Like A Thief In the Night

It would seem as though our time with Revelation 3 isn't done yet.

This is an excerpt from a previous post...

But it's not just me! Anyone else notice a similar theme with various Christian ministries lately? Everywhere I turn lately it seems like THIS is the subject on everyone's heart and mind -- even if it's to a community and forum that I've never been to before! Might that be the Holy Spirit moving throughout the Body of Christ in preparation for what's to come? I believe it very well could be.

You know, with Japan's devastation still weighing on us, the resulting symbolic analysis by other watchmen on the wall, and now plausible scenarios about what lies ahead for this nation (and the world) in the very near future, I'm beginning to wonder if "spiritual preparation" (but a "last call" of sorts) is what's at play here after all.

In other words, get ready for unfathomable RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, WRATH, and HELL for the non-believers who perish during such divine judgment.

One tragic story from Israel (go figure) caught my attention in light of such a spiritual environment. When all is said and done, I believe it sends a clear message about the late and urgent hour we all find ourselves in -- believers and non-believers alike.

Israeli Family Killed In Terror Attack!
(WARNING: Some graphic images...)



PM Netanyahu's Response To Savage Murder Of Fogel Family



On the night of March 11th, 2011, when most of the world was glued to their TV screens watching the drama that was unfolding in Japan following the mega-earthquake and tsunami, another horrible tragedy took place in Israel. Yet, BOTH tragedies speak volumes about where we are on God's prophetic timeline.

In a sense, the Fogel family massacre in Itamar, Samaria is a microcosm of what's going to befall God's chosen people let alone the kind of rage that the demonically-inspired lost souls of planet earth (under the leadership of the Antichrist) will unleash against the saints as well as Israel during Daniel's 70th Week. But there's so much more that we students of Bible prophecy might want to take note of.

Check out this appropriately titled commentary from The American Spectator (with selected excerpts highlighted)...

Halfway To Hell
By Jay D. Homnick on 3.15.11 @ 6:07AM

This column about the murdered Fogel family was written a few times on other surfaces before I put it to paper. First I etched it into my heart with a scalpel, then I inscribed it on the sacred parchment of Jewish history with a quill; finally, I spray painted it onto the bulletin board of the human race in a jagged graffito. After all this, I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could be lucid enough to share it with my friends through the printed page.

There are two small communities in Israel, Elazar and Itamar, named after the two surviving sons of Aaron. Their two brothers died shockingly to disturb a happy period for the Israelites, not long after the Exodus. The tradition teaches that there was a divine decree for all the children of Aaron to die, but Moses prayed and succeeded in saving half of them. Now, 3300 years later, the tableau is repeated in the town of Itamar.

Six children live at home in the same family, brutal killers invaded their home, yet half the children survived. One kid was sleeping on a couch instead of a bed, the two-year-old was curled in a small ball on his bed, and probably escaped notice. The 12-year-old sister stayed out late in a Sabbath youth group; parents in Israel are astoundingly tolerant of these wholesome gatherings and suspend their usual curfews.

So a heartless, soulless, gutless murder of a sleeping family only got the parents and half the children, including a three-month-old baby. That is the good news. All the rest is hellish tragedy, atrocity, inhumanity. Hamas announced that although they did not send the killer, they applauded his handiwork. Those peace-loving Palestinians strike again!

THIS IS THE HAPPIEST SEASON of the Jewish calendar. The holiday of Purim, celebrating the heroism of Queen Esther saving her people from the Persians 2300 years ago, will be observed next week. It is a day of goofy costumes and comedy, eating and drinking, a giddy time of hope. School plays are being performed in advance of the holiday, so little glittery crown-wearing boys and girls are skipping up the steps of school buses all over Israel.

Against this backdrop comes a bloody act of random cruelty. Climbing into a peaceful suburban home to slash the throats of its sleeping inhabitants; now there's a political statement. What does that tell the world about the culture of the people who can perpetrate such acts -- not as isolated instances of twisted menace but as publicly celebrated expressions of a national spirit?

Yes, you heard that right. Gaza residents hit the streets to express their jubilance, handing out candy and sweets in honor of the occasion. We have our murderers, too, but we chase them into their dark dens and confine them in cages.

Can someone reasonably argue that a peace treaty negotiated by some people in suits is going to pacify a culture that throws a party to honor the murder of a three-month-old child?

Well, perhaps I have not becalmed myself into lucidity after all. I am enraged, offended, provoked into a state of war. I reject the notion of statehood for the bloodthirsty, legitimacy for the ruthless. Ruthless is an appropriate word here; the woman they killed with three of her offspring was Ruth Fogel. Fogel is a bird, so Ruth Fogel means Bird-of-Peace. It does not take a genius to get the message of slashing the bird of peace.

You and I love the image of the bird soaring high and free; we love peace so much we are willing to overlook all sorts of slights and affronts and irritations and provocations. We want so much to impute good will and good faith to all of mankind, to men and woman of every race and religion. But we cannot close our eyes to evil, to raw predatory evil, to naked evil wielding its scythe of destruction against all that is gentle and kindly and innocent.

I want so much to join my children and grandchildren in their Purim playlets, to get into the mood of the time. One more time the brutes have stolen the light right out of my eyes. Thank God they could not get it all; prayer has saved half of our goodness from the blade. Let us treasure what remains.

To reiterate, "peace" was killed by a thief in the night. It's really that simple.

Furthermore, how can we not think of some of the most well known prophetic verses in all of Scripture (not to mention others that connect "thief" with "night")?

Job 24:14-15 (KJV) The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth [his] face.

Zechariah 5:4 (KJV) I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Matthew 24:43 (KJV) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

2 Peter 3:10 (KJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Remarkably, but only until you remind yourself of Who we're dealing with here, "thief" featured prominently in...Jesus' letter to the Church in Sardis that we just looked at the other day!!!

Revelation 3:3 (KJV) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

As incredible as that is, there's one more astounding piece here that must not be overlooked.

