Understanding the Times in Which Live

Editor’s note:  Here is a very interesting article I found online.   It’s contains some great answers concerning the controversial subject: “Has the tribulation begun?” I urge everybody to read it.

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March 1st, 2009

The tribulation starts at Rev. 6:1 (opening of the first seal) and ends on Rev. 19: 21 (Christ returns to take control of the earth).

Starting from Rev. Chapter 6, from the opening of the First Seal to the opening of the Sixth Seal, is the Tribulation that the Church has to go through. I think this is very similar to what the Jews had to go through when they were in Egypt, where they (Jews) had to experience the first three plagues with the Egyptians, but on the 4th plague onwards, it was only towards the Egyptians.

After the sixth seal is opened, (Rev. 6:12, a great earthquake) that will be the start of the “great tribulation” and at the start of this “great tribulation” is the rapture of the church (Rev. 7: 9-17). After the sixth seal is open, and before the seventh seal is open, there are three important events that take place.
1. Start of the “Great Tribulation” (Rev. 7:14)
2. Anointing of the 144,000 Jewish believers in Christ, which will do God’s work after the Church is Raptured (Rev. Rev. 7: 3-8)
3. Rapture of the Church (Rev. 7:9-17).

After the rapture, God will severely punish the Earth, with the opening of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1).

Daniel’s 70th week starts on Rev. 11:3 when the two witnesses appear on the world stage for 1260 days (3.5 years). At this point, Israel will sign a seven year peace treaty with the antichrist. The Two Witnesses of Rev. 11:3 will, among many other things, warn the Jews in Jerusalem about the peace treaty they signed with the antichrist (Bible calls the peace treaty a “covenant of death” for the Jews). No one will be able to kill the two witnesses for 3.5 years (Rev 11: 5-6). After the 3.5 years are up, Satan is given power for 3.5 years and he wastes no time in killing the two witnesses (to shut them up) and gets the antichrist to break the peace treaty with israel (abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel and Jesus). When this happens, the Jews in Israel must run to the mountains for safety (Rev. 12:6). This time is know as “Jacob’s trouble” because this is when Satan is thrown out of heaven (Rev. 12: 7-8) and will have power over the earth for 3.5 years. Except for the people who had flee to the mountains (Rev. 12:6, who are safe), everyone else on earth, he has the power to kill, including the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7), and new born again Christians (Rev. 13:7) from the “Great Tribulation”.

I think the key to understanding Rev. Chapter 11 and 12 is understanding Daniel’s 70th week ( a seven year period) and the timing of the two witnesses. Peter Goodgame wrote a good article on it at: http://www.redmoonrising.com/twowitnesses.htm

From the start of the tribulation at Rev. Chapter 6 to the end of Chapter 10, we do not know how long it lasts. However, from Rev. Chapter 11 to the end of Chapter 19, we know it lasts seven years (Daniel’s 70th week).

Why did I write all this you ask? The Bible tells use that we are to know the signs of the times and be watchful, a “pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). In other words, to escape God’s judgement on the earth once the seventh seal is opened.

So where are we exactly in Bible Prophecy today? In the middle of last year, I saw a video from Prophecy in the news, called “Feasts of The Lord”. If you haven’t watched already, below is the link:

Part 1: http://choothomas.com/prophecy.wmv
Part 2: http://choothomas.com/prophecy2.wmv

What this video is saying is Sep 29 2008 is the start of a new Jewish year (of a 7 year cycle). ). At the end of this 7 year cycle, on the 7th year (Sabbatical Year) begins on Sep 24, 2014 (sunset) to Sep. 13 2015. What is interesting is that there are a series of four lunar eclipses on or near the Sabbatical Year of 2014/2015.

The four lunar eclipses will occur on:

Passover, April 15, 2014 (Before Sabbatical Year)
The Feast of Tabernacles, October 8, 2014 (in the Sabbatical Year)
Passover, April 4, 2015 (in the Sabbatical Year)
The Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015 (Few days after Sabbatical Year)

This phenomenon of four lunar eclipses on successive Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) will not happen again for hundreds of years. The last time four successive lunar eclipses occurred on these holy days was in 1967-1968, the year Israel liberated Jerusalem! And before that, in 1949-1950, the year after Israel became a state! The last two successive four lunar eclipses were a sign from God that something very significant happened to Israel. Therefore, it’s very possible that the same will happen with the upcoming four successive lunar eclipses in 2014/2015.

Why did I mention the new Jewish new year (sep. 29 2008) and the four successive lunar eclipses on jewish holy days?

