FACT: The Bible IS the Inspired Word of God in Written Form

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It is quite obvious to many believers that the Bible itself is under attack. The Bible was the textbook for America for over 100 years and we produced the greatest generation of scholars, scientists, lawyers, judges, doctors, teachers, and preachers that the world had ever seen!

But now, people think they are more sophisticated, and have become "judges" and "critics" of the Bible. Its historicity and accuracy is being challenged by many people, both secularists as well as the religious people. People continue to question the authenticity of the Bible and even the majority of Americans doubt that the Bible IS THE Word of God and that it is inspired of God.

SO, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "INSPIRATION"?

Inspiration does NOT refer to the writers, but rather to the writings. 2 Timothy 3:16 says "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 insists that the writers were controlled by the Holy Spirit so that what was written was accurate and exactly what God wanted to communicate to us.

There is "external evidence" (like manuscripts, historical and archaeological facts, geographical information, etc.) as well as "internal evidence" (what the Bible claims about itself) that affects what we mean by "inspiration."

Here is a possible definition: INSPIRATION IS THE ACT OF GOD BY WHICH HE COMMUNICATED HIS WORD IN WRITTEN FORM AND DIRECTLY CONTROLLED THE WRITERS SO THAT WHAT WAS WRITTEN (original autographs) WAS FREE FROM ERROR!

The Bible is not only "inspired of God" - it is also inerrant (without error in the original autographs). It is the most translated and distributed book before the invention of printing (1450 AD) in the history of the world! No other writing is close to its manuscript evidence. Over 5500 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and over 1000 manuscripts in other languages - all before the invention of printing! Incredible to say the least!

Inspiration refers to ALL that was written - not just parts of it. If you can't trust the Bible's historical facts, then how can you trust its moral and spiritual teachings? The Bible is the most amazing book of all history - actually it is a library (like an integrated software system!) of 66 books.

The Old Testament has 39 books in the Protestant Bible (exactly the same as the Jewish Bible, the Tanakh, but organized differently in three major sections - the torah, the prophets, and the writings.) The New Testament contains 27 books. The ROMAN Catholic Bible has added some 14 Jewish apocryphal books, but the early church NEVER considered them inspired of God even though some of them do contain valuable history. There have been some modern attempts (Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Judas, etc.) to add books to the Bible as though they were on the level of the Canon of the Scriptures - but it won't work! These "pseudo-graphic" writings clearly reveal that they are outside the realm of Biblical authority and authenticity.

The Bible itself will bring a person salvation Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 3:14-15, 1 Peter 1:23-25; and give discernment to the believer as to what is right and wrong Hebrews 5:11-14. Through the Bible we gain effectiveness in prayer John 15: 7, 1 John 5:14; and we are enabled to live victoriously over sin Psalm 119:9-11, John 15:3, 1 Peter 2:2-3. Through the Bible the true believer can be equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Next up, is our message, "The Bible: Which Version?".
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

FACT: The Bible IS the Final and Complete Revelation from God

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Welcome to the first in our four part series on The Bible being the Final and Complete Revelation from God. Upcoming messages include: The Bible IS the INERRANT Word of God; The Bible IS the Inspired Word of God; and, The Bible...Which Version?

We want to answer the question...IS THE BIBLE THE FINAL AND COMPLETE REVELATION FROM GOD IN WRITTEN FORM?

Now of course, if that statement is true, then the Quran is NOT a revelation from God and neither is the Book of Mormon, nor any other writing claiming to be inspired of God as The Bible is! You got that! Then next

BUT LET'S LOOK AT THIS FIRST...HOW DO WE KNOW IF A PERSON IS SPEAKING FROM GOD'S REVELATION OR NOT?

That is an excellent question since so many religious leaders claim that God speaks directly to them as He did in the Bible. The following issues need to be addressed whenever you run into such a claim:

1. If what is predicted does NOT happen, then God did not tell them it would, no matter what they say! Read carefully Deuteronomy 18:21-22.

2. If the gospel that is preached is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Galatians 1:6-10.

3. If what they say does NOT agree with the Bible, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Isaiah 8:19-20; II Peter 3:2.

4. If they ADD any additional "truth" to what the Bible already says, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Revelation 22:18-19.

OK NOW...WHY DO WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS A COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELAATION FROM GOD?

