When is the Rapture?

Isa 28:9-10
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(KJV)

Knowledge and the understanding of doctrines (Bible teachings) takes full age, not those that are still on breast milk. Understanding and knowledge comes from being able to build line upon line and precept upon precept from the Word of God until we can see the full picture of God intended for us to see. The secret things belong to God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children. How will we get this revelation? By being of full age and having our senses exercised to discern both good and evil, the Bible says. If there is any topic or subject you would like discussed simply shoot me an email and we will see what the Word says. Right now I would like to start a several part series that will show us, from the Word, exactly when the "rapture" of the church will be. This should be interesting, but in order to unlock the mystery we must use several Bible keys to open our understanding. Unless you are willing to build line upon line and precept upon precept you will not have the mystery unfold before your very eyes. I will not tell you the answer of when the 'rapture' is but will allow the Word of God to reveal it to you. So for the next few Seeds I will building line upon line and precept upon precept so that we can understand knowledge and doctrine.

Remembering line upon line and precept upon precept let us begin:


1 Cor 15:51-52
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

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.
(KJV)

There are 4 schools of thought on the "rapture" or catching away. 1. There is not a rapture 2. It happens before the Great Tribulation period (7 yr period). 3. It happens mid tribulation period. 4. It happens after the tribulation period. All my life I have been pre-tribulation in my thinking. God would rescue the Church out of (before) the Great Tribulation. The keys to unlocking the mystery Paul spoke of is in the understanding: 1. where the dead are now? and 2. how many resurrections are there going to be?

Most of our thinking is based upon tradition rather than the Word. For that reason, tradition will not unlock the mystery. The key of tradition wont fit. Remember that all our belief system must agree with the Word and cannot contradict the Word. I had been unable to reconcile my belief system, based upon traditions of men, with the Word of God, until one day when the light came on so clearly. How did that happen? The keys to my understanding were based upon where the dead are now and how many resurrections. (I repeat for importance). The Lord had been instructing me in an understanding where the dead are to use it as line upon line and precept upon precept to get me to a greater understanding. We go from one understanding to a greater as the Lord gives us light and it is always based line upon line and precept upon precept. I don't have space here to go into this teaching on the place of the dead but challenge your to read here about the dead if you want to possess the first key. Once you gain this knowledge you will possess one of the keys needed to unlock the mystery...when is the Rapture?

click here: http://whatthebibleteachesabout.blogspot.com/2007/11/where-dead-are-now.html

Rev 20:4-5
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(KJV)

Line upon Line: The Word teaches that there are 2 resurrections. The first and the last resurrection. Messiah was the first fruit of the 1st resurrection, and the "rapture" will be the conclusion of the 1st resurrection. First is birthed the Head (Messiah) and then the Body (believers). We know from yesterday's study that all the dead are asleep in the grave awaiting their resurrections. Some will be raised to life in the 1st resurrection and some raised to judgment and destruction in the last resurrection at the white throne judgment of God. In order for us to unlock the mystery of the rapture (the first resurrection) we must know that the dead are all in the grave awaiting the call of God. No one has yet ascended except Messiah and no one has yet been judged and sentenced to the second death. We know that the dead know nothing, they are not looking down from heaven, they are not praying for us, they are not suffering torments, but that they are simply asleep in their graves. For more advanced study on where the dead are now please refer to yesterday's study: http://whatthebibleteachesabout.blogspot.com/2007/11/where-dead-are-now.html

If there are only 2 resurrections then the Word must agree with our thinking. Pre-trib rapture says the 1st resurrection happens before the great tribulation and the reign of the Anti-Christ. Mid-trib rapture says the 1st resurrection will happen after the 3/5 years of peace under the rule of the Anti-Christ, but before the wrath of God (second 3.5 years). And the post-trib rapture says it will be after the 7 years of the Anti-Christ at the end of Armageddon.

All my Christian life I was a pre-trib rapture believer until one verse jumped out at me and knocked down my house of cards. My former belief could not unlock the mystery. What was that verse?


Line upon line:

I was always a pre-trib believer, believing as most of the Christian world that Messiah would come and take the believers out of the world prior to the Anti-Christ. In fact it would be the church leaving that would allow the Anti-Christ to take over. Oh, I had all the good arguments to prove my theory. Everything worked out just fine in my mind, until I began to understand where the dead are now and that there are only 2 resurrections. Meaning that everyone that doesn't make it in the first resurrection (the rapture) will not be resurrected from the dead until after the 1,000 year reign of Messiah upon the earth. If you think about it you will see then, according to my old belief, that if you didn't go in the rapture you would not rule and reign with Messiah during the 1,000 years. And then one verse caused my house of cards to fall to the ground. If the first resurrection (Rapture) takes place before the Anti-Christ reign and there is no other resurrection until after the 1,000 years what will I do with this verse?


