By their fruits you shall know them.

 This study encompasses the fruit topic from the words Jesus spoke to what each New Testament writer elaborated on in their revelation from the Holy Spirit, and it's more than you think. It's not as black and white as the religious portray. Because the key element for the production of fruit in every plant is the root. And that is where each one of these verses draw from. I hope you enjoy it, because we could all use some pruning. Along the way you may see a few highlighted verses that absolutely stuck in me at that moment, they are worth an extra minute.

1. Jesus — “You will know them by their fruits”

Matthew 7:15–20

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”

Jesus is warning about false prophets and false followers. His point is that outward claims aren't enough. Eventually, a person's character, conduct, and spiritual results reveal what is actually inside.

Jesus repeats the principle in Matthew 12:33:

“For the tree is known by its fruit.”

And again in Luke 6:43–45:

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.”

Jesus then connects the fruit directly to the heart:

“For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

So the biblical principle is:

What is inside eventually comes out.

2. Paul — The “fruit of the Spirit”

Galatians 5:22–23

This is probably the passage most think of when it comes to fruit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Notice Paul doesn't say “fruits” of the Spirit. He says “fruit”—singular. Let's break them down one by one.

That is significant. He's describing the various characteristics produced in a person whose life is being directed by the Holy Spirit.

Here we go one by one.

❤️ Love — agapē

This is more than affection or emotion. It is a deliberate concern for another person's good.

Jesus makes this the identifying characteristic of His followers:

John 13:34–35

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul expands on it in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7.

Love is patient, kind, not boastful, not arrogant, doesn't keep a record of wrongs, and rejoices in truth.

😊 Joy

Biblical joy isn't simply being happy when circumstances are good.

Paul could speak of joy while experiencing imprisonment, persecution and hardship.

See:

Philippians 4:4

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Romans 14:17

Christian joy comes from one's relationship with God rather than from circumstances.

🕊️ Peace

This involves reconciliation with God as well as an inner disposition of peace toward others.

Romans 5:1

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul also tells believers:

Romans 12:18

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

A person producing spiritual fruit isn't constantly looking for conflict, revenge, or division.

⏳ Longsuffering / Patience

This means enduring difficult people or circumstances without immediately responding with anger or retaliation.

Paul connects it directly with Christian conduct:

Ephesians 4:2

“With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”

God Himself is described as patient toward sinners:

2 Peter 3:9

So patience isn't weakness. It's controlled strength.

🤝 Kindness

Kindness is actively treating others with goodness, consideration and mercy.

Ephesians 4:32

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Jesus also gives the same principle in Luke 6:35, where He says God is kind even toward the unthankful and evil.

🌿 Goodness

Goodness is moral excellence expressed through action.

It's not merely avoiding evil. It's actively doing what is right.

Ephesians 5:9

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

And:

Titus 3:8

Believers are to be careful to devote themselves to good works.

✝️ Faithfulness

Faithfulness means reliability, loyalty and trustworthiness.

It includes faithfulness to God and faithfulness toward other people.

Jesus places tremendous value on this quality.

Matthew 25:21

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Paul also tells Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:2

to entrust teaching to faithful people who will be able to teach others.

🧎 Gentleness / Meekness

Biblical meekness doesn't mean being timid or spineless.

It means strength under control—responding without unnecessary harshness.

Paul says:

Galatians 6:1

If someone is caught in sin, restore him:

“in a spirit of gentleness.”

And:

2 Timothy 2:24–25

The servant of God must be gentle and correct opponents with gentleness.

Jesus Himself described Himself as:

Matthew 11:29

“gentle and lowly in heart.”

🛑 Self-control

This is the ability to govern one's impulses, desires, emotions and behavior rather than being governed by them.

Paul demonstrates the concept in:

1 Corinthians 9:25–27

He compares Christian discipline to an athlete exercising self-control.

Peter also connects it with spiritual growth:

2 Peter 1:5–8

3. Paul gives another list — the “works of the flesh”

This is especially interesting because Paul puts the fruit of the Spirit directly opposite the characteristics produced by the flesh.

Galatians 5:19–21

He lists:

sexual immorality

impurity

sensuality

idolatry

sorcery

hatred

strife

jealousy

outbursts of anger

selfish ambition

dissensions

factions

envy

drunkenness

carousing

and similar things

Then comes the contrast:

Galatians 5:22–23 — fruit of the Spirit.

