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Topic: Corrie Ten Boom's call to Christians
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WhiteEagle
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Favor Minded:
Matthew 24
21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.
The End Times - After The Rapture
Scripture doesn't say that. You are putting your own interpretation on this.
quote:
Where the Rapture has no signs leading to it's occurring, the Second Coming of Christ does. It is known as the Seven Mystery Years or the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a seven year period that begins with the rise to power of the Antichrist. He will broker a seven year peace treaty / agreement /accord (Watch for this in the news - You'll SEE!) between Israel and the world. The signing of this peace treaty is the beginning of the Tribulation. The book of Revelation is dedicated to these years and describes in great detail the signs that will occur that lead up to Christ's return. These signs are in the form of judgments passed by God upon man. You will note that the judgments get progressively worse as time goes on.
"Look up for your redemption drawth nigh." The Rapture is shown in Revelation when the 6th is opened contains all peoples who are the saints before the throne. During the 6th seal the Jewish people see that Jesus is the messiah and the 144,000 are sealed, the Wrath of God days are commencing and the Beast has already been persecuting the saints previous, so the Jewish people had already entered a treaty with the anitchrist and then seen him descecrate the temple, and know he is not the Messiah.
The 7 seals are about the Church Age. Jesus is the Head of the Church. He bought the redeemed with his blood, and He is the only one worthy to "open" what is hidden or sealed. The Spirit of Christ is prophecy.
Paul tell the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord won't come until after the Rapture. The reason for the Rapture is that Christ is calling His saints home to prepare for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which is the Last Battle of Armaggedon. REv.19.
[QUOT]The Seal Judgments - The seal judgments represents the judgments put forth by God during the first quarter (or 21 months) of the Tribulation.[/QB}[/QUOTE]
Again this is only your interpretation of the Seals. There is no scripture to affirm this idea.
Certainly not in Daniel. Daniel is about the Jewish people, the seals are not exclusive to the Jewish people's prophecy.
[QB] quote:
The First Seal - A White Horse Revelation 6:1-2
The first horseman indicates a man of authority (the horse and the crown) who will conquer the world with diplomacy by offering peace 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (symbolized by the bow with no arrows). This ruler is the AntiChrist 1 John 4:3 or the "man of sin" 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
The Second Seal - A Red Horse Revelation 6:3-4
As in all prior periods of peace concocted by man the promised peace of the Antichrist fails and the world erupts into war.
The Third Seal - A Black Horse Revelation 6:5-6
The black horse symbolizes world famine. A "penny" represents a days wage. The "oil and wine" symbolize the foods of the rich which will be unscathed. This shows that this famine will affect only the poor in the world.
The Fourth Seal - A Pale Horse Revelation 6:7-8
When the fourth seal is broken death will come to one fourth of the population of the earth due to the ravages of war, famine and an apparent rampage of wild animals against the people of the earth.
Haven't these things happened already all through the past 2000 years? Think! The seals are about the Church age. Again you are inferring things into the seals that are not explicit. You are assuming things that may not or may be there.
War has occured many times over the beliefs of Christians in the past 2000 years. Famines have always been somewhere on the earth, and like the birth pains will intensify just like the earth quakes and wars. Jesus spoke of what occurs in the seals in Matthew 24. Both the seal and Jesus statements to his disciples in Matthew 24 aline. One must study these together to get a better understanding about the Seals.
Couldn't "oil" represent the Holy Spirit? Didn't Jesus tell a parable of the 10 Virgins and their oil? Wine and new wine and old wineskins; ring any bells? Is the Famine a Spiritual one?
quote:
The Fifth Seal - The Martyrs Revelation 6:9-11
The Souls under the Alter symbolizes those who were martyred and beheaded for their faith at the beginning of the Tribulation. They will not recieve their resurrected bodies until Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation Revelation 20:4-5
I agree, but these martyrs are part of the CHURCH. The Rapture has not occurred YET.
