CarolineS

Greetings, There are several threads discussing the MOB and avoiding it. But what about the seal of God? What is it and how can we make sure we obtain it? I think that everyone living in the last days will either receive the MOB or the Seal of God. So isn't it important that we know what the Seal of God is? We know from Rev. that there are only two groups of people on earth when Christ returns. Those with the Seal of God and those who follow the beast. <Rev. 7:3> "saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." Is the forehead the only place to receive the Seal of God? How can we be sure to have this seal? Should we be more concerned about the Seal of God or the MOB? Any ideas? In Christ, CarolineS

It has to be a future event, because Caesar Nero was already dead at the time of John's writing. Consider Rev. 17:8a, "The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into perdition..." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> <Rev. 17:8> "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." The beast that is resurrected is papel rome. Isn't it just like Satan to imitate or copy Jesus? He wants to take the place of Christ. That has been His wish or desire since he was thrown out of heaven. Satan crucified Christ using the Roman Empire as his tool. Under Nero, he persecuted and killed many Christians. However, this persecution was not working. It only made the true church stronger. So the Roman Empire was not longer useful to Satan. He needed to do something different. So he did. He moved into the church. And thus papel Rome grew out of the fall of the Roman Empire. The little horn came up when Rome fell. Now Satan could use the church itself to persecute the true church, which is exactly what he did during the Dark Ages. For 1,260 yrs. Christians were put to death for following Christ and the true doctrines of scripture. So we have the beast that was....Rome and Papal Rome. The beast that is not......Papal Rome lost it's political power when Napoleon attempted to reunite Europe and took the pope captive. The beast that yet is....in the 1900's a pact was signed and gave the vatican the right to be a sovereign government. Just like Jesus was crucified and resurrected, Satan has copied the resurrection by bringing back to life the beast power. In Christ, CarolineS

Thank you Dad Ernie. I try to keep an open mind when I hear theories on different scripture. I think it is good to look at different viewpoints. After all, I do not have all the understanding and knowledge it takes to decipher all scripture. And I probably never will until I get to heaven. I will keep this in mind as I study. In Christ, CarolineS

I quit watching Oprah at least ten years ago, maybe longer. I was watching a program she had on spanking children. Someone quoted scripture to her about disciplining children. Her response was that the Bible is old, out dated and does not apply to today's society. Since then she has become even more new age like and I think her whole philosophy is messed up. CarolineS

yomotalking, You are correct. God has mercy on children and those who do not have the mental capacity to understand. He is not going to punish infants and the mentally handicapped. What sort of God would do that? However, those who have the mental capacity to understand the gospel and have been exposed to it and have the opportunity to make a choice either for or against Christ will be held accountable. Didn't Jesus go to the temple when he was about 12 yrs. old and read scripture? Don't the Jewish people have a Bar Mitzvah for a child when they reach age 12 or 13? I think it means they have passed from being a child to being accountable. But I am not Jewish, so I am not sure. I believe there is an age we reach when we are held accountable, but I am not sure what it is as scripture doesn't say exactly. I would guess between 12 and 20 yrs. old. In Christ, CarolineS

I agree. We have to learn to depend on ourselves and each other. The government, local police, and emergency crews have their hands full when a large scale disaster strikes. In fact, I am glad we live in a rural area. We can grow food and can it, store it, have chickens, cattle, gas tanks. My husband can hunt pheasants, deer, fish, ice fish and can drive around with a shotgun in his pickup. We also have some very good and godly neighbors. We all have to learn to help each other and survive if a disaster should strike. Anyway, you're all welcome if you're in the area and need help. In Christ, CarolineS

Interesting article. I don't know if I would compare what happened in New Orleans to the birthing process with a revival as the result. I think I would say it is more of a microcosm of the world and what will happen when Christ returns to judge us all. All the sin, corruption, crime, paganism in New Orleans could be said of the entire world. God will not let it continue forever.Eventually it will be closing time for us all. The keys are rattling now. Destruction and judgement are coming. Perhaps a revival will occur. Perhaps it will start in New Orleans, I will pray for the people there; that they will give glory to God and turn their city around. I wish I could be as hopeful as Keith. Thanks for sharing. In Christ, CarolineS

Dad Ernie, This is not clear to me. Can you show scripture that supports a 40 day GAP? I really don't want to stick around for 40 days after I see Christ in the air. With a major earthquake and all. I am relying on the promise that says we shall meet Him in the air and thus shall ever be with the Lord. Why would we have to wait around a destroyed earth, what would be the point? In Christ, CarolineS