In other words:

The tree produces evidence of what kind of tree it is.

That's almost exactly Jesus' analogy in Matthew 7.

4. Jesus' “fruit” teaching in John

One of the strongest passages connecting to the subject is John 15:1–8.

Jesus says:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”

And:

“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Then:

“He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.”

This gives us something extremely important:

Fruit isn't something we manufacture simply by trying harder.

Jesus says the branch produces fruit because it remains connected to the vine.

That's why He concludes:

“Without Me you can do nothing.”

So the biblical progression is essentially:

Abide in Christ → the Spirit works in you → Christlike character develops → fruit becomes visible.

5. Paul — Another list of spiritual fruit

Ephesians 5:8–11

Paul says:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

And then:

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

Notice those three:

Goodness — Righteousness — Truth

Again, Paul is describing observable evidence of a changed life.

6. The fruit of righteousness

Philippians 1:9–11

Paul prays that believers would be:

“filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ.”

The idea is that righteousness isn't merely something we claim; it should become visible in how we live.

7. The fruit of holiness

Romans 6:20–22

Paul contrasts a person's former life with the new life in Christ and says:

“But now having been set free from sin... you have your fruit to holiness.”

Again, fruit = visible result.

A changed relationship with Christ should eventually produce a changed way of living.

8. Hebrews — The fruit of righteous character

Hebrews 12:11

The writer says discipline eventually produces:

“the peaceable fruit of righteousness”

There's another beautiful connection:

righteousness produces fruit.

9. James — You can recognize wisdom by its fruit

This one is particularly powerful.

James 3:13–18

James asks:

“Who is wise and understanding among you?”

And then he says that person should show it by good conduct.

He contrasts earthly wisdom—characterized by jealousy and selfish ambition—with wisdom from above.

The heavenly wisdom is:

pure

peaceable

gentle

willing to yield

full of mercy

full of good fruits

impartial

sincere

Then James says:

“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

That's essentially “you will know them by their fruits” applied to wisdom itself.

10. Peter — Spiritual growth produces fruit

2 Peter 1:5–8

Peter gives another remarkable progression:

faith → virtue → knowledge → self-control → perseverance → godliness → brotherly kindness → love

Then he says:

“For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There's that same agricultural language again:

Fruitfulness = evidence of spiritual growth.

11. John — Don't love merely in words

This is one of my favorites because John takes the concept from theory to reality.

1 John 3:17–18

John essentially says:

Don't merely say you love someone.

Show it.

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

That's very much the New Testament version of “look at the fruit.”

12. Jesus — The ultimate test isn't what someone says

This may be the most important companion passage to Matthew 7.

Matthew 7:21–23

Jesus says:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”

These people actually claim to know Jesus.

They even point to impressive religious works.

But Jesus says:

“I never knew you.”

That immediately follows His teaching about knowing people by their fruit.

So Jesus is warning us:

Don't judge spiritual authenticity by someone's claims, appearance, religious vocabulary, popularity, or even impressive religious activity. Look at the fruit.

And there's one more passage I think ties the entire thing together

Matthew 12:33–35

Jesus says:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.”

Then He explains why:

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

That's the key.

Jesus isn't merely saying:

“Watch people's behavior.”

He's saying that behavior eventually reveals the condition of the heart.

And that brings us right back to Paul's teaching in Galatians.

The New Testament picture in one sentence

If I were to boil all of these passages down, I'd put it this way:

Jesus says the tree is known by its fruit; Paul describes that fruit as the character produced by the Spirit; James says heavenly wisdom produces good fruit; Peter describes spiritual growth as becoming increasingly fruitful; John says genuine love must become visible in our actions; and Jesus warns that religious claims without corresponding fruit prove nothing.

And there's something particularly interesting about the fruit of the Spirit:

It's not primarily a list of things you do.

It's a list of things you become.

You can force yourself to perform a good deed. You can force yourself to say something religious. You can even put on a convincing religious appearance.

But love, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, mercy, peace and goodness consistently appearing in someone's life are much harder to manufacture.

That's why Jesus' agricultural illustration is so powerful.

You don't make an apple tree produce apples by hanging apples on its branches. You make the tree healthy, and the fruit follows.

And Jesus' answer for the tree is ultimately “abide in Me.”