How could it be people saved after the Rapture?
The 144,000 haven't been sealed yet, the 2 witnesses may haven't come yet. The most reasonable and straightforward reading is that the martrys under the altar are the saints of our Church. To say otherwise is twisting the meaning to make it out to be something else. One is assuming alot of things not backed up elsewhere in scripture. In fact Jesus promised that His followers would be going through tribulation and persecution.
quote:
The Seal of Israel Revelation 7:1-17
Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals we see the divine protection of the earth by God while his angels seal 144,000 witnesses. God will select 12,000 Jews from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to be his special servants thought the remainder of the Tribulation. These witnesses who are spread throughout the world will spread the Gospel and convert more people to Christ than have been saved in the last 2000 years. Their persecution by the Antichrist will be great but they've received the gift of eternal life which can only be given by accepting Jesus as your savior.
I believe that those Christians living during this time and afterwards who commit to Jesus will also be sealed by God so they may recognize one another. It's a direct counter to the mark of those who receive the Antichrist and reject Jesus.
Thanks for making my point, that the 144,000 haven't been sealed yet.
The Seventh Seal - The Trumpet Judgments Revelation 8:1-2
When the seventh seal is broken there will be a silence in heaven for a half and hour. Possibly this is similar to a moment of silence before temple worship. Otherwise the breaking of the seventh seal symbolizes the end of the seal judgments and ushers in the trumpet judgments.[QB][QUOTE]
The book of Revelation NEVER calls the 7 SEALS; Judgements. You are calling the seals, judgements. The Judgements don't start until the Trumpets and Bowls afterwards. This is where you err. Don't call the Seals (judgements) if the Bible does NOT. This is causing your misunderstanding of the scriptures. The 7 seals are the Prophecies of Christ. He told it to his disciples in Matthew 24, and then the apostle John recieved a more in depth Revelation (revealing) in a vision of the 7 seals.
The Silence in heaven could be the time of the Rapture, as Christ has descended to the clouds to meet us in the air for the Rapture.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm more right that you, but I do see a grave danger, in thinking glibly that I'll be Raptured out before all the bad stuff from the antichrist occurs. Jesus told us to be ready and Paul told us to put on the full armor of God. I think we are to do battle, not get wafted away to heaven before the battle.
Posts: 1392 | From: Maine | Registered: Aug 2004
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Favor Minded
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Matthew 24
21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.
The End Times - After The Rapture
Where the Rapture has no signs leading to it's occurring, the Second Coming of Christ does. It is known as the Seven Mystery Years or the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a seven year period that begins with the rise to power of the Antichrist. He will broker a seven year peace treaty / agreement /accord (Watch for this in the news - You'll SEE!) between Israel and the world. The signing of this peace treaty is the beginning of the Tribulation. The book of Revelation is dedicated to these years and describes in great detail the signs that will occur that lead up to Christ's return. These signs are in the form of judgments passed by God upon man. You will note that the judgments get progressively worse as time goes on.
In conjunction with the rise of the Antichrist Revelation 13:1 will be the arrival of the False Prophet Revelation 13:11 and of two witnesses Revelation 11.
These two witnesses will become arch-enemies of the Antichrist and will prophesy for 1260 days (the first half of the Tribulation). The two witnesses will be untouchable, no harm will come to them until the end of the given time. These two along with the 144,000 sealed witnesses of God Revelation 7:1-17 will bring countless masses to God during the Tribulation. During the first 1260 days of the witness's ministry they will be able to cause all rain to cease falling and have the power over water enabling them to turn it to blood.
The False Prophet on the other hand will complete the unholy trinity of evil (Satan, the Antichrist, and the Prophet....which to say is the antithesis of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or Word of God). The False Prophet will be the leader of the Antichrist's one world religion and will have been given the power to perform some signs to win over the people (he will call fire down from the Heavens..
The Seal Judgments - The seal judgments represents the judgments put forth by God during the first quarter (or 21 months) of the Tribulation.