1. A THEOLOGICAL reason - nothing is omitted that BELIEVERS need to know!

2. A LOGICAL reason - early church leaders were closer to the issue. They consistently rejected claims by other writings.

3. A FACTUAL reason - no attempt was made to change this completed Bible to the Council of Trent (1540-1546 AD). That council was a reaction to objections by the reformers regarding church tradition being more important than the Bible itself, and the failure of many church teachings to be supported by Biblical authority.

4. AN EXPERIENTIAL reason - it has the proven power to save and change lives who believe its message and obey its teachings.

5. A BIBLICAL reason - THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ARGUMENT OF ALL! God indicates that His written Word would be a complete and final revelation!

FOR YOUR DILIGENT STUDY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES. These passages will also be in the description: Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:89, Psalm 152, Psalm 160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:31; John 10:35; John 16:13; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 15:1; Galatians 1:9; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 2:2-4; Jude 3; Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:18-19

Hebrews 1:1-2 makes the clear argument that in the "last of these days" (which is the correct Greek grammar) in which God spoke directly, there would be a final revelation concerning His Son, our LORD Jesus Christ. That final revelation is the last book of the New Testament which calls itself, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". It is an uncovering or unveiling of His Person and majesty like no other portion of God's Word. It is in that book (especially in its last chapter...22:18-19) that deals with the future...clear into eternity...that we have the warning against adding to its words or taking away any of its words. God's revelation ENDED with the Book of Revelation! We are no longer hearing God's direct and audible revelation. He is finished, and now holds us accountable for all that He HAS revealed to us about the past, the present, and the future!

MAY GOD RESTORE IN OUR HEARTS THE ABSOLUTE SUFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE! IT IS THE INSPIRED AND INERRANT WORD OF THE ONE AND ONLY GOD, AND IT IS A COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELATION FROM GOD HIMSELF!


Next up, is our message, "The Bible IS the INERRANT Word of God".

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Determined to be Faithfully Proclaiming the Grace of God

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Some may suppose that it would require little boldness today to proclaim the Grace of God in all its purity. Who is ever persecuted now, at least in free, “enlightened lands”, for preaching God's Grace?

Ah, but do not be deceived. Satan was no less active in his opposition to the truth when Constantine exalted the professing Church to prominence than when his predecessors persecuted the Church and sent its members to death by fire and sword. Indeed, Satan, was doubtless, more successful in Constantine's day than he had been when persecution raged.

Does any believer in the Word of God suppose that Satan has relented in his opposition to the truth today, just because men, at least in this land, are not burned at the stake or thrown to the lions? Do not be misled. Satan's enmity against God and against His Word continues undiminished. His hatred of "the Gospel of the Grace of God," is as bitter, and his opposition to it as determined as it ever was. AND, well does he know that the constant discouragements connected with being in the minority often succeed in silencing those who would stand against physical persecution.

Today Satan uses the new evangelicalism with its highly- organized highly-financed campaigns, and its woeful lack of doctrinal and dispensational teaching of the Word...to neutralize the saints.

Multitudes are attracted to these neo-evangelical extravaganzas, at which the participants are for the most part performers, and those who stand for the truth often feel very small as compared to the vast unthinking majority. But let us never forget that God uses "things that are not" to accomplish His work (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Let us, who know and love the truth, then, determine by God's Grace that nothing shall make us unfaithful to our glorious commission; that, whatever the cost, we shall faithfully and boldly proclaim to others the unadulterated Gospel of the Grace of God, "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery." Romans 16:25

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

The Last Trump: The Seventh Trump of Rev. 11:15 is NOT called "The Last" Trump

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Due to ALL the speculation, and the wrong and often felonious teaching being spewed out by so many pastors, preachers, teachers, and so-called theologians, regarding the Last Trump of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 being the same as the Seventh Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 11:15 , we submit to you, here, our exegesis, our teaching, on the matter.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 , "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." AND, Revelation 11:15 , "And the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were loud voices in heaven"

Each seventh Seal, Trumpet, and Vial in the Book of Revelation is marked off from the preceding six by unmistakable signs, sufficient to show us that they are resumptive rather than continuous.

They each go over the SAME ground to give particulars not contained in the others, bringing us to a crisis; and giving the other events in the corresponding period, but from a different point of view. The background details.