As you know, Revelation 3 and Christ's letter to the Church at Sardis has been at the forefront of our minds and studies lately. Go back and read the last 1-2 sentences of that piece from The American Spectator. Keep in mind that it was written a full 2-3 weeks BEFORE we all started to sense our attention being drawn to Revelation 3...

"Thank God they could not get it all; prayer has saved half of our goodness from the blade. Let us treasure what remains."

Revelation 3:2-3 (KJV) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

I'm left with a laser-like focus upon the words "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee", and recall that He could come upon them (us?) in the sense of bringing immediate judgment, or, He could come upon them (us?) in these sense of His coming for the church at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) if not some other escape to come (Luke 21:36). Used in either sense, it shows that His coming can be sudden and unannounced, so they need to be watchful.

Look, the issue here is not about whether or not we're destined to die for His glory, honor, and praise, or destined to escape for His glory, honor, and praise. The issue here is about being "watchful" in all the ways we highlighted in the previous post.

It means not merely "watching the world all around us and spotting the signs of the times", but also (and more importantly I might add) "watching ourselves and our brethren carefully" so that we aren't false converts and/or hypocrites like those in Sardis were.

Folks, what could I possibly add to what should be absolutely clear to us by now especially to those of us who have ears to hear and eyes to see?

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Posted in: Four Horsemen,How Close Are We?,Islam,Israel And Middle East,Moral Decline,Political Signs,Religious Persecution,Seven Seals,Spiritual Deception,Symbolism,Synchro-Pop,Witnessing

Sardis, 'Spiritual Near Death', And 'Watching'

On the heels of last week's post on the truths surrounding God's wrath, Hell, and "Emergent Christians" (a.k.a. apostates) like Rob Bell, I should've expected something like this to happen soon after. God never ceases to amaze me!

The theme of this one will beautifully resonate with where we left things last time I think (if not, don't worry because I've been inspired to devote a lot of time to this subject for most of the upcoming week). In addition, I thank the Lord that He led me to a closer study of something from the Book of Revelation that I completely missed. I'm more convinced than ever that this is the kind of "watching" that we should all concern ourselves with right now. More on that in a moment, but first, Sardis.

In Revelation 3, John records Jesus’ specific words -- and warnings -- to the end times churches, or the types of Christians that will exist in the last days.

I’m not sure if any of you have noticed this, but Jesus’ letter to the Church in Sardis in Revelation 3 has been showing up virtually everywhere it seems the past 1-2 weeks. From blogs I visit regularly, to those I just happen to stumble upon, to daily devotionals I receive via email, they all keep echoing what we read in Revelation 3...

Revelation 3:1-6 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Needless to say, I began to wonder if perhaps we might want to take a closer look at this particular letter to see what we might learn, or to see if there’s a reason why it has been appearing everywhere lately.

I mean, let's face it, whenever it seems like the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the Body of Christ drawing our attention to one message over, and over, and over again that's precisely the moment when I think we need to stop what we're doing and pay close attention.

Yes, we should always be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, but more so when this sort of thing happens in this day and age I think. What I'm trying to say is that I think the timing of it featuring prominently lately in all of our personal studies is no coincidence.

As always, if you want a deep, rich, true meaning of a passage you should be sure to read it in context. I don’t just mean within the context of the surrounding verses, but you have to try and understand the other elements involved too.

For instance, what was the ancient city of Sardis really like and how might that help us gain a better understanding of Jesus’ words here? To answer that question, I want to share a quick video for you that will serve as an excellent introduction to the ancient city of Sardis and Jesus’ letter to the Christians there...



The statement along the lines of, "They weren't alert and failed to watch so they were unprepared for the challenges of the present and the challenges of the future..." is quite fitting to our studies today I'd say.

At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet, it was a wealthy city, being situated at the intersection of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money – not just money in general, but "easy money" -- was well known in the ancient world. In fact, according to many historians, Sardis was the place where modern money was born.

I’m sure that by now some of you are already thinking about the similarities between Sardis and the US, or Sardis and the Western World, or perhaps even Sardis and the world at large. You're gonna notice the apparent connections even more so now when I tell you that Sardis was also a city well known for its softness and luxury. It had a well-deserved reputation for apathy and immorality.

In Sardis there was also a large, stately temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. This mother goddess was honored -- "worshipped" really -- will all kinds of sexual immorality and impurity. Gosh! How can someone not think of the Statue of Liberty and New York City? The combination of easy money and a loose moral environment made the people of Sardis notoriously soft and pleasure loving.

The great characteristic of Sardis was that, even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt. Like we said, its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Sardis was a city drowning in decadence.

Isn’t that something? The parallels to our nation and just about every city in it should be obvious I think. On second thought, the parallels to the entire world should be obvious! But even when we examine the history of its rise and fall do we discover some eerie connections too!

The situation of the city was ideal for defense much like being surrounded by water on 3 sides has been for America. However, Sardis was defeated -- twice, which should make "Symbolism Junkies" and those who ascribe Revelation 18:2 to the US, or New York City even (there's that place coming up again in this study), do a double take...

Revelation 18:2 (KJV) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Here’s something else too...On BOTH occasions, Sardis had fallen because of overconfidence and failure to watch! Overconfidence and failure to watch. Now, who does that sound like to you?

Really there’s so much more here folks and I think we would be wise to pay close attention. Let’s continue by looking at what Jesus knows about the Christians of Sardis.

He says "that thou hast a name that thou livest" or "that you have a name that you are alive" rendered another way. Jesus knew the church at Sardis had a name -- that is, a reputation -- of life and vitality. If you looked at the church of Sardis, you would see signs of life and vitality.

In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good. Furthermore, as some historians have pointed out, we are not to get the impression that the Sardis body of believers were falling apart, with the church buildings a wreck, the members scattered, and the Pastors ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, promotion and publicity, and something going on all the time. It had a reputation of being alive and wide-awake always doing, doing, doing.

Again, I ask you, who does that remind you of? Do it resemble any part of Christianity today? Does it call to mind any particular kinds of Christians you know at this moment?

Ok, but what does Jesus have AGAINST these Christians then? "But you are dead" we are told. Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. "But you are dead" shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character.

Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were. "Dead" indicates no struggle, no fight, no persecution. It wasn’t that the church at Sardis was losing the battle. A dead body has already lost the battle, and the fight seems over.

In this letter, Jesus doesn’t encourage the Christians in Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine either, probably because there simply wasn’t a significant danger of these things in Sardis. Being dead, the believers in Sardis presented no significant threat to Satan’s domain, so they weren’t worth attacking. We might say that Satan had better things to do because he already knew Sardis was his.

So many prophetic verses come to mind at this point, don’t they? There’s 2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV), "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" and Matthew 7:15 (KJV), "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" and Matthew 7:19-23 (KJV) "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

The church in Sardis was "A perfect model of inoffensive Christianity" (Caird). Another commentator says, "It was not scandalous wickedness, but decent death; the form retained, the heart gone. The church of Sardis was at peace -- but it was the peace of the dead."

After calling them essentially the "church of the mostly dead", He instructs them to "be watchful" too. I’d say that’s a direct hit to any Christians out there who still think that we shouldn’t be studying end times prophecy. However, there's something much more significant going on here with this command that I think many of us (including myself) have overlooked. When I finally took the time to look at this more closely I ended up praising Him for reminding me of this vital truth.

Jesus complements this command to "be watchful" with "strengthen the things which remain", which qualifies the meaning of "watch" for sure. There is still a glimmer of life within this church, but the letter gives the impression that they have relaxed in their spiritual responsibilities so much so that they are nearly comatose, and close to a state of "spiritual near death" even.

Why? Because they have not been vigilant in their core responsibilities, or on guard against apathy, or on guard against deception, or on guard against neglect. They have not had any sleepless nights at all over their standing with God. Folks, does that remind you of us in a sense?

Interestingly enough, one Bible study I came across (and the one used primarily as the source for this entire post) pointed out how the Bible's first mention of the Day of the Lord in Isaiah 2:12 says that it "shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up -- and it shall be brought low." It points out that the primary target here is the proud, or the self-assured.

Now, we're not so much talking about Christians who believe in "eternal security" (as we should), but those Christians who believe they're in good standing with the Lord and "definitely going to Heaven when I die!" merely because they're "religious busybodies" always giving the appearances of being a Christian to the outside world, and always doing, doing, doing, but failing to invest the same time and energy into their personal relationship with Christ, and/or those who are always doing such works in His name, but with the wrong heart and mind motives.

The ironic thing here (and why I feel this is a VERY IMPORTANT message for all of us) is that this state of "spiritual near death" could easily come about even while they are avidly watching world events for signs of the times. Let me repeat that because this is something that I think needs to be prayerfully considered by me and the rest of this community because it applies to us more than any other Christians...

The ironic thing here (and why I feel this is a VERY IMPORTANT message for all of us) is that this state of "spiritual near death" could easily come about even while they are avidly watching world events for signs of the times.

We could be quite adept at following the news reports and may know better than anyone what is really going on in the world and how it fits with prophecy, but that DOES NOT fulfill Christ's, and the apostle's, commands to watch -- not entirely! I’ll explain.

It’s not that it is wrong to keep tabs on world news like we do each and every day, each and every week, but watching world news is chiefly about OBSERVING and OBSERVING THE WORLD. True WATCHING emphasizes diligence; it is being alert to spiritual dangers more than physical ones. It is about faithfully carrying out our God-given responsibilities like a servant in the Master's house. None of that results from simply being a newshound or prophecy addict.

What really impressed this point upon my heart and weighed heavily with me is when I asked myself: "Do I invest the same amount of time and energy reading and studying the holy Scriptures, on strengthening my relationship with Jesus Christ through intimate fellowship and prayer, as I do when it comes to writing speculative/subjective pieces for Look Up Fellowship and putting together show notes for Right Now Radio?" My dear friends, this is why LUF and RNR have begun to "sermonize" more and why we've attempted to tackle doctrinal issues as opposed to simply reporting the news all the time. Besides, in this Age of Apostasy, I believe that this type of approach is needed now more than ever.

Back to Revelation 3. In verse 3, Jesus tells them to call to mind the previous lessons and instructions they have heard. He tells them to repent and to guard and maintain their position so they backslide no further. As before, His description gives little indication of spiritual vibrancy or zeal even though that's the impression they give to the non-believers all around them.

Yes, there probably IS a great deal of activity, since He says that they have a name, or reputation, for being alive. Yet, in the areas that truly matter -- like faith, growth, overcoming, persevering, and seeking God -- not much is happening.

He also warns them that, if they will not watch themselves and their covenant responsibilities to their Master like they watch the world, then He will come upon them like a thief. He implies that they will not be counted worthy to escape. They may not be appointed to wrath as the world is, but they certainly are not immune to it. Actually, they stand a good chance of experiencing some of it, having not been vigilant and alert in watching over the things that God has given them.

Simply put, we know that Christ will return when we do not expect Him. We may be able to observe some general indicators when key prophecies are fulfilled, but the overall timing will be always be a mystery. His coming will be like a thief in the night, purposefully hidden from all. Why? Because if there was only "one unmistakable sign" that the beginning of the end was upon us, then a majority of people wouldn't take Him or His Word seriously until they saw that happen. The Lord wants us to get serious about Him, His Word, and our responsibilities today! Are we though?

So, much more important than always trying to discern the timing, we are instructed to "watch" -- not only world events, but to watch ourselves, and to watch over all that God has given to us -- so that when that Day arrives, we are ready. He knows that if we are faithful in little (faithful in the mundane, the monotonous, the unexciting) we will also be faithful in the truly great things that lie ahead.

Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear friends, this is why I try to include as many Bible study posts as I can on this website lately (as well as during RNR each week) because I’m mindful that while it’s ok to watch the world and point out how the prophetic puzzle pieces are being put into place all around us, it’s only a "good thing" if it prompts us to take our relationship with Jesus Christ and our spiritual health more seriously, and if it results in motivating us to get our "spiritual house in order" right away. That’s the key here. That’s the point I wanted to make with this entry and with this study on Jesus’ letter to the Church in Sardis.

