Erring Christian

The Erring Christian Series

http://www.erringchristian.com  &  http://www.rahabschurch.com

Evangelical Multi Denominational Christian Fellowship

Bible Prophecy 

There are many fine books written on the subject of Bible Prophecy, some with varied interpretations of Biblical facts. It is not our intention to be too dogmatic on prophecies that can be interpreted differently, or of which our knowledge is limited. 

It is evident that just as Old Testament prophets accurately foretold the birth, death and resurrection of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner there are prophecies pertaining to His second coming and the state of the world at that time. As to His coming again: 'As for that day and hour knoweth no man but the Father only'. The facts will be presented and hopefully the reader will research them. More important still that he will be 'saved' when Jesus comes. For the sake of accuracy, attention is drawn to just some of the scriptures which are self evident and can be weighed up in the light of present day developments.      The Rapture, Tribulation & AntiChrist  ... "CLICK"

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1) But understand this, that in the last days there will set in perilous times of great stress and trouble - hard to deal with and hard to bear. 

2) For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self - centred, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate (greedy) desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters, They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffers), disobedient to parents, un-grateful, unholy and profane. 

3) [They will be] without natural (human) affection (callous and inhuman), relentless - admitting of no truce or appeasement. [They will be] slanderers - false accusers, trouble makers; intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 

4) [They will be] treacherous (betrayers), rash [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

v12) Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution - that is, will be made to suffer because of their religious stand. 

13) But wicked men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

Romans 1: 24-32

Bible Prophecy in General

Prophecies Relating to Jesus

A vivid description of Jesus' crucifixion is given in Psalm 22 written by King David over a thousand years Before Christ was born. At that time crucifixion was un heard of. 

Psalm 22 Amplified Bible: "¹⁾MY GOD, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? [Matt. 27:46]  ²O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You answer not; and by night I am not silent or find no rest. ³But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered]. ⁴Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted --- leaned on, relied on You and were confident ---  and You delivered them. ⁵They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted, leaned on and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed. 

⁶But I am a worm, and no man; I am the scorn of men, and despised by the people. [Matt. 27:39-44]  ⁷All who see me laugh at me and mock me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, [Matt. 27:43]  ⁸He trusted and rolled himself on the Lord, that He would deliver him. Let Him deliver him, seeing He delights in him! [Matt. 27:39, 43; Mark 15:29, 30; Luke 23:35.]  ⁹Yet You are He Who took me out of the womb; You made me hope and trust when I was on my mother's breasts.

¹⁰I was cast upon You from my very birth; from my mother's womb You are my God. ¹¹Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help. ¹²Many [foes like] bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have hedged me in. [Ezek. 39:18]  ¹³Against me they opened their mouths wide, like a ravening and roaring lion. ¹⁴I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it is softened [with anguish], and melted down within me. ¹⁵My strength is dried up like a fragment of clay pottery; [with thirst] my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You have brought me into the dust of death. [John. 19:28] 

¹⁶For [like a pack of] dogs they have encompassed me; a company of evildoers has encircled me; they pierced my hands and my feet. [Isa. 53:7; John 19:37.]  ¹⁷I can count all my bones; [the evildoers] gaze at me. [Luke 23:27, 35.]  ¹⁸They part my clothing among them, and cast lots for my raiment (a long, shirtlike garment, a seamless undertunic) [John 19:23, 24.]  ¹⁹But be not far from me, O Lord; O my Help, hasten to aid me! ²⁰Deliver my life from the sword; my dear life ---my only one--- from the power of the dog [the agent of execution]. ²¹Save me from the lion's mouth; for You have answered me [kindly] from the horns of the wild oxen. ²²I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise You. [John 20:17; Rom, 8:29: Heb. 2:12]

24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, abandoning them to the degrading power of sin.

 25) Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen - so be it. [Jer. 2:11.] 

26) For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one;

27) And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burned out, consumed) with lust for one another, men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution. 

28) And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome;

 29) Until they were filled - permeated and saturated - with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and malice. [They were} secret backbiters and gossipers, 

30) Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance [and] evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents.

31) [They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless. 

32) Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.

Prophesied destruction of the Temple

Matthew 24:1-8 

Amplified Bible

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²³You who fear --- revere and worship--- the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him. Fear ---revere and worship--- Him, all you offspring of Israel. ²⁴For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has He hid His face from him; but when he cried to Him, He heard. ²⁵My praise shall be of You in the great congregation. I will pay to Him my vows [made in the time of trouble] before them who fear --- revere and worship --- Him. ²⁶The poor and afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord who [diligently] seek for, inquire of and for Him, and require Him [as their greatest need]. May your hearts be quickened now and forever! 