Santa of The Doublewides

 

AKA (Christmas Fun)

It was the night before Christmas, and all around the hills.

The deer were still eating the bark off the tree's, right before two were spotlighted in the cool winter breeze.

The empty Redman pouches were hung by the chimney with care. With hopes that Saint Nick, would leave a fresh  box there.

Then about midnight, what did I hear?  It was my cousin Roy stumbling down the steps, after 16 beers. 

With me in just my cap and mom in her leppard skins, I sprang to my feet, I said that's it, I've had enough of that drunken deadbeat.

 

Just then, outside of my double wide, I heard slay bells so near, I thought Budweiser's clydesdales were delivering my neighbors usual Amazon beer.

But to my dismay, it was 8 tiny reindeer just pulling a slay.

I reached for my shotgun and took aim on one, then realized...I hadn't loaded my gun.

As I turned to find my 12 gauge shells, again the sound, of the tinkling of bells.

Then right there before me as big as day, stood that jolly old elf, my wife's uncle Ray, Ray's a midget. 

Seems that Ray had shot the real Santa Claus, purely by mistake, taking him for a burglar, cause Ray sits up late. 

Santa had appeared in Ray's camper without even a knock, 

forgetting Ray carries a pistol, and bang, Santa was shot.

 So Ray overwhelmed with grief and remorse, had decided to finish Santa's jolly course. Seems that Santa had deputized him just before he died, and made Ray the Santa of those who live in doublewides.

 He said that Christmas magic would return Santa next year, but until then, he was now Santa round here. About then, he let out a cackle so piercing it would curl your toes, as he hopped to his slay and there he arose.

He called to the reindeer one by one, on Buford, on Elmer, on Cletus and Mo, away Bubba, away Junior away Cyrus and Bo.

 But just before he disappeared completely out of sight, I heard him loudly declare...slow down you mangy reindeer or I'm gonna puke up here!

Sure enough, Christmas magic returned Santa that next year. 

But to this day, he still knocks when he comes around here.

As the Light Dims

 

🐏🐑🐑🐑🐑

Evening comes,

And sunlight begins to dim.

What was a bright and sunny day.

Now, just shades along the way. 

Light had shown the world,

It's brightness for one more turn around the globe.

Now evening dims the light.

As we unknowingly turn away.

As the light dims, darkness awaits. 

With just the moon and stars lighting our gates.

The world continues on just a little longer. 

But the darkest of night still awaits. 

Now, even the darkness begins to dim.

Just before the dawning of Him.

A Son rising in the East.

Will overcome the darkness one last time. 

But this time, the Son will continue to shine.

Darkness will no longer be upon the deep.

As the Shepherd is now united with His distant sheep.

No more will the Light ever dim, no more will any darkness be found on them.

For they may have walked through many darknesses from time to time. 

And the Light in them at times may have seemed hard to find. But unknowingly to even many of them.

Even the steps through the darkness were leading to Him.

And we sheep may be smelly and dirty to the world of the wise. 

Those too educated to believe so-called "sheep lies." 

They put their hope in snakes, with guesses and why's.

But in the end for them, it was really just dung and flies.

So as the light dims on the time of man, the Shepherd still extends His call.

But be careful your wait, lest in your wait you fall.

For there will be no last notice, of Last call.

The Story of Two Trees

Long ago, in a paradise,

Now lost!

Stood a tree of good and evil,

With but one rule,

 Do not eat of that tree, at any cost.

 

One man, one woman,

One garden to tend!

But not long thereafter,

Satan entered in.

 

Satan’s words,

Were cunning, deceiving and sly!

Convincing Eve,

To believe a lie!

 

Three in the garden,

 Two bad choices, one by one!

Paradise lost!

Now there were none.

 

Paradise lost,

Meant man was too.

Exiled from the garden,

With no way back, what was man to do?

 

Though man be lost,

GOD knew what He must do.

Plant another tree that would not fall.

 One that could cover,

All that will answer its call!

 

This tree would not be lavish,

 Or pleasing to the eye.

The purpose of this tree,

Was entirely to die!

 

Time went on,

Until one night in another garden.

GOD’s plan took root,

For man’s full pardon!

 

This second tree was now ready,

To be planted on a hill.

As Jesus himself prayed,

Not my, but Thy will!

 

They planted the tree on Golgotha’s hill,

For less than a day!

