Rapture Or Second Coming? Final Distinctions Refuted

So is there a difference between the rapture of the church and the return of Christ to the Earth? Modern theologians have suggested that it is not proper to pray with John, "Come Lord Jesus," if we know He is not coming for seven years (at least). Thus there must be an un-announced and a clearly predictable coming, both. This seems to make

This implies that every time we pray, we are changing God's plans. Rather, when we pray, it must be in accord with God's will. That is, Jesus, I know you are coming, and you are welcome here! Your will be done, Come as you plan to come, Lord Jesus! I want it and I am looking forward to it.

Anyone who has prayed that prayer over the last 2000 years, including John the Revelator, understood that it might not be answered physically and immediately. But the prayer went up anyway, and continues to rise to Heaven. To suggest that a prayer is invalid because God has a fixed moment for its answer is to suggest that our desires should supercede His.

When we pray for healing, He hears us. Or for financial blessing. Or for deliverance. Or for the salvation of family members. He hears. But the answer may be down the road. Our knowing that we must wait upon God does not stop us from crying out to Him, yea, day and night ( Luke 18:1-5).

The Spirit and the Bride call out for these many years, Come, Lord Jesus. But He doesn't come. But He will. When it is time. For now, the world is in a mess, the world needs the Saviour, O come, O come, Emmanuel! Keep praying it saints!

One final suggestion that the rapture and return are two different events separated by seven years is that the judgment seat of Christ and the

marriage of the Lamb must take place in Heaven and with the Church present, and before His coming to earth. Yet he can offer no proof of the location and timing of these events, for, of course, such proof does not exist.

Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10 simply state that there will be a time when saints stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Revelation 19:7-8 describe not the wedding, but the announcement of same. The marriage has come. The wife is ready. Blessed are those invited. But wait! Some serious work to do first, following this announcement. Now the church descends with Jesus (Revelation 19:7-21) to the earth, taking its first step toward the announced supper. There, as described by prophets and apostles, the Kingdom is set up after Christ's victory over His enemies. Then Jesus keeps His promise to drink the fruit of the vine with His followers (Matthew 26:29). It seems to me that this is a more logical arrangement of details.

But for a "proof text" that this will happen, neither the pre- or post- people can find one. It simply is not there.

In fact, no proofs can be offered anywhere in God's Word that there is such a thing as a "pre-tribulation" rapture, that there is a rapture at all without the revelation of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth, that there is any distinction between our catching away and his coming again. Thank God, much of this teaching is losing its grip, and there are many places in the world where men's books are not available, only God's. These people believe what the church believed for two millennia, namely, "Immediately after the tribulation... they will see the sign of the Son of man..."

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Abomination of Desolation

The abomination of Desolation.
There is a misconception of the prophecy's of Christ, Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel concerning the time of the abomination of desolation. There have been many desolations and times of desolation in Israel. Many of these caused much hardships and even death to the House of Israel.

The Babylonian Captivity, Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jer 44:22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Ezr 9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

The House of Israel has rejected Christ as the Messiah and are still under the law to a point. The Daily sacrifices have been put aside because of the natural law of man, but they justify this by the verse, Obedience is better than Sacrifice. This will end in the days of the anti-Christ, which will allow the renewing of the Red Heifer Sacrifices within the 3rd temple. Which I must say that many scholars do not believe in.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
What we are going to look deeper at is the end days.
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)(C.I.A. World Fact Book)

The abomination of desolation.
The Daily sacrifices and The abomination of desolation, as spoken of by Daniel, is a subject of much controversy among many bible Scholars. There are those that teach that these two events have already taken place in the Days of Caesar,as many are teaching.

This prophecy has nothing to do with, Rome nor Caesar. Prophecy must be looked at very carefully and be regarded by not single events, but as a string or combination of events. Those things spoken of the abomination of desolation and the third temple are future events backed up by Scripture. Israel is not allowed by natural or should I say mans law, to accomplish animal sacrifices.

This interpretation from T.S.K. Is one that I disagree with, take a look;
the abomination: Heb. to set up the abomination, etc. Probably Mohammedanism, which sprang up in power the same year as the papal, ad 606; and 1,290 years from that time will be ad 1896, and 1,335 years ad 1941.

The abomination of desolation will be a statue of the anti-Christ that will be placed inside the third temple. Many scripture back this up. This attempt to work time and dates to justify interpretation is not the way to interpret scripture, many try to look at past events and match Bible prophecy to it, this is a grave mistake and leads to faulty or false interpretations.
Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

The best reference to this is in Revelations 19:20; And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. This is the abomination of desolation as the end of the anti-Christ; read and understand, them that worshipped his image.
Mohammedanism(Islam) is not older than Christianity nor the Jewish religion, but it will play and important part in the desolation of Israel as spoken of by Christ.
Therefore, Rameses, nor the Caesars of Rome, have not fulfilled prophecy of the end days.

