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I Think Everyone Can Agree With This

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WTN

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That each day is one day closer to the Rapture. Yes, I know it sounds stupid, but I have grown tired of all the signs, dreams, visions, word from the Lord, etc.

The only thing I watch now is Israel. The only truth I trust is the written Word. I could care less about someone's dreams, visions, etc. And believe me I have been burned by the same.

For some reason the Lord is on his own time schedule. Really?

I guess he has some folks that have not made up their minds for him. But they are in the count - so they will be saved.

One story. My wife and I attended the "Truth Project" at our Church - fantastic BTW. There was a guy there that we met and kind of "hit it off". Turns out he and myself have a love for tube amps - go figure. He starts talking about some meeting he attended downtown at some church (Houston) where this intelligent girl was talking about physics, space, - whatever.
He was so impressed with her.

It was a Hugh Ross local gathering. Long story short - my wife and me have been first time supporters of this ministry.

At our last meeting, we gave him one of Hugh's books.

He always tried to offer money - NO - this is our gift to you.

Now, I always thought that this guy was a Christian. Why would I think any different.

He attended every session of the "Truth Project".

Turns out he is 82 and a life long ATHEIST.

If you want to pray for him his name is John.

I truely believe he will be there and I will se him again.

God is still at work. How long? I do not know.

Tracy

Posted 12 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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Yes, Tracy, I get burned out with all these dreams and visions that don't come to pass myself. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten excited over someone's "word" from the Lord that there is "no more time", or a vision of a clock showing 11:59, or that there is only one more grain of sand in the hourglass....just to find out that months have gone by, and....nothing. Yep. Real burned out.

Oh, I will pray for John's salvation. My former boss was an atheist. Used to blaspheme God in front of my face. I used to tell him off when he would do that and walk away. What he did really hurt me. When he did that, I wouldn't talk to him because I wanted him to respect the fact that I am a Christian. He would apologize, and I did forgive him, and always talked to him about the Lord. I feverently prayed for his salvation for years, along with his Christian wife and mother.

Long story short, his wife let me know that 2 days before he died, he asked Jesus into his heart. Oh, yes he did. I rejoiced when I heard that. So when I hear stories of athetists, I'm not discouraged because I know God can save them....even at the last minute. My own mother was an unbeliever until 3 months before she died at the age of 87. I witnessed to her for years, and took her to church with me. I would be on my knees, crying out to the Lord for her salvation, the same as I did for my atheist boss. So I know it's entirely feasable for an 82 year old atheist to accept the Lord into his heart.

Thanks for sharing, Tracy.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6

Posted 12 months ago #
WTN

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Lisa,

You made my day. At our church last week the word was do not ever give up on anybody - prayer works.

And I am one of those that really struggles with prayer.

It's the "why bother, since he knows everything" syndrom.

Tracy

Posted 12 months ago #
Nicodemus

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it doesn't sound stupid at all, WTN. in fact it sounds wise. time and time again false words, insights, dreams, prophecies, theories, dates etc. have come and gone, why should we continue to chase after these things? they've shown themselves to be unprofitable.

you're absolutely right, trust in the Word itself. trust in Jesus.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. -Matt. 5:33-37 (NKJV)

unfortunately some people get so caught up in coveting His return that they let themselves get tricked into unchristian behavior.

do what He told you to do, and find comfort in that. love, pray, seek after His righteousness, make disciples, and watch for His return.

nothing stupid about that at all.

"Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of [the Pharisees]) said to them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” -John 7:50-51

"Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—" -Psalm 144:1

Posted 12 months ago #
btrud1

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So in agreeance with everyone else. I can get so caught up in the excitement of the dates but I have learned to just let them go and keep my own watch on Jesus. He will come, "this I know, for the Bible tells me so." I don't listen or read to many other persons opinions on date setting. Just keep my own watch. I feel if I read too much of anyone elses thoughts and predictions it takes my time away from reading His Word and the revelations in it. Israel has always been the trigger, it is His people and His Nation, so by that I will keep watch. We must be Courageous and keep on waiting until Jesus is told it is Time. Then we will know it is Time. Remember that even the Angels don't know when. I will stay in His Word and see where He guides my understanding. But I really would like to go Home NOW!
Blessings
Barbara

Posted 11 months ago #
Martha

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I agree. I think Israel is the one to watch. Not sure the sanctions on Iran is enough; Israel surely doesnt think they are. Syria has missle aimed at Israel, right at a time when conditions are getting worse with each passing day. Everthing is in place from the need for one world currency, talk of one world leader, the stock market, syria, iran, israel, and if the rapture is going to happen on a normal day, before the sudden destruction, it will be soon.