Ted, I agree with your post. We are to let God reveal truth and not put our own spin on it. However, I have to disagree with your comment that prophecy is not detailed prewritten history. I believe it is. Prophecy is history written in advance.Prophecy and history mirror each other. God tells us in advance what is going to happen so we can be prepared and warn others. We are to be prepared spiritually. I don't think most people have the kind of faith and knowledge of God to survive the tribulation that is coming. Now is the time we should be in the Word and getting prepared. In Christ, CarolineS

Denise, Thanks. I am glad I am not the only one who is not seeing this in scripture. If we read carefully, compare scripture with scripture, and not try to make chopped salad out of the Bible, it makes alot more sense. Anyway, That's MHO. In Christ, CarolineS

Greetings, This is an interesting topic. I look at it this way. We are now the temple of God. Jesus reigns in our heart. There is no longer a physical building or temple that God will exist in at this time. Every believer is part of His temple. Satan doesn't want Christ to rule in us. He wants to reign in us and receive our worship. In order to reach his goal, he has to remove God and God's Law from within our heart. And replace it with his law. He has to place an abomination in our heart or in the holy place. Satan wants to keep everyone watching for a third temple to be built. It's a diversion. We are God's temple. While everyone is looking for another temple, Satan can use deception to place an abomination within the true temple (followers of Christ). When we see a law being passed telling us who to worship, how to worship, or when to worship -- we are to flee to the mountains. See Matt. 24:15-22 In Christ, CarolineS

<1 Thess.4:17> "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shll always be with the Lord." Christ is going to return with His angels. Every eye will see Him. The dead will be called from the grave. Those alive (who are righteous) will be caught up "together with them." <1 Corinthians 15:51-52> "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." The earth will then have a great earthquake. The earthquake will be so devastating that it will leave the world in a state of total destruction. <Rev. 16:18> "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth." Scripture says we shall all be changed--in a moment. All. It doesn't say the dead will be changed first, "then" later a remnent will be changed. I think you are reading too much into the word "then." I still do not see any gap when Christ returns for His saints. In Christ, CarolineS

There is no gap that I can see in scripture. Jesus returns with a cloud of angels and all eyes will see Him. <1Thess. 4:16> "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." The dead will rise first and those who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. <1 Thess. 4:17> "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." Where is the gap? In Christ, CarolineS

Please show scripture that states there is a seven yr. period of time the saints will be in heaven. CarolineS

Trust and Obey, You have referred to Romans 2:12. <Romans 2:12-16> "For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." I think there are some people who know there is a God and may not have heard of Jesus Christ. Or maybe they don't know the whole story of His crucifixtion. But they believe there is a creator and they live their life as righteous as they can with the knowledge they have. When they have to make a choice, they choose not to sin because of their conscience. There are many people that lived before the Law was given to Moses and many who lived before Christ manifested Himself as man on earth. God will judge these people according to the knowledge or light they had at the time. In Christ, CarolineS

There is an example in Numbers 14 in which the Jewish people refused to enter into the land of Canaan. They rejected God's promise that He would give them this land. They doubted God's ability to protect and provide for them. They definitely had a lack of faith and trust in the Lord, even after all He had done for them to lead them out of bondage in Egypt. As punishment they had to wander around the desert for 40 yrs. There is a verse that states from twenty years old and above shall be held responsible or accountable for complaining. Anyone over age twenty would die in the desert and not enter the promised land. <Numbers 14:29> "The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above." <Numbers 14:31> "But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised." The little children were not held accountable. I think, the age of accountability can vary according to maturity, exposure to the Word, mental capacity, and maybe other factors. I would guess, by age twenty, each individual is capable of making a decision either for or against Christ. But, I think the age can vary for some people. In Christ, CarolineS

This should make Satan really happy. Fiction and more false teaching to keep people away from truth. <Daniel 8:12> "...and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered." CarolineS

I agree that persecution will weed out the pew warmers and hypocrites in our churches, but it is something I am not looking forward to. I also agree that it is coming, I just hope not real soon. CarolineS

This is great news. We have several Indian Reservations in our area. I hope they will do the same. CarolineS

Zayit, Thanks for the very interesting and informative post. I have read that the number 40 means a trial or testing. I enjoyed reading further material on this. In Christ, CarolineS

I am the mother of a three yr. old and a nine yr. old. When I want to relax when they are not around I listen to a CD by Il Divo. It's four guys who really sing well together. It's great music for relaxing or for a small dinner party. In Christ, CarolineS

This hurricane weather has been really creepy lately. But I guess it's a sign of the times. I will keep the gulf coast in my prayers. CarolineS