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Todd Strandberg and Terry James are the co-editors of the website RaptureReady.com. RR is the longest running end times website on the internet. For twenty years, RR Founder Todd has been bringing to online seekers information from the bible about end times, or eschatology. There is a wealth of stored information about the rapture, the Tribualtion, Jesus, the plan of Salvation and much more. Their goal was to have this archive ready and protected for people who clamor to know from a biblical perspective what is going on in the moments, days, and years after the rapture.
In that sense, Mr Strandberg, along with Hal Lindsey and others, have made eschatology their niche in bible study have a unique perspective because they have the long view.
I read their weekly editorial this morning and I agree with the following statement completely. In writing about the global economy and the looming economic bubble about to burst, Mr Strandberg states:
1)We are amazed that the bubble hasn’t burst; 2)We believe that the longer the crises build, the greater will be the explosion; 3) We maintain that only the staying hand of God has thus far prevented it from bursting; and 4) We are of the opinion that it will likely be the Rapture of the church that will pop that bubble."
I agree. I look at the economy and with what rudimentary knowledge I have, even I can see that the current situation long passed sustainable, viable, or even feasible in life OR on paper, even. When you have more debt than money, you can't function. Even I know that much. Yet for three years, especially the last few months, we have functioned. It is only God who can perform the impossible, and today's economy is impossible.
With that, I've long felt also that it would be the rapture itself that would pop the bubble. I wrote in September 2010,
"Then the rapture will come. Suddenly, things will tip even more to the panic side of global turmoil. A terrorized populace will ask, scream, demand to know 'Where did they go? Why? Who took them?' The weakened economy perhaps will not be able to stand the vacuum created by millions of vibrant and contributing Christians. The problems will get worse."
Imagine the sudden removal of a workforce of millions. Imagine the vacuum created by the economic loss of participating contributors to payroll, consumer spending, etc. It would be like the air let out of a balloon and crash the economy will go.
My opinion and the Rapture Ready guys' opinion, Hal Lindsey mentioned this too, a while back, don't amount to a hill of beans in the face of biblical truth. However we can connect some dots, make an interpretation based on long years of study (those guys, I'm just a whippersnapper) and we can truthfully say that based on what the Lord shows us in His Word compared to the world situation right now, the rapture seems closer than ever.
For the born again believer, this comes as good news. For the unaware believer, this comes as a kooky opinion. In 2 Peter 3:3, Peter wrote, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires."
Understand that the mocking and scoffing does not come from just unbelievers, but also from Christians who deny this doctrine and scoff at fundamentalists who proclaim it. Just today I deleted two comments that vehemently denied the rapture in capital letters and a plethora of exclamation marks, but didn't use a single bible verse to support their opinion. For many, Christians included, the rapture is going to be a huge surprise. I pray that for many of them, it is a happy surprise, and not one for whom will be left pleading with the Lord, saying-
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'" And they will hear the devastating reply from the One True God,
"Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Mt 7:22b)
Not that denying the rapture is a method of detecting salvation, it isn't, but here is the iron clad promise from the Lord:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Mt 7:21
The supernatural Hand of God seems to be temporarily staying the economic crash and the beginning of wars, among other things. I think it will be the rapture that breaks the dam. The Restrainer will be removed (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), the economy will collapse, at least in some form before returning to capitalism depicted in Revelation 18, and sin will explode. I pray you are among those who are called by the Lord as blessed part of the Bride, and not a mocker or scoffer pleading with the Lord later for permission to enter the Kingdom.
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In that sense, Mr Strandberg, along with Hal Lindsey and others, have made eschatology their niche in bible study have a unique perspective because they have the long view.
I read their weekly editorial this morning and I agree with the following statement completely. In writing about the global economy and the looming economic bubble about to burst, Mr Strandberg states:
1)We are amazed that the bubble hasn’t burst; 2)We believe that the longer the crises build, the greater will be the explosion; 3) We maintain that only the staying hand of God has thus far prevented it from bursting; and 4) We are of the opinion that it will likely be the Rapture of the church that will pop that bubble."
I agree. I look at the economy and with what rudimentary knowledge I have, even I can see that the current situation long passed sustainable, viable, or even feasible in life OR on paper, even. When you have more debt than money, you can't function. Even I know that much. Yet for three years, especially the last few months, we have functioned. It is only God who can perform the impossible, and today's economy is impossible.
