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.

The Rapture - Basic Facts

Abigail and Dolley readers know that I don't often reproduce other's work or copy other commentary, but the recent Bible Study Series have created conversations between some friends and I regarding the doctrine of Pre-Tribulation Rapture.  This is an issue I studied with my Dad extensively, we spent a year or more investigating this specific doctrine and for most eschatology students and teachers the matter is settled.  I must remember though, that everyone else did not have the privilege of Friday night Bible Study with Jack Robinson, so I'd like to post the below commentary as a good tutorial and overview for those that don't have this doctrine settled in their minds. You can read the original here:  Pre-Rapture Commentary: Satan Hates The Rapture

Some say the word “rapture” is not in the Bible, so therefore there is no rapture of the Church. Neither is the word “trinity” in the Bible, but God is triune; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is one in three persons.

“Rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapturo.” It is the equivalent of the Greek “harpazo,” which is found in 2 Corinthians 12:2 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for “caught up.  Harpazo and rapture both mean: (a) to seize, carry off by force, (b) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly, and (c) to snatch out or away.

The Rapture (rapturo, Latin; harpazo, Greek) of Christ’s Church will happen on God’s time schedule. Some believe it will happen before Daniel’s 70th week (commonly called the seven year Tribulation), some in the middle and some at the end. It is clear to me that it is impossible for it to occur at any other time than prior to Daniel’s 70th week (the seven year Tribulation).

(Abigail and Dolley note, I believe the next event could conceivably be the fulfillment of Psalm 83 and even Isaiah 17/18 but neither has to occur before the Rapture and thus does not effect the basic doctrine of PreTribulation.)  The next event on God’s calendar is the Rapture of the Church. After that will follow Daniel’s  70th week, then Christ will return with His Church at the end of Daniel’s 70th week and set up His millennial kingdom, which is called the 1,000 year Millennium.

It does not upset me if others do not believe as I do regarding these events, but some folks really get uptight about these matters. For example, a few have tried to “straighten me out.” Others simply say I’m a false prophet and going to hell. Some question my salvation in very colorful ways, while others are just plain ticked off that I would believe in a Rapture at all.

Where does all this venomous hatred come from? The answer is obvious. Satan hates God’s Truth and will continue to fight against God and His chosen ones until his last breath.

Again, I strongly and without question believe in a Rapture of the true Church prior to the start of Daniel’s 70th week (the Tribulation). I would like to present the following for consideration. This is not original of course. Many others have presented these same arguments and I will use these same verses that others have pointed to.

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 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 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 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.

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 12 Rushing to and fro

Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there,

Most of the time when we look at this passage we speak of travel.  While that is evident, obviously we are able to travel far more effectively and efficiently than in days past... even tonight I write this blog 300 miles from home, but what else is there here?  Let's look at this from a different angle.

Frantic Trading

The financial markets are collapsing... well, DUH!  There is nothing propping up this global house of cards.  Companies are not run efficiently, effectively, or profitably - that the stock market has been above 10,000 is absolute fairy tale land.

I've worked in corporate America - it's smoke and mirrors.  Optics as an astute colleague pointed out to me a few months ago.  It's all about how the reports look, all about your KPI's, all about how things look on paper....

And that is the crux of the matter, it's all about how everything looks.  People, rulers, companies, medicine, megachurchs - it's all appearances, nothing is what it appears to be; it's as if we have collectively fallen down the Rabbit Hole.  There is a lot of "activity", people are busier than ever, they multitask and get less done than before.

The KJV calls it rushing to and fro...  The markets are frantic right now and they should be.  Parents rush around frantic and feeding their kids garbage from one activity to the next.  We watch TV while texting and reading a magazine... we rush everywhere and get nothing accomplished.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 10 Famines

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matthew 24:7).

Famine - we 21st Century First World people do not have a clue what famine is.  We don't know what it feels like (spiritually, emotionally, or physically), we don't know what it smells like, we have never been desperate - starving - dying.  Famine is not just food insecurity or failed crops or drought - Famine is an evil spirit, he will be released with full force in the Seal Judgments as the rider on the black horse (Revelation 6).  

Starving in Haiti (to help this child, go to Love a Child) 

It is estimated that the world loses 20,000 children a day to starvation.  That statistic is mind boggling - everyday a Mother mourns, a Father falls into hopelessness, and a child's life is cut short.  Think for a moment - it is your child, your nephew, your grandson... what is the cost?

NGO's across the globe try to alleviate this one child at a time.  Organizations like Feed My Starving Children provide millions of meals per year to the world's most vulnerable.  For $0.25 a meal, we can feed a meal to a starving child.  The map above shows the percentage of the population that are under nourished.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Africa and the Middle East have huge populations starving to death.  To see the details of each ongoing operation, click here.  The Rapture Index Score for Famine is set right now at a 8 since most of North America and Europe have been thus far protected from the devastating effects - not so for what is to come...

