Immediate Evacuation

Gridlock of traffic trying to evacuate FL prior to Hurricane Irma

We are keenly aware of the recent tragedies around the world: earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, and storms in various places.  Some of these have been deadly and taken people by surprise, and others have been told to evacuate immediately.  Did everyone heed the call to move to safety?  Were all saved?  Unfortunately, NO.  Some people were simply caught unawares, while others were not prepared.  And those who were left behind, suffered the storms’ fury.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experience an immediate removal from danger and be transported to a safe environment with our loved ones?  Many fantasy movies and books have a way of making traveling from one reality to another fairly easy. Oh, Dorothy may have asked “where is this strange place?” when she ended up in Oz. And Star Trek characters who are caught up in time travel may get a little weak in the knees when they morph from the 21^st century to the 25^th century, but overall, they end up adjusting pretty quickly. However, there is a coming shift in reality, that was not conceived in the minds of Hollywood. And, it’s going to go down like this:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AMP)

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord!

Imagine being a believer in Jesus who will one day end up on the receiving end of this incredible phenomenon. For those who are alive and remain, (that means living on earth when this occurs) this fantastic event will happen to them! We will leave this earth realm in our redeemed bodies to be with our Lord, Jesus Christ. We’ll meet Him in the clouds (without an airplane or hot-air balloon) and be with Him forever from that day forward.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (AMPC)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

Even though this coming event is scripturally true, which means it is a fact that it will occur, we humans can barely wrap our minds around it. How can we be living here in this world and instantaneously be transformed into a completely different reality? The very thought causes a mental dilemma in the minds of many believers. This dilemma may be so strong that it causes our minds to battle thoughts of possibility and probability. We may even find ourselves in a state psychologists call, cognitive dissonance, which is a psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously. That means, our minds waver from one possible understanding to a vastly different one!

We believe that as the rapture of true Christians draws nearer (those who have called upon the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ: Romans 10:9-13), the danger of cognitive dissonance will manifest greatly in the body of Christ.  This is where faith comes into play. There are numerous signs around us which indicate that the rapture of the church is imminent. In fact, there are so many, that we couldn’t possibly cover them in one blog post. Yet, a vast number of believers continue to deny the possibility that Jesus could call us up to be with Him in the rapture.

(L: rapturo; Gr: harpazo = to catch, steal, carry off; take by force; caught up)

Even though, “Jesus could return at any moment” has become a cliché in Christian circles, few truly believe it to be a fact. The sad truth is that most people are attached to this world in such a way that they would rather Jesus wait a while so they can continue with life: marrying & giving in marriage, eating & drinking, and watching football. “No one knows the day or hour” has become the battle cry of both worldly Christians and those who find the whole notion of a rapture so absurd, that they can’t even process it in their minds.

There are many who are denying the possibility of the rapture of the Church and some even ask “where is the promise of His coming?” The word of God is clear that this event will happen.  There will be an immediate departure of the true believers in Christ Jesus from this earth someday soon.  The Father in heaven desires that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:4)

We need to encourage one another to “stand fast, continuing in the faith”, and to “not grow weary in well doing”.

2 Peter 3:3-9 (NKJV)

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,  and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The following YouTube, “We will know the season of the rapture! Bible tells us so!” by Barry Scarbrough, is one of many that shows the context of scripture clearly. We encourage viewing it and trust it will be a blessing.  We Will Know The Season

Titus 2:13 (ESV)

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

~ Sarah and Joanne

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~ Sarah and Joanne. 

What in the World? … the Heavens Declare the Glory of God

Many have heard before that God (Elohim) has written His story in the stars. But, do we know what that actually means? The reason we ask, is because there is a great divide within the church right now. We would like to clarify this subject as best as we can, based on scriptures and revelation from our Lord, Jesus Christ. We can see that in camp #1, there are some Christians (we believe they are the minority) who understand that the constellations tell the story of Jesus Christ: from His birth to His glorious return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In camp #2, there are Christians who believe that anything to do with the interpretation of the constellations is nothing more that pagan astrology.  And, in camp #3, there are Christians who have never even heard of signs in the heavens. Wow! What an expanse of disparaging beliefs! Never the less, confusion abounds and it is with sincere love toward our brethren and in humble submission to the Holy Spirit, that we will attempt to bring light upon this topic. Therefore, our request is that we all look at the scriptures again, with open minds, and with the desire to know Jesus more than the desire to be aligned with certain church denominations or doctrine. 

