apostasy Indeed I appreciate all those that dedicate themselves to deep study of the Word! That said, many believe and preach our redemption is near! Some teach otherwise! Again, we'll find out soon enough! I'll keep looking up daily! TR Thessalonians 1:14 - 18 covers the Rapture, which as we all know is before Daniel's 70th week. 1 Thessalonians 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For 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. 16 For 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: 17 Then 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. not meaning to shout with bold, I just don't know how else to emphasize the absolute control, power of God over when the rapture happens and all the events leading up to the second coming of Jesus and establishment of His millennial rule over all the earth. people can choose to change their mind about placing faith in Jesus, some will not ever repent, but the timing boundaries of the 70th week is totally in the control of God. About the power to restrain, remember that God is who says the covenant Israel makes with death will not stand. It is God who has set boundaries for the timing of the rapture, when Jesus opens the seals, when the witnesses appear, when the 144000 are chosen, when the abomination happens midtrib (mid trib can only be because God has set a beginning and ending time). Heather is talking about what is going to take place before the second coming of Jesus, not the rapture. Holy Spirit doesn't leave the planet, but allows some things to take place and disallows other things to take place. Holy Spirit of God is still restraining even when the two witnesses are present, because of the power that God gives them to overcome until their testimony is finished- Rev 11:3-12. the two witnesses do not come to Israel because of Israel following the law, but because God sends them to testify to Israel about Jesus for a time that God planned. Israel is not even following the law completely at that time because they are making lies their refuge - the governing authority over them thinks that if they deceive well enough or go along with what is against God, that they will be safe to follow God as they see fit and dwell in the land, not be trampled down as the scourge does to others. Dan 7:7-9, 19-27 Isaiah 28:14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, 16 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, It is God that restrains Satan. Wickedness is not stopped by laws we make, look at the world today, how many laws there are against evil but those who don't care do evil anyhow. It is God in His timing that an angel is tasked with binding Satan and throwing him into the abyss where Satan is unable to get out for 1000 years. God sends the angel. God makes the chain available that the angel uses. God created the abyss. God has the power to restrain - Rev 20:1-3 the sacrifices will stop, and Israel will recognize that antiChrist isn't their messiah then, in the timing of God. Since God has decreed that last 7 year space of time, events within that time have to happen in an order that God already has planned so that all is fulfilled within the 70 weeks that God decreed in Dan 9. the temple being rebuilt, return to sacrifices, ceasing sacrifice, the whole of what will happen can only take place within a space of time that God sets, not man, not legal decisions man makes, not at Satan's discretion, it will only take place because of the plan and work of God. The two witnesses, the 144000, the seals, the trumpets, the bowls, it is all because of God's plan of redemption to be fulfilled. The false prophet, antichrist, Satan, all grasp for power, destroy opponents, strike out, what ever they can do but submit to Jesus; yet for all they do, God's plan unfolds ending in the salvation of as many Gentiles who repent, and a remnant of Israel being saved and calling on the Lord to save them. the 70 weeks ends with Jesus triumphant and ruling. a believing remnant of Israel survives because God does restrain evil. Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. unfortunately, this is what it will take for a remnant of Israel to say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. this is what it takes for Jesus to return to earth to rule. so yes, there will be both an abandoning of tolerating the Jewish law by antichrist, and the man of sin revealed before Jesus returns. yes, the restrainer is the Holy Spirit who is in the church now, who has kept both the church and Israel from being wiped out by Satan, which Satan would love to do. God restains Satan from destroying the church and Israel completely. God will call the church up in the rapture, and the Word of God will take the scroll from His Father's hand and open the seals when it is God's timing. take heart church, Almighty God is in control of timing. what ever you see around us now, we are not going to heaven sooner or later than God's plan that is in place. if we die before the rapture, our days are in God's hands. if we are the ones who get to come to heaven without going through death, this too is because of God's choice, His control, His time. 1Thes 4:13-18, 1Cor 15:50-58, 1 John 3:1-3 All because of God, Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. :popcorn :flyup: its coming, the rapture. on time. Thank you ❤️Yes, I think in the same way....I am seriously pondering this and what it could mean.....
King James Version
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we are in agreement.
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
It will not come to us,
For we have made lies our refuge,
And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
17 Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled,
And your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
Then you will be trampled down by it.
19 As often as it goes out it will take you;
For morning by morning it will pass over,
And by day and by night;
It will be a terror just to understand the report.”