In the Book of Revelation, we see in Revelation 11:15 , this Trumpet called the "seventh" Trumpet, and it is the "last" of this special series. But it does NOT mean that there will be none after: or, that a trumpet sounding BEFORE it may not also be called the "last," relative to another subject.

In 1 Cor. 15:51-52 , we read of "the last trumpet: for a trumpet shall sound." In 1 Thess. 4:16, we read that the LORD "shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trump of God." This is the "last" Trumpet with regards to the Body of Christ, but NOT the last absolutely.

The Trumpet that is sounded in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 will be sounded LONG BEFORE the Trumpet judgments of the Book of Revelation begin. The Trumpet sounded in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 will be sounded in order to raise His sleeping Body members, and take them up with the living Body members, to be with Him for ever. The Body joined to its Head!

Now, pay attention, there will be ANOTHER great trumpet AFTER the Great Tribulation, immediately connected with the LORD's Revealing. See Matt. 24:31 . This is AFTER this Revelation 11:15 "seventh Trumpet", for that Apocalypse (revealing) is recorded in Revelation 19 .

So, we can CLEARLY see that the seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 is NOT the "last Trump," absolutely, but ONLY relatively; for it is only the last of the particular series of seven seen in Revelation.

FURTHERMORE, this trump of Revelation 11:15 is not called "the last": nor is it necessary for us to call it the last.

However, the Trump in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 , IS called The Last with reference to the Body of Christ. It is the Trump which shall close our connection with the earth; and therefore there is a true sense in which it is OUR, (members of the Body of Christ), last Trump. The Trump of 1 Cor. 15:51-52 , is the same that is mentioned in 1 Thess. 4:16.

We have had so many positive proofs that the Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation belong to another Dispensation altogether, therefore we cannot read this into our "calling on high" (Phil. 3:14 ), and confuse it with the trumpet which shall bring on the last of God's plagues and end up His judgment of the earth.

The sounding of the Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 produces great activity and stir in Heaven. Again the Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 is sounded IN HEAVEN, (and NOT in the air above the earth).

It is nothing less than the proclamation of the coming Coronation of earth's rightful King (compare 2 Sam. 15:10 and 1 Kings 1:39 ). It is the signal that, at long last, the hour has come to herald the glorious news of the setting up and establishing of God's Kingdom on earth.

It is the announcement that the prayer of the ages, "Thy kingdom come", is about to receive its glorious answer. For THIS is the subject of the loud voices in heaven.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, Conclusion: Is the FIG TREE of Luke 21:29 now shooting forth?

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Now let’s take a look at the Fig Tree (Luke 21:29)

Is the ‘FIG TREE’ of Luke 21:29 now shooting forth? Is Israel’s redemption nigh? The ‘sign’, Pre-Tribulationists say, that nothing like the return of the Jews to Israel, in 1948, and the re-capturing of Jerusalem in 1967, has taken place since Titus, in the year 70 AD, destroyed the holy city, in fulfillment of Matthew 22:7, since which time the Jews have been scattered all over the world, in fulfillment of Luke 21:24. Behold the other trees. (Luke 21:29). Look what is going on in the U.N., and in the United States. Look at what is going on in the Middle East, and in Europe. Look at what is going on with the Economies of nations around the Globe. Can there be any possible solution other than the return of the King? And, must that coming not be preceded by the reign of the Antichrist?


The talk about Pakistan, North Korea, and Iran, having Nuclear Weapons may cause many to fear and have heart‑failure, looking after those things that are coming on the earth (Luke 21:26), and there is no doubt that political leaders all over the world seem helpless and hopeless, like actors without a viable script. Surely God is going to plant His ancient nation in their own land and they are never to be plucked up again (Amos 9:11-15), but are we to believe that God is going to lead them there through the deceit, trickery, violence, and bloodshed now being carried on, and that only a small percentage of the world’s population of Jews will return to the Land?

And again we ask the question, what about the Pre-Tribulation Children of God, in the 20^th, 19^th, 18^th, and 17^th, and even earlier centuries, who had Scriptural right to believe in the any-moment appearing of Christ to remove them, as living saints, to glory? They all had plenty of signs and many of them in certain centuries thought they were in the Great Tribulation.

Last week I read the testimony of a Bible teacher, who wrote 100 years ago, and he was sure that the end of the ‘Church’ age was at hand. He saw plenty of “signs”.