The scriptures clearly tell us that the heavens (the planets / stars) tell a story:

Psalm 19:1-6 (AMP)

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.

Day after day pours forth speech,

And night after night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];

Their voice is not heard.

Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,

Their words to the end of the world.

In them and in the heavens, He has made a tent for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,

And its circuit to the other end of them;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The constellations are set in order, so that the story of Jesus Christ is portrayed:

Virgo: the seed of the woman, a child born; Libra: the price paid (the balance); Scorpio: the violent conflict; Sagittarius: the conqueror returns; Capricorn: the slain goat for atonement; Aquarius: the blessing poured out for redemption; Pisces: the blessed and bound redeemed; Aries: the lamb slain but victorious; Taurus: the Messiah coming to rule; Gemini: the Messiah reigns as Prince (dual nature of King Jesus); Cancer: the sheep fold/ possessions held fast; Leo: the triumphant King implements the final destruction of the adversary (satan).

(Notes taken from “It is Written in the Heavens, How to Read and Interpret the Word of God Written in the Stars,” by Dale M. Sides, www.lmci.org

[more references: Bullinger, E. W. Witness of the Stars, 1893, 1975; Seiss, Joseph. Gospel of the Stars, 1882, 1972.; Sides, Dale M. Christological Astronomy, 2011, Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Inc.]

Why in the world are we mentioning this?  The recent total solar eclipse crossing from the NW to the SE of the United States was both highly publicized and watched. There is another sign in the heavens that will be visible on September 23, 2017.  Many are exclaiming that this sign is the same one written about in:

Revelation 12:1-5 (NKJV)

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

There are many teachings about what is now being called the Rev 12 Sign on YouTube. Some are very good in explaining this phenomenon and others have left us scratching our heads. Needless to say, we have sifted through many of these teachings. We offer a teaching here, that although it is not the most in-depth in our opinion, it is quite easy to understand. It can be viewed at: Rev 12 Sign 

We are not necessarily looking for a sign, but when we travel, road and map signs are very important in order to get to our desired destination without delays or mishaps.  (There are many stories of folks ‘blindly’ following the directions of their GPS only to be faced with a dead end or worse!)  Isn’t it a good feeling to see that “last sign” before arriving at a vacation spot? What about the ‘signs of the times’?  Can we know the times and what to do about them? What is so important about the heavens telling the story of Jesus?  Will Jesus be coming for the Church (His Bride) soon? Will Jesus come to the earth again, stand on the Mount of Olives, and set up His 1,000-year Kingdom?  The Word of God reveals Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation.  We believe these things are true.

Also, according to Daniel 9, the 70^th week called Jacob’s Trouble, still hasn’t come to pass for Israel.  There are many wars, and rumors of wars concerning Israel (the Promised Land).  Since we as believers are ‘grafted into the vine’ which is Israel, (see Romans 9-11) then we should be ‘looking’ at the events surrounding Jerusalem.  After all, that will be the future site of Jesus Christ’s throne.  Of course, He is currently seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven. (Hebrews 12:2)

Let’s get back to the Revelation 12 sign in the heavens this September 23^rd. The date is quickly approaching and we honestly do not know what may or may not happen on this day. But, we do believe that the sign will at the very least serve as a marker in our collective history. This earth will not go on in its present form forever. That is a truth that we can take to the bank. Someday, Jesus will return.

The truth about this mystery of the “catching away” of the Church (Greek: harpazo; Latin: rapturo) is found in scripture. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)

For 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:

Then 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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (TLB)

But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies, too.

What a promise! The final redemption of our bodies will happen in an instant!  We have the blessed hope of Christ’s return for His Bride and can watch with joyous anticipation.  (Titus 2:13)

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (AMPC)

For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [at Christ’s appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

~ Joanne and Sarah