Lisaleenie, well I see God has yet another award waiting you in heaven. What a testimony. Your boss and mother. I'm sure you had to feel like giving up at times, maybe like all you said to your boss fell on deaf ears. Yes, that is a wonderful thing you did,a nd a reminder we all need to keep on keeping on and never give up praying.

Posted 11 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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I just came back to this post. Thanks for your kind words and encouragment, Tracy and Martha.

Tracy, what's happening with John? Any indication of interest in the Lord yet?

Martha, you're right, I was almost tempted to give up because it seemed really hopeless. Almost. But deep down inside, I knew that I never would. My former boss told me to my face that he would never ask Jesus into his heart when I asked him. Never. He said that if he didn't ask Jesus into his heart when his beloved first wife died and it rocked his world upside down, he wasn't going to ask Him into his heart on his death bed. (Famous last words, because that's exactly what he did!) And with my mom, every time I would talk to her about the Lord, her eyes would glaze over and she would quickly change the subject. But there were two pivital events that brought them both around.

With my former boss, it was his Christian wife. He would see God blessing her in ways that were unexplainable in the natural. Plus he would witness for himself answers to prayers that astounded him. I think that made him think it was no coincidence that whatever his wife would pray for would come to pass. I used to go and visit them in their home, and me and his wife would tease him and say, "So you still think there's not a God, eh??" when we would remind him how God was answering prayers left and right...until he finally admitted in a cheeky grin that he was slowly on the "slippery slope to heaven". LOL! (One thing that me and him had in common....we both had the same quirky, silly kind of humor. No one in the world made me laugh like he did!)

In the case with my mom, well, that was a total miracle from God. One day I was at church, and I was sitting in the pew with my Bible opened on my lap at the part in Mark 10:51 where Jesus was asking the blind man, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Well, the interesting part was that particular verse alone was illuminated with a bright light. Just that verse. Stunned, I looked up at the rafters on the ceiling to see if a ray of sunlight had come in through the roof, but there wasn't. I looked to see if I was sitting under a light, but I wasn't, either. Strange. So I picked up my Bible and started moving it around, and the light stayed on the same verse! Right then and there, I knew that was the Lord speaking to me, telling me that whatever I asked of Him, He would do for me. I knew in my heart that the one thing I wanted more than anything was my mother's salvation. So I prayed and said to Him, "Dear Lord, I want my mother saved and in heaven with me. Please save her." Right at that moment, the pastor was quoting the same verse in Mark 10:51 that was illuminated in my Bible!! I knew right then and there that was a confirmation to me, and that the Lord was going to do what I asked! Hallelujah!

Well, a couple of weeks later it was Easter, and I brought my mother over to my house, and put on "The Greatest Story Ever Told" on the TV while I fixed us some lunch. When I went back into the living room, my mother looked at me with an expression in her face that I never saw before....a moment of clarity and recognition....and I could actually see the scales being removed from her mind and heart. She said to me as she was watching Jesus cruxifixion, "Jesus did that for us, didn't He?" Relief and joy flooded my heart, and I told her, "Yes, Mom, He did. He paid the price for your sin and mine. Would you like to ask Him into your heart?" Happily she nodded her head and said, "Yes, I would." I went on my knees before her and prayed the sinners prayer with her and she asked Jesus into her heart right then and there. I then took her into the kitchen and baptised her with water on her head in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (At the age of 86, she was too feeble to go into a pool of water to be baptised by a minister, so I made do.)

Three months later, a month after her 87th birtday, she passed away. I was so relieved that she didn't die lost. Praise the Lord for His goodness!!

I said all of that to say this: Tracy, I can see your atheist church friend John being saved. Let's continue to pray for his salvation! The Lord can do anything.

Posted 11 months ago #
TX Thom

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Ah Lisa. Making me cry before I finish my coffee. What a testimony of God's faithfulness and love for us. Thank you.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:27

Posted 11 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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Aw, thanks, TX Thom. Yes, God is so good!

Posted 11 months ago #
Bryan V.

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When it comes to dreams, I am very skeptical, which means I hardly give them any credit whatsoever and I'm very cautious of any dreams where people see numbers. I don't mean to disrespect anyone here that puts faith in them, but I do not know of any biblical reference to God sending numbers in a dream to foretell a date when something will happen. God's method, as far as I can tell when it comes to prophecy, is to tell what is going to happen.