²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow down and worship before You, ²⁸For the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord's, and He is the ruler over the nations. ²⁹All the mighty ones upon earth shall eat [in thanksgiving] and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. ³⁰Posterity shall serve Him; they shall tell of the Lord to the next generation. ³¹They shall come and shall declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born, that He has done it [that it is finished]!" [John. 19:30.]

The old Testament Prophet Isaiah points us to Jesus' virgin birth 

(700 years Before Christ) 

Isaiah 7:14 NIV: ^"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Immanuel = God with us)

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Referring to Jesus Again

Isaiah 42:1 NIV: "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations." 

Our Lord's crucifixion 

Isaiah 53:5 NIV: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  

(Titus destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem 70ad As Prophesied by Jesus) 

1) JESUS departed from the temple area and was going on His way, when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the buildings of the temple and point them out to Him. 

2) But He answered them, Do you see all these? Truly, I tell you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

False Prophets 

3) While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end - that is, the completion, the consummation of the age? 

4) Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you - deceiving you and leading you into error. 

5) For many will come in (on the strength of) My name - appropriating the name which belongs to Me - saying, I am the Messiah, the Christ; and they will lead many astray.

Famines & Earthquakes 

6) And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;

(Statistics prove the increase in famines and earthquakes in recent times?)

8) All this is but the beginning - the early pains of the birth pangs - of the intolerable anguish.

Revelation 3:14-16

Amplified Bible

Laodicean Age, Lukewarm Church

14) And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (the church) in Laodicea write; These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation. [Isa. 55:4; Prov. 8:22] 

15) I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16} So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!

Atheistic, humanistic, evolutionary belief and the man made philosophies centred on that belief, (with some notable "religious" exceptions) have set the stage for the end time prophecies to be fulfilled. 

Micah (Approx 750 years Before Christ) points us to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 (Amplified Bible): "But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah, yet out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days --- eternity). [Gen. 49:10; Matt. 2:5-12; John 7:42.]"

There are over 400 prophecies relating to Jesus in the Old Testament 

Those referring to His second coming are obviously yet to happen. In one way or another the whole Bible points to Jesus right back to its beginning; the book of Genesis. Jesus said: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39 KJV ... More prophecies made and fulfilled can be found on: http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/prophecy.htm

Many fine books have been written on Bible Prophecy. (The late great planet earth by Hal Lindsey being one of the most popular) Indeed much research and a great deal of study is necessary to do justice to this very specialised and important part of Biblical teaching. For the Christian who knows Christ, we live in exciting times. Many present day events are so much in accord with bible prophecy (especially concerning Israel) that the relevance and realisation of this is almost frightening. God has indeed communicated true truth to us through His word.

Sadly, despite prophetical facts being fulfilled almost daily, there are countless numbers of people that are not aware of them. They know little about the Bible or Christianity, let alone prophesies contained within the Bible's pages. Why? Because we live in a largely God less age.

Secular humanism coupled with an almost universal acceptance of the theory of evolution, is the new godless religion most subscribe to, if not consciously. Many are influenced by misinformation which undermines the Biblical account of creation. The view that everything there is, is simply a product of time plus chance plus change, and that man is just an animal, is promoted as scientific fact. Virtually everywhere we turn we meet with barely disguised propaganda assuming these atheistic evolutionist views. Even in supposedly innocuous "soap operas." (Witnessed again this very evening. 7/09/09)

2nd Timothy 3:13: "But wicked men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves."

The "Socio Humanistic Evolutionary View" is so lambasted on us by the media (often in a barely disguised anti Christian fashion), sometime biased "education," and even the man in the street, (usually by just reiterating what he has heard rather than really thinking it through) that the true Bible believing Christian is looked upon as being odd, ignorant, and / or deluded and needing a prop. To put it politely. See: Creation v Evolution &  Evolution?  

It takes real courage for a Christian not to compromise the word of God with worldliness and hold to the inerrant truth of scripture. Compromise is not an option for the true believer:

James 4:4 NIV: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

In the words of Oswald Chambers: "The child of God is not first a British or American subject (or any other country) he is not a sanctified patriot, but one whose sympathies have broken all parochial bounds, and whose aims beat in unison with God's own heart."

How often do we see and hear broadcasts where an evolutionist has had the courage to debate a knowledgeable Creation Scientist? Rarely (in the UK). It is so much easier to just bombard us and our children at school (in fact in every conceivable way possible including children's TV programmes) with evolution theory portrayed as proven scientific fact. (Which is degrading to true science) 

Those who do not accept evolutionary belief (except "after its kind") are considered religious nuts who ignore facts. (Whereas the reverse is true). Pressure to conform to the socio humanistic evolutionary doctrine is intense. 

