The Cautious Watcher

The Prophecy Watchers have been on alert for the last 20 years.  We have read the Scriptures, we have watched the Heavens, we have deduced the times.  We have correctly identified thousands of significant prophetic events, compelling numerical distances between dates, extrapolated Hebraic meanings from those numeric dates, and correctly concluded that we are indeed living in the last days.

With the publication of the Harbinger, the discovery of the blood moons and their historical significance, and the availability of free Stellarium softwarem the Watcher community has been on heightened alert since 2008.  As the book of Daniel has opened, our understanding of the Scriptures of the End Times has multiplied at a breakneck speed, the Holy Spirit has poured out the anointing on His Servants far and wide.

An example of this is the knowledge of the fulfilled Spring Feast at the first coming of the Lord Jesus.  Those of us who have been at it for a while take that revelation for granted these days but I have to stress that a mere 7 years ago even the most ardent and learned of Watchers was unaware of this amazing fact.  I was blown away in 2013 by the Rosh Hashanah Rapture.

Feasts of God

Prior to the Fall Feast in 2013, the Watcher Community went into overdrive.  I was absolutely part of that movement, albeit on this little blog, but I have a loyal following and regular readers and so many of you will remember when that journey began in earnest.  I could effectively compile a list in 2013 of why the Rapture could occur on the Feast of Trumpets that year.  The same held true for 2014.  In 2015, the comprehensive list was so long that it became one of the most visited blog posts in the history of Abigail and Dolley.  We so eagerly awaited Rosh Hashanah 2015, I had a countdown on my computer.  I did a great 30 Days of Birth Pangs series.  My Rapture Box was full, my unbelieving neighbor had a letter and a key to the house (in case the animals don't get Raptured) and we were ready to go!

Then the Lord sent the largest dust storm in modern Israeli history and totally screwed up everyone's "count down" clocks.  We waited, we watched, we moved the countdowns... we kept looking up and then we got through the whole Fall Feast Season 2015 and we were still here.  I do not know of a single, reliable teacher that actually "set the date" but boy oh boy we all sure did hope and pray.  It was hard and disappointing.  Many of us were in a funk for quite a while!

The events have continued to unfold, prophecies are still being fulfilled.  Even the 2016 Fall Feast had a glimmer and good reason behind a rapture that year.  The 2017 Fall Feasts have as many "proof" texts and signs in the Heavens behind them as the 2015 Season did, maybe more.  I love the excitement, I love reading about the Blessed Hope but I am very cautious these days. The Revelation 12 and Birth of the Child being the Church is an interesting and compelling interpretation of Scripture, the times, and is perhaps a unique revelation for such a time as this.  Perhaps, it is not.  It is worth noting that this particular season is marked with a vitriol and division I have never seen within the body of Christ and the Watcher community.

This is where we must be very cautious!  No mystery interpretation should divide believers.  We must not be dogmatic about anything other than the core of the Gospel as expressed in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds

The thing is, the lists we put together in all these years are STILL valid, they still mean something, just like the current signs, interpretations, writings, theories, and hopes do for a final fulfillment in 2017 do.  Friends, I have to encourage you, if we are celebrating Thanksgiving 2017 on this Earth and not hanging out at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, that will be okay, too.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 30 The Bride

Revelation 19:7-9:  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.   And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

A Bride

Twenty years ago, I was counting down to my wedding.  All of the preparation, time, decisions it was all coming to fruition.  As the days approached, in some ways it felt unreal; a much anticipated event that was finally upon us.  The family and friends arrived from out of town, I took off from work, I scuttled around doing all the last minutes items and then about 48 hours before I walked down the aisle I stopped.

I stopped working and fretting and planning - if it was going to get done, it was done and if it hadn't been done it wasn't going to get done, then that was just fine.  There was a point where I had to stop being in charge, that I had to let others handle what needed to be handled.  I paused and looked around.  90% of the people that loved me in the whole world were there, they were there for me, and if there were things to be done, well what better group of people to rely on?

It's the subtle shift where everything that has been planned to that day is focused on the guest; I paid very little attention to our needs, accommodations, and comforts.  In many ways, it was like planning a party - the hostess does not plan a party so she can enjoy herself.  Standing at the altar, it came crashing in on me that this was not a party.

This was a wedding and that is something entirely different.