The people, who are instructed, in Luke 21:28, ‘look up, and lift your heads; your redemption draweth nigh,’ are Jews in the midst of the Great Tribulation, with signs and wonders on earth and in the heavens. They are there in the time of Jacob’s Trouble. This is right before the coming of the Son of man to earth; for judgment and for Israel’s redemption.

The Day of Redemption for members of the Body of Christ, the realization of the blessed hope, the Mystery coming of Christ in a moment in the twinkling of an eye (Ephesians 4:30; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54) is NOT the ‘redemption’ mentioned in Luke 21:28. This is agreed to by most Pre-Tribulationists, who preach and teach the Gospel of Grace in this Age of Grace.

But, still, many of them ask, whether it’s not possible and probable that members of the Body of Christ might see some of the signs of the coming of the Son of man to earth, and should they not, with the warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9, and knowing that the Body of Christ will be Raptured before God pours out His wrath and fury on the nations, believe that this proves that the Rapture is very, very near? We again bring to mind Romans 16:25.

However, whether we walk by Faith or by “signs”, let all of the members of the Body of Christ, be looking for the Blessed Hope, the appearing in glory of the LORD Jesus Christ, at any moment.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, part 10: Body of Christ NOT on Earth for Tribulation. Period!

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In the days of Moses it is recorded, ‘God spake all these words,’ and centuries later the Apostle Paul declared that Christ was speaking in him (2 Cor. 13:3). All members of the Body of Christ should know that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. No Scripture is unimportant, unprofitable or uninspired, and every believer should diligently study every word in the Bible, under the direction, of the Holy Spirit; HOWEVER in rightly dividing the Word of Truth every Child of God should know that much of God’s inspired Word does NOT refer to the hope and calling of the members of the joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6, the Body of Christ, the Mystery.

The workman, who is not ashamed, studies, interprets, appropriates and applies all other Scriptures in the light of ‘THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST’ (Ephesians 3:8); and seeks to be established by the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the Revelation of the Mystery, kept secret since the world began, the ‘REVELATION’ ministry of the Apostle Paul.

When Paul wrote of that which was given us ‘BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN’ (2 Timothy 1:9) he added that he was appointed messenger (2 Timothy 1:11). Eternal life promised ‘BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN’ (Titus 1:1-2), ‘WHICH IS COMMITTED UNTO ME (PAUL)’ (Titus 1:3). “How that by revelation He (Christ) made known unto ME (Paul) the MYSTERY.” (Ephesians 3:3). “I (Paul) have laid the foundation.” (1 Corinthians 3:10). “The MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL for which I am an ambassador in bonds.” (Ephesians 6:9-20; Colossians 4:3-4). “Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given unto ME (Paul), THE MYSTERY, which hath been hid.” (Colossians 1:25-26).

These wonderful truths are to be understood and taught by faithful stewards of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), every one of whom is to do his utmost to make all saints see what is ‘the dispensation (not fellowship) of the Mystery.’ (Ephesians 3:9).

And surely, no true, spiritual, intelligent, faithful steward will teach that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’ unless they add (and know why), ‘to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.’ (Romans 8:28). He is a workman that needed to be ashamed who does not know the difference between Divine Truth, ‘ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES’ (Prophecy) and ‘ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE’ (Predestinated but not prophesied).

Regardless of what the preachers, leaders, and pastors teach, or do not teach, let each of us, who are saved by the Grace of God, be established by the preaching of Jesus Christ, ‘ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY,’ which had been hid from all men until the risen Christ revealed it to the Apostle Paul and gave him his Gospel by revelation (Galatians 1:11-13; Ephesians 3:1-4).

If we really believe that the prophesied spiritual‑political Kingdom of Heaven has been postponed and that the clock of prophecy really stopped with the fall of Israel, after the Apostle Paul’s warning in Acts 13:40-41 and the great turn of Acts 13:46, let us be sure that the Lord will have the Church of the Mystery (unprophesied) safe, and in Heaven, before the awful time described in Luke 21:25-33; Matthew 24; and Revelation 6-13.

Surely the ‘MYSTERY’ should convince any spiritual, intelligent student of the Scriptures that members of the Body of Christ, will NOT be here on earth during the prophesied period called ‘the Great Tribulation.’

We should not expect anything but confusion, in any explanation that the Church will be saved from the Great Tribulation, from Bible teachers who teach that ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery’ (Ephesians 3:9), ‘the dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles’ (Ephesians 3:1-4), began on the day of the Pentecost several weeks after the death and resurrection of Christ.