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 11 Itching Ears

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  2 Timothy 4:3

"Tell me something good, tell me that you love me.  Tell me something good, tell me that you like it."  I've written volumes about false preachers and sound doctrines, let talk about itching ears, but first a little 1970's funk.... 

Okay, now that you have an ear worm for the next 24 hours, let's talk about itching ears.  There is nothing new here, Israel was notorious for only wanting to listen to prophets who told them what they wanted to hear.  We are no different, the challenge is that the Western church is now completely dead because they have demanded for themselves only "nice" preaching and "easy" words.

They have bottle rot from staying on the milk bottle too long.  Jesus describes them as naked, blind, and poor.  They pretty much hate me... most of my friends have hid me on facebook, they don't want to hear this hard stuff.  Nobody wants to read about, "The End of the World, Dolley..."  Alas, itching ears don't want to hear of repentance, suffering, judgement, hell, pride, and the big one:  SIN.

They want to hear about money and blessing.  They want to hear about health and long lives.  They want to hear about love, acceptance, and a universal god that fits in their pockets.  They are fools and the Lord wants to flip their tables over and drive them out of the sanctuary with a whip.

Itchy Ears

Alas, it is a fulfillment of prophecy.  I always know I can stir up trouble if I post something negative about Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyers... holy cow, their itching ears will not hear how the doctrines they preach are heresy... nope.  In these last hours, where the lost need the church more than ever we are asleep and perishing, what a shame.  So today's Birth Pang registers a full blown 10.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 9 Greed

2 Timothy 3:1-2 Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days.  People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited;

Greed... the mantra of the 1980's was "Greed is good."*  In the text, the word is Philaguros which means loving money, avarice.  The English definition is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

Greedy Child

We all have that in us... desire, I want... As children, no one teaches us to be greedy, we ARE greedy.  Someone has to teach us to control that.  Parents indulge their children and instead of being satisfied and grateful for what they have become selfish, greedy, and grasping.  This carries over into adulthood.  No one is immune to this.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Greedy Government and Big Business

Shopping plays on that greed, we WANT.  Walk through your favorite store and pay attention to how you feel.  Get a few extra dollars in your hands and do you immediately spend it or start planning how you will spend it?  Go to a delicious buffet, do you overeat?

What makes last days greed different?  What are the markers that distinguish this greed from other times?

It is the celebration of greed as a worthy emotion, as not something to be tamed, but something to embraced.  As man abandons God, he worships at his own altar.  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Greedy Pig

We are surrounded by intense greed - within ourselves, our companies, our governments, and sadly our churches.  The entire false gospel contained in the word of faith movement is based on the sin of greed.  Like all these birth pangs volumes could be written, but dear reader, I don't have to tell you.  You live in this world, you know.  In your lifetime has greed gotten better?  If the answer is No, then we are indeed fully in the pangs of this end times sign.


The Rapture Index Score for greed is at an 8 because we still have folks giving to charity, we still have people supporting and helping the helpless.  We have not yet totally descended.

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 10
Vexed Souls - Day 8 - Rapture Index Score:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9 - Rapture Index Score:  8 of 10
Total to date:  77 out of 90 or 85.55%

*Disclaimer - the context of the greed is good speech is basically free market capitalism, where a person reaps the rewards of their labor, which is good.  As a matter of fact, it is a hallmark of the Millennium.  Isaiah 65:21-22.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 7 Scoffers

2 Peter 3:3-4  Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come with their scoffing, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."

The Greek word for scoffer in this passage means to mock.  In English to scoff is to speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way. Synonyms;  mock, deride, ridicule, sneer at, jeer at, jibe at, taunt, make fun of, poke fun at, laugh at, scorn, laugh to scorn, dismiss, make light of, belittle.

Scoffers who Scoff

Thus, a fulfillment of prophecy is that those who believe that the Rapture is imminent are scoffed at.  Even among family and friends, if you are looking for the Lord's return, there will be a whole lot of eye rolling.  The irony is that Jesus himself said:  "What I say to one, I say to all; watch." (Mark 13: 37).  In the Olivet Discourse in Luke and in Matthew, He clearly outlines the signs of the times and what to look for, yet it is easier to mock something than it is to actually look into it.

Sadly, many of the mockers are self proclaiming Christians.  They are in love with this world and have check marks to make on their bucket lists.  There is a new house to buy and a new vacation to take and all this talk about prophecy just brings them down... Know this, one day Jesus WILL return, one day the greatest miracle of the age will occur, and most of the scoffers will be left behind.  

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 - Rapture Index Score:  9 out of 10

Commotions - Rapture Index Score:  7 out of 10

Scoffers - Rapture Index Score: 10 out of 10

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 8 Vexed Souls

2 Peter 6:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

2 Peter 6:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

2 Peter 6:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

Most of the time when we read Jesus' words:  Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot... we focus on the homosexual sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Recently, we began looking at the passage of being married and being given in marriage as it relates to that issue, but the Lord wants us to look deeper.  Read verse 8 again... Lot was vexed.  He was troubled in his soul with the wickedness surrounding him.  It says he lived day after day with them and it hurt his heart - it vexed his soul.