The First Seal - A White Horse Revelation 6:1-2
The first horseman indicates a man of authority (the horse and the crown) who will conquer the world with diplomacy by offering peace 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (symbolized by the bow with no arrows). This ruler is the AntiChrist 1 John 4:3 or the "man of sin" 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
The Second Seal - A Red Horse Revelation 6:3-4
As in all prior periods of peace concocted by man the promised peace of the Antichrist fails and the world erupts into war.
The Third Seal - A Black Horse Revelation 6:5-6
The black horse symbolizes world famine. A "penny" represents a days wage. The "oil and wine" symbolize the foods of the rich which will be unscathed. This shows that this famine will affect only the poor in the world.
The Fourth Seal - A Pale Horse Revelation 6:7-8
When the fourth seal is broken death will come to one fourth of the population of the earth due to the ravages of war, famine and an apparent rampage of wild animals against the people of the earth.
The Fifth Seal - The Martyrs Revelation 6:9-11
The Souls under the Alter symbolizes those who were martyred and beheaded for their faith at the beginning of the Tribulation. They will not recieve their resurrected bodies until Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation Revelation 20:4-5
The Sixth Seal - The Great Earthquake Revelation 6:12-17
The sixth seal represents the wrath of God pouring out on the world. It will prove to be the worst earthquake in the history of the Earth. At this point even the lost will now know these judgments are from the Christ they rejected.
The Seal of Israel Revelation 7:1-17
Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals we see the divine protection of the earth by God while his angels seal 144,000 witnesses. God will select 12,000 Jews from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to be his special servants thought the remainder of the Tribulation. These witnesses who are spread throughout the world will spread the Gospel and convert more people to Christ than have been saved in the last 2000 years. Their persecution by the Antichrist will be great but they've received the gift of eternal life which can only be given by accepting Jesus as your savior.
I believe that those Christians living during this time and afterwards who commit to Jesus will also be sealed by God so they may recognize one another. It's a direct counter to the mark of those who receive the Antichrist and reject Jesus.
The Seventh Seal - The Trumpet Judgments Revelation 8:1-2
When the seventh seal is broken there will be a silence in heaven for a half and hour. Possibly this is similar to a moment of silence before temple worship. Otherwise the breaking of the seventh seal symbolizes the end of the seal judgments and ushers in the trumpet judgments.
The Trumpet Judgments - The seal judgments represents the judgments put forth by God during the second quarter (or 21 months) of the Tribulation.
The First Trumpet - Hail, Fire and Blood Revelation 8:7
Whether literal or symbolically speaking for some nuclear devestation, one third of the earth's vegetation will be burnt up by a rain of hail and fire mixed with blood.
The Second Trumpet - A Mountain of Fire Revelation 8:8-9
Again, whether literal or symbolic, "something" like a great mountain will be thrown into the sea and destroy one third of all sea life. Whether it is a meteor or asteroid or again some nuclear weapon based devastation the outcome is clear.
The Third Trumpet - A Star called Wormwood Revelation 8:10-11
Wormwood in Greek is apsinthos (a bitter, often poisonous, herb or drug). It may be the result of another meteor or asteroid strike that causes one third of the earth's fresh waters to become bitter (poisonous).
The Fourth Trumpet - Darkness Descends Revelation 8:12
Here we see that the earth will become one third more dark. A literal darkening of the sun, moon and stars. The cause...it may be something in the line of a nuclear winter. Or if the text is taken literally, God dims those sources of light which he put forth in the beginning Genesis 1:1 The effects of this are disastrous as it will affect growth of plants and therefore production of food.
The Fifth Trumpet - The Locusts of Apollyon Attack Revelation 9:1-11
Out of a pit will arise creatures like a combination of beasts. Their sting will drive those struck mad with pain to the point the person struck will wish to die, but will be unable to. Of note, these creatures are forbidden to strike those with the seal of God on their forehead. Again, this may be a literal event with actual creatures under the leadership of Apollyon (the "destroyer") or a figurative description for the tormenting of human inhabitants of earth by demons.