With that, I've long felt also that it would be the rapture itself that would pop the bubble. I wrote in September 2010,
"Then the rapture will come. Suddenly, things will tip even more to the panic side of global turmoil. A terrorized populace will ask, scream, demand to know 'Where did they go? Why? Who took them?' The weakened economy perhaps will not be able to stand the vacuum created by millions of vibrant and contributing Christians. The problems will get worse."
Imagine the sudden removal of a workforce of millions. Imagine the vacuum created by the economic loss of participating contributors to payroll, consumer spending, etc. It would be like the air let out of a balloon and crash the economy will go.
My opinion and the Rapture Ready guys' opinion, Hal Lindsey mentioned this too, a while back, don't amount to a hill of beans in the face of biblical truth. However we can connect some dots, make an interpretation based on long years of study (those guys, I'm just a whippersnapper) and we can truthfully say that based on what the Lord shows us in His Word compared to the world situation right now, the rapture seems closer than ever.
For the born again believer, this comes as good news. For the unaware believer, this comes as a kooky opinion. In 2 Peter 3:3, Peter wrote, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires."
Understand that the mocking and scoffing does not come from just unbelievers, but also from Christians who deny this doctrine and scoff at fundamentalists who proclaim it. Just today I deleted two comments that vehemently denied the rapture in capital letters and a plethora of exclamation marks, but didn't use a single bible verse to support their opinion. For many, Christians included, the rapture is going to be a huge surprise. I pray that for many of them, it is a happy surprise, and not one for whom will be left pleading with the Lord, saying-
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'" And they will hear the devastating reply from the One True God,
"Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Mt 7:22b)
Not that denying the rapture is a method of detecting salvation, it isn't, but here is the iron clad promise from the Lord:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Mt 7:21
The supernatural Hand of God seems to be temporarily staying the economic crash and the beginning of wars, among other things. I think it will be the rapture that breaks the dam. The Restrainer will be removed (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), the economy will collapse, at least in some form before returning to capitalism depicted in Revelation 18, and sin will explode. I pray you are among those who are called by the Lord as blessed part of the Bride, and not a mocker or scoffer pleading with the Lord later for permission to enter the Kingdom.
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Comments
Who is the restrainer? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to those who have received Christ as the Helper. He indwells God's people, As they yield to Him. Christ in his Word has promised to never leave us or forsake us. With this much information from God's own Word I can say that when the restrainer is removed then so will those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He said I Am with you till the end of the age. Is that to mean the church age? Probably. Thanks Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteHow true your comments are. I've been feeling strongly in my spirit that the rapture must be soon...maybe 10 years, maybe 5, sooner??? You've written a few times about the unfulfilled prophesies of Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83. It's easy to see the events in the Middle East lining up to fulfillment. I pray for the unbelievers, I also pray for the complacent Christians who are not taking the signs of the time more seriously. I am convicted myself that I should be doing MUCH more to witness, and live according to His good and perfect will.
God Bless you and your work!
Charlie
Hi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blessings!
Here is GotQuestions' answer to your query. Though the Holy Spirit will be removed from His restraining ministry He will still be present on earth during the Tribulation. It is He who draws people to Jesus. However, the difference is that He returns to His Old Testament ministry of being on earth to "come upon" believers but not indwelling them. He will also not be restraining sin. THat is so Daniel 9:24a will be fulfilled "To finish the transgression."
Here is GotQuestions explanation, it is an excerpt
http://www.gotquestions.org/restrainer.html
"The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this restraining. How does He do it? Through Christians, He works in society to hold back the swelling tide of lawless living. At some point, though, He will be removed from the earth, allowing sin to have dominion over mankind. This can only happen when the Church—all true believers in Jesus Christ—is removed. This is because the Holy Spirit lives within each believer. When the church leaves the earth at the rapture, the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way in the sense that His unique lawlessness-restraining ministry—through God's people— will be removed (see Genesis 6:3).
The removal of the Restrainer at the time of the rapture must obviously precede the “day of the Lord.” But as soon as individuals again start placing their faith in Christ during the tribulation, the Holy Spirit will again be “present” in the world. His ministry of restraining, though, seems limited to the time before the tribulation."
Oh Ya!!!! So obvious yet hid. In plain sight. Thank you brother. I needed that shot in the arm.
ReplyDeletePlease Father bless Jerusalem with peace, and your body with wisdom and discernment.Anita
I did not know what to put in the box, comment as, I hope it was done correctly. Anita
ReplyDeleteAmen. Todd Strandberg and Terry James usually have excellent commentaries in the Nearing Midnight section.
ReplyDeletePete