Jesus said in Luke 21: 25 to watch for signs in the “sun, in the moon, and in the stars” for his return. The four successive lunar eclipses, I believe, is an important sign because the last time these eclipses occurred, there were significant events associated with Israel and after the 2014/2015 eclipses, there will not be another one like it for hundreds of years.

Another important sign was what happened on Sep. 29, 2008. Many christians believe that if Israel signed a peace treaty with the Arabs on that day, that that would be the start of the seven year tribulation. However, as we just discussed, the tribulation is not seven years. Daniel’s 70th week is seven years and it starts on Rev. 11: 3. By that time, the tribulation/great tribulation will have already started (from Rev. Chapter 6 to end of Chapter 10).

On Sep. 28 2008 (Start of Jewish New Year, of 7 year cycle)
– Largest single day number drop in the History of the Dow
– Dow down 777 points
– Dow down 7%
– Wall Streets Response to Failed 700 Billion Dollar Proposed Takeover by US Government

On this day, it had God’s fingerprint all over it and was an important sign that marked the beginning of judgements on not just the United States, but the world. I believe on Sep. 28 2008 was when the seals of Rev. Chapter 6 were opened. Notice that the seals are not marked by any single event, but rather a gradual decline in specific areas of our society. The fist four seals (war, lack of peace, famine, and death) can easily be caused by our current global economic crisis, where people and societies don’t have the funds to buy what they need. If I’m right and we are living at the start of the tribulation, then our current global financial crisis will not get any better and in fact will get much much worst.

In sum, I believe the tribulation started on Sep. 29 2008 and sister Choo’s announcement that the tribulation has started a few months ago further reinforced by beliefs on this matter. I hope some of the evidences presented here will help you understand the signs of our times and better prepare you for what lies ahead.

God bless you all!!!

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If you want to see the video interview… click here!

If you want the url address to the above texted article… click here!

Hesed Update!

Shalom!

Since I have far exceeded my self imposed deadline for completing the hesed word study, I have decided to simply post the study piece by piece, one section at a time as it is finished and until the whole article has been properly “blogged.”  Otherwise it may never get done.  I never knew I would have so much to write about on one single word!

A brief side note…  Most everyone of my studies seem to take for ever… there always seem to be a thousand different rabbit trails to chase down and I get easily distracted.  Why?  Because the Bible is so good!  You can pick it up an just start reading anywhere!  And then there are my commentaries and dictionaries not to mention other people’s websites… Aghh!  No wonder it is so hard to finish!  (Currently I have between 7-10 word studies that I am working on as well and hope to complete before the summer ends.)  Thus as you some may have noticed by now, many of my daily posts never even get edited completely… just enough to look nice and get the main points across.  Each of my more ‘formal’ and yet to be published studies are anywhere between 5-15 pages in length (and typed in Microsoft Word).  Thank you to all those that have been so patient in waiting.  I am well aware of the frustration of having to wait for something on the web that you wish to see, only to find it is still unavailable, day after day.  Hang in there andvisit often!  Lord willing, I’ll be done real soon.

Sincerely,                                                                                                John Mark Butzu

The Tribulation has begun!

Editor’s note:  This is an urgent message copied directly from Choo Thomas’ website (minus one grammatical correction) at www.choothomas.com

During 2006, 2007 and 2008 God showed so many Christians the rapture as well as some unbelievers.  These visions made so many people excited about the rapture and at the same time some of us were very disappointed because it had not happen yet. I believe God wanted to stir our hearts up for the rapture so we can be prepared for it at anytime.

The Lord told me a few months ago that the tribulation has already begun. He is warning and preparing people for the rapture but realized not many are paying attention to the signs of the rapture and they will be very surprised because He is going to only bring those who are ready and waiting for Him. God also said He has given enough chances for everybody to be ready for His coming. Now the tribulation has begun and this means the rapture could happen at any time for those who are ready and waiting. After He raptures His chosen ones, then the antichrist will take over the world and great disasters  will come to those left behind especially those Christians who refuse to receive the Mark of the Beast (#666). God said not too many Christians will be raptured and whoever does get raptured will have to stand before the judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10) and our work will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Even after we are raptured not too many Christians will enter His Kingdom because their hearts are not pure enough. When God says these words they really scare me and whoever has read the book should already know these things.