Ok, so, what should we take away from this study of Revelation 3 that we can apply to our lives immediately? Let’s answer that question and wrap up this Bible study by going back to what Jesus Himself said.

"Be watchful" His Word says. This first instruction from Jesus tells them they need to examine and protect, strengthening what they already have. "The things which remain" tells us that though the spiritual condition of the Church in Sardis was bad, it wasn’t hopeless. That's the good news! See, even in this case the Lord is longsuffering offering hope (2 Peter 3:9)! Spiritually, there were things which remain that could be strengthened. The good news is that Jesus had not given up on them, and it was late (as evidenced by the words "that are ready to die"), but it wasn’t too late.

Another phrase from Jesus that we find in this passage is "I have not found your works perfect before God", and this shows that their works, though present, haven’t measured up to God’s standard. Remember, the presence of works isn’t enough because God requires a particular intent and purpose in all of our works. He examines the heart and the motives. Works in His name should be done with a heart and in a manner that show them to be worthy of such works at His feet for His glory, honor, and praise, and not our own.

The Apostle Paul essentially says that the foundation of good works -- particularly within the Body of Christ -- is humility or lowliness...

Ephesians 4:1-3 (KJV) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

However, if works are done with pride or arrogance, or for the sake of appearance rather than truth and righteousness (like those in Sardis), then they will cause harm.

They may also produce some good, but the account of the Two Trees in the Garden of Eden teaches that, in the context of eternity, a mixture of good and evil is really only evil. [The Berean]

Next we read, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent:" What they must do is remember how they first received and heard the Word of God. Then, they must hold fast to those things, and to repent by turning and restoring the Gospel and apostolic doctrine to authority over their lives.

Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 the kind of way they needed to embrace the Word they needed to remember...

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Lastly, we read, "Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief:" Jesus warns them of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignore His command to be watchful -- in every manner that such a command denotes, or, at least in the manner that matters the most -- then Jesus will come upon them as a thief at a time completely unexpected by them.

How will Jesus come upon them, you ask? He could come upon them in the sense of bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come upon them in the sense of His coming for the church at the Rapture, or some form of "escape" consistent with Luke 21:36.

Used in either sense, it shows that His coming can be sudden and unannounced, so they -- no, WE -- need to be watchful in every sense of that word.

Sardis, "spiritual near death", and "watching" is what it all boils down to for us today. The message has been presented to us. The message is clear. Are we willing to respond to it accordingly?

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Great Commission,How Close Are We?,Prophecy Basics,Revelatory Revival,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Why Study Prophecy?,Witnessing

Right Now Radio - March 26th, 2011

Please join Right Now Radio tonight for the second of two LIVE broadcasts this week.

HOST: TalkShoe - CLICK HERE - Right Now Radio
TIME: Tonight 10:00pm EST - 12:00am EST (*God willing, it may be longer!)
PHONE: (724) 444-7444
CALL ID: 92495



Right Now Radio returns in 2011 for His glory, honor, and praise! Please join RNR each Friday night for an uncompromising look at current events from a Biblical and eschatological worldview.

Right Now Radio intends to mix the commands given to us in Ephesians 5:11 and Matthew 10:16 with the truth found in Proverbs 25:2. Most importantly, RNR is committed to reminding people of the hope that is embodied in Jesus Christ and having an "eternal" perspective of this life.

Despite all the chaos and uncertainty that surrounds us, we can take comfort knowing that our Heavenly Father remains in full control. Please join the discussion and arm yourself with the knowledge of the truth.

ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT?
> The Middle East Peace Process
> Rob Bell And The Doctrine Of Hell
> Joel Osteen's False Hope
> Libya And The Kings Of The Earth
> The "Order Out Of Chaos" Blueprint
> The "Kings of the Earth" Continue To Conspire
> Apple Takes A Bite Of The Apple
> Latest From The Culture Wars
> Cracks In The Crystal Cathedral?
> How To Pursue Holiness And Righteousness (And Why It's Important)
> Fight Fear With Faith During These End Times

Please feel free to call in with your comments/questions, engage in the discussion with other like-minded believers in the RNR Chat Room, or simply listen LIVE from the comfort of your own home (or at a later time after downloading the MP3 File).

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Keep looking up!

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Four Horsemen,Great Commission,How Close Are We?,Prophecy Basics,Radio Broadcasts,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Week In Review,Witnessing

Right Now Radio - March 25th, 2011

Please join Right Now Radio tonight for the first of two LIVE broadcasts this week.

HOST: TalkShoe - CLICK HERE - Right Now Radio
TIME: Today 5:45pm EST - 7:45pm EST (*God willing, it may be longer!)
PHONE: (724) 444-7444
CALL ID: 92495



Right Now Radio returns in 2011 for His glory, honor, and praise! Please join RNR each Friday night for an uncompromising look at current events from a Biblical and eschatological worldview.

Right Now Radio intends to mix the commands given to us in Ephesians 5:11 and Matthew 10:16 with the truth found in Proverbs 25:2. Most importantly, RNR is committed to reminding people of the hope that is embodied in Jesus Christ and having an "eternal" perspective of this life.

Despite all the chaos and uncertainty that surrounds us, we can take comfort knowing that our Heavenly Father remains in full control. Please join the discussion and arm yourself with the knowledge of the truth.

ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT?
> What Do We Mean By 'Watch And Pray'? What Have We Been Missing?
> Jesus' Letter To Sardis In Revelation 3
> Latest Updates On The Tragedy In Japan
> Latest Updates On The War In Libya
> The "Order Out Of Chaos" Blueprint
> The "Kings of the Earth" Continue To Conspire
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Thank you for your prayers and support.

Keep looking up!

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Four Horsemen,Great Commission,How Close Are We?,Media,Prophecy Basics,Radio Broadcasts,Seven Seals,Spiritual Deception,Week In Review,Why Study Prophecy?,Witnessing

'Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits...'