But it more than enough,

To open the way!

 

A door that Adam closed unknowingly,

Was opened once again!

As Jesus Himself,

Took on our sin!

 

Many will travel through it,

Passing today!

But just like Adam,

Others will prefer their own way.

But unlike Adam,

in paradise lost!

There'll be no third tree,

to cover the cost!  

^{John 3:16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

A Stop in Time

Time continues,

As our days wind down.

Tick toc, time's very words, tick toc,

Time's only sound.

But time itself is on the clock,

For it too has an end.

For time had a birth,

On the day of man's sin.

The Angel will declare,

That time is no more.

As he puts one foot on the water,

And one on the shore.

Yes, time has an end,

Just like you and I.

And like all of us who are born,

One day, we die.

Time is not to be counted on forever,

Time is only for today.

Time runs just like the rivers,

Passing where we stand,

But always moving away.

Unlike us,

 Time has no soul,

Its simply the gatekeeper,

For the young and the old.

Make well of your time,

For you both shall pass.

Treat each day you're given,

As it were your last.

Almost There!

 I sat down the other day,

And examined my scars of old.

Not the outside variety, 

But those of my soul.

The ones you never show,

Or at least try not to.

It was then I realized, 

I'm almost through!

Almost home,

Almost to a point.

That this life,

Is almost gone!

Oh yes, 

There's been scars to bear.

And they've come from every corner, 

Of life, seemingly everywhere. 

But I'm almost home,

 almost there!

Almost to the place,

They can’t touch me there!

No more memories of pain,

To torment my mind.

No more cracks in the armor,

From the battle lines!

No more wounds so deep,

To remind me of my falls.

No more missing the mark,

All the times I was called. 

No more disabilities,

To limit my scope.

And no more doubt, 

To rob my hope!

No more will those things,

Call my name.

Or have any say,

Cause any shame. 

Because I'm almost home

Almost there!

Just past that bend,

My place is there.

If I arrive before you,

I'll save you a chair.

Just remember, 

Jesus is the only way,

We get, there!

Supernatural Moments on Amazon

My new book is available on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited. 

Highlight to open link.

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My Adult Ads Fight With Twitter X

I recently had a birthday, over fifty now, cough, cough 😆,and I noticed the ads on my X Timeline had changed from normal everyday products to graphic ads for erectile dysfunction. And when I say graphic, I mean graphic.

I'm like, where did this come from? Is X changing it's formula for ads due to the bigger companies pulling advertising? And there is probably some truth in that assumption, but that wasn't it completely.

Then it dawned on me, I had, had a birthday, and in marketing's eyes I was now an old man, and I am, but not that old!

 So I had the bright idea to go into settings and change my birth year to get rid of the ads. Harmless enough, no one cares about it but me right?

Well, I was correct that did do it, it got rid of all the ED ads, but I changed my year to reflect me as a thirty five year old man, and like I said that got rid of the graphic ED ads. I chose thirty five thinking what could possibly be broken at thirty five, right?

But I didn't think about what that particular demographic represents. It's a rather large audience, nor did I think about who would like to advertise to the younger guys on X, before I did it. So my ads went from ED ads to OnlyFans, yes OnlyFans. If you have never heard of OnlyFans, it's basically porn filmed at home. 

So I'm scrolling down my timeline which is dominated by fellow Christian brothers and sisters, and their takes and thoughts on salvation, doctrine, eschatology, Christian art, and a smattering of sports and politics. When this ad pops up in my time line of this young lady in a very compromising position very scantily dressed. 

First thought was, well I have followed a bot, how careless of me, but it wasn't someone I was following, I saw the little ad sign in the corner, and I'm like...what?

Well I muted it thinking that would be the end of it, scrolled on down and here we go again, I won't even describe this one, let's just say, same industry.

Then, a young woman pops up, a rolling video mind you, of how she likes to do housework in her underwear and she's already dressed for her housework, also from OnlyFans. Then another and another, then it hit me. Thirty five years old, they think you're thirty five years old. And this is the prime demographic, men (18-49) for OnlyFans and their competitors. Truthfully it's probably more like (12-112), but they covet the male (18-49) demographic. All media covets this group, they're prime time buyer's in marketing's eyes. This is the group all network television ratings are centered on, and cater to.

Anyway, I had inadvertently put myself right in the middle of their customer base, and I didn't want to be there.