The great events foretold by Joel, David, Moses, Samuel and all the prophets, including Amos, and proclaimed by Peter and the Eleven, ‘the times of the restitution of all things’ (Acts 3:19-21), had nothing to do with God’s purpose and Grace given to Gentiles in Christ before the world began (2 Timothy 1:9).

The Grace that Peter preached, he wrote, was prophesied Grace. (1 Peter 1:10-11). There was NO mystery in what God began, or continued, with Peter and the Eleven on the day of Pentecost. Little wonder then that Pre-Tribulation brethren, who teach that the Mystery began with Acts 2, are becoming Post-Tribulationists. If the Apostle Paul told the truth, that the MYSTERY was revealed to him, surely it was not revealed to him BEFORE he was saved. The Apostle Paul told Gentiles to be saved by Grace and be raised up to sit with Christ where He is, in the Heavenlies. The Apostle Peter preached to Israel to repent and God would send Christ back to earth where they were, in their land. (Ephesians 2:5-8, and Acts 3:19-21). Even a babe in Christ should know the difference between the ‘Restitution’ and the ‘Rapture.’

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, part 9: Pray the Prayer of Ephesians 1:15-23

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The Children of God would not be so confused as to the time of the ‘Blessed Hope’ and how to otherwise walk worthy of their vocation, IF God’s servants, His ministers, pastors, and preachers, would teach them the truth of Romans 16:25; but alas! God’s people have to remember 1 John 2:27, and learn God’s Truth of this ‘Grace’ Age from the Holy Spirit and Scriptures, and not follow the confused leaders. LOOK carefully and prayerfully at Romans 16:25:

“NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO ESTABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO MY (the Apostle Paul’s) GOSPEL, AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE REVELA­TION OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.”

What a great difference between the Divine Truth preached by the Twelve apostles, on the day of Pentecost, Truth foretold by all of God’s prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN (Acts 3:24; Acts 3:19-21), and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, which was kept secret SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. What a pity that outstanding Pastors, Preachers, and Seminary Professors, to whom God’s people are looking for leadership, are neither establishing themselves, nor the people, because they do not know the difference between Peters’ Pentecostal Restitution message and the Apostle Paul’s Gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY.

As we carefully, diligently, spiritually study the Divine Truth in the first eleven chapters of the Book of Acts, during those first years after Pentecost when Peter was using the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and preaching what Joel, David, Samuel, Moses and Amos and other prophets had foretold, certainly Peter and the Eleven were not preaching ‘Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY’ (Romans 16:25). They were not preaching the “MY GOSPEL’ of Paul, for which he was in chains, (2 Timothy 2:7-9 and Romans 16:25).

The Lord Jesus Himself, in His recorded ministry in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, was not preaching HIMSELF, according to the revelation of the mystery, kept secret since the world began. Even the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews instructed the believing Hebrews to leave the first things spoken by Christ and go on to perfection (Hebrews 6:1-3), and even the truths which the Twelve could not bear until the Holy Spirit came down from heaven (John 16:10-14) were not sufficient to establish members of the Body of Christ, as they were, and are, to be established by the Apostle Paul’s Gospel and the preaching of Christ, according to the revelation of the Mystery.

Members of Christ’s Body cannot be established by preaching they do not understand; and they cannot understand the truth by which they are to be established until and unless they pray the prayer of Ephesians 1:15-23.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, part 8: The Great Tribulation NOT Until AFTER the Rapture

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In Romans 11:33, the words, ‘PAST FINDING OUT,’ should be translated, as in the Revised Edition, ‘PAST TRACING OUT.’ What this means is that the truth of Romans 11:30-32 was not ‘PROPHESIED’ truth; for no prophet of Israel prophesied or knew the truth of Romans 11:30-31, which the Child of God must understand today, if they are going to obey Ephesians 3:9 and know the difference between the ‘CONFIRMATION’ ministry of Jesus of Nazareth to Israel and the ‘REVELATION’ ministry of the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8-9).