The Sixth Trumpet - The Four Angels Released Revelation 9:13-19
This judgment discusses the four angels bound at the Euphrates (most likely fallen angels or demons that God had bound to prevent from harming mankind) and upon releasing them how they unleash a 200 million strong army of demons that kill mankind with their "plagues". The creatures will kill with the power from their heads (fire, brimstone and smoke) or with a bite from their tail (which is of a serpant). Again, it seems that those who have received the seal of God will go unharmed by this judgment as they can only be killed by the Antichrist and his bad guys.
The Two Witnesses - Their Death and Resurrection Revelation 11:7-14
At the completion of their testimony the beast that ascends out of the pit will make war with them, overcome them and kill them. The beast (Antichrist and the people) will leave their bodies in the street for three and a half days. At the close of those three and a half days God will resurrect them and they will ascend to heaven in a cloud. At the same time a great earthquake will destroy a tenth of Jerusalem and kill 7000
The Seventh Trumpet - Loud Voices in Heaven Revelation 11:15-19
Upon the sounding of this judgment, the elders in heaven rejoice and worship God for they know the time of God's judgment of all things and His rectifying the world is only three and one half years away.
The Mid Tribulation Occurances - There are several things that occur during the mid time of the tribulation. After the death of the witnesses the Antichrist will be killed with a wound to the head, 3 days later he will rise again (this time though he will be indwelt by Satan). Another significant event would be the desecration of the Temple (This would imply that the temple first needs to be rebuilt being as much that the Dome of the Rock current stands in it's place). The Antichrist will blaspheme God and defile his Temple. Also the remnant of Israel (those Jewish believers remaining in Israel) will flee to the wilderness for 1260 days and be under the protection of God Revelation 12. The dragon (Satan) will send a flood after the woman, but the earth will swallow up the flood.
The Bowl (Vial) Judgments - The bowl judgments represents the pouring out of the wrath of God during the second half (or 42 months) of the Tribulation.
The First Bowl - Foul and Loathsome Sores Revelation 16:2
All who worship the image of the beast and took his mark will be infected by sores most likely similar to those received by the Egyptians in Exodus 9:8-12
The Second Bowl - The Sea turns to Blood Revelation 16:3
When this judgment is complete the seas will be completely polluted and kill all creatures in the sea.
The Third Bowl - The Rivers and Springs turn to Blood Revelation 16:4-7
Similar to the Second Bowl Judgment, the rivers and springs will turn to blood in response to the bloodlust by the Antichrist and his followers towards Christians.
The Fourth Bowl - The Sun Scorches Men Revelation 16:8-9
When this judgment is poured forth the heat and power of the sun will increase and cause men to be burned. Instead of repenting as is God's desire, they will curse Him instead.
The Fifth Bowl - Darkness on the Beast's Kingdom Revelation 16:10-11
When this judgment is poured forth darkness besets the kingdom of the Beast (maybe the capitol only) and much pain will be present.
The Sixth Bowl - The Euphrates Dries Up Revelation 16:12
When this judgment is executed the Euphrates River will dry up. The Euphrates was the western boundary of the Roman empire. At this point is clears the path for the Kings of the East (China etc) to march on Israel. Also, three demons are sent forth to convince the leaders of the lands to march on Israel. This sets the stage for what is known as the Battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel 39:17-22 / Revelation 16:13-26
The Seventh Bowl - The Greatest Earthquake in History Revelation 16:17-21
The final and most severe judgment is the Seventh Bowl Judgment. An earthquake so severe that it literally levels the planet, moving islands and flattening mountains. It is so severe that John describes it in detail in the next two chapters of Revelation. Revelation 17-18
The Second Coming
The Battle of Armageddon Revelation 19:11-21
Satan Bound and Cast into the Pit Revelation 20:1-3
The Millennial Kingdom Revelation 20:4-6
Satanic Rebellion and Final Judgment Revelation 20:7-15
New Heaven and Earth Revelation 21
Heaven on Earth Revelation 22
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WhiteEagle
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by LaurieFL:
In my opinion, she was not speaking of the end times tribulation, but persecution and tribulation of the church, which America has escaped but the rest of the world has not. I believe she is correct that we need to shape up in this nation and be ready to face oppositio to our faith. Even if the persecution never comes here, by making ourselves ready, we will surely be "off the fence" and not lukewarm, disgusting Christians.