I knew there was a nuclear setting that existed on old Twitter, where you can go in and mute a list of words, that will block every tweet with those muted words you have selected, imbedded in any tweet, no exceptions! Even if people you follow use that word, doesn't matter, you are not going to be seeing it.

I used it once before on the Kardashians 😁, true story!

I mean how many Kardashian stories can the NYPost write about them? I just got sick of seeing them!

Anyway, 

so I go in looking for my nuclear option and it's still there under muted words. So here I go making a list of words I'm not to fond of in the first place🤬 much less comfortable using, and I don't mean the PG words like damn or hell, but you do what you have to do sometimes. So here I go listing all grades of today's vulgarities🫣, and you better get them all or things will sneak in, you're not expecting. Remember, a lot of these have multiple names for the same thing, I'm ashamed to say. 🙄

So I got the list completed, I go back start scrolling again, no more OnlyFans, whew... good! 

They then moved me over to Anime games, for those of you that don't know what that is, it's Japanese animation that has multiple sides to it, that ranges from adult to kids. But they have me in the middle of more teen oriented Anime, stuff you find in the Play Store on Google, so I'm content to put up with cartoon games, rather than OnlyFans. I was afraid if I made myself any older in my profile all I would be seeing was casket and tombstone ads🪦.  I would have been ecstatic for Icy Hot and Bengay🩻.

I told someone this story yesterday and they were like wow, that's shocking, even hard to believe. I said you want hard to believe, you be scrolling down your timeline of ninety percent Christian tweets, and bang, you're getting an adult ad from OnlyFans, that's hard to believe.🤯

I know this is kinda funny, but only kinda, you see as brothers and sisters, we don't need anymore temptations in our lives than we already have. And that is exactly what adult ads are, they are playing to our weakest part, our flesh. And as long as we're in this world we're going to be in this flesh. And this type thing isn't going to stop, but rather get worse. Just know you can get rid of them on X, what you try first is to mute them, and if they keep showing up, go into settings and create you a list of 🤬words, under muted words. They have to be added one at a time, but it just takes a few minutes. I hope this was a help to someone, as well as Kinda Funny.😉

The Saltiness of the Believer

Time has a way,

Of decomposing all things.

Be they mineral or organic,

Time is the culprit,
 For the rot that it brings.

Ship’s made to sustain,

An enemies torpedo shot!

Lay at the bottom of the ocean,

Engulfed in rot!

Planes that once flew,

Record heights.

Now sit rusting alone

Incapable of flight!

Much is lost,

To time and rot.

For when one is not preserved,

Time demands, that they be forgot!

The Bible tells Christians,

“You are the salt of the earth.”

But if we lose of our savor,

Then what are we worth?

Salt preserves,

Though the saltless rot!

Salt leaves a taste after it’s gone,

The saltless does not.

Are we that taste

Not soon to be forgotten?

Or have we lost our saltiness,

Like the tasteless and rotten?

We are called to add taste,

To any situation. 

Not to throw in with the crowd, 

Or chase our temptations. 

So if things seem a bit,

 Rotten or bland.

Just remember,

Add some taste,

 right where you stand!

#GODLovesSalt

 

 



Seeing As You Have Been Seen

 

I bet all of you know this verse. 

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Look around the room, does the view appear dim? 
No... 
Well it is, I know we have been conditioned to filter our view on things of the earth, by the only sight we currently have.

You see, (pardon the pun) in our current body's we see what it's seeing, but the day is coming when this old view will be remembered as utterly dim. How do I know this? 

Those are Paul's words. Read the verse again, slowly, "For now we see in a mirror dimly" , what does dimly imply?

A limited view, not seeing as plainly as possible, unable to view what is actually there. That last one is very interesting, unable to view what is actually there. 

Do you remember when you were baptized? Did you try to peek up through the water? 
I did, but I was baptized in a river, no chlorine, but my view was somewhat diminished as I peeked up, because the water was kind of murky, I could hear, but not plainly, it was like they were a lot further away, than they actually were.