We continue our look this week at the NEGATIVE impact that technology has had upon our shared faith. Specifically, technology that dominates Hollywood and Pop Culture in general (video cameras, cell phones, the Internet, YouTube, Facebook, iPod/iPad, etc.).

Specifically, it's a closer look at a generation or two raised on the Gospel of Self-Esteem rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how it has produced "Christians" (a.k.a. "Easy Believers" and/or "False Converts"; apostates really) in this age of me, myself, and I leading to an unprecedented falling away from the faith.

Whenever we reference the Apostasy here in this forum, and discuss all the things that are WRONG with contemporary Christianity these are precisely the type of things that should readily come to mind.

A Little Leaven calls attention to a Sermon series of the worst kind. A "Pastor" by the name of Troy Gramling from Potential "Church" in Cooper City, FL, has found a very clever way to attract pagans to his "church"...do a Sermon series about the game "Spin The Bottle" complete with an edgy question about sexual positions!

I kid you not. This is what passes for "Biblical instruction" and "worship" these days I guess. The video speaks for itself...



Unfortunately, that's not the only "Sermon" series they called attention to in recent weeks. Tommy Sparger, "Pastor" of Northpoint "Church" in Sprinfield, MO, has had an epiphany. Apparently, the good folks of Springfield have been wanting/needing an innovative church to combine God's Word with the whoopee cushion.

Yep, that's right. Recently, if you attended that "church", you could've heard creative and relevant "Sermons" with names like...

"Pull My Finger"
"Silent But Deadly"
"Blame it on the Other Guy in the Elevator"
"He Who Smelt It Dealt It"

How could I make this stuff up? As A Little Leaven appropriately stated, "We can't wait to hear Tommy's justification for combining God's word with fart humor. Regardless, we think this idea does more than just stink."

When it's not the Sermons that are being hijacked it's "worship music" instead. What do I mean by that? Well, something along these lines...

Apparently today's banal, Biblically illiterate, culture chasing "Christians" are so blinded by their pursuit of relevance that they're oblivious to just how foolish they look when they produce cheap knock-offs of successful secular entertainers. Ugh.

From the sound of it, this Justin Bieber look-a-like couldn't carry a tune in a bucket without computer assistance. But, who cares, as long as he's marketable to the greater "Christian" market, which is obviously in dire need of a fresh secular knock off.

What's next? Be on the look out for a "Christian" knock off of Lady Gaga. We're sure she'll be bursting forth onto the Christian scene in 5...4...3...2...1

You can also add this next ridiculous song-and-dance to the mix too.

I'm pretty sure this is not the kind of "serving" that the Scriptures are referring to. Watch and listen to these "Pastors" in "Bringing Serving Back" and you tell me if this is the kind of discipleship that Christ had in mind when He calls us to follow and serve Him.

Bringing Serving Back From Parkview Christian Church On Vimeo.

Is that the kind of discipleship, the kind of leadership, you'd expect and respect from your Pastor? As a couple of viewers noted...

"I almost threw up when they started washing that woman's feet. Like Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet was a random act of kindness bestowed on random people...and then turning to make sure everyone saw his act of kindness."

"Look at me, look at me, look at me serve! Look at us, look at us, look at how awesome we are! See how nice we are! Nicer than those 'other' Churches who talk about sin. See how relevant we are! More relevant than those 'other' Churches who talk about old stuff that happened thousands of years ago. See how exciting we are! So much more exciting than those stuffy 'other' Churches who sing hymns. Look at me, look at me, look at me! Look at us, look at us, look at us! Good grief..."

You wanna know the kind of "service" that God is actually referring to?

Matthew 6:3-4 (KJV) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

In other words, don't show the world your "random acts of kindness" and make a music video about it like these guys did! The deviation from the truth of God's Word from people who should know better -- people who have been given the enormous responsibility of teaching other believers the truth -- is astounding, isn't it? Yet, it's just another clear sign of the times I'm afraid.

All of these examples of apostasy in action have one thing in common. They're certainly more about man than God, more about "flash" then "faith", more about "pizazz" than "penance", more about "saving your cool reputation with the unsaved world" than about "saving lost souls" instead. That's a big, big problem.

Why does "Churchianity" insist on using the world's methods to attract the worldly? When are they gonna realize that it's God who draws men to Him (John 6:44) -- not other men?

The arrogance. The pride. I mean, all they need to do is STICK TO PREACHING THE TRUE, WHOLE GOSPEL without all the bells and whistles and let God do the rest.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (KJV) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Folks, do you see what I mean whenever I say that it breaks my heart to see so-called "religious leaders" deceiving their flock like this?

The worst part about these "Life Coaches", "Pop Psychologists", and "Self-Help Gurus" masquerading as "Pastors"? They legitimately believe that these kinds of messages are ok and that there is a place for them in church services.

Where's the respect for the Lord and His holy Word? Where's the reverence? Where's a solid presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or a Biblically sound teaching of doctrine to help believers mature in their faith? This is absurd!

2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Come on Pastors! Get with the program! You either do it God's way, or get out of the way in my book! Leave the preaching and teaching to those who want to do it for Him -- not for themselves!

A Little Leaven hits the nail on the head...

"Apparently, God's Word just isn't enough to keep the attention of today's A.D.D. religious consumers."

"Religious consumers" indeed! That's the key problem here.

Faith has become a business. Christianity has become synonymous with dollar signs.

Plus, people want what they want, and they want it THEIR WAY -- not God's way.

Lord, have mercy.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,How Close Are We?,Moral Decline,New Age,Spiritual Deception

Liberal Christianity - Notable Quotable

This is Liberal Christianity, or Liberal Theology, reduced to its most basic elements...

"A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross."

H. Richard Niebuhr

This is a major problem with contemporary Christianity. We would be wise to remember what the Scriptures tell us...

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Galatians 1:10 (KJV) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Sola Scriptura.

We dare not retreat from all that the Bible says about...anything and everything.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Great Commission,Notable Quotables,Sola Scriptura,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Witnessing

God's Wrath And Bell -- Err Hell

Can I level with you? I've felt burdened the past few days. I've felt as if the time for speculating is past, and the time for reviewing the truth and only the truth is upon us.

