PAUL

It was Paul who opened the doors of the Church to the Gentiles. Before Paul began his ministry only Jews were in the Church. In his missionary work, when Paul would go to a city, he would go to the synagogue. In Corinth he spent 18 months ministering in the synagogue in Corinth while working with Aquila and Pricilla. Usually when Paul would preach Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy he did not last 18 months before he was run out of the synagogue. There would always be at least a handful of Jews who knew Paul was speaking the truth about Messiah Jesus. They would follow Paul out of the synagogue where they would establish a new synagogue or a Church which would welcome Gentiles who believed in the God of Israel. Most of the elders and deacons in the Churches Paul established were probably Jews. In the last days we should see a restoration of the Church with both Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male and female worshiping God together in Spirit and in Truth. Jews and Gentiles will be together in love, faith, truth, and power. Jews and Gentiles will be standing together in the great tribulation war of Antichrist against the saints. Paul preached Jesus to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. Paul's intention was that the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit would confirm us to the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8). In studying Paul's letters for end times prophecy we will focus on 1 Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians chapters 3 - 5, II Thessalonians chapters 2 - 3, I Timothy 4, and II Timothy 3.

I Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

I Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

I Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

I Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

I Corinthians 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

I Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

I Corinthians 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

I Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

I Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

I Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

I Corinthians 15:11 Therefore whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

I Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

I Corinthians 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

I Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.

I Corinthians 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

I Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

I Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.

I Corinthians 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

I Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

I Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

I Corinthians 15:21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.

I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

I Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

I Corinthians 15:24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

I Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.

I Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

I Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

I Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

I Corinthians 15:30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

I Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

I Corinthians 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

I Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

I Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.

I Corinthians 15:35 But some [man] will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

I Corinthians 15:36 [Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

I Corinthians 15:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other [grain]:

I Corinthians 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

I Corinthians 15:39 All flesh [is] not the same flesh: but [there is] one [kind of] flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, [and] another of birds.

I Corinthians 15:40 [There are] also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another.

I Corinthians 15:41 [There is] one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and

another glory of the stars: for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory.

I Corinthians 15:42 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

I Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

I Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

I Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.

I Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

I Corinthians 15:47 The first man [is] of vhe earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven.

I Corinthians 15:48 As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly.

I Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

I Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

I Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, andthis mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?

I Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.

I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

This long passage is all great tribulation preparation. It is important to know what you believe regarding the Resurrection. For if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. Nothing in first century history is more well documented than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The specific end time passages are :22 -24 and 50-52.

I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

i Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

I Corinthians 15:24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The rapture is somewhere in these verses. Where? Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is coming back and the dead will be raised incorruptible with bodies similar to the one Christ displayed in the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension. Does this mean that the rapture occurs when the dead are raised at the end of the tribulation when the Lord returns with great power and glory? It is difficult to dismiss this possibility in light of the further explanation Paul gives in verses 50 - 52.

I Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed. We can be certain that this is the rapture. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ shall be raised and we shall be changed. This is the rapture for sure and it occurs at the ____ _____? First trumpet? Sixth trumpet? LAST TRUMP! The Seventh Trumpet of Revelation is the last trumpet. The following is a list of all New Testament verses with the word trump, trumpet or trumpets: I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:16, Matthew 6:2, Matthew 24:31, I Corinthians 14:8, Hebrews12:19, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 8:2, Revelation 8:6, Revelation 8:13, Revelation 9:14, and Revelation 10:7.

The following apply to the last trump reference to I Corinthians 15:52:

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

I Thessalonians 4:16 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:

Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

Revelation 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Revelation 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

The last trump is the trumpet to sound when the Lord returns to put down the armies of Antichrist. The Lord's return in great power and glory, the resurrection of those who have died in Christ, and the rapture, is a single event. THE LORD'S RETURN, THE RESURRECTION, AND THE RAPTURE ALL HAPPEN IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE. Maybe that is not the way we would like it to be; but, that is the way we should prepare and plan for it to be. Praise God if it happens before the tribulation; but, if the scriptures tell us it happens at the end, let us plan to live supernaturally in Christ during the great tribulation. Let us rejoice if we are counted worthy to suffer for Him.

I Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our

fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

I Thessalonians 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

I Thessalonians 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

I Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Paul sent Timothy from Athens to check on the faith of the believers in the church in Thessalonica. He had established it on his second missionary journey. Timothy would rejoin Paul with a good report in Corinth. Paul was concerned to know if the believers would depart from the faith because of afflictions. True faith grows in affliction and tribulation. Feigned or pretended faith often is lost in tribulation. Pretended love will also disappear in tribulation. True faith and lovewill grow in tribulation. This has been proven during the history of the church. An apostate church will promote hypocrisy, deny the power of God, soft peddle the truth, and quench the Spirit of Holiness. Such a church will disappear and fall apart in tribulation. Paul was much more bold than the typical evangelist. He made it perfectly clear that believers are called to affliction. Paul told the truth with no concern for whether it was what his audience wanted to hear. His popularity was of no concern to Paul. He knew that people who would reject the hard truth of the call to affliction, would not be able to endure to the end of tribulation. He told the Thessalonians, truly, and face to face, before it came to pass, that "we should suffer tribulation." Not many preachers in America can deliver this kind of strong meat.

I Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:

I Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul's prayer was that we increase and abound in love toward one another. Love may be soft or tough but it must be solidly founded in truth. He prayed that our hearts would be established unblamable in holiness. That means truth. No difference found between what you think inside and how you act before your brothers. That we would hide nothing from God or our brothers for which we would be ashamed when the Lord returns with all his saints.

I Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

I Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

I Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Holiness is great tribulation preparation. Holiness is acting outwardly as you think inwardly. Holiness is being real. Feigned affection is common in the church today. When the church is in tribulation those with feigned affection will get real or get out. King Jesus commands us to love one another.

I Thessalonians 4:13 But 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.

I Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

I Thessalonians 4:15 For 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.

I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

I Thessalonians 4:17 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.

I Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Regarding death or dying, we do not have to be sorrowful as those who do not have faith in Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we have no hope. With Jesus we have hope no matter what happens. Even if we are to be killed we have hope. We don't die. Our bodies will die but we go to be with Jesus. We will get new glorified bodies when He returns. Every saint will be in the great victory parade of King Jesus. When He returns we don't have to worry about whether the believers who have died will be in the parade. King Jesus will have all His saints witness Him singlehandedly destroy the armies of Antichrist who had been waging war on the living saints. He will do it with a shout. We who are alive at the return of King Jesus will join in the glorious victory parade. We join the parade immediately after those who have died in Christ receive their glorified bodies at the resurrection. They will already be there. King Jesus returns from heaven with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. That trump of God is the last trumpet as we have seen in Matthew 24:30-31 and I Corinthians 15:50-52. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then those who are still enduring Antichrist's war on the saints shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. We who are alive will witness, with all the saints and angels, as He singlehandedly has victory over the armies of Antichrist. This is great comfort for great tribulation. This is our blessed hope.

I Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

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

I Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

We are not to know the day or the hour. We are to take heed and watch and be doing what King Jesus commands. We are to love one another no matter how great the tribulation which we are to endure. One of the signs will be that the world will be saying "Peace and safety." This is the political platform upon which Antichrist will come to power. The world has never been in greater peril with the proliferation of nuclear weapons now getting into the hands of many small countries with unstable governments. There is even some possibilities of terrorists getting weapons of mass destruction. The "break up" of the Soviet Union bringing peace is a myth which borders on insanity. It illustrates the extremes to which wishful thinking can take us, if we choose to ignore or twist the truth to our liking.

I Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

I Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

I Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.