At the Altar

That moment, I realized what it meant to stand at that altar, where I received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ask God to join us as husband and wife. As I closed my eyes, I welcomed a guest whom I had forgotten to invite. He was there.  His presence was weighty, I nearly wept.

I praise You now Lord, that you were invited into this marriage and You have stayed.  I eagerly anticipate the day when I am once again dressed in white celebrating the Marriage of the Lamb.

Come Lord Jesus.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 10
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10
False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10
Asleep Church - Day 26:  10 of 10
Downward Spiral- Day 27: 10 of 10
American Idol - Day 28: 10 of 10
This Present Darkness - Day 29: 10 of 10
The Bride - Day 30: 10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  272 out of 300 or 90.66%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 29 This Present Darkness

Ephesians 6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.

Brothers and Sisters, read that Scripture again... let it wash over you.  I know that you know it, but hear it again.  For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.

For this reason... what reason?  Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

To stand - having done all you can, in the end to be standing.

As believers surrounded by the darkness, it can be easy to forget your armor or worse to don the chains the of the enemy (if you missed it, read Counter Terrorism in the Spiritual Realm).  

I used the New American Standard because I love the phrase, This Present Darkness.  I loved Peretti's classic book by the same name, it changed my life.  Faced with overwhelming obstacles the heroes in the story prayed, fought, and clung to the Lord for the victory.  We fear today that there will be no such victory....

The Watchers on the Wall are tired; hoarse from beseeching a world that no longer hears, fighting an enemy whose time has come, and tamping down a desire so fierce just to be done. All the while going about 8-5 life like tomorrow is going to matter and being afraid that it actually does.  Simultaneously realizing that we could very easily be out of here in the twinkling of an eye but knowing that for 2000 years the bride has been waiting.

To Stand

So if October 1st rolls around and we are still here... well, we'll just pick each other up, brush each other off, and stand.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10

Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10

Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10

Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10

Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10

Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10

Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 10

Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10

Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10

Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10

Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10

Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10

Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10

Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10

Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10

Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10

Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10

Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10

Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10

Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10

You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10

Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10

Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10

Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10

False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10

Asleep Church - Day 26:  10 of 10

Downward Spiral- Day 27: 10 of 10

American Idol - Day 28: 10 of 10

This Present Darkness - Day 29: 10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  262 out of 290 or 90.34%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 28 American Idol

Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Today is 9/11, my fellow Americans will commemorate this day with melancholy and sadness,  In some ways it was yesterday, in others it was two lifetimes ago.  Readers of The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn will perhaps look at this solemn date with a bit more clarity than others.  All of us knew in our hearts that the world changed that day but it is now abundantly clear in what regard.  It was a shaking, a judgement, a warning.

Instead of turning to God and repenting, we doubled down on Patriotism.  We elevated the idea of America to an Idol.  We crossed our hearts to the flag and worshiped America to the National Anthem.  (Disclaimer:  I do not wish to dismiss any of those who perished or lost loved ones on 9/11 or in the years since serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I have fiercely loved this country and am blessed beyond measure to have been born and raised here.)

I am as guilty as anyone, maybe more so.  I ate up everything that David Barton of Wall Builders and Glenn Beck sold, I watched and supported the 9/12 Rallies, I marched and protest at Tea Party events across this region.  My long term friends and readers will remember when Abigail and Dolley was a political blog, I was all in.... sold out for the cause.  Then we elected Obama again and I was heart broken.

In the last three years, I have been like a wife who begins to see the dark side of Prince Charming.  Behind the facade, behind the eyes, something is sinister.  There is a slimy black ooze right under the wrinkled and cracked skin.  Something is definitely rotten; to the core.

The Lord has revealed to His Church that we have put other gods before Him, we have made idols, and we have worshiped them all in the name of patriotism and love of country.  JD Farag's July 5th update captured my feelings on this so well.  He speaks of weeping all day, of feeling God removing his church from their love of this Nation and the sadness he felt.

Revelation 18 tells of her utter destruction, like Lot's wife, I still weep for her.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 10
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10
False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10
Asleep Church - Day 26:  10 of 10
Downward Spiral- Day 27: 10 of 10
American Idol - Day 28: 10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  252 out of 280 or 90%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 27 Downward Spiral

Matthew 24:8 - These are the birth pangs.

I heard someone say yesterday that the baby's head is crowning.  There is no turning back.  The below was originally written in June 2015 and the destruction since then is unfathomable.