Hi Laurie,
Reading about the "veri-chip", seeing the increase and intensity of earthquakes, our own government wanting to regulate everything we do, everything is shaping up, for mass persecution.
Already, since I live in Maine which is mostly democratic and liberal, I see and sense the spirit of the enemy every day. These people seek to control every area of our lives. Right now it's under the guise of them "caring" about the health and safety of the masses. It's down to, one is regarded are "foolish" for not wanting mandatory seat belt laws, or not agreeing that gays are being persecuted, or even going against popular public opinion on anything, such as believeing in Creation and believing that abortion is murder. One gets ostracized for making one's opinion known. I certainly don't dare tell anyone at work I voted for Bush. I'm afraid of being forced out, if I mentioned such things, even casually.
That's not freedom. Conversation must be superficial to be able to get by in the work place. Maine is looking at passing a Primary seat belt law, I realize some states already suffer under this. By being a primary law, the definition of "Probable Cause" changes, and the police will be legally alllowed to pull over any driver at any time, just to see if they are wearing a seat belt.
While this is not a "Christian" issue, it is a personal freedom issue, and violates the Constitution's amendments against arbirtrary seach and seizure and right to privacy.
Once the legislatures start changing the definition of "probable cause", on this seemingly innocent issue, and the people accept this violation of their personal choice and privacy, it will pave the way for further violations of privacy (for our own health and safety).
Soon having a Bible in a public place may be illegal. We know that the mark of the beast will cause those who refuse it, to be criminals to society.
My governor can not "see" that he is trying to control people. He is blinded. He thinks he is righteous and good.
This same kind of delusion will permeate society of people who are not saved, into the Tribulation.
I strongly believe that Christians who are living when the Great Tribulation comes, will have to go through it. I believe the Rapture will occur near the end, and perhaps be the first cause of the end of the Tribulation.
Satan's wrath is what causes the Tribulation, he will be persecuting the Church like never before.
He will make us "suffer". He will cause all other people to hate the Church. Children will turn in their parents, parents will turn in their children.
We will be enemies of the State. People are already acting like a bunch of sheep, that follow and believe all that the media says, believe all that Health care, the CDC tells them, believe Evolution is science and true.
Many people in Maine think poor Dan Rather! That's how blind they are!
Sorry, I'm on a rant. ![[crying]](graemlins/crying.gif)
The bottom line, is that's closer than we know.
WE DO need to indeed wake and be ready.
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yahsway
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Woe to you for he has come down to earth and has great wrath. Sound familiar? Satan himself, enters the antichrist and persecutes the saints. This is tribulation.
The wrath of God is poured out on those who will not repent and who persecute the saints.
If all the tribulation is, is God pouring out His wrath, where would that leave the antichrist and his work in pouring out his wrath and tribulating of the saints?
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LaurieFL
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I made this post originally because I am concerned about the comfortable and lukewarm state of the church in America in particular.
a.) I see the persecution of Christians around our world that has been going on for centuries and is escalating, especially in Muslim-controlled nations such as Indonesia.
b.) I think Americans have long been isolated from this and are naive and arrogant in thinking they won't have to face it themselves and I want American Christians to not only be ready but be WILLING to suffer for their faith. I think most people in this country who say they are Christians would fold very quickly if they faced any active opposition.
c.)I see it already beginning in our nation, and believe it will be getting much worse, not better as many Christian political activists like to falsely believe.