That's where we are today, we're looking up but not seeing everything that's there, we can hear, but not as plainly as we like. Then as we were brought up out of the water, everything cleared up, the view, the sound, that big breath of clean air filled our lungs, the folks on the bank cheered, shouted, even applauded. 
That's waiting for us again, when we go up in the rapture, I truly believe, it will be all that again, but this time it will be to the hundredth power, at least. 
Clarity beyond compression, sight, sound, sensitivity, we might even have few senses we never even knew were there, because of the fall.
The halls of heaven will cheer, not because of anything we did, but because of all Jesus has done, and we are a part of what He has done. 
Yea our view is going to clear, our ears are going to open, our minds are going to sharpen to the point that they will put to shame the best computers ever made. 

We aren't there yet family, but we are closer than we've ever been. Yes we are more than we ever knew, but I would be hesitant to say, any of us ever reached our potentials. 

But that's water under the bridge, but we still have time to build on it, because one day soon we're going to see, as we have been seen, since the moment we said, Lord forgive me, come and be my Savior. From that moment that our spirit man was given life, we could hear and see differently from the rest of the world, because a new part of us came alive, our spirit.

Ever wonder why you don't see things like the world
 see' s them, you can't. 
You see through eyes of a body with a soul, that has a third part living, your spirit. The world see' s through eyes of only the body and soul, their spirit is still dead, that's why they only seek pleasures of the flesh and mind. 

All who come to Jesus are given new life. But they must come to get it. No wonder the world thinks we're strange, we are, we're strange because inside of us lives a third dimension of our being they don't have. We aren't elitists, we're enlightened, our spirit man has been turned on by The Holy Spirit. And one day soon, we're going to see what our spirit man looks like, feels like, and with abilities we have never dreamed of, when added to our glorified body.

Yes family, we're going to see like we've been seen on the other side for all these years. 

You my brother and sister are much more than you know, God has deposited much in all of us, and one day, we're going to see it. 

Till then we'll keep filtering, but filter with one eye on the sky! 

I love you all, Shalom

PS: If you have read this and are not a believer, if this sounds unbelievable to you, I highly recommend you read the page Why Jesus, Why Choose Christianity? It's in the pages section, you see we're not an elite club, just an enlightened one, all are free to join, as a matter of fact we all invite you.

Why the Rapture Argument is Actually Grace vs Wrath

 

Is the Rapture Pre-Tribulation or not?

The part of the world I grew up in never asked the question above, it was always pre-trib, I can honestly say that the times I spent fellowshipping with Baptist, Pentecostals, Methodist, and Independent brethren, down through the years, this question rarely if ever, came up.
If that were the case today, I wouldn’t be writing this. I am amazed at the number of good brothers and sisters that embrace the theory of the post trib rapture.
Now some may say what difference does it make anyway? 

It doesn’t make any difference if the church of Jesus Christ is appointed to wrath, if it’s not it makes a serious difference. So what’s the truth? 

To say that truth is relative to a point of view is error. Truth is never relative, it doesn’t have first cousins, aunts or uncles, it is what it is, and it stands solely by itself.
So if it truly stands by itself, why are so many confused by truth?

More times than not it is simply one word, context!
To take something out of context, does not remove the truth from it, it removes the application. Example, will an axe cut butter?

Yes,  but that’s the wrong application for the axe and the butter, but if you do that, several options become very visible. Yes it will cut the butter, but the potential to injure yourself as well as others is obvious, the truth is the axe will cut it, but it is used out of place. And that my friend is what we have here.

All tribbers agree on the rapture, it’s just (when), that creates contentions. 
So at the risk of pouring gasoline on a fire, let me share with you why I believe the rapture really is pre-trib.
We will examine this in context, by that I mean we will examine what God told Paul for the Gentiles under Grace, you know us!
Paul wrote 13 books directly to us Gentiles, there is only one prophecy given to the Gentiles and even it is corporate to both Jew and Gentile believers, what is it?

The Rapture!

So what did the Apostle of the Gentiles tell us?
Paul’s first mention of a “catching away” comes in his first Epistle’s writings, that being 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4, I am sure you know but it’s worth mentioning, that Paul’s Epistles are not in chronological order in the Bible.

13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

These verses defines a Rapture, but not the timing, all agree on this verse.

The next time Paul mentions this topic is 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2, this time we are given more detail for a timetable.

1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Same verses in The English Standard Version

1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

We see a couple of things here, which are not in the first verses, we see timings.
1. A falling away or rebellion in the Church.
2. The Spirit of God is restraining this lawless one from being revealed.
3. Not until the Holy Spirit steps out of the way, can the lawless one be revealed.
So, I have a question!
Will the Holy Spirit abandon us?
I don’t think I even need to answer that... but that is what some are suggesting.