The break neck speed of world events is beyond the comprehension of man.  The acceleration, since the last Blood Moon in April is staggering and those with eyes to see are dizzy with the warning of it.  Like an evil funnel, the closer we get to the bottom the faster the time between catastrophes and the severity thereof.  Let no man deceive you, we are on the precipice of judgement.

For the born again believer, these are exciting times for they signal the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  These are fearsome times for the rest of humanity; right at the door, destruction draws nigh.  This downward spiral is a warning, a harbinger of judgement that will befall the world, and individual man.

God is merciful and it is His wish that no one should perish that all would come to faith in His Son and have ever lasting life but I have to tell you that He is also a God of utter righteousness.  He is fearsome to behold, He is a God of Wrath, and a perfect Judge.  In the Days of the Gospel of Love we have failed to understand or to teach that falling into the hands of the Living God without the covering of the Son's Blood is a terrible thing.

We have failed to tell unbelievers that they are enemies of God (Romans 5:10) and we fail to tell them that their eternal fate is choosing to send themselves to Hell.  In our desire to woo them into the Kingdom we neglect the Outer Darkness, we have to warn not just woo.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 10
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10
False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10
Asleep Church - Day 26:  10 of 10
Downward Spiral- Day 27: 10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  242 out of 270 or 89.63%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 26 Are We Seeing 1938 German Lutherans Again?

Jesus writes to the church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-3) ...I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up!... But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Paul tells the true believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

The church at Sardis is nearly dead.  At one point, the great reformation churches were the stalwarts of the faith, saving Christianity from the pits of Roman cruelty and apostasy... oh, how the mighty have fallen.  There are a few left, those walking in white robes, going about God's business but half of them are dead.  "They do not preach that you have to repent and be born again, instead they lull their members into a false sense of security that infant baptism and church membership will save them." (Jack Kelley)

Note, in the above Scriptures, the whole church is going to be surprised at the Rapture, because they do not teach it nor are they looking for the Lord's return.  Paul tells the true believers that they will know the time of His coming, they will not be surprised, but the dead church will be shocked.

The Church of Sardis is Asleep

(Disclaimer - I am not picking on the Lutherans in the below.  I was raised, got saved and was married in a Lutheran church, and have many family members and friends who still belong.  Lutheran World Relief is a great organization and I agree with much of the Missouri Synod's doctrine.  I think they do a good job with kids.  Lutheranianism is used to symbolize the reformation main line churches.)

A friend wrote to me this week and thanked me for one of the blog posts that had encouraged him.  He said he'd been confronted by someone his Father would have called a "1938 German Lutheran".  Ouch!  We are living in a day and time when the main line churches are again failing in an epic fashion.  The church at Sardis will be completely shocked at His coming, the sad thing is that half of them will be left behind because they were never truly saved.

The entire Birth Pangs series has been designed to wake up the dead, dying, and apostate church; alas, in their slumber they would not even bother to read these posts. Unlike the Laodicean church, who despises the Philadelphia church, the church at Sardis does not take much notice locked into a false sense of security and relying on past greatness to carry them through.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 10
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10
False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10
Asleep Church - Day 26:  10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  232 out of 260 or 89.23%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 25 False Teachers

False Teacher

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying , I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Frankly, this Scripture has always bugged me.  There aren't fake Jesus' coming out of the woodwork; you hear of crackpot cult leaders but "many"?  Being a fake Jesus's would be pretty hard to pull off, right?  What if that is not what we should be looking for?  What if these men Jesus was referring to did not really pretend to be Him?  What if they claimed that they had magic cave revelations like Mohammed, Joseph Smith, and Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits)?  What if they claimed by church authority to BE Jesus, would that fulfill this prophecy?  If taken in order this is the first one to be fulfilled, thus it is an ancient prophecy and an ancient fulfillment so we have to stop applying our 21st Century mind set to it.

The fact is, beginning with the official establishment of the Roman Catholic church in the 3rd Century, the evil reign of terror began. To see how the Apostolic Church was highjacked, watch this video from the Fuel Project.

I highly recommend the entire series, "Know Your Enemy", they start in the Garden of Eden and weave history through the lens of God's divine plan and Satan's age old desire to thwart it.