Rev 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(KJV)

Here we have resurrected people who died during the mark of the Beast, during the beast reign and they took take part in the 1st resurrection. Now I have to move my time table to include all the martyrs of the Beast reign, for they are definitely in the 1st resurrection!

Line upon line:


Rev 8:2-6
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
(KJV)

I had to move my time-line of the Rapture from before the rule of the Anti-Christ till after the reign of the Anti-Christ because those persecuted during the rule of the Anti-Christ will be in the 1st resurrection. Since there are only 2 resurrections and the dead don't go immediately anywhere (heaven or torments) it was necessary for me to understand unless the 1st resurrection ocurred after the reign of the Anti-Christ the martyred could not be in the 1,000 year reign of Messiah. The Word says the martyred are in the 1,000 yr reign and here is where it hit me: I will not tell you when exactly the Rapture will be but... the Word will: Seven Angels and seven trumpets.


1 Cor 15:52
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.
(KJV)

Be blessed, Billy and Jan Wells

Open Letter to the United Pentecostal Church the UPC

I would like to begin by saying I am not here to debate, but would like to share some verses and insight with those that have the so called "Truth" (as the UPC declare they have).

You cannot be saved unless you are water baptized only in the Name of Jesus. (UPC)

1. I will ask what Paul asked, "was Abraham justified in circumcision or in uncircumcision. Answer: In uncircumcision. (Col 2:12) Paul declared that Abraham was justified (declared not guilty) without any religious acts. (Rms 4:10)

2. Paul said, "I thank my God that I baptized none of you...for I was called to preach the good news not to baptize." Does that sound like Paul teaching that water baptism is essential for salvation? No. (Can you imagine a UPC preacher saying I baptized no one, I am not called to baptize?)

3. The letter "J" did not exist until the 15th century. Thus no name of "Jesus" to say at water baptism prior to the 15th century. Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus an spoke to Him in the Hebrew tongue..."my name is Yeshua" (Acts 26:14). Now we have a problem, the Lord says His name is Yeshua and UPC say unless you say "Jesus" you are lost. The UPC say: I must use a name "Jesus" to be saved, but that name as origin of less then 500 yrs. Now we have a problem.

Does the Letter “J” exist in Hebrew, Latin or Greek?

The answer to this question is no. In fact, there was no letter ‘J’ in any language prior to the 14th century in England. The letter did not become widely used until the 17th century.

The Encyclopedia Americana contains the following quote on the J: “The form of ‘J’ was unknown in any alphabet until the 14th century. Either symbol (J,I) used initially generally had the consonantal sound of Y as in year. Gradually, the two symbols (J,l) were differentiated, the J usually acquiring consonantal force and thus becoming regarded as a consonant, and the I becoming a vowel.

It was not until 1630 that the differentiation became general in England.” Note in the original 1611 version of the King James Version of the Bible there was no “J” letter in this Bible for because it did not exist. James was spelled Iames. Jesus was spelled Iesous. (So much for Jesus name only).

4. Does water baptism save us? John indeed baptized with water, saying that they should believe on Him that would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. Water baptism does not save, only Spiritual Baptism saves. John was not saving anyone, only call men to repentance.

5. You must speak in tongues to be saved. Paul asked, "Do all speak in tongues?" With the obvious answer being "NO!" Paul went on to say I wish you all spoke in tongues, but better yet, that you all preached! So does one conclude from that statement that Paul puts greater emphasis upon preaching than speaking in tongues for salvation? Yes, Paul admitted all do not speak in tongues, and it would be better than speaking in tongues that all preached. Now how can you preach if you don't speak in tongues (i.e. being saved)? You mean in the church meeting we can have preachers that aren't saved, because they don't speak in tongues (according to the UPC). Paul's answer yes...better to preach than to speak in tongues.

6. The Law of the Tithe ended. See Truth about Tithes in this blog.

7. Is the Pastor the man of God and are we to submit as he lord's over us?


Matt 20:25-26
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
(NIV)


A pastor, elder, sheperd, over seer, bishop (all the same office) was to be several of the members of the local church that desired the office and met the qualifications. They were appointed by men for the position, and were not paid hirelings or professional preachers. They were to be plural in number. The Head of the Church is Christ not the pastor. Begin "called" by God to pastor a church is not one of the Bible qualification for an overseer. I Tim 3:1 The qualification were listed to a man could be measured to whether or not he could serve as an elder in the local assembly.