Sure, I know all about living by faith and not feelings, but that's not really what this is. I can't quite explain it unfortunately. All I can say is that there's this uneasiness within my soul and a definite need to invest the time to read and study His Word more than I have been. Yet, even that's not entirely accurate either.

I suppose a better way to describe whatever this is would be to say that I feel an urgency to research, study, and write about repentance, obedience, and judgment. So much so, in fact, that I've put everything else on hold -- and I mean everything!

From the last minute cancellation of an end times prophecy report this week courtesy of Right Now Radio, to using every waking hour today to bury my face in my Bible and write, write, write as much as I possibly can on this important subjects, today has been an...odd day for sure.

The strangest part? None of these sentiments have been stoked by other news media outlets and/or the long list of online Christian prophetic ministries that I usually frequent because I just haven't had the time to listen to, let alone read, any of them all week long. It just is what it is. Please take that under prayerful consideration for what it's worth.

Ok, so what have I been so preoccupied with for nearly the entire day? In the aftermath of the tragedy in Japan, and in the wake of the beginning of a state of war in Libya, I keep coming back to the simple truths given to us in Scripture.

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

One great thing (yes, "great") to come from the constant news about the death and destruction in Japan (and even just the mere threat of radiation making its way to the Western US) is that it forces people to come face-to-face with their own mortality.

Some might think it's morbid of me to point this out, but I hope that others see it as a compassionate gesture. We all die. Eternity is a long time. To live like we'll never die, or to act like it all doesn't matter one way or another, is a tragic state to be in.

I would argue that what we believe about what happens to us when we die determines how we live our lives while we still have them to live. Of course, God's Word gives us the answers to both this life and the life to come.

Do we know the truth though? Are we reading and studying His Word like we should? Are we ready to give an account of the truth to those who ask and challenge us about it (2 Timothy 4:2)?

In the previous post, we looked at what the Scriptures have to say about earthquakes and why God allows them to happen to mankind. They are more than signs. They are commentaries from Almighty God about His feelings toward our unrepentant sins.

With that in mind, this felt like a good time to revisit some surprisingly "controversial" subjects in Christian circles today: God's wrath, Hell, and the relationship between the two.

But it's not just me! Anyone else notice a similar theme within various Christian ministries lately? Everywhere I turn lately it seems like THIS is the subject on everyone's heart and mind -- even if it's in a community and forum that I've never been to before! Might that be the Holy Spirit moving throughout the Body of Christ in preparation for what's to come? I believe it very well could be.

You know, with Japan's devastation still weighing on us, the resulting symbolic analysis by other watchmen on the wall, and now plausible scenarios about what lies ahead for this nation (and the world) in the next several days, I'm beginning to wonder if "spiritual preparation" (a "last call" of sorts) is what's at play here after all.

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE TELL US ABOUT GOD'S WRATH?

Let's begin with the doctrine of the wrath of God. What do we know? Well, for starters, that the Lord is a "righteous judge" (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 2:23; Revelation 19:11).

Charles Spurgeon summarized...

"You must have, more or less, a distinct sense of the dreadful wrath of God and of the terrors of the judgment to come, or you will lack energy in your work and so lack one of the essentials of success."

It's so much more than that though. The Scriptures tell us quite a bit about God's wrath. For some of you, this will be the uncomfortable part.

Psalm 21:9 (KJV) Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Psalm 90:7-8 (KJV) For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.

Psalm 89:14 (KJV) Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Romans 2:2-6 (KJV) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Psalm 7:11-13 (KJV) God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

This is the message we must bring to a sinful world now more than ever. God is angry with the wicked every day. His wrath abides on them (John 3:36). Every time they sin, they are storing up for themselves wrath that will be revealed on the Day of Judgment (Romans 2:5). Unless they are convinced that there is a wrath to come, they will not flee to the One who can deliver them from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Even now, with all that's going on in the world just this last week alone, there are still people out there who assume that Heaven's silence is Heaven's sanction. The reality is that God threatens fearful wrath, then offers salvation to those who will listen. This is the Biblical order of Gospel proclamation -- Law before grace -- and it must be preached ASAP!

Obviously, the Word contains proclamation after proclamation of God's wrath. The problem is that we fail to remind ourselves that it's a righteous wrath that He exhibits.

C.S. Lewis commented on this truth when he wrote,

"When we merely say that we are bad, the 'wrath' of God seems a barbarous doctrine; as soon as we perceive our bad-ness, it appears inevitable, a mere corollary from God's goodness."

May we always perceive our "bad-ness" from now until our last dying breath.

Not to get us too sidetracked here, but whenever a discussion about the wrath of God comes up it invariably evolves into one of the most common objections: "Why does the Old Testament show a God of wrath and the New Testament a God of mercy?"

Actually, the God of the New Testament is THE SAME as the God of the Old Testament. The Bible says that He never changes. He is just as merciful in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament.

Read Nehemiah 9 for a summary of how God mercifully forgave Israel, again and again, after they repeatedly sinned and turned their back on Him. The Psalms of David often speak of God's mercy, poured out on sinners.

He is also just as wrath-filled in the New Testament as He is in the Old. He killed a husband and a wife in the Book of Acts, simply because they told one lie.

Jesus warned that He was to be feared because He has the power to cast the body and soul into Hell. The apostle Paul said that He persuaded men to come to the Savior because he knew the "terror of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:11). Read the dreadful judgments of the New Testament's Book of Revelation. That will put the "fear of God" in you, which incidentally is "the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).

Perhaps the most fearful display of His wrath is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. His fury so came upon the Messiah that it seems God enshrouded the face of Jesus in darkness so that creation couldn't gaze upon His unspeakable agony.

Whether we like it or not, our God is a consuming fire of holiness (Hebrews 12:29). He isn't going to change, so we had better...before the Day of Judgment. If we repent, God, in His mercy will forgive us and grant us eternal life in Heaven with Him.

But there's one verse that sums things up quite nicely for us...

Psalm 7:11 (KJV) God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.