Many use this part of Mark 13:14, to justify calling Caesar the anti-Christ for He had an image of Himself constructed and forced many to worship his image as God, but there were Kings before and after that have done the same thing. Dan 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not;, The point of the matter with all these false god images is that they never fulfilled the prophecy's of the end days such as these;

Rev 13:13-14; And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Dan 7:25-26; And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

2Th 2:9-10; Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

What Caesar never fulfilled is this verse of prophecy; Dan 9:27; And he(The Anti-Christ.) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Also this verse was not fulfilled by any King yet; Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Key words here; the abomination of desolation (Image)stand in the holy place.
Luke 21:32; Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. This study is just the tip of the Prophecy of the abomination of desolation.
ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Is It a Bad Economy or Bad Feng Shui?

Recently, I spoke with a woman who said she and her husband were having a tough time financially. She thought maybe it was just the economy, but she wondered if a Feng Shui consultation might give the energies in their home a financial "boost." She mentioned the idea to her husband. His reply? "Honey, let's do this after our finances have improved!"

The problem is that there is every indication that their finances will not improve - even if the economy starts to soar. In fact, the situation the woman described seemed directly tied to negative energies in the home rather than to external economic factors. Without changing the Feng Shui in that environment, I can absolutely predict that they will have ongoing cash flow problems.

How can I say that? Because there are several tell-tale signs that negative energies are at work. Let's take a look:

1. You start to experience client cancellations or work falling through. Yes, the economy may cause people to hold onto their money, but be sensitive to a situation that seems to worsen no matter what you do. For example, watch for patterns such as clients who make appointments or are ready to sign contracts, but then they call and cancel. A Classical Feng Shui expert can run mathematical computations to see if conflicting energies are indeed at work. If that's the case, Feng Shui can also be used to re-balance those energies.

Feng Shui is so powerful at keeping cash flow positive that I have many clients - CEOs, life coaches, real estate developers, attorneys and investment bankers -- who consider my monthly Feng Shui consultations part of strategic business operations to help them avoid cancellations. In fact, as a practitioner of authentic Feng Shui I can not only see current negative energies, I can mathematically predict exactly when and where new business problems can arise and help my clients be proactive in keeping these problems from ever developing.

I just mention this as a caution to you in choosing a Feng Shui practitioner, because you do not want to base your business decisions (and financial future) on a Feng Shui hobbyist - only a classically trained expert in authentic Feng Shui can apply the complex ancient formulas to determine where the problem is and how to defuse it.

2. You've recently moved into a new home. Now, you find that relationships have become strained or you're hit with a flood of difficulties - you're experiencing financial setbacks, health issues, car accidents, legal hassles. If this "change in luck" happens shortly after moving in, the downturn in the economy probably isn't even at work here. Instead, it's a sign that the Feng Shui is out of balance. This can happen because every home has its own horoscope that shapes its energy patterns. If this conflicts with your own horoscope, you'll quickly experience difficulties.

A Feng Shui consultation can alert you to simple adjustments that will bring your home into better harmony with your own energy so it supports you instead of being "at war" with you. At the same time Feng Shui can eliminate negative energies, it can help stimulate positive energies, creating a dramatic change in the way you experience your home -- and life!

3. You're stuck in life. Things are just not moving. It might seem like you're working hard and doing everything right but that nothing is happening for you. If this has come on over the course of a year, that's a signal that the annual shift that occurs in energy patterns is creating a negative pattern in your environment. If you want to see changes in your life, you have to make changes in your environment. Again, a professional Feng Shui consultation can not only identify these "stuck" energies, but can show you exactly how to manipulate these unseen forces so it's easy to jump start your life.

4. You have a specific problem that just doesn't get solved. Whatever issue you face in your life will be reflected in your home. There are areas in the home that can promote -- or prevent -- problems ranging from breast cancer to legal hassles. If you can't seem to find a soul mate or you're worried about a son's academic performance or a daughter's risk-taking behavior, a Feng Shui expert can usually identify the trouble spot in the home that is triggering the energies that in turn trigger problems. I especially love to use my Feng Shui skills to solve problems for my clients. It's so rewarding to what I call a little energetic intervention and see what are often immediate and dramatic "breakthroughs" - from suddenly being able to conceive a child, to bringing health issues or negative behaviors to an end.