Remember it was not a hidden ‘MYSTERY’ that the Lord Jesus would come, and shall yet come, as the Son of man for Israel’s redemption. Note in Romans 11:26, the words, ‘AS IT IS WRITTEN.’ The Jews require a sign. 1 Corinthians 5:22. Members of the Body of Christ walk by faith. 2 Cor. 5:7. Now abideth faith, hope, and love. (2 Cor. 13:13). Even the ‘sign‑gifts’ passed away. (2 Cor. 13:8-11).

Christ’s spiritual program for members of His Body was somewhat changed after the sudden closing of the Book of Acts several years before the death of the human author of Acts (2 Timothy 4:11). And most assuredly this new spiritual program, covered by Divine Truth, called the ‘UNSEARCHABLE’ (Past‑tracing‑out) riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8), was never contemplated by any prophet of Israel. And most assuredly the coming of Christ for this Church of the Mystery was never contemplated by any of those prophets or told to God’s people in other ages and generations. The ‘TRIBULATION’, and the coming of ‘THE KING’ to redeem Israel, to build again the tabernacle of David, and to plant Israel in their own land (Amos 9:11-15), and establish His prophesied KINGDOM, and reign as PRINCE OF PEACE, were certainly prophesied by Israel’s prophets and were included in the promises which the Minister of the circumcision, Jesus of Nazareth, came to Israel to confirm.

As the prophesied THRONE will NOT be set up on this earth until AFTER God has accomplished His ETERNAL PURPOSE in this Age and Dispensation, so NEITHER will the ‘GREAT TRIBULATION,’ ‘THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE,’ be on the earth until AFTER God has accomplished His ETERNAL PURPOSE in this Age and Dispensation!

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, part 7: The Mystery and the Great Tribulation

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The Mystery and the Great Tribulation

In Colossians 1:23-26, in writing of his distinctive ministry, the Apostle Paul, to whom Christ had committed a Dispensation,1 Corinthians 9:17, who called himself ‘the prisoner of Jesus Christ’ ‘for you Gentiles’ Ephesians 3:1-4 and Colossians 4:3-4, wrote that the Dispensation committed to him was a ‘deposit’ 2 Timothy 1:12, a Divine Secret, ‘the mystery of God’s will’ Ephesians 1:9; that which completed, or filled‑up, the Word of God; ‘THE MYSTERY,’ which hath been hid from ages and from generations.’

When God sent blindness upon Israel and set them aside, to remain in that state ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ Romans 11:25, and then began a new ‘RECONCILIATION’ movement (Romans 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; and Romans 5:11), and ushered in a new ‘DISPENSATION’ for the nations, it was not an afterthought with God. It was rather a Divine program which God had ‘PURPOSED’ in Christ, BEFORE the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2-3; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; Ephesians 3:11; and Ephesians 3:9).

Surely any minister of Christ, who claims to be a faithful steward of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), should know that there is a great difference between ‘the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 11:26-29) and ‘THE MYSTERY,’ Which was not spoken by the mouth of any prophet since the world began; but was God’s own predestinated, but untold SECRET, ‘Which hath been hid from ages and from generations.’ (Colossians 1:25-26).

The ‘GOSPEL’ of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 was made known to and by God’s prophets since the world began; for Christ died for our sins and was raised the third day, ‘ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES’ (Acts 13:29-30). But the ‘MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL’ (Ephesians 6:19-20), for which Paul suffered as an evil doer in the Roman jail (2 Timothy 2:7-9), was never made known to, or by, any servant of Christ, until the risen, glorified Christ, far above all heavens, revealed it to His prisoner, the Apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle of Reconciliation. The Apostle Paul was not in jail in Rome for preaching the prophesied ‘GOSPEL,’ but for telling a Secret, for proclaiming the un-prophesied, predestinated ‘MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL."

Now, once again pay close attention...The LORD Jesus Christ, on earth, was a Minister of the Circumcision (Israel), to confirm promises made to Israel (Romans 15:8). God never promised to Israel that they would obtain mercy, in the Dispensation of Grace, through the mercy of Gentiles (Romans 11:31); or that Christ would remain far above all heavens for more than 2000 years as Head of the Church, Which is His Body (Ephesians 1:19-23); that during this present un-prophesied age and dispensation God would build a Body to be presented to Christ as a glorious, holy, spotless, blameless Church (Ephesians 5:26-28).