Thus, it is from a long term perspective that we see "False Teachers" have taken over the world.  Islam, Mormons, Catholics, Buddhist, Hindus - all works based religions fall into this category.  We don't have to go looking for a long haired crazy man in the Montana Mountains claiming to be Christ, we just need to drive down the streets of every city in the world to find temples set up to false prophets.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10

Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10

Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10

Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10

Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10

Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10

Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 1

Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10

Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10

Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10

Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10

Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10

Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10

Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10

Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10

Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10

Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10

Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10

Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10

Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10

You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10

Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10

Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10

Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10
False Teachers - Day 25: 10 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  222 out of 250 or 88.8%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 24 Blame it on the Jews

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Modern Anti-Semitism

And thus, the source of the hatred of the Jews, spoken to Satan in the Garden of Eden.  One can always find tell tale Satanic activity wherever there is violent and virulent hatred of the Jews.  From a practical perspective it's a pretty easy and quick way to gauge where somebody's heart is or where the organization is coming from.  Take a minute and watch Gary's update, keep in mind that at some point the church is going to be taken out and the Jews will no nation on Earth to call friend.

So, if this global house of cards comes tumbling down like so many believe the Devil is already setting the Jews up for the fall.

One day back in March when I was frantically writing down all the revelations on the Millenium (see the above tab for the study, it is the best work on this blog), the Lord gave me a word:  "Israel must lose all of her friends, that is the only way she will ever turn back to me."  Can you hear the longing in His voice?  I could and soon so will they.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 1
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  212 out of 240 or 88.33%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 23 Nobody Loves Me

We read about the last days faithful church in Revelation 3:7-13, I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Unlike the Laodiceans, who are rich and powerful, this pitiful church is barely hanging on.  Everybody hates them and nobody hates them more than the Laodiceans.  The Philadelphia church is everything to be despised, they believe in the whole bible, they preach sin, they tell people they are going to hell if they aren't saved, they live their godly little pious lives and the Laodiceans hate them for it.  If you don't believe me, listen to this Laodicean currently spreading this filth in my home town (the silly voice is dubbed so he is not able to sway you with his cunning words and style, but the words are verbatim):

Even my Christian friends will post rubbish like this, the most recent example was something that I saw on a facebook feed this morning about bar stools in church.  The Holy Spirit inside of me had a tantrum over it.  I want you to watch it, not from a "Yeah, God is love stand point" but from a perspective of this man is tearing down the faithful church,  This man offers no hope or salvation for the sinner.  This man wants to make the guy who is comfortable in a bar comfortable in his church.  Something is wrong with that!  There are plenty of bars, I've been to my share, I want to go to a house of God to worship, I want to be convicted of my sins, I want to change and move from glory to glory - I want off the bar stool!  This "preacher's" half version of Jesus (only the love half) will never convict the man, it will never tell the man that it wasn't the people's judgement he felt, it was the Holy Spirit of God convicting him but the Laodiceans will never convict, except the church of Philadelphia, who are honestly the only people they don't want in their churches.

Makes a difference putting those hearing aids doesn't it?  Did you hear, the pastor wanted the sinner to feel joy and happiness in his sin.  The world has enough bar stools, we need some nice, hard, sturdy, upright church pews.  Derek Webb's classic song, Nobody Loves Me, is a perfect illustration for the beat up, powerless, and much maligned Church of Philadelphia.  It is of note that this church, well this church is the only one that Jesus did not rebuke.  Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

Lovers of Self - Day 1 - Rapture Index Score:  10 out of 10

Perplexities of Nations - Day 2 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10

Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10

Revilers - Day 4 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10

Signs in the Heavens - Day 5 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10

Commotions - Day 6 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10

Scoffers - Day 7 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 1

Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Famine - Day 10 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Itching Ears- Day 11 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Rushing to and fro - Day 12 - Rapture Index Score: 10 of 10

Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Brutal Men - Day 14 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Boasters - Day 16 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Messianic Jews - Day 17 - Rapture Index Score:  7 of 10

Demonic Activity - Day 18 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Lawlessness - Day 19 - Rapture Index Score: 9 of 10

Hedging Your Bets - Day 20 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Earthquakes- Day 22 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Total to date:  203 out of 230 or 88.26%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 22 Earthquakes

Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Earthquakes - in the Greek the word is Seismos, which means shaking, commotion, a tempest, an earthquake.  The biblical rule of "first use" says that the first time a word is used in Scripture is important for establishing the meaning hereafter.  It's used the first time in Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Earthquake statistics are hard to gather and compile because the rate and acceleration of occurrences is so exponential that they can not use the old measuring tools - it would show a pattern that even a moron could understand.  The USGS has stopped keeping this chart, it would alarm the public if they were to put this out in a twitter style graphic.  You can see for yourself that up until 2000 earthquakes over 6.0 remained infrequent around 6 per year.  From 1/1/14 through 9/2/15, there have been 244 earthquakes over 6.0.  (Pull your own stats here).