Therefore the creationist's "air time" is largely confined to Christian TV channels. As to confronting the atheist evolutionist, they are usually only too willing to debate the issue, but significantly are seldom given the opportunity to do so.

In the most part the evolutionist will hold on to his belief irrespective of contrary facts proving it is in error. The alternative to "natural history," a creator, would mean they are accountable to him. If people can be persuaded there is "nothing there" man makes his own rules without recourse to the Absolute Basis for truth, the Judaeo Christian God. 

Portrayed creationist web sites are not connected with the Erring Christian group 

Recommended

 Dr. Grady S. McMurtry

"For a Great BBC TV Broadcast on Creation Research, click" 

See Also: http://evidenceweb.net/index.php?pr=MainPage

There is an increase in so called "natural disasters." Barely a day passes bye without the media reporting one or other famine, earthquake, or catastrophe. Statistics also confirm a substantial increase in these recorded events. They were foretold in God's word, the Bible, and are happening. "and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;" Yet, mankind in general still tends to bury its head in the sand and blame it all on such (hyped up by the media) things as "Global Warming." 

"Global warming" is not a new phenomenon neither is it unique. It has happened before in history. (Excavations many metres under parts of the Arctic have revealed forests! Obviously they could not have existed if they were always buried in 50 metres of ice.) 

The climate has been warmer and colder in the past. This fact is known but significantly our attention is not drawn to it. (Apart from mainly Christian sources) Neither is our attention drawn to anything which might detract from from the current "Global Warming" obsession. There are (money making) political reasons concerning 'credits' why this is so.

The prophesised establishment of the Jewish State of Israel was literally fulfilled May 14th 1948, a miracle in itself. 

Ezekiel 36:24 (Amplified Bible): "For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land." 

Constantly in the news and hated by its neighbours, the seemingly endless unrest in the Middle East for a large part, centres around Israel. This was again foretold. The final battle (Armageddon) when the Lord comes to deliver Israel is drawing ever closer. Currently, since the time Israel gave away the Gaza strip, (after much international pressure) over 6,000 rockets have rained down on it.

Who would have dreamed of a cashless society a couple of hundred years ago? Yet now the electronic transfer of millions of dollars happens on a daily basis. Credit & debit cards are thought by many to be the forerunner of "666." The technology for a cashless system is already in place and being tested. 

Tested on "third world countries!" In some parts of Ghana a cashless system is in operation (I assume alongside normal cash / credit card / cheque transactions) a persons "fingerprint(s)" are used as the means of identification, at present!

Identification Cards

Identification Cards "ID" (soon to be introduced in the UK) are likely to become the norm worldwide and could possibly be used as one would use a credit / debit card. 

It is common knowledge that Cats and Dogs (or any other animal) can be and sometimes are implanted with a microchip which is beneficial if the animal gets lost. The chip can be scanned and will reveal the owner, contact information and the animals home address. The tracking of mammals, birds etc. is also done using similar methods.

These developments are believed by some, to be just the pre cursor to the forthcoming and mandatory "mark of the beast" (666) spoken of in the book of Revelation.

I understand that microchips as small, or even smaller than a grain of rice have been ready for some time to be implanted (via a simple injection) in to our forearms. The chip has the capacity to hold pages of information about us, social security numbers, medical conditions and the like. In addition, information the chip contains can be transmitted to waiting receivers, and presumably switched in to transmit mode, by them.

This technology is so far advanced that normal scanning (i.e. groceries in a supermarket) seems archaic. Personal information can be scanned by any "official or otherwise body" that has the facilities to do so. Some say the chip will incorporate or take the form of the already established "bar code" which apparently itself is built around the numbers 666. These bar lines are essential for its operation.

Let us just speculate a while! Why not a little 'Conspiracy Theory' if not dogmatically asserted over known (Biblical) prophetical facts.

If a microchip implant is true to scripture and actually is what is referred to as the "mark of the beast," either in conjunction with a 666 mark, or is itself 666, it will happen! No doubt the benefits of such a chip will be introduced and promoted gradually and beforehand by the powers that be. (e.g. solving the "drug" problem, saving the banks a fortune, eliminating credit card fraud, etc.)

Society will be gradually moulded in to accepting intrusions in to their privacy as necessary. (National security, Terrorist threat, Illegal immigrants etc.) However, to get over the "for anyone to be able to buy or sell," will in the normal framework of Government take some doing despite the apparent advantages. 