I Thessalonians 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

I Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

I Thessalonians 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

If we are taking heed to the signs and end time prophecies we will not be surprised when the day of the Lord occurs. What about those who think they are going to be raptured before any of these things happen? Could they be lulled into sleeping while the many webs of the New Age, New World Order, of Antichrist are being put in place? If it is said that post tribulation rapture doctrine gives rise to fanaticism, it should also be considered that the pre tribulation rapture doctrine may give rise to complacency or sleep. We must be about putting on the breastplate of faith and love. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Faith to move mountains will be quite handy in the war with Antichrist. However it will not be worth a rip without love. The helmet of salvation is the key. When one focuses on the love of God expressed by Jesus at Calvary, it will bring fourth love. Love rejoices in the truth. Love will not dismiss hard truth out of hand. Love and truth must go together or feigned affection results.

What about the truth that God has not appointed us to wrath? The rest of the verse is that we obtain salvation. Just as God protected the Jews in the Exodus plagues on Egypt, we may be confident of His presence and protection by the Holy Spirit during great tribulation. We are sealed by God from the wrath of the plagues God sends during tribulation. The war of Antichrist is not the wrath of God. The lake of fire is the ultimate expression of the wrath of God. We are free of such wrath through our faith in Jesus. King Jesus commands that we love one another. The wrath of Antichrist in his war on the saints is something totally different from the wrath of God. If Antichrist wins some battles it is not the wrath of God. We have certain ultimate victory in our blessed hope when King Jesus returns. In the mean time, we are to love one another and bring the good news of our blessed hope to those who will otherwise join the war on the side of Antichrist.

I Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

I Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.

I Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

Here is Paul's checklist for great tribulation. Here is how to be more than a conqueror. This is worth memorizing.

1. Rejoice evermore.

2. Pray without ceasing.

3. In everything give thanks.

4. Quench not the Spirit.

5. Despise not prophesying.

6. Prove all things.

7. Hold fast that which is good.

8. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

9. Wholly set your life to the Glory of God.

10. He who has called us is faithful to help us do whatever we must.

Thinking on these 10 principles will help you rejoice evermore. Constant communion with the Lord in thanksgiving and praise is the way to joy regardless of circumstances. The Spirit of Holiness and Truth is quenched when we want to hide our sins instead of confessing them. Do we despise the preacher who preaches hell fire and brimstone or confronts us with the desperately wicked conditions of the human heart? The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The only way of proving things should be by testing them with the absolute truth of the word of God. We must spend time reading and studying the word of God with the Holy Spirit as our teacher. It is not the pastor's job to feed us unless we are still a baby Christian. Do we despise strong meat referred to in Hebrews 5:8-14? We are called to holiness and to rejoice if we are counted worthy to suffer for Him.

II Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,

II Thessalonians 2:2 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.

II Thessalonians 2:3 Let 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;

II Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is calledGod, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

II Thessalonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul gives us some very detailed end time prophecy along with the same type of encouragement and warning that Our Lord gave us in the Olivet Discourse. Don't be troubled by the nearness of the Day of Christ. Rejoice and look up for our blessed hope of the return of King Jesus. Let no man deceive you by any means. Get your information straight from the word of God by the Holy Spirit. Trust no man in regard to the end time events. Is the "falling away" the rapture? The word Paul used for "falling away" is apostasia. Apostasia means defection from the truth. It is the root from which we get the word apostasy. Many, perhaps even the majority of the people, in churches today will defect from true faith in Jesus Christ to follow Antichrist. There is more apostasy in the

Church today than there ever has been. Have we already witnessed the "falling away?" During great tribulation the love of many will grow cold. Many will depart from the faith and forsake the command of King Jesus to love one another. The identity of Antichrist will be made certain. What makes us certain of the identity of Antichrist? The abomination of desolation, where this powerful world ruler stands in the temple in Jerusalem claiming to be God and demanding worship as God will give certain identity of Antichrist. One should recognize the illogical nature of Paul giving such information to the Church, if the Church were to be raptured prior to the events. Remember the things about which he is telling the Church to be on watch. The positive identity of Antichrist occurs well into the final 7 years of tribulation. The identity of Antichrist will be made certain and many in the Church will defect from faith in Jesus Christ to follow Antichrist.

II Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

II Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.

Let or letteth means: to restrain, to limit, to resist, to withstand, to retain, or to withhold. Who is "he who now letteth?" Could it be the Church? It is not likely that the Church, the "Bride of Christ," would be a he. Who is it that is holding down and limiting the killing and destruction that Satan wants to do on earth? Do you believe in angels? The good angels are faithful and totally obedient to God. They are protecting us and ministering to us by restraining what the demon evil angels who follow Satan might otherwise do to us. Do these good ministering angels have a leader? This great angel who is leading the resistance to the evil work of demons on earth is most likely the "he who now letteth."

It could possibly be individual soverign nation governments. If we have a global or one world government in the New World Order, there would be no soverign nation opposition to the world dictator. It was soverign nations such as the United States and England who restrained and opposed Hitler's attempt at world dictatorship. The Antichrist of the New World Order will have no such opposition.

It most certainly could not be the Holy Spirit. It would not be possible for anyone to be able to say "Jesus is Lord" without the Holy Spirit. We should know the great tribulation will be the greatest time for glory and evangelism in the history of the Church. There was once war in heaven when the two thirds of the faithful angels had victory over Satan and his evil angel followers. There is coming another war in heaven in which "he who now letteth" will be called to heaven. When this war in heaven concludes, Satan and his evil angels will be permanently ejected and cast down to earth. God may not send the "he who now letteth" and his angels back to earth.

II Thessalonians 2:8 And 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:

II Thessalonians 2:9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

II Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

When the second war in heaven is concluded, Satan and his demon evil angels will be cast out of heaven down to earth. Without the restraining work of the good angels, under the direction of "he who now letteth," it will most certainly be great tribulation on earth. The positive identity of Antichrist will be revealed with certainty. Our Blessed Hope, the return of King Jesus, will be in less than 7 years. Antichrist will have established the New World Order, of the New Age Movement with all the power, signs, and lying wonders of Satan.

Many church members, who have not received the love of the truth, will defect from the truth of Jesus Christ and follow Antichrist in his war on the saints. Not to worry, we will have the greatest outpouring of Holy Spirit power ever in the history of the Church. All we need is faith and to keep the command of King Jesus to love one another. It will be the most glorious time ever for the Church and you should not want to miss it.

II Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

II Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Why would anyone want to follow Antichrist? God shall send them strong delusion so that they should believe a lie. What could this strong delusion be, that they may believe a lie? What is the lie? The lie essentially has never changed. It may have a different sugar coating but the lie is still the same: "ye shall be as god." Are you aware that this is the common thread of the New Age Movement and is the gospel preached by the occult and all encounters with extra terrestrials? The lie is the gospel of Antichrist. The core of the lie does not change; but, we must know how to recognize the lie regardless of the deception in which it is cloaked. The reason is always the same why anyone believes the lie. They have pleasure in their unrighteousness of pride, vanity, and licentiousness. They refuse to admit their need for a savior. They want to do it their own way and will not submit to the way of God, which is holiness.

II Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

II Thessalonians 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

II Thessalonians 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

II Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

II Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

II Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

We are commanded, in the name of the Lord, to disassociate from anyone who calls himself a Christian who will not commit himself to the way of holiness and rejects the discipline of the church. We all sin. We all need to be beam hunters rather than mote hunters. We need to get the beam out of our own eye before we try to help our brother get the mote out of his eye. The church is required to have the discipline of holiness. We are to work. We are to be productive and busy so that we will have something to share with our brother who is in need. We are not to see the nearness of the return of King Jesus as an excuse to just sit and stop working. We are to keep working so that we will have something to share with our brothers in need. "Idleness is the devil's workshop." Paul says that "if any would not work, neither should he eat." If we are busy enough we will not have time to be a busybody, who finds faults with his brother.

II Thessalonians 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

II Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

II Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

II Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.