At an average of 6 per year during the 20th century, in 21 months we have had 40 years worth of Earthquakes.  That is mind numbing... never forget there are real human costs, real lives, real losses.

Lovers of Self - Day 1 - Rapture Index Score:  10 out of 10

Perplexities of Nations - Day 2 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10

Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10

Revilers - Day 4 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10

Signs in the Heavens - Day 5 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10

Commotions - Day 6 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10

Scoffers - Day 7 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 1

Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Famine - Day 10 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Itching Ears- Day 11 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Rushing to and fro - Day 12 - Rapture Index Score: 10 of 10

Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Brutal Men - Day 14 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Boasters - Day 16 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

Messianic Jews - Day 17 - Rapture Index Score:  7 of 10

Demonic Activity - Day 18 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10

Lawlessness - Day 19 - Rapture Index Score: 9 of 10

Hedging Your Bets - Day 20 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10

You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Earthquakes- Day 22 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Total to date:  193 out of 220 or 87.72%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 21 You Make Me Want to Vomit

Revelation 3:16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth!

The Laodicean church... ugghh.  I have written a couple of articles on this last church, they make me sneer but the Lord holds a much stronger opinion of them, he says they make him want to vomit.  Think about that for a second, what do you feel like right before you throw up?  Is it a nice feeling?  Is that a feeling you want to inspire in your future husband on your wedding eve?

A bridegroom who is ready to puke at his bride might have some serious second thoughts about the relationship, do you feel safe and secure in your covenant with Him?  If you don't, I have to tell you, that is a "you" problem, not a Jesus problem and you better get right with the Lord, because he is coming back soon.  Now there are those who have come out of works based teachings (i.e. Catholics) that will never quite "feel" saved and must constantly be reassured... I'm not talking about you... (For the record I fall firmly in the camp of "once saved always saved" but this isn't a blog about that.)

Each individual knows in their heart whether they have made a true exchange with the Lord, what I am asking you to do is examine your own heart and your relationship with Him.  If you have doubts, pray - ask Him to make himself real, ask Him to touch you, ask Him again to save you.  Confess your sins, stop sinning, and you will find favor with the Lord.  Best of all, He won't want to puke when He looks at you.

Lovers of Self - Day 1 - Rapture Index Score:  10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 1
Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12 - Rapture Index Score: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17 - Rapture Index Score:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19 - Rapture Index Score: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10

Total to date:  183 out of 210 or 87.14%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 20 Hedging Your Bets

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

People today, don't like this absolute.  Everything is gray in their worlds and in their minds, there is always an exception.  They proclaim there is not absolute truth, ironically the statement itself, in order to be true, has to be absolutely true.  The bible says that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways (James 1:8).  Because I insist on believing Scripture as it is written, I get called all sorts of names:  rigid, intolerant, bigot, conservative, religious, hateful... Periodically, I will engage other professing Christians - these are actual things people have said to me:

"I believe there are many paths to God.  I chose Jesus as mine but you can't say that Tibetan Monks or Mormons, who are better people than most Christians, are going to hell."

"I took Jesus as an insurance policy."

"I accepted Christ on my own terms."

We don't set ourselves up as the arbiter of anyone's salvation, but I'd say hedging your bets in this instance is not going to cut it.  When I was a kid, I loved to dive - one thing I learned is that you could not do a dive half way, that was how you got really hurt.  Salvation and faith in Christ is the same way, if you try and go half way you are doomed.

Diving Fail

Elvis Presley wore a cross, a star of David, and the Hebrew letter chi.   He explained his jewelry choices as follows: “I don’t want to miss out on heaven due to a technicality.“ (source)

Here's the truth - you can't BS your way into Heaven.  You either are or you are not.  If you are not sure, please follow this link.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 19 Lawlessness

Thessalonian 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,  In this passage, Paul reveals to us that in the last days lawlessness would increase and would do so until the church is removed at the Rapture.