Name one instance where God told a prophet the day and month something happened. Or even one instance where God explains that a number like 514 means 5+1 4 which equals 6 4 or June 4th. I'm sorry, but that kind of calculating numbe3rs is not found in scriptures at all.

God does tell us that people will have visions and dreams and will prophesy again. I think this will be after the rapture. The Age of Grace does not have near as much visible signs as other dispensations. This is time where we have faith without seeing. And besides, what prophecies does God need to tell us that he hasn't already shared with us. We have everything we need to get to the rapture.

And remember, that us who watch as closely as we do, are constantly thinking about it. Due to how God created us, our daily thoughts are played out in our dreams. If you think about the rapture all the time, then it only makes sense that you would dream about it.

Our minds are so incredible. I love dreams, it amazes me how I can hear music in them sometimes or sing a song I've never heard of before. Or the places the mind can create, the people, the stories that play out. It is all remarkable that our minds are capable of this. And the emotions when I dream are so much more vivid and deep than when I am awake.

There are things we can learn about ourselves in dreams, but when God gives someone a prophecy, it is meant to be shared will all mankind, and God has always chosen prophets who were in a position to do so. I'm not saying that God doesn't give people visions, he is capable of anything, but we should be very suspect and not put too much of our time thinking about dreams. There is much work to be done, and our time could be better spent helping to save the lost.

Answer this: What benefit would come from knowing the date of the rapture?

You would still have to convince an unsaved person to accept that, and they won't be able to so without first accepting Christ.

And what good does it do to the believer?

Taking away the imminence of the rapture by knowing when it would occur would negate some of its purpose.

Again, I don't mean to offend anyone, this is just a heartfelt opinion by a fellow brother in Christ.

Posted 11 months ago #
Bryan V.

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Another great post Lisa.

Faith. It's all about faith.

If you have faith that God can save someone that appears unsaveable then it can and will most likely happen.

God honors faith more than anything else, and it goes to show you Lisa, that you have a good deal of it. And since you do, I'll remember to have to ask for your prayers when the need arises.

Posted 11 months ago #
TX Thom

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Well Bryan, there's Gen 40. Another instance of 3 days delay. That's the only one I saw.

Posted 11 months ago #
Bryan V.

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Yeah Thom, God seems to give us many time frames, but never a particular date. And I'd be confused if he did. There is more than one calendar in use throughout the world, and most countries use the day first then the month when writing dates. And then you can add to that how Israel starts a new day at 6pm.

So logically, if a prophecy should be universal, giving a precise date would only serve to add confusion. And that's not God's method, that belongs to someone else.

I could be mistaken, but this is where my mind has settled on the matter. Given a new argument or variable I haven't considered, my opinion could change.

Posted 11 months ago #
Sierra

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When I read all your posts… WTN, Lisaleenie, Nicodemus, brud1, Martha, TX Thom, Bryan V…

I knew that the Lord used your words to comfort me as well as many others that seek the truth. Thank you for sharing your experiences and your insights.

My cousin’s husband, Gary, passed away at 3:20 am this morning. He was an atheist and was sometimes cool and aloof and at others, very verbal about his unbelief. He was a good husband, a good father, loved his family, friends and his dog. He went to see his Mom in the nursing home every other day… he just insisted he didn’t believe there was a God.

We have been praying fervently for him, but when we learned that he went home from the hospital to die… my heart was broken.

When someone dies you know is a Christian… I can feel the loss… but I can celebrate also, because I know they are with the Lord and will ever be. I trust that the Lord was able to enter Gary’s heart and draw Gary to Himself… and we will see him in heaven.

WTN… I will pray for John and I also believe that we are one day closer to the rapture.

Lisaleenie… I honor you for your caring spirit and tremendous witness to your Mom and your boss.

brud1 and Martha... Israel is the sign to watch... I agree.

As you have each expressed… I, too, am anxiously awaiting the Lord’s return for us… I will never give up, but I do feel weary sometimes. I am so grateful that God’s love is everlasting and all encompassing.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28

Posted 11 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bryan, I appreciate that. I'll be glad to pray for whatever needs you have. I see the answered prayers in my life as God's love and mercy in action, and that's why I am so grateful when He answers my prayers.

As for dreams and visions, I used to put a lot of stock in people's dreams and visions until I starting seeing so many of them not come to pass. One by one I've seen each one of them dissipate like a mist. Now I read people's dreams with a great deal of discernment. Sometimes one will come up that I feel very strongly came from the Lord, but I will have to say that not many of them bears witness to my spirit.

Posted 11 months ago #
Bryan V.