I think the book of Revelation is pretty clear on timelines and on how "The Tribulation" (emphasis on the formal events that will occur when the Anitchrist rules this world) will go down, and it will involve serious persecution of those who profess faith in Christ as well as many judgements from God in the form of His physical wrath (the seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls). I will readily admit I do not necessarily believe the Christians will be raptured before this time, but that is not necessarily the point of why I brought this discussion up in the first place. I do not require convincing one way or the other, because I know that Jehovah will provide me with the strength and grace to endure whatever trial He puts before me, and that if He chooses to spare me from anything, that will be an unexpected and glorious bonus from my King.
I believe that as this world falls more and more into sin and immorality, especially as this nation gleefully forsakes all things of morality, we will see people not only charged with crimes for reading their Bibles at "gay" parades (as recently happened), not only charged with crimes for many other public expressions of faith in Christ as is happening all over our country, but people will begin to be ostracized, tortured, and murdered for publicly believing in Jesus Christ.
It is time NOW for Christians in this nation to choose whose side they are on. The time of being a closet Christian is over. If anyone thinks they can continue being content and happy in their little lukewarm world, but that they will choose rightly when suddenly faced with persecution, they are deluding themselves. Now is the time to be a soldier for Christ and to defiantly believe in that which the world calls foolishness and hatefulness!
This is nothing we can do for ourselves or in our own strength, but committing to getting firm roots in scripture and to living a sanctified life, and in being exceedingly glad and grateful for all that God has done for us, and being willing to give everything we hold dear to God - Then He will make sure we are ready, if and when the time comes.
Maranatha, Lord Yeshua, but in the meantime, please show us what we can do for you today!!!!
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HisGrace
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quote:
Originally posted by WhiteEagle:
You are correct. We are not appointed unto "Wrath". but you are incorrect to say that the Tribulation is God's wrath. The Tribulation is brought on by the evilness of mankind.
I see the Tribulation as an all-out battle against the devil to fulfill Abraham's convenant of gaining the Promised Land and having Israel restored by their receiving back what the devil has stolen from them. Also, Satan will be ultimately destroyed for what he stole from us in the Garden of Eden.
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WhiteEagle
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I think that many of you misunderstand the scriptures.
The Wrath of God is NOT the Tribulation period.
The Tribulation is when the Mystery of Iniquity is full (this is the culmination of man's agreement with Satan's ways=or sinfulness)is full.
Or evil men persecuting the people of God. It is not God's Wrath.
The Tribulation prophecied to come by Jesus Christ in Matt. 24 states that "after the Tribulation of those days...The Angels shall gather God's Elect from the four corners of the world. (This is the Rapture)
Christians will see the Beast or "antichrist", we will be exucuted for not taking the "Mark".
God's Wrath=The Day of the Lord. That day comes after the Beast, after the Rapture, after the Great Tribulation.
The Day of the Lord is what Believers will not have to suffer. The Day of the Lord is the Days of God's Wrath on the earth. It comes because of man's persecution of the saints of God, and man's refusal to acknowledge God, and man's worshiping of the Beast in place of God.
You are correct. We are not appointed unto "Wrath". but you are incorrect to say that the Tribulation is God's wrath. The Tribulation is brought on by the evilness of mankind.
We as Christians have to be ready. You can't deny the reality of Christian persecution in Africa, Indonesia, Asia, and by Muslim countries, that is and has been occuring for decades.
Why are you "special" to escape persecution? Jesus stated that all who folow Him will be persecuted. Think about that!
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HisGrace
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I have very high respect for Corrie ten Boom and wish everyone could have the opportunity to read her book the Hiding Place, which tells about her early years and her experiences in prison camps. However, her views seem to be taken out of her own experiences. Every Christian goes through tribulations that doesn't mean we are going to go through "The Tribulaton"
Corrie died in 1983. We are at the doorstep of the prophetic word being fulfilled and much more is being revealed in this 21st century than ever before.