Next verse
The Wrath
1ST Thessalonians 1:10
10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

It would appear to me that believers are delivered from the wrath to come, not appointed to it.

This may be why the Church is not mentioned once in Revelation; between chapters 4 and 18, the wrath chapters. Not to mention the time table for those chapters are roughly seven years. 
Romans 2:7-10 echoes, believers will not inherit wrath or tribulation, if that is the case how could we endure the time of tribulation.
7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

I could go a lot deeper in this, but I won’t, I am a simple writer and being that, the above verses convinced me long ago, you cannot incorporate Grace and Wrath into the same Body; it is one or the other. We are either the Body under Grace or the Body under Wrath.

Why any Christian who understands we are saved by Grace, would think we are appointed to wrath, is confusing to me, I just can’t find it, most of these misconceptions come from what Jesus share’s with his Jewish disciplines, and while some of these things are corporate to the whole earth, almost all are specific to Israel and the Jewish people. Like I said earlier, direct prophecies are written to the Jewish people, the only one we have a part of is the Rapture. Those left after the Rapture, will be incorporated into all the Wrath the book of Revelation has to offer. And don't let people who use the argument that the word Rapture doesn't appear in the Bible confuse you. You see the word Trinity doesn't appear either, but it's implications just like the ones for the Rapture are more than obvious. 

And this argument amongst the body over pre-trib, post-trib, was never as much about timing, as it was Grace vs Wrath. And we are not I repeat appointed to wrath.

Remember my fellow Gentile believers, you have one prophecy and one only written to you, and that is the Rapture. 

Until next time, I love you all!

Shalom

Is America The Daughter of Babylon, 10 Questions?

To all who read this, please be aware, this is not one of those arm twisting dogmatic, I’m right and everyone else is wrong type of apologetics theory!

This is simply a question that you and I must answer after examining the facts that we have, from, our current culture here in America, and what the Holy Scripture teaches us about the defining marks of the end time Babylon.

The reader must come to their own conclusion; my goal is to simply present the facts that exist in both. 

I ask you the reader, to ask questions about each of these characteristics of Babylon, such as could this be the Catholic Church as many have believed.

Could it be Italy, or modern day Babylon in Iraq, do these entities fit into these Scriptures, could it even be Turkey or modern day Israel?

Weigh these theories against what scripture says, not what you have always been told and taught, for many a good man and woman of God have shared many opinions on these subjects down through time, but none of them could have envisioned what America has become, nor the geopolitical landscape which has emerged in these last days.

Before we begin let me share two Scriptures with you,

Daniel 12:4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Proverbs 25:2. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

Shall we begin?

Question 1

Does Babylon have a literal mother Country, one from whence she came?

Jeremiah 50:12. Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

Some could make the argument that Jeremiah was referring to the original Babylon, since he was alive when that Babylon existed. Except, that Babylon had no mother country that ever existed, she was founded by Nimrod.

America on the other hand has a mother who still exists, her name is England.

Just something to think about!

Question 2

Is the Babylon of the End Times the wealthiest nation on Earth?

She is!

Rev. 18:19.And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Like I said earlier, ask yourself who this could be, Babylon in Iraq?

Rome Italy, or one of the others?

You see there is a problem with it being Rome, or ancient Babylon.

 They are both inland cities, they have no deep water ports.

Rome is about 60 miles inland, and Babylon is about 200 miles inland.

This is the Chief city of the nation of Babylon, a city which can be seen burning from the sea, one that was the commerce capital of the world.

 Rev. 18:18.And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

Question 3

Is the Babylon of the End Times a Nation of Immigrants?

Jeremiah 50: 37. A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

The interesting part of this verse is the description mingled peoples.

The NIV translates this as foreigners, no nation on the earth is as much a land of foreigners as we are, for we all have roots somewhere else in this world.

Again ask yourself who could fit this description?

Question 4

Was the Babylon of the End Times, once a golden cup of Blessings in The Lord’s Hand?

Jer.51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,

In scripture the golden cup is always a reference to blessing.

50 years ago 80% of all missions’ donations came from the USA, along with almost 60% of the missionaries on the ground of foreign nations.