5. You're remodeling your home. Before you remodel, you really should invest in a Feng Shui inspection. Here's why: every home holds both good and bad energy. The minute you begin remodeling, you begin changing the energetic balance. If you unwittingly expand an area of negative energy, you could soon find yourself experiencing an onset of overwhelming misfortune, conflict, anxiety, loss - even disease. Often, for example, couples invest in a master bedroom addition only to find that once they start sleeping in the new room, their relationship or health begins to break down. A Feng Shui and Vaastu assessment early in the remodeling process helps you avoid sinking considerable money into a renovation that will put your house at war with you. Instead, you'll know specific choices to avoid as well as choices - like the direction of a door or the position of a kitchen or bedroom - that can support you with a life- and luck-enhancing environment. Again, let me stress that this is not merely about serene lines and clear energy flow: it is about complex mathematical formulas that pinpoint energetic confluences and conflicts that can exist now -- and months down the road.

Done correctly, Feng Shui is almost unbelievably powerful and can lead to results nothing short of miraculous. In fact, in today's crazy economic climate, who can afford to have a home or office environment that's working against them? But remember, only traditional, authentic Classical Feng Shui can deliver such results. Perhaps that's why I'm hearing from so many clients who are investing in Feng Shui consultations to get help preventing economic woes from costing them not only their financial well-being, but the well-being of their relationships and health as well. It can truly make all the difference.

(c) 2008 Rupal Mehta Turner

Feng Shui and Vaastu Expert Rupal Mehta Turner publishes "The Prosperity Report," a biweekly ezine that reveals Feng Shui and Vaastu secrets for a thriving business and personal life. If you're ready to improve your finances, health and relationships by using the forces in your environment, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ClassicalFengshui.com

Was Jesus A Good Example

Risotto and the Veneto Region Italian Food

The Italian food of the Veneto region poses a perplexing question: With so many dishes to choose from, how can anyone have only one favorite? Given the great regional variations within the region, not to mention between Veneto and the rest of the country, there are a lot of unique dishes waiting for you to discover them. However, if risotto is something you crave, Veneto is definitely for you.

Other than pasta, risotto is one of the most famous of Italian foods. And if some of the greatest Italian food dishes in existence are what you're looking for, Veneto is a place you must visit, at least via the dinner table.

Risotto is a specific way of cooking rice, and is growing in popularity to take it's rightful place alongside pasta in the pantheon of Italian food, like many specialties of the Veneto region. To make a true risotto, the rice must first be cooked in olive oil or butter.

The rice must be coated evenly in the butter oil, and toasted just until translucent. Broth is then added just a little at a time, the idea is to slowly saturate the rice with the broth, which helps it achieve it's distinctive risotto texture. Unless the rice is toasted, it's not risotto. Even if it's served at the finest of Italian food restaurants, it just isn't the same unless toasted.

Risotto is an incredibly versatile dish; almost anything may be added to it. Because of the diversity of high quality local ingredients in the Veneto region, this makes for a fascinating variety of risottos to be tried. The local specialty (for example, seafood and fish in coastal areas) tends to put in an appearance in the risotto.

The possibilities go far beyond seafood though, all sorts of fresh local specialties show up in the Veneto region. Pumpkin, asparagus, even radicchio turn up in these local gems. Frog legs may even be found, a more commonplace part of Italian food than many would suppose.

Italian food differs from the stereotype held by many; this is doubly true in the Veneto region, which features some wonderful dishes not found elsewhere in the country. Pasta and beans, for instance is a very popular dish in Veneto and is turning up at more and more Italian restaurants all the time.

Anchovy, as well as stockfish are present in some dishes of the Veneto region. But the popularity of sausages dwarfs that of the humble anchovy, with the local dry-cured, pressed salami (sopressata) and garlic salami being special favorites.

In Veneto, the Italian food prominently features the local produce; radicchio and asparagus are things the Veneto region is well known for, as are peas with rice. This is a dish found only in Veneto, and is something of a departure from what Italian food is generally assumed to be.

The Veneto region offers many different choices for the discriminating diner. From sopressata to vegetable dishes to it's unparalleled risotto, the Italian food of Veneto is an embarrassment of riches. If you require risotto to make it an Italian meal, the foods of Veneto are just the thing for you. With so many unique dishes, Veneto has enough different, wonderful Italian food for everybody.

To find some delicious risotto with seafood recipes such as shrimp risotto recipe or lobster risotto recipe come to my site: http://www.weloveseafood.com

Meditating On Religious Scriptur

The Essential Oil of German Chamomile - The Blue Chamomile

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)is in the daisy family (Asteraceae or Compositae). Referred to as blue chamomile, it has a deep blue, almost black color to the oil. Hildegard referred to this oil and used it in a gentle ointment for intestinal pain. She instructed that chamomile be mixed with water and lard or oil. As it cooked, flour would be added to make a porridge that would then heal the intestines. The German chamomile is primarily oxides whereas the Roman chamomile is made up of esters.