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Lisa don't forget that faith is a talent. We all have a measure of faith, but some of us have a special level of faith as their talent. Just as some people are better interpreters of the word, some better at encouraging people, etc.

It is wonderful for us to find out the talents we each have in order to help one another the way God intends. If you notice a lot of your prayers being answered compared to other believers, there's a good chance you have it as a special talent.

What's even more wonderful, is that each one of us is capable or growing any skill to that high degree. But it takes those with that special God given talent to show the rest of us how it is done. Yours might very well be faith, Lisa, and that is such an awesome talent to have. And God Bless you for that. Oh wait...I guess he already did, nevermind.

Posted 11 months ago #
Bryan V.

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And why do I always see my spelling mistakes 2 seconds after I click the button. That's my talent.

Posted 11 months ago #
TN Dove

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I don't mean to disrespect anyone here that puts faith in them, but I do not know of any biblical reference to God sending numbers in a dream to foretell a date when something will happen.

OK, I'll bite.

Joseph when he was in prison. The Lord gave dreams to Pharaoh's baker & butler with the number 3. Joseph interpreted one would be promoted in 3 days, one would be executed in 3 days.

Genesis 40

There are other examples.

“Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes.” — Song of Solomon 1:15
“You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with yellow gold.” — Psalm 68:13
“O that I had wings like a dove then I would fly away and be at rest.”

Posted 11 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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TN Dove » Joseph when he was in prison. The Lord gave dreams to Pharaoh's baker & butler with the number 3. Joseph interpreted one would be promoted in 3 days, one would be executed in 3 days.

Oh, that was good! I love a numerical example straight from scripture.

Bryan V. » Lisa don't forget that faith is a talent. We all have a measure of faith, but some of us have a special level of faith as their talent. Just as some people are better interpreters of the word, some better at encouraging people, etc.

Thanks for the encouragement, Bryan! I've never seen it from that perspective before. That means a lot because I've always wanted the gift of faith so much. However, I've always seen other spiritual gifts that the Lord has given me being displayed stronger in my life than faith, like encouragement or mercy, for example. Those come much more easily to me, but faith has been much more of a struggle at times, so that's why I've never thought I had much of it. I guess it takes someone else to point it out to us before we can recognize it in ourselves. Thank you for doing that.

Posted 11 months ago #
Tender Reed

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Truly this helps sharpen our prophetic swords, but I take nothing from man as conclusive. Now when Jesus ascended there were two angels sent to Peter, James & John explaining that when Jesus would return, it would be in like manner. I believe that there is a clue for us today. Will the Lord also again send angels (messengers), to warn us before the Lord appears in the clouds???

Love & blessings...Tender Reed

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
— John 14:27

Posted 11 months ago #
Donna

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Lisaleenie, your spirited heart in tune to our God's leading has me praising our God. Bless your faith in witness in many ways according to His plan of fruition. faith in action as the Spirit moved your mother made receptive to Christ's salvation Mercy. ~~

ooooh, love it~! absolute faith was inside you, girl, The Holy Spirit moving the entire scene for Heaven's view . . I believe your angels jumped for joy and gave spirited smiles' with your mother's angels too ~~

Ya just know Heaven watched the Spirit of the LORD moving you to speak just at the right moment, God's Word of saving faith, which all the angels long to look into . . . you sure are a blessing!!

“For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.” — Isaiah 54:5

Posted 11 months ago #
Lisaleenie

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Oh, Donna, thank you, dear sister. Your kind words went straight to my heart.

Yes, I can just imagine the angels rejoicing in my mother's salvation! May God be the glory for His goodness!

Much love and hugs to you, sis!

Sierra » My cousin’s husband, Gary, passed away at 3:20 am this morning. He was an atheist and was sometimes cool and aloof and at others, very verbal about his unbelief. He was a good husband, a good father, loved his family, friends and his dog. He went to see his Mom in the nursing home every other day… he just insisted he didn’t believe there was a God.

We have been praying fervently for him, but when we learned that he went home from the hospital to die… my heart was broken.

Dear Sierra,

I'm so sorry that I didn't see your post until now. I guess you and I were posting at the same time and I didn't see it for some reason.

I'm also very sorry to hear about Gary. Do you think that there might have been a chance that he asked Jesus into his heart at his last breath? I surely hope so.

Anyway, I just wanted to acknowledge your post and to thank you so much for your kind words, dear sister. I noticed that you're a fairly new member at RITAN. A big welcome to you if I hadn't said it already. :)

Posted 11 months ago #