Today we export 80% of the worlds pornography, that’s a fact, check it out.

We are also the world leader in abortion 60 million and counting, and if that’s not enough, we actually pay countries to implement free abortions in their countries. Our tax dollars at work!

We supply third world nations with all the day after pills they need or want.

We are the world leader in homosexual marriage, and we are leading and forcing other nations to follow suit.

"the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."

Question 5

Does the Babylon of the End Times have a large Jewish population?

America has a population of over 6 million Jew's, second only to Israel with 7 million plus. There are only 15 million Jew's worldwide.

Zech. 2:7. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Rev. 18:4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that receive not her plagues.

I have a question for you, who were John’s people?

The Book of Revelations was delivered to 7 Jewish congregations throughout Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), they were all Jews.

John never taught Gentiles, so the people he is calling out of Babylon, are his people, the Jews.

Question 6.

Is the Babylon of the End Times, the most powerful military nation on the earth?

Jer.50:23. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become a desolation among the nations.

Notice the wording here, ‘the whole earth” ancient Babylon at its peak militarily was the dominant power of the East, never the whole earth.

How many times have you heard America referred to as the ‘Policeman of the Whole World?”

Currently, America has over 800 military installations of some type around the world, we are the lone superpower left upon the earth. America alone accounts for 50% of all military spending worldwide.

Question 7

Where geographically does the Babylon of the end time reside?

Jer. 51:13. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

Firstly, ancient Babylon did not reside on many waters, like I mentioned last time Babylon was a city 200 miles inland from the nearest ocean. Unlike America which is sit between two oceans, plus the Gulf of Mexico to the south, not to mention the Great Lakes to the north.

Also notice the second part of the verse; “abundant in treasures” I think that one speaks for itself!

Question 8

Is the Babylon of the End Times home to the wealthiest and most powerful businessmen on earth?

Rev.18:23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Now read the same verse in the more modern NIV Translation

Rev. 18:23 23The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.Your merchants were the worldʼs important people.By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.

Currently worldwide, America has over 15 Million Millionaires, the most of any country, 15.6 million I believe, the next two nations on the list, together will only make up a third of that number. So Italy and Iraq would fail to qualify here, much less anyone else.

Question 9

Does the Babylon of the End Times have a space program or missile defense system?

I know this sounds unbelievable, but the verse you’re about read is pretty unique to scripture.

Jer. 51:53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the Lord.

That three words KJ translators used here in English “should mount up” is actually the Hebrew word alah, pronounced aw-law. It literally means, to go up to. Once there she fortifies the height of strength.

There is no nation on earth that has a space program that has ever achieved the things in space America has, there is no nation on earth with a missile defense system in space but America. But the Bible says even though it’s there it won’t matter. Whether you take this verse as the moon program, the missile defense system, or the world’s mightiest air force, none of this could have been accomplished by ancient Babylon, or anyone else.

The Prophets didn’t write poetry, they wrote what was to come.

Question 10

How old of a Nation is the End Time Babylon compared to other nations?

America is a nation born less than 250 years ago, in the eyes of the world we are the new kids on the block. We are way younger than Italy and Iraq, by thousands of years, not hundreds.

Jer.50:12. Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

The hindermost of the nations, is one of the last nations established, yet, in a short time this nation establishes the mightiest army, greatest economy, most luxurious form of living known throughout all of history. Not to mention she has been used as a nation of blessing (a golden cup) to other nations, and in the end has corrupted herself and her fellow nations.

Sound like anybody you know?

So ask yourself if this theory is correct what happens to America?

Rev. 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Rev. 18: 17.For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18.And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19.And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

It doesn’t take God one day or one hour to destroy anything, when it’s by His hand its instant.

So what could destroy this nation in one day, and its greatest city in one hour.

You’ll find your answer in Revelations 18:15

15.The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

If she were destroyed by conventional war crafts, there would be no fear of entering her after the bombing had stopped, but this is not the case. Man is afraid to even approach her, there is only one type of weapon available to men that would cause that kind of fear, and that is nuclear.

I will do my best to answer the most common argument posed against this theory.

The seven hills from upon she (Babylon) sits? Valid question, it is true Rome sits upon seven small hills, but so does another 70 other Capitals around the world,one in particular, you will find it in Washington DC, and it too sits upon seven hills.

I hope this article has made you curious, because curiosity always births research.