There has been much speculation about the tribulation, but what do the scriptures say? Personally, I would turn to someone who has studied the end times in great detail and such Christians say that the saints will be removed before The Tribulation
I don't know about you saints, but I'm looking up. Who's going to join me?
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Eduardo Grequi
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I remember meeting Corrie Ten Boom- I remember her smile and I remember her love. In essence she said at a gathering in Holand in her twilight years. "To be a christian is to be in tribulation". She had quoted a verse from the New Testament- Something like this I remember "Be aware because they have hated me first and persecuted me, how be it, that they shall persecute you" It was in dutch. Her message one of the last before a crippling stroke. So in the nutshell- Men are more evil to men. When tribulation comes it is the wrath of God poured out on a unregenerated world. The bible declares that God will not allow His church to see the Wrath of God poured out in that day."
Whether or not the church is to see the making or the beginning of the birth pains I do not know-but God will remove His church from the real macoy. The actual birthing process. Remember where your heart is that is where your treasure should be. Heavenbound and not Earth bound.
I remember my pastor in the "60's" "Pastor Hallet" in Illinois saying if it were not for this one verse declaring God will not allow His church see the wrath of God in that day- I would believe the church would be going through parts of the tribulation. To this very day it is put and imbedded in me that the rapturing of the church will happen before the wrath of God.
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LaurieFL
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The seven different seals, bowls, and trumpets that will be opened, trumpeted, and poured out will be God's physical wrath upon the face of the Earth in the form of pestilence, famine, earthquake, atsronomical phenomena, fire/brimstone, hailstones, boils, etc. Those are the "Wrath of the Lamb."
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LaurieFL
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In my opinion, she was not speaking of the end times tribulation, but persecution and tribulation of the church, which America has escaped but the rest of the world has not. I believe she is correct that we need to shape up in this nation and be ready to face oppositio to our faith. Even if the persecution never comes here, by making ourselves ready, we will surely be "off the fence" and not lukewarm, disgusting Christians.
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WildB
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CB is a Godly woman. But this feeling of hers is not backed up by scripture.
She being in a Nazi concentration camp thought the tribulation was starting then. And the Brits , man, fire was raining down out of heaven nightly on them. What do you think they were "feeling"
Persecution is going to be fundamental to our faith, but the Tribulation that the Bible talks about Those in Christ will not see.
1Thes.1
1. [10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1Thes.5
1. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Tribulation is Gods WRATH upon men, not mens upon man.
![[rapture]](graemlins/rapture.gif)
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That is all.....
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yahsway
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I too am in agreement here. Good post! ![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif)
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WhiteEagle
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Thanks Laurie. That's exactly what I see. I've never read anything by this lady, but what she wrote is strongly in my heart. We need to prepare for Tribulation, not rapture.
The rapture will happen, but I agree the Tribulation is coming first.
Posts: 1392 | From: Maine | Registered: Aug 2004
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LaurieFL
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Written in 1974, this message (that I shamelessly yoinked from another message board) is very relevant for today. Christians all over the globe are being murdered, tortured, and persecuted for their faith. We are seeing the beginnings of this in the Western world in my opinion, and we may be surprised at how much worse it may get, even for us "fat and happy" Christians here in the U.S. We must not be closet believers, and we must be ready to endure persecutions for our faith. Jesus said that the world hated Him and will also hate us. Strength to endure such things comes from a real relationshp with Christ and an intimate knowledge of the Word of God.
Anyway, enough of my inadequate blather - here is the word from Miss Ten Boom.
Preparing for Tribulation
Corrie Ten Boom
The world is deathly ill. It is dying. The Great Physician has already signed the death certificate. Yet there is still a great work for Christians to do. They are to be streams of living water, channels of mercy to those who are still in the world. It is possible for them to do this because they are overcomers.