A "Holiness Standard" (list of church rules) is powerless to save anyone. We do not measure ourselves among ourselves, and those that do are unwise. Holiness means sanctified, which means set apart for the use of God. Has nothing to do with right or wrong, good or bad. It only means set apart. Our holiness to God is not rules, touch not, taste not, handle not, but is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. We serve the Lord by the still small voice and not by the rules of the church which only make a show of the flesh. The Bible calls it will worship. It is not what we wear, or eat, or own or go or do that makes us holy. It is being lead by the Spirit, set apart for the Master's use that makes us sanctified. Holiness was never about good or bad, but about separation. If I have any righteousness, it has been applied to me by Him and not of any good that I have done, lest I should boast. I don't go there, have one of those, look at that, taste or drink this..etc. boasting of my holiness, justifying myself by my own good deeds.

Comments often associated with the UPC:
We have the Truth.
If you are not baptized in Jesus name you are not saved
Unless you speak in tongues you cannot be saved
We have a holiness standard. (i.e. dress code)
We must obey our pastor in all things, for he is the Man of God.
Women can't wear men's clothes (no New Testament witness)

A Place called Hell

THE TRUTH ABOUT A PLACE CALLED “HELL”


Let’s begin by laying out the facts.

There is no mention or teaching in the entire Old Testament of a place where the dead go that involves eternal punishment of suffering and burning. The Hebrew word “Sheol” is translated in the KJV 31 times as “grave”, 32 times as “hell”, 3 times “a pit”, but never as eternal punishment of suffering and torment for the lost. All the dead go to a place called Sheol, the “grave” after death. The ancient Israelite did not teach about a place of eternal torment. So we can see “hell” in the Old Testament is equal to the grave.


7585 she'owl (sheh-ole');

or sheol (sheh-ole'); from 7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:

KJV-- grave, hell, pit.


In order to believe in a place of eternal torments, where the dead go and are never rescued, one must believe in the “immortality” of the soul. The Bible is quite plain on who alone has “immortality”. Only Jesus has immortality, He is the Life and Resurrection. He that has the Son has Life and he that has not the Son has not Life.


1 Tim 6:14-16
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
(KJV)

If we believe that the unsaved dead are immediately sent to “eternal torments to be punished” then we must believe that they have been sentenced to punishment before they have been judged. The White Throne Judgment is after the 1,000 years reign of Jesus on the Earth, when all the dead are judged. As a result of that belief then, we have the wicked in “hell” in torments waiting for the Judgment day when they will be taken out of hell to be judged and then cast back into hell and torments. Why? If they are already in torments, then why not leave them there? Because all the dead are in the grave asleep awaiting the resurrection.

If we believe that the unsaved dead will burn forever in a “hell” of eternal torment, then we must believe that the consequence of sin is eternal suffering, tormenting fire forever and ever time without end. If the consequence of sin is eternal suffering time without end, then Jesus did not pay “sin’s debt” when He died on the cross, because He only died, and did not spend eternity in a burning hell to pay for sin. But if we look at the Word, the Bible says the wages of sin is “death”. In light of that, we see Jesus did pay the sin debt in full. Result is that burning and suffering forever is not required of the soul that sins, but only death. "The soul that sins, it shall die. "

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life. The Word does not say the wages of sin is eternal punishment of torments time without end. Jesus paid the sin debt, so that we can inherit eternal life. If the soul is immortal, as some teach, why do we need eternal life, if everyone already has eternal life (immortality of the soul)?

The Word declares the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life. Nothing here mentions eternal torments. The Lord told Israel that He set before them life and death, choose life that they may live. There are only 2 choices here, life or death, and no mention of eternal torments.

Some teach that the dead, immediately upon death, go to one of two places, either heaven or hell. Yet the Word declares that no one has ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. John 3:13. Where was Lazarus when he was dead in the tomb? Did Jesus call him forth from heaven or paradise, to come again to this wicked world? Or did he raise him from sleep, like He said, “Lazarus sleeps”? When Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights, did He ascend to heaven? Or was He asleep in the tomb for the 3 days and nights? After His resurrection He told Mary, “Don’t touch me for I have not yet ascended.” So during the 3 days in the tomb He did not ascend. John 20:17

The Bible teaches that when men die, they sleep in the grave, tomb until the resurrection. There are to be 2 resurrections, the first and the last. Why would there be a resurrection if we were already alive somewhere else? The Bible says the rest of the dead “lived not” again until after the 1,000 years were finished. So the Bible says the dead are not alive, but asleep.