Revelation 13:15-18 KJV: "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. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

Extremism is on the increase and there is a real danger that a totalitarian government could come to power, even in the UK and despite its past commendable tolerance. Hegel correctly stated: "History teaches that man learns nothing from history!" The son of perdition (controlled by the antichrist) will himself rule over all the "puppet" (administrative?) Governments (to the ruling body, the 'one world government') at the time the mark is mandatory. Thus, the mark will be forced on us on pain of death if we refuse. (If we don't experience a Pre or Mid Tribulation Rapture beforehand) for in order to buy or sell, it will be necessary to prove allegiance to the "beast" by having his mark.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 KJV:  "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, 'except there come a falling away first,' (of those who have professed to be Christians Amplified Bible Note) (by accepting the theory of evolution as fact? personal thought!) and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And 'now ye know what withholdeth' that he might be revealed in his time." 

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: 'only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.' And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 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."

Our personal freedom is already slowly and gradually being eroded away, perhaps in preparation? Another insignificant thing in itself has just happened in the UK and is almost laughable. Who would have thought the day would come when a Government dictates the type of light bulb one has in one's house? Yet with global warming again used as an excuse, it has happened in the UK. The benefits to us are: they are cheaper to run than ordinary light bulbs. (some are uglier too) - I am reminded of  C.S. Lewis's fictional demon "Screwtape" who prophesised; "The day will come when a man cannot chop down his own tree in his own garden with his own axe." (Screwtape Proposes a Toast - C.S. Lewis)

The eroding of our personal liberty cannot be considered absolute proof in itself that it is the warm up to receiving the mark of the beast, 666, (personal liberties have been suppressed many times in history) but taking this in to account with known prophetical facts concerning the end times, it is reasonable to assume it could well be. 

The principalities and powers, the dark rulers of this age "governing" the authorities (perhaps minus hindrance by the Holy Spirit) "only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." would need to discredit, or worse, anyone who realises the motive behind what is happening. Bible Believing Christians! 

Christians will need to have their views seriously undermined and the Bible discredited as being not true, a mere book of myths and legends. Christianity, just a religion amongst many others.

Is the brainwashing of populations in to believing there is not a God, (at least not the God of the Bible) they are just a product of chance evolution, (which they would insinuate is proven beyond doubt) one way of achieving this? 

Closed Circuit TeleVision

Terrorism and crime is used as a convenient excuse to necessitate such stringent measures as CCTV. In the UK particularly, CCTV cameras are virtually everywhere. A definite benefit some would say. CCTV certainly make it easier for the police!

Our information is already scanned at airports and we can be subject to a search. There are undeniably very valid reason for these precautions. 

A microchip implant will ensure everyone can be monitored wherever they are, even criminals. (by satellite?) Those who do not have the mark, "chip" will be identified too, by it's absence. Immediate arrest? Pure speculation of course.

"In order to buy or sell a mark will be given, the name or number of a man (666)." On a purely logical basis we can see that eventually all our actions are likely to be recorded in some way. And what better way to ensure we all receive the mark / chip than to make it impossible to buy or sell without it? 

For many hundreds of years this "in order to buy or sell" statement made in the book of Revelation must have seemed rather strange. No one would have foreseen computers or the related technology. Daniel said that in the latter days knowledge would be increased, a vast outpouring of knowledge. Compare the progress that has been made in the last one hundred years compared to the preceding centuries! God however knows all and foresees all. True Christians will not receive the mark of the beast in whatever form it takes. Those who do so are damned for eternity.

The assuredness derived from our honest interpretation of what we genuinely think is meant by a certain prophecy, may not definitely be what was intended. Hence we have many different opinions and interpretations of Bible Prophecy by notable scholars. The more honest of them are not too dogmatic in their interpretation, and include other views as well.

If scripture does not fully explain a prophecy and leaves it open to interpretation, then human error can occur. Whilst for instance it seems very likely that the "mark of the beast" will be in the form of a microchip implant, we don't know this for certain and as such should not definitely state it will be. "Probably" is the word. The mark of the beast may just be be a literal 666 or in another form. "or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Whatever, it will confirm allegiance to the antichrist. 

It is easy to be carried away with enthusiasm especially when we see Bible prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes. But as yet no one apart from God, can definitely prove the precise way the unfilled prophecies will be implemented unless clearly stated in scripture. 

The one thing not in doubt is that a mark of some description will be forced on us. (On the strength of Scripture) The true Christian (If not raptured away beforehand) will not receive it (voluntarily at any rate) knowing full well the implications of doing so. 

Many sincere interpreters of Bible Prophecy in the past have come unstuck and lost their credibility by misinterpreting a passage of scripture. Especially where they have stated the precise date of the the Lord's second coming for instance. God has revealed in His word what to look out for in the time preceding Christ's return, and indeed many substantiated things are happening, the time is near. But the Father only knows exactly when this will be! It is for us to be ready! If you are not saved "born again," now is the day of salvation, tomorrow could be too late!  Born-Again  Or Video  Or Steps

http://www.bible.ca/tracks/patton-mexico-dino-art.ram

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