While we are to be busy and productively working, we must be careful not to forget the command of King Jesus to love one another. "Be not weary in well doing." Never tire of ministering to the needs of others. Have no company with any member of the church who will not turn away from his sin. Don't count him an enemy but encourage him to make the necessary changes in his life so that fellowship may be restored. Don't compromise the standards of holiness; but, don't shoot the wounded of the church. There is a balance and sometimes tough love is required so that the standard of holiness is not compromised. We will need the full power and presence of the Holy Spirit to triumph and be more than conquerors in great tribulation. The requisite for the fullness of the HolySpirit's presence and power is holiness. We must love one another; but, our very survival, and victory, and joy in great tribulation requires that we not compromise the standard of holiness.

I Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:

I Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

I Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

I Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;

Is this book vain jangling or a wake up call to the church? The end of the law is love from a pure heart, and faith that is real, and not just for show. The law is good if it is properly understood. We are called to holiness because God wants to bless us. God must separate Himself from sin because He is a holy God. We must have the Holy Spirit to survive and be overcomers in great tribulation.

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

I Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

I Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

I Timothy 4:4 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

I Timothy 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

I Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Paul here gives us a perfect description of the New Age Movement. There are many who have already left true faith in Jesus Christ and plugged into the New Age Movement. Many churches are even bringing the New Age Movement into the church. What is the

New Age Movement other than the total acceptance of the lie that "ye shall be as god." You get in touch with your "Ascended Master," or your "Spirit Guide," or your "Master of Wisdom," or even your "Visualization of Jesus," whatever you want to call the seducing spirit to whom you give heed. When you contact and pay attention to the guidance of a demon your conscience will be seared with a hot iron. You will no longer even have a conscience. Abstaining from meats, animal rights, and environmental extremism is part of the demon foolishness of the New Age Movement. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes as they are directed by the seducing spirit to whom they give heed.

II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

II Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Have you ever heard your preacher tell you that we are called to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ? There will be hardness involved when the spiritual warfare becomes total warfare during the great tribulation. Be of good cheer, we will be more than conquerors, in the mighty power of His Holy Spirit. Be careful not to entangle yourself in the affairs of this life. Set your affection on things above where King Jesus is preparing to come and give all of His soldiers ultimate final victory.

II Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

II Timothy 2:11 [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]:

II Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:

Setting our affection on things above means that we are called to endure tribulation and suffering. It may not be what we want to hear but it is something for which we must be prepared. We need to consider our self centered sin nature to be dead, and to have been raised in the new nature of selfless life in Christ. If we _______, we shall also reign with Him. None of us likes to hear the word. The missing word is not rapture, it is suffer. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

II Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

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

Does this description fit the condition of the world today? When it fits, we may very well be in the last days. Do many churches have a form of godliness without preaching holiness or the power of the Holy Spirit?

II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

II Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We need to know that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us not that we might suffer; but, all shall suffer persecution who will live godly in Christ. It is the holiness that the world hates and we shall be persecuted for it. This same holiness is the means of survival and victory in great tribulation. Without holiness the power of the Holy Spirit is quenched. We need the fullness of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit for victory and great joy in great tribulation. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but, righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:7)

II Timothy 4:1 I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

II Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

II Timothy 4:3 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;

II Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

II Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

What would happen to the preacher who continually reproved and rebuked his congregation with sound doctrine? Would he not likely be run out of the church. It seems that the time has come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Why is it, that the full gospel, of the call to holiness with the suffering of persecution that follows true holiness, is seldom heard? Everyone wants to be told what they want to hear. The pre tribulation rapture fable, which first surfaced in the mid nineteenth century, is taught as doctrine everywhere. Many who have been in American churches for 50 years have never heard it preached any other way. Many have never bothered to search the scriptures for themselves on these things. Having heard so many good preachers explain these difficult things, who needs to search the scriptures on the subject. If it is heard over and over, and its what one wants to hear, it is settled. No one wants to be instructed to endure to the end. Everyone wants to escape before the great tribulation starts. Truly we have a heap of teachers tickling the ears with the pre tribulation rapture fable. Check out what the scriptures say. We are not likely to hear this truth preached in our church.