Genesis 19:7 - Lot pleads with them, his friends... please don't do this wicked thing.  The righteous souls cry out to their fellow men, please brothers do not do this!  Lot lived with them, they were his mates, Genesis 19:1 finds him sitting at the city gates.  Cities banded together to defend one another, Lot had to trust these people.  

Remember, Lot was a righteous man, otherwise the Lord would have just destroyed him with the rest of the city.  Somehow with all the salt pillars and the incident with his daughters later we lose that part of the story.  It is easy to get caught up in the salacious aspects but consider what type of man could have been found righteous in such an environment and during that point in Biblical history.

Vexed Soul

Take heart Brothers and Sisters, the Lord knows that your heart is vexed.  He knows you are crying out to your friends, your family, and your nation for them to not do these evil things but let your heart not be troubled.  The Lord rescued Lot and Peter tells us that He will rescue us as well.  For we are not appointed to wrath but will some day soon be with the Savior.

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 10

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

Total to date:  69 out of 80 or 86.25%

Beyond the Blood Moons - A Timeline for What is to Come

The Lord works in patterns, he holds to timelines, he is not random - from the foundations of creation his orderliness is observable.  From the precision math demonstrated in the perfect tilt of the earth, the perfect distance from the sun, the perfect size and orbit of the moon to the subatomic structures of all atoms - we see his hand.  He also does not operate in secret, a retrospective study of Scripture reveals that he has always told us what is to come, always.  There are types and shadows and prophetic warnings throughout Scripture that only a backward glance reveals their truth.  Since he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - it should come as no surprise that he has laid out for us the pattern and timing of his coming.

My long term readers will be familiar with my work on this subject, from the The Harbinger Continues, to the Blood Moons, to the Rosh Hashannah Rapture, to the Days of Awe, to the Convergence of Signs - I invite you to read and study those works for it will give you a foundation to understand the timeline of events that could manifest in our lifetimes.  Many of the items I am listing below completely fleshed out, sited, and backed up with Scriptures in the previous works.

The Prophet Daniel writes that 70 weeks are set aside for Israel.  All but one are fulfilled, one remains.  The last 7 years, the time of Jacob's trouble, the 70th week, the Tribulation - this event is foretold and set aside for the judgement of the nations and for the restoration of Israel.  The great and terrible time of the Lord and woe to the inhabitants of the Earth.  The 69th week ended when Messiah was cut off, the exact moment and hour that that occurred is obscured from history. - debate continues on exactly when that date occurred.

Careful study of the facts and dates indicate that Jesus was crucified somewhere between 27AD to 33AD.  The prophetic clock stopped - the time of Israel paused and the church age began.  What date would that have been?  Was it the moment that the Lord died and the temple curtain was torn?  How about when he was raised?  Could be when he Ascended to Heaven or even Pentecost?  Any time in that 40 days could be THE date when the clock stopped, I can not say for certain but I CAN tell you without a doubt that sometime in the future, on that day, the Jews will sign a peace treaty with Anti-Christ and the clock will start again.

Days of Awe

In the course of my research on Rosh Hashana, I learned about the Days of Awe.  This is the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur where tradition states that people whose name has been written in the Book of Death can seek God's mercy and forgiveness and have their names moved to the Book of Life.  The concept of Books is not merely traditional, the Scriptures hold many references.  Revelation 20:12 says, "I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books."  

I have discussed before that there are two schools of thought concerning those who will be saved after the Rapture and those who will receive the Great Deception and be lost forever.  One school says if you have heard the gospel and rejected it before the Rapture you are damned forever.  The other school says that each person has a chance after the Rapture, it's the last hope for all of eternity.  The Left Behind Series by Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins takes the view that people that have heard the gospel and not accepted Christ will have an opportunity to be saved.  This is what Scripture says:


2 Thessalonians 2:6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. 11 So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do. 

So breaking this down in a time line:  the restrainer of the Anti-Christ, I believe, is the Holy Spirit living inside the Church or the Bride of Christ.  Once the Church is Raptured, the time of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will be over and the Anti-Christ will be revealed.  Satan puts on his dog and pony show and fools those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.  The Anti-Christ will put forth the lies but God sends a great deception.  There may be a time between the Rapture and the Anti-Christ revealing himself that all people have the opportunity to embrace the truth.  

So if the Rosh Hashana Rapture comes to pass the Days of Awe may come into play.  There may be a time period for which all men who have heard and rejected the Gospel of Christ will have a brief period to repent, accept the Lord and be saved.  I believe this will be the only hope for Americans left behind at the Rapture because unlike in most of the world, Americans are afforded every opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that God reveals Himself to all people so that no one has an excuse, for my fellow countrymen, this is doubly true.    Men choose Hell.  I know many who are perishing and if they don't change their hearts and accept the free gift of salvation they will be at the Great White Throne Judgement and hear, "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."