The NIV clarifies the truth even further, and while I fully recognize the problems with the NIV please note that I'm merely including it here for absolutely clarity (for those who argue the KJV is "too difficult to understand") and to simply hammer home the point: "God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day."

Though they seem like contradictions in a politically correct world like the one we live in today, this verse clearly tells us that righteousness and wrath go hand-in-hand.

I think R.C. Sproul gave us a hint as to why we've fallen away from the truth of God's Word...

"There's probably no concept in theology more repugnant to modern America than the idea of divine wrath."

Right on cue, the apostates within Christianity gave us more reason to know (not assume, but know) that he was right because they totally reject such foundational Biblical truths. Totally.

That's because the toxic teachings of the "Emerging Church" and one of its rock star "Pastors", Rob Bell, have been compiled into a new book just released called "Love Wins", which despite it's universalist "We All Worship The Same God And God Loves All" title will only lead to apostasy, blasphemy, and heresy.

More on that in a moment. For now, I just wanted to mention it and point out how this topic was at the forefront of Christian apologetics this past week and rightfully so. More importantly, I think it's timing is providential having come on the heels of the tragedy in Japan and everything that such an event should force the world to confront about itself. That being said, let's continue by pointing out a few more things about God's wrath.

Bill Muehlenberg recently wrote an in-depth commentary on the wrath of God that served as a catalyst for this piece today. We'll continue by examining this doctrine first.

While I don't agree with all of his statements (i.e. "or if they believe that God forces people against their will to enter into a Christless eternity, that too I reject", which is in direct contrast with sovereignty, regeneration, and Romans 3:11 assuming that's what he was writing against with that comment) I generally agree with most of them because that are rooted in Scripture...

"If their idea of the wrath of God is that God is an emotional tyrant who explodes in petty anger at every little thing, then I reject that concept as well."

"Christians readily – and rightly – leap upon John 3:16 to showcase God’s love. But the very same pericope speaks of the other side of the coin – his wrath. John 3:36 says this, 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.'"

"People often mistakenly assume that love and wrath are opposites. They are not at all, as this passage demonstrates. If you really love someone you will hate that which harms that person. Leon Morris argues that wrath 'stands for the settled and active opposition of God’s holy nature to everything that is evil.' Indeed, 'If we abandon the idea of the wrath of God we are left with a God who is not ready to act against moral evil.'"

"Paul says much about God’s wrath. Consider Romans 1:18: 'For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.' Some think this wrath just means the impersonal consequences to bad choices in a cause and effect universe, and it should not be attributed to God himself. 'But his wrath against sin is too comprehensive in Scripture to allow such a reinterpretation. It is part of his very nature – the holiness of God demands wrath against the sinner and mercy toward the repentant' (Grant Osborne in his commentary on Romans)."

"Consider also Ephesians 2:3: 'All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.' But in the very next verse Paul speaks of God’s great love and rich mercy. As Clinton Arnold states, 'This wrath in no way contradicts his love; rather, it is a manifestation of his character as holy and blameless, which is what he requires of us (1:4). It is also his necessary and appropriate response to the rebellion of his creation against him, which he will ultimately subdue (1:10).'"

"A final passage to consider is Revelation 6:15-17: 'Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’' This text is remarkable for many reasons, but the point to emphasise is the one unleashing the wrath. Yes, the same meek and mild Jesus who we read about in the gospels is now dispensing judgment and punishment. Many forget that the Lamb of God is also the conquering King who will comes to exercise divine judgment."

"Or as G.K. Beale rightly states, 'The earth-dwellers have not trusted in the Lamb who was slain for the sin of the world (cf. 1:5; 5:9). Therefore, they will have to suffer his destructive wrath and will not be able to withstand it. The gentle Lamb who was slain on the cross is now in an exalted position over the whole cosmos (1:5; 3:21; 5:5-6) to pour out his wrath. He is not only loving to his people but also a just judge to his enemies.'"

Simply put, Muehlenberg points out how critical it is for Christians to "get it right" when it comes to knowing the truth and preaching the truth. The doctrines of Hell and God's Wrath are certainly a part of that, but far too many Christians leave them out of the discussion entirely.

You can't say "God is love!" without also saying "God is wrathful!" The two aren't mutually exclusive; they're not polar opposites. The love of God does not make any sense without the wrath of God. Remember, it's not for nothing that the Scriptures record the "fear of God" so very often. Hopefully, that clarifies the doctrine of the wrath of God for us.

Earlier, we mentioned Rob Bell and the Emerging Church movement in Christianity today. It was good to see Dr. Mohler himself pen a stern response to the rank apostasy originating from such people and preaching,

"If you actually read the Bible, you are going to end up having to say that this is a dishonest attempt to make the Bible say what is does not say."

That's the bottom line here. If you still doubt that such a rebuke was warranted, then please spend some time being like a Berean (Acts 17:11) and examine the evidence for yourself.

Matthew 7:15 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Those within the Emergent Church/Liberal Christianity sects have created a mythology of Heaven and Hell and redefined what it means when the Bible speaks of God's wrath, and it's all at the front-and-center of Bell's new book too.

What's this book about? Why is it so dangerous? One religious leader has weighed in...

This brings us to the controversy over Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins. As its cover announces, the book is "about heaven, hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived." Reading the book is a heart-breaking experience. We have read this book before. Not the exact words, and never so artfully presented, but the same book, the same argument, the same attempt to rescue Christianity from the Bible.

As a communicator, Rob Bell is a genius. He is the master of the pungent question, the turn-the-picture-upside-down story, and the personal anecdote. Like Harry Emerson Fosdick, the paladin of pulpit liberalism, Rob Bell is a master communicator. Had he set out to defend the biblical doctrine of hell, he could have done so marvelously. He would have done the church a great service. But that is not what he set out to do.

Like Fosdick, Rob Bell cares deeply for people. It comes through in his writings. There is no reason to doubt that Bell wrote this book out of his own personal concern for people who are put off by the doctrine of hell. Had that concern been turned toward a presentation of how the biblical doctrine of hell fits within the larger context of God’s love and justice and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that would have been a help to untold thousands of Christians and others seeking to understand the Christian faith. But that is not what Bell does in this new book.