Lawlessness, Iniquity, Wickedness, in contempt and violation of the law - the Greek word Anomia is first used in Matthew and is, in my opinion, one of the scariest passagess in the Bible:

Matthew 7:21- 23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them *, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There is that word again... never forget that the Lord is the author of the law.  He is the creator of the law and He abides by His own laws.  He sacrificed His only Son in compliance of the Law, this is serious business before the Holy One of Israel.

We do not have to look far to find evidence of lawlessness.  None so heart breaking as the senseless murder of police officers.

Our prayers and sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives but also the spouses, parents, and children who kiss their loved ones goodbye and worry...  For these men and women put their lives on the line everyday, the thin blue line...  this is who we used to be...

This is who we are now:

Lovers of Self - Day 1 - Rapture Index Score:  10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 1
Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12 - Rapture Index Score: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17 - Rapture Index Score:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19 - Rapture Index Score: 9 of 10
Total to date:  164 out of 190 or 86.31%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 18 Demonic Activity

Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven." Luke 10:18 and "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" John 10:10.

Be sober-minded; watch. Your adversary the devil prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, 1 Peter 5:8.

Revelation 12:12 ... But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Brothers and Sisters, the enemy does indeed know his time is short.  He was there when Adam fell, he knows when his lease on this planet is up, many believe the Scroll in the Seal Judgments (Revelation 5:9) is the very document.  Thus, if even we humans know the Devil's time is short, how much more does he?

As such, we can expect, from Scripture a heightened activity in the demonic realm as this age draws to a close.  One area in particular that has struck me is the number of demonic inspired "deliverance" that have been in the news recently.  Morgan Freeman's granddaughter was murdered by a man claiming to try and save her from a demon.  A Canadian man kills his ex-girlfriend claiming she was possessed by a demon.  A NC woman is arrested after police find her relative unconscious and her claiming to be a higher power who was performing a deliverance.  This is an every day occurrence these days.

Clear thinking, rational people recognize that the demons were possessing someone all right but in these cases it was the perpetrators, not the victims.   Before 2011, I would have scoffed at these murders; but I have an empathy and an understanding now.  Several times in the last few years, I have been horribly attacked, tormented, and oppressed.  The Lord has let Satan sift me like wheat.  It is only when I have come through the trial that I realize what it was and am restored.  I am always quite disappointed with myself for not having recognized what was wrong at the time, but the enemy is crafty and has been at this longer than I.  Furthermore, the Lord uses those times of fire to purify us, to teach us, and because He is sovereign He has His reasons and His purposes.  (John Eckhart of Charisma Magazine has a fantastic article on the subject that rang true to my experiences, if you are interested in the subject here is a link.)

What these highly publicized cases serve to do though, is cast a shadow over deliverance ministries and deliverance ministers.  People seeking help, relatives desperate for loved ones, will be less inclined to get the help they need and THAT serves the kingdom of darkness.  As the time of the end draws closer, the increase in demonic activity will manifest.  The veil between the natural and the supernatural becomes thinner by the day.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 17 Simeon's Prophecy and Messianic Jews

Luke 2:34 And Shimon said a bracha over them and said to Miryam his Em, Hinei this one is destined for the michshol (stumbling) and tekumah (revival) of RABBIM [Isaiah 53:11-12] in Israel and for an Ot (Sign) that will be opposed (against which there will be mitnaggedim, opponents). [Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 53:3]  The prophecy of Simeon recorded in Jerusalem over the infant Jesus, is lived out even today.  Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, is a stumbling to the very people He came to save Romans 9:32.

Bless yourself by watching the Testimonies of Jews on I Met Messiah.  I heard a statistic that more Jews have found Jesus in the last 19 years than in the previous 1900 years. (I wish I knew where I'd heard this, if you know where this is documented, please let me know so I can properly cite but did find this post.)

What struck me the most as I've watched the I Met Messiah videos is the misconceptions these brothers and sisters had about Jesus and the New Testament.  Many thought he was an Italian Catholic, they thought the New Testament was a book on how to kill Jews.  They believe if Jesus was really in prophecy that the Rabbis would have told them.  The blindness is astounding but unlike the Gentiles in the west - Jews are beginning to see the light of Messiah.

Like the Rabbis of Jesus day, the leadership is not pleased with this development and some are even training "counter missionaries" to fight the Messianic believers.  It is difficult to watch video tape of it because my heart just breaks for those modern day Pauls.  What most do not consider is that this is a fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy. (For an indepth study, please watch The Chosen People. where much of this material is gleaned.)