BECAUSE, this was God’s ‘before-the­-world’ ‘PURPOSE,’ not revealed to His prophets, it was God’s ‘SECRET’ or ‘MYSTERY. Keep in mind, in His ‘CONFIRMATION’ ministry on earth Jesus of Nazareth did not confirm ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery’ Ephesians 3:9, because it was not included in the promises which God made to the fathers by the prophets (Romans 15:8).

While on earth Jesus Christ, DID confirm to Israel the promises of God made to their fathers by the prophets concerning ‘THE TREE’, ‘THE TRIBULATION’, and ‘THE THRONE’. Israel had been promised the resurrection OF the dead: they had that hope (Acts 28:20; Acts 23:6; Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6-7). They knew that there would be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15); but they did not know the ‘MYSTERY’ coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-54), the hope of the ‘MYSTERY’ Church, the resurrection OUT FROM AMONG the dead. Yes the ‘TREE’ (Calvary) was in fulfillment of Prophecy. (Acts 13:29-30). The ‘THRONE’, David’s THRONE, the THRONE of Christ’s glory on earth, will be in fulfillment of many Prophecies. The ‘TRIBULATION’ will be in fulfillment of several Prophecies, such as Jeremiah 30:4-11.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

PreTribulation Rapture, part 6: God is Completing the Body of Christ

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The “Sign” Gang and The Any-Moment Coming of Christ.

When we intelligently consider the inconsistency of the Pre-Tribulation Pre-Millenarians, who try the impossible, to reconcile their teaching, that the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in present European and Middle Eastern political affairs proves that Christ’s coming for His Body is very, very near at hand, with their statement that they have always believed in the ‘Imminent’ coming of the LORD for His Body, as have other faithful saints of God down through the Christian centuries, can we not understand why the Post-Tribulationists ridicule what they call their ‘Any‑Moment Theory.’

In one message concerning the coming of Christ, for His Church, “the messengers”, which we will now refer to as the ‘Sign Pre-Tribulation Pre-Millenarians’, will persuade their hearers to believe in the ‘Imminent’ coming of Christ because many outstanding, spiritual, faithful Christians in other generations and centuries looked for the return of Christ in their time, and THEN, in the very next message they try to convince their hearers that they should expect to be Raptured any moment because Ezekiel 38-39 or some other O.T. Prophecies are being fulfilled by Putin, Ahmadinajhad, and other world rulers.



Surely, if any of these men had to come on the scene and do certain things to fulfill certain O.T. Prophecies before Christ could come to call His Body to be with Him in glory, then those Pre-Tribulationists of the 17^th, 18^th, 19^th, or 20^th centuries, who expected Christ at any moment, years before these world leaders of today were born, did, greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures, not being good discerners of signs.

We should all be agreed that God is making in this Age and Dispensation of Grace ‘ONE NEW MAN’ Ephesians 2:15; and that God will complete the Body of Ephesians 4:9-13, which He is building up, before Christ, calls His Body to meet Him in glory; and that completing that Body does NOT depend in any way upon what Ping does in China, or Putin does in Russia, or May, Hollande, and Merkel do in Europe , or what the Jews, Arabs, and Muslims do in the Middle East. God will surely bring the end described in Ephesians 4:13 and then Christ will do with the Church, His Body, what is recorded in Ephesians 5:26-28. After THAT…hundreds of Old Testament Prophecies will be fulfilled. But every spiritual, intelligent student of the Scriptures knows that there is a sense in which the clock of prophecy has stopped until after the ‘MYSTERY’ coming of Christ, in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.

Not that there haven’t been plenty of “date-setting” schemes, and some men of God, sound in evangelical truth, have even tried to fix the date of the coming of Christ, figuring from some dates they thought Daniel had fixed, ‘the seven times’. They multiplied 7 x 360 and added 2520 years to the year the King of Babylon invaded Jerusalem (about 606 BC); so the Lord was to come not later than ‘the feast of trumpets’ in 1914 AD. When He did not arrive, they guessed again, saying they should have dated from Nebuchadnezzar’s second invasion. Then there was the more recent 1984 crowd, and the Y2K gang, and of course the 2012 crew. The guessing has not ceased.

So many NOW reason, that if the Church is going into the Great Tribulation before the Rapture takes place, members of the Body of Christ should either harden themselves for that awful time of sorrow or pray that they and all their loved ones and all of the members of the Body of Christ will die before the beginning of the Great Tribulation rather than look for the RAPTURE of the Church, which, in their minds won’t be happening.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)