Just felt a prompting to post this brief message – so here goes!
So much end times prophecy happening right now, and such division (even in the church) about it’s validity. Lots of date predictions happening, different theories floating around – it’s exciting.
God hit me with some big thoughts about this season. Is it OK for us to focus on this? I believe it is so, and is of great importance – lest we be like the 5 foolish virgins who did not have oil for their lamps, and missed it entirely.
I just want to say:
- I’m thankful for ALL of the watchmen,
- I don’t believe it’s wrong to “watch” and try to “predict” the rapture,
Allow me to explain a little more of my thoughts:
“I’m thankful for ALL of the watchmen”
I have been following 15-20 different individuals who are sounding the watchmen alarm, They exist in online video and blog format – and I’ve absorbed many of the main theories in these most recent 6 months pertaining to the rapture of the church, and the tribulation. It’s been absolutely fascinating, and has literally awakened me to end times prophecy, and the whole concept of prophecy at all.
Does any one person have “the” line on the truth? Nope, no way – we are all feeble human, trying to consider what our omnipotent Lord has planned. It bothers me when some watchmen “call out” other watchmen for different views – it seems just the way that Satan would divide us, and keep us guessing. I always pray that the approach would be more collaborative, as we all work this out together and learn from each other.
I prefer to listen to many voices , combine with my own studies, and formulate my own opinions based on that, as well as nudging from the Holy Spirit. I try to avoid those that are just based on dreams alone (but lots having the same dream I am intrigued by), and those that have had words from the Lord, unconfirmed by others. I look for trends among the throughs of many, and combine with my own walk with God.
But there’s another really big reason I am thankful for the watchmen – it’s because the fact that they are watching, encourages me to watch. And indeed it has caused me to pick up a biblical field of study that I scarcely even knew of previously. I am thankful for all of the watchmen and their efforts – I’d rather follow God’s commandment to watch – and be wrong, than to not watch at all, and miss the final opportunity to invite people into the “church” before the upcoming tribulation.
“I don’t believe it’s wrong to watch, and even attempt to “predict” the rapture.”
My main reason for this is that simply watching, studying, and attempting to put the pieces together keeps me watching, and very engaged. I have held loosely to many conclusions, and avoiding saying that “this day IS THE day.” instead, I prefer to assess certain things as “high watch” days/weeks. God is continually unfolding this story in real time, and tomorrow’s data will shed different light on today’s views.
As near as I can tell, the bible does not discourage us attempting to “figure things out” – I only see commands to watch out for false teachers. Other than that, we are just commanded to watch. God has given us so many treasures in the Word, and I leave you with this verse referring to that:
Proverbs 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
And so we search. And watch. And anticipate.
Marinatha! (click for definition)
~Bryan