Instead, Rob Bell uses his incredible power of literary skill and communication to unravel the Bible’s message and to cast doubt on its teachings.

The problem begins even with the book’s title. The message of the Gospel is not merely that love wins — it is that Jesus saves.

In fact, Bell already made an appearance in front of millions on MSNBC recently, and it highlighted why this is serious cause for concern...

MSNBC To Rob Bell: "You're Amending The Gospel So That It's Palatable!"



One blogger astutely wrote the following in response...

Whatever else one can say about generous orthodoxy, it should not include suggesting that polar opposite views about God are equally orthodox, nor that contradictory views on key Scriptures are equally plausible or possible. Rob once defined orthodoxy as like a trampoline, with some flexibility. Flexibility yes, on some things, but still definable and recognizable boundaries, especially when it comes to the issue of soteriology. Even a trampoline has boundaries and if you fall outside them you get hurt, and so do others who try and follow such an example.

Apprising Ministries added...

I showed you that at the corrupt heart of this Liberalism 2.0 is the doctrine of universalism; and the popularity of men like McLaren and Bell within mainline progressive churches is perfectly understandable because — they speak from the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5).

Here’s the crux of the matter, both Brian McLaren and Rob Bell claim to be evangelical all the while espousing a newer postmodern hybrid form of progressive Christian theology that’s completely at odds with evangelicalism...

Sadly, neither Rob Bell nor Brian McLaren can even see the evangelical neighborhood from where they’ve currently drifted; and in my opinion frankly, I don’t think they even want to see it. With this all in mind, it does speak loudly against the mystical musings of Rob Bell when Word Faith universalist Carlton Pearson decides to come to his defense below with an all-out attack on Holy Scripture, which is the only way one could ever defend Rob Bell’s mythology.

I think that's entirely warranted and entirely accurate too by the way.

In fact, I'm reminded of of this...

2 Corinthians 2:17 (KJV) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Titanium bends and twists, but it always retains its shape. That's what a Christian should be like. We bend; we are flexible on certain issues. However, we always retain our integrity. We refuse to compromise the truth of God's Word.

Sadly, that's what these Emergent types offer a heavy dose of -- compromise when it comes to the truth of God's Word. Make no mistake, the Lord will send His righteous wrath upon such as these. Thus, unless they repent of their sins in this regard, they may have a reservation for eternity in Hell.

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE TELL US ABOUT HELL?

How many times have we heard someone say, "Hell isn't a place! This life is hell" or something to that effect? Skeptics who say this are trying to dismiss the reality of Hell. They might like to think that life as we know it couldn't get any worse (and people in Japan and Libya might feel that way right now), but the sufferings in this life will be heaven compared to the suffering in the next life -- for those who die in their sins.

This life is the closest thing to Hell that Christians will ever know, and the closest thing to Heaven that sinners will ever know unless they repent.

To warn of Hell is fearful, but it is absolutely legitimate because the Bible says that it is a fearful thing for a sinner to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

Despite the fact that the world is teetering on the precipice of the Tribulation, and the simple fact that you could die tomorrow due to causes entirely unrelated to the fulfillment of end times prophecy, apostates like "Pastor" Rob Bell are only making things worse.

When the doctrines of God's wrath and the existence of Hell aren't being ignored outright, they're being severely misinterpreted although there is an abundance of Scriptural texts that clearly define them for us.

Dr. Albert Mohler wrote two exceptional commentaries on this topic recently...

Doing Away With Hell? Part One

Doing Away With Hell? Part Two

I'm not going to try to select excerpts. Please just make the time to sit down in a quiet place today and read them both back-to-back. They go hand-in-hand with the content of today's piece.

The bottom line? "Is evangelical theology about marketing God to our contemporary culture, or is it our task to stand in continuity with orthodox biblical conviction–whatever the cost?"

Watcher's Lamp referenced Apprising Ministries, which shared this essay from Dr. John MacArthur, which I believe to be a fitting conclusion to this lengthy -- but oh so necessary -- commentary/study...

Hell is a place of unrelieved torment for both body and soul. When a nonbeliever dies, his soul leaves the presence of God, and goes into Hell. His soul probably doesn’t go into the Lake of Fire that all unbelievers will be thrown into after the Great White Throne Judgment (because a transcendent body would be required to endure the fire), but it still goes to a place of torment (as was illustrated by the rich man who died and went to Hell in Luke 16).

When an unsaved person dies, his soul descends into Hell. In the future, there will be a resurrection of the bodies of the damned, and at that time the condemned will be given a transcendent body so they can be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Christians will also be resurrected at that time, and be given a transcendent, glorified body to enable them to live eternally in Heaven. Those who are condemned to Hell will be raised and given new bodies for the sole purpose of being punished forever in those bodies (Jn. 5:25-29; Rev. 20:11-15). That’s why Jesus said, “…fear not them who kill the body…but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).

Some people think that Hell will only be experienced by the inner consciousness. But Hell will be experienced by the body, too. Transcendent, eternal bodies are going to be given to the damned; they will suffer in those bodies forever.

Please let that sink in. Please, please, please. Remember, we're on borrowed time here.

Hell is a literal place just like Heaven is a literal place.

Absolutely nothing -- I repeat, absolutely nothing -- on this earth could ever even begin to compare with Hell and the wrath of the Lord God Almighty.

Hebrews 10:26-31 (KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

God's love cannot be separated from His wrath.

Ironically, those who attempt to do so may ultimately face the very thing that they try to teach isn't something to worry about when it comes to God and the end of a life.

I'd say that in such a case "the joke's on them", but our Lord's righteous wrath and a place in Hell for eternity is no laughing matter. Look, even Jesus Christ Himself spoke of the reality of Hell and warned us about rejecting Him and spending eternity there.

Matthew 10:28 (KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Pray for these truths to change hearts and minds. Pray for those caught up in this vile apostasy, blasphemy, and heresy related to these end times.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Great Commission,Sola Scriptura,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Witnessing