Traditionally this herb has been used for thousands of years. The Egyptians, Moors and Saxons all counted it as a sacred herb. It was used for nausea, anorexia, and vomiting in pregnancy, for flatulence, nervous bowel, tension headaches and sleeplessness.

Today we would find chamomile to be excellent for skin care and it is used in many cosmetics, soaps, and perfumes, massage blends, skin creams and bath oils. As a digestive aid it is good for anything that arises from a nervous origin including colic, indigestion, nausea and nervous stomach. Since chamomile is so mild, it is suitable for treating children's digestive upsets. Chamomile has a very calming and sedative effect on the nervous system making it good for headache, insomnia, nervous tension, migraine and stress related complaints. The fragrance of blue chamomile assists in seeking spiritual understanding. When confusion seems to be prevalent in one's spiritual life, the fragrance of German chamomile can help bring us understanding. We already know the answers we seek; we just need to be still enough to hear God's wisdom. For emotional healing it is used to encourage communication, relaxation, understanding, organization, empathy, patience, and calm and to soothe.

The main effect of the German Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, stabilizes emotions, and it helps most skin conditions. It mixes well with bergamot, Roman chamomile, clary sage, lavender, cypress, frankincense, geranium, marjoram, lemon, grapefruit, niaouli, pine, ravensara, rosemary, tea tree.

This essential oil can be diffused, added to food or water as a dietary supplement, or applied topically on location. I do not find it to have a very pleasant aroma-the Roman variety is not only milder but sweeter in fragrance. The German variety is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

To learn more about German Chamomile and other essential oils you might want to consider becoming a certified aromatherapist. Educational courses in healing energy and aromatherapy can help you understand how essential oils heal the body/mind/spirit.

Check this out for more information on learning to heal through the art of aromatherapy as a clinical aromatherapist. http://www.ISHAaromatherapy.com For educational courses on healing energy and the laying-on of hands, you can go to http://www.HTSpiritualMinistry.com You can also read more about aromatherapy and German Chamomile essential oil in Linda Smith's books: Called into Healing, Reclaiming our Judeo-Christian Legacy of Healing Touch, and Healing Oils Healing Hands, Discovering the Power of Prayer, Hands On Healing and Anointing. You can find these books and much more on my web site at http://www.ISHAhealing.com/HealingStore/tabid/348/Default.aspx

Using Words In The Bible Effecti

The Ovum Factor

The Ovum Factor by Marvin L. Zimmerman is one of the best intrigue novels I have read in some time. There were several aspects that stood out for me with this book. Marvin is able to bring several environmental, moral and ethical issues to the reader. He is also able to show us a little of an insider's view into the corporate world. His passion for the planet is so well interwoven into the story's plot that readers will find themselves tense and wanting to read more. Another interesting aspect of the book is that Marvin also shows us the importance of Indigenous knowledge and the dangers of eradicating life-systems.

The lead character is David Rose who becomes involved with a Nobel Prize winning professor, Charles MacMillan. Charles is driven by a traumatic event from his youth and this passion has helped discover one possible thread of hope for man and the destruction of Earth. Early on in this tale readers are introduced to controversial subjects from genetic manipulation to social ethics. David, however, has no idea of the role that religious leaders going back in time have played in keeping this knowledge from reaching the public. In his ignorance Cardinal Cardoso sends a reformed assassin, Dario Santini, to stop Professor MacMillan's project. A romance develops between David and Professor MacMillan's assistant, Emily Chang - a woman with a troubled past and who has a hidden agenda of her own. David soon finds himself trekking through the Amazon forest in search of a plant that may no longer exist due to vast abuse to the land. His guide, Galileo is also far from what he seems at first and David becomes more than a little reliant on this man.

The Ovum Factor is a sad, gripping, emotionally charged book that is both realistic and intelligently written. Action, legends, adventure, romance and travel are all here. I truly enjoyed the author's style and the simple way he blends fact and fiction. Readers are shown comparisons between modern society and the indigenous peoples and the effect our society has on theirs.

I also enjoyed the concept of fate and the interconnected web of life. We see characters finding purpose in life, and pursuing it. The plight of the planet and the loss of life described in this book may help some readers feel inspired to become proactive in life. I believe that the main message of The Ovum Factor is that there is a potential hero in each one of us.

Marvin Zimmerman has been the publisher and editor of INMR Quarterly Review, focusing on electrical energy, for more than 15 years. His work as a consultant for business and marketing strategy and as an instructor of international business at two of Canada's largest universities must have played a role in the accurate corporate world we see in The Ovum Factor. Mr. Zimmerman is a life-long environmentalist and, interestingly, wrote most of the book on location.

Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

Myrtle Fillmore

How Many Disciples Were There, Really

Clemens Forell
Josef Martin Bauer