One thing which I can tell you with full assurance, is that
God has a very precise timetable for the world which He is
following. He is very methodical in all of His doings. He is
also very patient; and nothing that we say, or do, is going
to alter His plans, or hasten the fulfillment of Biblical
Endtime prophecies; not even our erroneous interpretations
of His Word. I am reminded of the following verses found in
the Book of Isaiah:

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there
is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
Isaiah 46:9-10, KJV

Contrary to the previous verse, it seems that there are some
wayward individuals, (who even claim to be Christians), who
have deceived themselves into believing that they can hurry
God along. Now and then I will read news reports regarding
certain extremists who, according to the reports, have plans
to destroy the Muslim "Dome of the Rock", which we discussed
earlier. Some Jews, and Christians, believe that the Temple
Mount was the site of the former temple, which was destroyed
two times in the past; first by King Nebuchadnezzar's forces
at the beginning of the Seventy Years of Captivity, around
587 B.C., and a second time, as prophesied by Jesus Himself,
in 70 A.D., by Roman general, Titus, who was the oldest son
of Emperor Vespasian. Titus later became emperor himself.

From what I understand, these radicals seem to believe that
if they destroy the Muslim mosque, they will precipitate an
inevitable war between the Israelis and the Arab and Muslim
nations, which will ultimately result in the foretold Battle
of Armageddon, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I find
the idea of trying to force God to move faster than He wants
to absolutely ludicrous. Who do these people think they are?
How dare they place themselves above God, or think that they
know better than He does!

This series continues in part two. I trust that you will
join me.


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Sorry . . . Jesus Is Not Coming At Any Moment! : Part 2

Copyright 1994 - 2009 Endtime Prophecy Net

Published On : January 23, 2008

Last Updated : January 23, 2008

Danger Of Perverting Meaning Of The Scriptures, Exposing The
"At Any Moment" Folks, Danger Power And Strong Influence Of
Cultish Belief Systems, Signs Of Cult-Like Organizations And
Churches, Danger Of Leading God's Children Astray, Stumbling
Blocks, The Troublesome 52 Years, 2019 Their New Prediction,
I Don't Know When Jesus Will Return, Persevere In Patience,
To Live Is Christ - To Die Is Gain, Fruit Of False Prophets,
Modern Fast Living vs Ancient Simple Living, Backgrounds Of
Apostles, Gospel Parables, Truth Reserved For Sincere Folks,
Build The Temple In Three Days?, Christ's Resurrection And
Jewish Elders' Grave Robbery Deception, Parable Of Fig Tree,
Certainty Of God's Word - Sure Word Of Prophecy, Why Matthew
Chapter 24 Came About, Related Series, Foul Weather Parable,
Caiaphas' Words And Plot To Kill Jesus, Free Through Christ,
Blindness Of The Jews, Rejected By His Own Jewish Brethren,



But let me ask you something: When these American Christian
leaders and preachers pervert the meaning of the Scriptures
in order to convince their flocks that the Day of Christ is
at hand, aren't they doing the same thing as these radicals?
Maybe they are not blowing up anything, but the results of
their misguided words can be just as disastrous. Not only
are they trying to force God's Hand, and dictate His plan,
but their failed prophecies can have very negative effects
in the lives of their followers. I can only wonder how many
young, impressionable Christians may have lost their faith
in God, and in the Bible as His inspired Word, when Jesus
didn't make an appearance in 2,000. Their hopes must have
been extremely high, but were probably dashed to the ground
when nothing happened. Did God fail them? No; those leaders
did by propagating a false doctrine and a deception.

To reiterate a point I made earlier, it is a serious matter
to purposely distort the meaning of God's Word, in order to
try to support one of our own pet doctrines. Even if it is
done in ignorance, it can still have negative consequences.
The New Testament informs us that the First Century Apostles
encountered this same problem when certain individuals tried
to understand the Apostle Paul's more profound writings. In
his second Epistle, the Apostle Peter writes the following.
I have added a word in brackets to clarify Peter's words:

"As also in all his [Paul's] epistles, speaking in them of
these things; in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
2 Peter 3:16, KJV

In the original Greek, that word "wrest" means to twist, or
to turn awry. Metaphorically, it means to pervert or torture
language in a false sense. In short, "wrest" means to assign
a meaning which is not true to the intent of the author.

It may surprise you to learn that the Apostle Paul also had
a problem with the "At any moment" folks, who likewise held
the belief that Jesus was going to return at any moment. As
I explain in other articles which deal with Endtime events,
in his second Epistle to the brethren at Thessalonika, Paul
wrote the following. Again, I have added a few words for the
sake of clarification:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, [the
Rapture] that 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. Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day [Christ's Return] shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, [the Apostasy] and
that man of sin [the Antichrist] be revealed, the son of
perdition;"
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, KJV

As I have done in this series, the Apostle Paul then goes on
to explain exactly why those people were wrong to assume that
Jesus would return at any moment. Please refer to some of my
other articles, such as "Who Is Hindering The Antichrist?",
for further details regarding this issue.

Well, some two thousand years have passed, and it seems that
the "At any moment" people are still with us today. I know
exactly how some of these Christians must have felt in 2,000
when Jesus failed to appear, as their leaders had told them
that He most assuredly would; because many years ago, when I
was a young, idealistic, teenage Christian who was eager to
serve the Lord, I also became mesmerized by one group which
emphasized the importance of Bible prophecy. They likewise
had specific beliefs regarding Endtime events and the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. Sadly, they too were very wrong.

Thankfully, some years later, I realized how misguided their
leadership had been in a number of areas, and how deceived I
had become; and by God's Grace I was eventually able to pull
myself out from under their influence. But it was not easy.
Once one has been involved with a church or organization for
any appreciable length of time, it can take literally years
before one is able to completely rid himself of their ideas,
and other influences. Cult-like organizations and churches
use very powerful, persuasive, subtle techniques; and unless
one is careful, he can become completely engulfed in their
belief system before he realizes it.

A word to the wise . . .

Any time that a church or an organization elevates a man or
a woman, or its group leadership, above God, beware! You are
probably dealing with a cult. In addition, any time that a
church or an organization gives precedence and preference to
their own teachings, and esteems those doctrines above what
is actually contained in the Bible, beware! You are probably
dealing with a cult. Even if the church or organization does
hold the Bible in high regard, if their doctrines in any way
conflict with what is taught in the Bible, beware! You may be
dealing with a cult! Whatever you do, please don't fall under
the popular misconception that cults are only comprised of
secretive leaders and members who hide away in communes or in
basements. There are in fact some high-profile churches, and
popular preachers and evangelists, who do seem to qualify as
cults, and cult leaders, even if they have been shrouded in
an aura or respectability.

If you still haven't understood what I just said, please take
the time to read the last paragraph again, until you are sure
that you do understand it.


Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23
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