As the close of the church age draws nigh, the final week of Daniel will commence, which ultimately gives birth to the Golden Age, the Millennium.  With such, the remaining part of Simeon's prophecy is fulfilled; Israel will know revival.

This is a tough one to score - from a Birth Pangs perspective the end of the age of grace is rapidly approaching.  Alternatively, the fulfilled portion of the prophecy has been evident since the 1st century.  Scripture tells us that the number of Jews finding redemption and salvation in Messiah will be small until the time of the Gentiles is completed.  In all though, the Jewishness they bring to the faith has been a revelation and the Messianic Pastors are some of the most compelling and dynamic in the faith.  We have a rather large Messianic congregation near us and the leader is much sought after in Christian Sunday services (since they worship on Saturday)

Lovers of Self - Day 1 - Rapture Index Score:  10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4 - Rapture Index Score:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6 - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 1
Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12 - Rapture Index Score: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16 - Rapture Index Score:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17 - Rapture Index Score:  7 of 10
Total to date:  147 out of 170 or 86.47%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 16 Boasters

2 Timothy 3:2 - Boasters... (First, confession time:  Oh, God forgive me, I have been so guilty of this through my life.  I have always been ready to tell anyone who would listen how smart, talented, and successful I am.  I have listened to other people tell their stories simply so I could tell mine.  Until one season, where the Lord had enough of this ugly behavior and took it all away.  I lay in a broken clump with everything about me reduced to nothing.  It was only then that He really began to use me.  It was only then that I began to move in Galatians 6:14.  Derek Web's classic song, Awake My Soul, became my anthem and through the discipline of the Lord, I die daily.... but I'm still cute.  ((Sarcasm... well, sort of))

In the Greek, Boasters is Alazon which means empty pretender or boaster.  Thesaurus.com lists various synonyms including blow hard, braggert, big mouth, know it all, show off, and grand stander.  (Ouch)  Brian Regan is one of the greatest comedians of all time, has a stand up where he called boasters, "Me Monsters", check it out:

As lovers of self, we are naturally inclined to this behavior.  Social media has given us a world wide platform, it is often nauseating.  From my own experience, I was a boaster until the Lord took me down... often boasters have never known failure.  The work of their hands has been so blessed they believe they are indeed better, smarter, and more accomplished.  They believe of themselves that had they been born in Haiti they would have risen above their circumstances and prevailed - they are wrong.  Extreme poverty, hunger, danger, illness is not overcome by force of will alone.  Lacking proper basics in childhood stunts growth and intellect - so boasters believe more highly of themselves.  The bible warns, "Be not wise in thy own eyes." Proverbs 3:7

Boasters have been around since Cain and Abel - perhaps it was Cain bragging to the Lord about his sacrifice that sparked his murderous anger toward his brother.  Cain's sacrifice was one of his own effort as a farmer, while Abel's was a sacrifice of his flock.  Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly demonstrates the principal at work in the story of the original brothers.  "Lest any man should boast."

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 15 1/2 Wars and Rumors vs. Nation against Nation

This bit is expository in nature.  We looked at Wars and Rumors of Wars, we've also looked at commotions, but I wanted to elaborate a bit more on how this differs from Nation against Nation.

To do this, I found this great article by Wilfred Hahn who writes:  "The timing and the roles of the two signs of “hearing of wars and rumors of wars” and “nations rising against nation” are very different. They do not refer to the same end time phenomena for at least two reasons.

First, they occur in different time periods. To illustrate this observation, we must note that Christ clearly partitions the Olivet prophecies into three separate time periods:

1. That which is before the “end” comes (“the end is not yet”);
2. the beginning of the end, which is also referred to as the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:9); and
3. the time that comes thereafter (events described from Matthew 24:9 and Mark 13:9 onward). These periods correspond to the time leading up to the Tribulation Period, the first half of the Tribulation (42 months), and the next 42 months, often referred to as the Great Tribulation.

We must therefore notice that inter-country conflicts are mentioned in two different contexts: Firstly, the “hearing of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) occur before the end comes (this meaning the period before the Tribulation period starts). Secondly, we must then note that the occurrence of “nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” unfolds at a different and later time. This phenomenon is clearly part of the time that is called the “beginning of sorrows.” “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8)."