When the Lord took me to Heaven the first couple of times, He showed me crystal clear water and said one’s heart has to be as clear as this in order to enter His Kingdom. When the Lord told me this, I was very scared and I wondered how anyone’s heart could be this pure. I always live in fear of God ever since He showed me the water. This is the reason why I still spend a lot of time with the Lord by praying and having a relationship with Him daily. I know it is hard for people who work to spend long hours with the Lord but please do your best to spend as much time as you can and let Him be the center of your life not just sometimes but always. Without a relationship with the Lord and not living in fear of God, one cannot please Him. We have to make sure the Holy Spirit is pleased with us continually. He is the one who raised Jesus from the dead to Heaven (Romans 8:11). My heart’s desire is that all my brothers and sisters in the Lord will be raptured.

When I saw Linda’s prophetic words, it really impressed me. I prayed about it and the Lord told me to have it posted on my website. Some people complained about who Linda is but the truth is I did not know Linda but rather the message (the part posted on my web site) and how it is biblical. The message posted on my website from Linda is very similar to what God tells me and also what He wants His Bride to be. It hurts me to see the way some Christians live and behave and they don’t know what it takes to be the Bride of Jesus. We cannot let anyone or anything come before God no matter what the situation. We have to know that He has to be above everyone and everything in our lives. According to Luke 14:26-27, none of our family members or loved ones can ever be put before our Lord Jesus who died for us. PRAISE THE LORD. Anyone who wants to be holy has to live by the word of God. We have to walk a narrow path (Matthew 7:14). Whatever hardship comes into our lives we have to endure as good soldiers of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:3).

Some Christians believe by doing great work for God they will enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:22-23). The most important part of our salvation is total obedience and love (Matthew 5:19; Mark 12:30-31; John 14:23-24). We must love others enough to witness to them to also be saved. Jesus died for our soul, if we truly love the Lord and want to please Him, we have to die from the world because we cannot love both (1 John 2:15-16). God is love and He wants us to love all not just believers and if we have unforgiveness in our hearts that is a great sin. We have to forgive and not hate others no matter what they have done to us. His word says the people who are living in darkness are the ones who do not forgive (1 John 2:11). If one does not forgive then they also cannot be forgiven by God and that will prevent that person from entering the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 6:14-15). As much as the Lord suffered for our eternity, whatever we sacrifice for Him is really insignificant because no suffering that we will ever endure can ever be compared to what He went through.

Some Christians think when they receive the Lord into their hearts by faith that is all they have to do in their Christian life but this actually is a deception from the Devil. According to Philippians 2:12, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We must never forget that without a pure heart no one can see the Lord (Matthew 5:8, Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews 12:14). God is so holy that any defiled thing cannot enter His Kingdom. I believe this is why God showed me so many people outside His Kingdom and that is called the valley. Some people tell me that being in the valley is better than Hell. Yes, of course it is better than Hell, but we still have a chance to receive the wonderful promises of God if we enter His Kingdom. All He requires from us is a small sacrifice and that is to be obedient and to love Him above all. Jesus suffered and died for our eternity so why shouldn’t we receive all that He prepared for us?

We should be looking forward to being the most beautiful Bride of Christ. Why shouldn’t we give up all worldly habits and try to please the Lord? We are only on this earth for such a short period of time but with the Lord it will be forever and the happiest time we could ever imagine. Whatever we sacrifice while we are here on  earth is all worth it. In Linda’s message she commented on how Christians are watching too much television. Truly reborn Christians do not watch worldly things on television or listen to worldly music. Like God says, we cannot enjoy both the world and Him.

We must understand that the tribulation has begun but none of us will know the day or hour when the rapture will actually occur. We have to patiently wait and never give up, just be ready and waiting for the Lord because no one can understand God’s will (Isaiah 55:8-9). I believe those who are not ready and waiting are going to be very surprised how soon the rapture could happen.

The Lord is concerned about some pastors and He is very dissatisfied with them because they are not teaching about the End times, Rapture and Mark of the Beast (# 666). God says these pastors are going to be left behind with members of their congregation and most of those church bodies will receive the Mark of the Beast because they have never been taught what will happen to them if they receive this number. This is why the Lord says most Christians left behind will become Satan’s. The Lord also said most churches that have business on His holy day (buying and selling things) and are not teaching His church bodies not to spend money on the Lord’s day. According to the Lord, Christians should only use money on the Lord’s day for tithes and offerings (Nehemiah 10:31 and 13:15, 1 Corinthians 16:2).

I am humble and thankful to God for allowing me to write this for my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I pray this message from our Lord will be a blessing and an eye opener to every reader so His Bride will be ready and waiting for the rapture of the Body of Christ, Amen.

Peace and all spiritual blessing to every reader.

To God be all the glory and honor.

MARANATHA!!!

Choo Thomas

Editor’s Note: This post has been copied with permission from Choo Thomas’ website [minus the pictures]…  You may visit her site here at www.choothomas.com.