoting and living evil lifestyles.  We know that the Lord Jesus wishes that no man would perish but it will be as in the days of Noah!

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Once I heard “reprobate mind” the Holy Spirit quickly began to show me that as the “mark of the beast” draws near so will the amount of people given over to reprobate minds.  In fact, many people have already been given over to reprobate minds and the “spirit of delusion”.  We must remember that anyone who receives the mark of the beast will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Isaiah 5:20–21 (NKJV)

20      Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

21      Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,

And prudent in their own sight!

 

Revelation 13:7 (NKJV)

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.


Revelation 13:16–17 (NKJV) 

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

Revelation 14:9–13 (NKJV)

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

 

Romans 1:20–32 (NKJV) 

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

 

Why have true prophets and prophetic warnings been denied?  Why all the debate on pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation? God is not the author of confusion!  I remember once I was in a bible study and the leaders were teaching on the book of Revelations and the debate on the rapture or “catching away” once again became the debate.  I asked them why they were so caught up in this debate as I said I’ve already been raptured!  Just as John 17 and Ephesians 2 mentions.

 

John 17:16–19 (NKJV)

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

 

Ephesians 2:4–7 (NKJV)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

Contrary to once in grace always in grace the Apostle Paul told us that the great apostasy would occur prior to Christ’s return.  This was stated thousands of years ago, and today we are witnessing not only the great apostasy but also the reprobate minds of humanity who blatantly refuse the truth of God’s Word.  This spirit of delusion is so strong that people may even believe they are serving the one true Living God Christ Jesus!  Yes, these people will actually fulfil the Words Jesus spoke in Matthew 7.

 

Matthew 7:21–23 (NKJV)

True Way into the Kingdom

Luke 6:46

 

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (NKJV)

The Great Apostasy

2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Noah didn’t try to persuade people neither did the servants of the Lord in the bible.  They spoke the truth, revealed truth, upheld truth and promoted truth according to God’ Spirit and Truth.  The accountability of one’s own soul remains with each of us as individuals.  We cannot blame leadership, family, friends, personal intellect, what we have been taught, or any other sources for our decision not to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus in Spirit & Truth. 

I believe in a remnant and the Lord always has a remnant, even until the Lord’s second coming.  We are in very perilous times people and I believe many people have been given over to reprobate minds and/or a spirit of delusion.

It grieves me that people are led astray but if each of us as individuals do not seek God’s truth in Spirit and Truth we too can be led astray.  Let each of us evaluate our own personal lives in this time and earnestly seek the righteousness of Christ Jesus and His wisdom. 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Philippians 2:12–18 (NKJV)

Light Bearers 

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

 

May the love, peace, grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus dwell richly in your hearts and see that no man deceives you in these perilous times. 

 

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 

John 12:25 (NKJV)

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 

Matthew 24:12–13 (NKJV)

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) 

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

 

2 Timothy 3:1–9 (NKJV)

Perilous Times and Perilous Men 

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Let us pray for the wisdom, peace, mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus in these difficult times we live in.  The great commission must continue until the return of the Lord Jesus.