Christians are ambassadors for Christ. They are representatives from Heaven to this dying world. And because of our presence here, things will change.
My sister, Betsy, and I were in the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck because we committed the crime of loving Jews. Seven hundred of us from Holland, France, Russia, Poland and Belgium were herded into a room built for two hundred. As far as I knew, Betsy and I were the only two representatives of Heaven in that room.
We may have been the Lord's only representatives in that place of hatred, yet because of our presence there, things changed. Jesus said, "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We too, are to be overcomers bringing the light of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and hate.
Sometimes I get frightened as I read the Bible, and as I look in this world and see all of the tribulation and persecution promised by the Bible coming true. Now I can tell you, though, if you too are afraid, that I have just read the last pages. I can now come to shouting "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" for I have found where it is written that Jesus said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be His God, and he shall be My son." This is the future and hope of this world. Not that the world will survive but that we shall be overcomers in the midst of a dying world.
Betsy and I, in the concentration camp, prayed that God would heal Betsy who was so weak and sick. "Yes, the Lord will heal me,", Betsy said with confidence. She died the next day and I could not understand it. They laid her thin body on the concrete floor along with all the other corpses of the women who died that day.
It was hard for me to understand, to believe that God had a purpose for all that. Yet because of Betsy's death, today I am traveling all over the world telling people about Jesus.
There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution. In China, the Christians were told, "Don't worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated raptured." Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly, "We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution rather than telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes to stand and not faint."
I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, but more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it. We are next.
Since I have already gone through prison for Jesus' sake, and since I met the Bishop in China, now every time I read a good Bible text I think, "Hey, I can use that in the time of tribulation." Then I write it down and learn it by heart.
When I was in the concentration camp, a camp where only twenty percent of the women came out alive, we tried to cheer each other up by saying, "Nothing could be any worse than today." But we would find the next day was even worse. During this time a Bible verse that I had committed to memory gave me great hope and joy. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part evil is spoken of, but on your part He is glorified." (I Peter 3:14) I found myself saying, "Hallelujah! Because I am suffering, Jesus is glorified!"
In America, the churches sing, "Let the congregation escape tribulation", but in China and Africa the tribulation has already arrived. This last year alone more than two hundred thousand Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the newspapers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many, many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape the tribulation.
Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered.
The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, "Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?"
The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches. I told them a story out of my childhood.
"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said, "Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a marty for Jesus Christ." "Tell me," said Father, "When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?" "No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train." "That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need just in time
"
My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing, " In the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore." Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago.
But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life.
How can we get ready for the persecution? First we need to feed on the word of God, digest it, make it a part of our being. This will mean disciplined Bible study each day as we not only memorize long passages of scripture, but put the principles to work in our lives.
Next we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just the Jesus of yesterday, the Jesus of History, but the life-changing Jesus of today who is still alive and sitting at the right hand of God.
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely necessary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will never be able to stand in the tribulation without it.
In the coming persecution we must be ready to help each other and encourage each other. But we must not wait until the tribulation comes before starting. The fruit of the Spirit should be the dominant force of every Christian's life.
Many are fearful of the coming tribulation, they want to run. I, too, and a little bit afraid when I think that after all my eighty years, including the horrible nazi concentration camp, that I might have to go through the tribulation also. But then I read the Bible and I am glad.
When I am weak, then I shall be strong, the Bible says. Betsy and I were prisoners for the Lord, we were so weak, but we got power because the Holy Spirit was on us. That mighty inner strengthening of the Holy Spirit helped us through. No, you will not be strong in yourself when the tribulation comes. Rather, you will be strong in the power of Him who will not forsake you. For seventy-six years I have known the Lord Jesus and not once has He ever left me, or let me down. Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him, for I know that to all who overcome, He shall give the crown of life. Hallelujah!
-Corrie Ten Boom-1974
Posts: 700 | Registered: Aug 2004
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