Prayers in a Foxhole

The original plan was for Day 16 (tomorrow as I sit here) to be about Kingdom rising against Kingdom but that does not feel right, so I'll keep myself open to the Lord's prompting tomorrow and let the Spirit lead.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 15 Wars and Rumors of Wars

In a study published in 2014, there were only 11 countries of 162 that were considered peaceful.  Matthew 24:6 tells us that in the end, there will be wars and rumors of wars. It is not just your perception that the world is become increasingly more violent and unstable, it is a documented fact.  Watch this short video below, pay particular attention to minute 1:02, we'll pick up on that after the video.

Deaths in violent conflict have risen 210% in the last 5 years.  Terrorism deaths have increased dramatically, especially in the Middle East and Africa.  Armed conflicts, violent demonstrations, internal factional fighting, regional conflicts have escalated in the world's hot spots.  These are the headlines of the day, or at least they used to be... I fear we have become so used to violence and war we no longer take notice unless it touches home.

Peace and Security among Wars and Rumors of Wars

Let us again go deeper in this series and I'd ask you to take this journey with me.  I'd like to look at the most peaceful countries, those they talked about in minute 1:00 of the video...

1 Thessalonians 5:3 applies to them... It is largely Europe who has been on the military welfare of the US for the last 60 years, who are the largest critics of Israel.  They stand and watch while Iran, Turkey and Russia make their evil scheme against Israel (Ezekiel 38:13).  "We are facing many challenges in our communities and we are aiming to achieve peace and security and stability with the help of the United States," said John Kerry of the Iran Nuclear Deal (source).  Thus, while the nations rage - even the seemingly peaceful are powder kegs about to come under severe judgement.   These wars and rumors of wars have been with us for the last 60 years, but they are escalating... and have begun giving birth to the stronger birth pangs of Nation against Nation but we will perhaps cover that on another day.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 14 Brutal Men

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. (2 Timothy 3:1) ... men will be brutal.

Brutal in the Greek is anemeros which means savage, fierce, wild.  In English, it is synonymous with  savage, cruel, vicious, ferocious, brutish, barbaric, barbarous, wicked, murderous, bloodthirsty, cold-blooded, callous, heartless, ruthless, merciless, sadistic;

Do these words even mean anything in our hardened world?  Have we become so numb to the nightly news of savagery that we are not even effected anymore?  By age 18 an American child will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence (source).  ISIL beheads 20 young Christians,... ho hum.  Planned Parenthood cuts the brains out of live babies... oh well.  Man beats another man to death with a tire iron after speeding through a neighborhood... yawn (source).  A 13 year old Saudi girl is raped and beaten by her 64 year old husband.

We live in a wicked and violent world that is rapidly descending into the darkest days that mankind will ever see.   For the mighty restraining hand of God the Father is withdrawing and His Judgement is coming.   When the great church is removed and all that is left on the Earth are wicked men and women the violence will spiral out of control.  Woe to you inhabitants of the Earth...

Thus, the score for today is 8 of 10, men are still restrained but not for much longer.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 13 Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts

John 12:40 "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted , and I should heal them."

Brothers and Sisters, have you tried to talk to anyone about what is happening in the world lately?  It seems you can engage them on specific points but once you move into the big picture their eyes glaze over and they don't seem to be able to hear you.  It's astounding.  I've seen it time and time again in the last few months.  It is a supernatural hardening; they are modern day Pharaohs.

Revelation 16:10-11 Has always baffled me, until now.  People can have all of the evidence in front of them and still reject the Lord.  Today, these people are receiving the hard hearts they have longed for.  There are many debates in prophetic circles about who and how many are saved in the Tribulation and even the nature of that salvation - I think there are far fewer than we would expect.  For that matter, I think the Raptured number will be far fewer than almost anyone expects.

So men and women today do not want to hear about the saving grace and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.  They do not want to know there terrible things that are coming upon the Earth.  They have no fear for their lives or their immortal souls - Proverbs calls them fools.  It is indeed a dreadful and fearsome thing to fall into the hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31).

Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.  Thus the blind eyes, the hard hearts, the rebellion against God is accelerating.  Their time is running out.  Once the Rapture occurs most will finish the work they have begun and God will send them the powerful delusion which seals their fate and damns their souls forever.

So Brother's and Sisters, abide and witness but do not feel defeated if they can not hear you, they have made their choice.  Today's Rapture Index Score is a 9 out of 10, there is just a glimmer of hope, there are still a few who will be saved but the time is short.