Paul never taught about an eternal torment, or place of suffering called “hell”. And Paul declared that he spoke the whole council of God. How could Paul leave out something so important as a place called hell where the ungodly would suffer forever and ever time without end?

The Lord God taught me to forgive my enemies, and yet will He burn his forever and ever time without end in place called hell. Or did we misunderstand hell (the grave) with eternal torments?

The word “hell” in the New Testament is derived from 3 Greek words: Hades, Gehenna, Tartaros. “Hades” is the Greek equal to “Sheol” of the Old Testament used 10 times in the New Testament, and is the grave. “Gehenna” is used 12 times in the New Testament, it was the equivalent of a dumpsite where garbage and dead animals were thrown, whose fire never went out and the worm never died, though the destruction of the trash and animals was complete, there was always enough new garbage to keep things going. And finally, only one time in the whole Bible the word “Tartaros” which means to hold captive or incarcerate, and is only used once in the Bible speaking of Satan and the evil spirits, which cannot die, but will be held in bondage forever. So we can see how men could be confused into thinking the wicked men will go where the devil and his angels go, but not so according to the Word of God. All those judged whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will have their part in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. The heathen was created for destruction, not everlasting torments. Pv 10:29, Isa 1:28.

If we rightly divide the Word of God, we understand that the wages of sin is death, and Jesus paid that debt for sin completely when He died. He remained in the tomb 3 days and nights and did not ascend to heaven until after the resurrection. No one else has ever ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. The rest of the dead lived not again until the second resurrection, when all the dead will be raised from the grave (hell) to be judged. After such judgment, those not found written in the Lambs book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the second Death, for destruction. Paul taught that the dead in Christ are asleep and will rise to meet Him in the air at the last trumpet of God. Paul made one statement, “absent in the flesh and present with the Lord”, not to say that he, Paul, is not in the grave awaiting the resurrection of those in Christ. Paul is asleep in the grave but he has no knowledge of the passing of time (for the dead know nothing). Paul closes his eyes in death and awakes in the presence of the Lord, at the first resurrection. (a 2000 year period between).

What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, told to us by Jesus?

We must ask ourselves what was the purpose of this parable?
Was it to teach us about salvation? What did the rich man do to be lost and what did Lazarus do to be saved? Nothing, but the Jews, who were being spoken to, thought riches spoke of being righteousness, and poverty spoke of being cursed. Jesus contradicted that with this parable.
Is it possible that the dead speak back and forth between the saved and lost? Can the lost see the saved? Can the Bible contradict itself? The Bible says the dead know nothing.
The plea was for Lazarus to be raised from the dead and sent back as a sign to the Jews. Lazarus was indeed raised from the dead, and they did not believe, but only plotted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus after the resurrection of Lazarus.
The purpose of this parable was to teach of the resurrection from the dead, as a sign. Both Jesus and Lazarus were resurrected from the dead and still the Jews did not believe. The purpose of this parable was not to teach instructions for salvation, or the result of being lost.



Jude 1:7
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.


2 Pet 2:6
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
(KJV)

(KJV)

And example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, they will be burned to ashes.

Isn’t it amazing that when we read the Word, we see what we want to see?


Are Sodom and Gomorrha still burning, even now with that eternal fire? No, they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire and were burned to ashes, as an example of what will happen to the ungodly and those without Life in them.

Fear has torment, and He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of peace love and a sound mind. The Truth sets us free. So when we know the real truth about a place called “Hell” (the grave) we are set free from torment. Be blessed.

Billy Wells
Billy20772@gmail.com

Once Saved always saved?

The Truth About Once Saved


There is a teaching in the Church that says, once a person has received their salvation they cannot lose it. It has also been called “once saved always saved” doctrine. So let’s examine the Word of God and see what the Bible has to say about this.

The people of the Old Testament were called the Church in the Wilderness. (Acts 7:38) They ate of the heavenly bread (manna) a type of Jesus, and they all drank a type of living water, from the Rock. They looked to the Lamb to remove sin, and were all baptized in the Sea and under the Cloud, a type of water and Spirit baptism. Now if we know that they were part of the Church, as we are, then we can see how God dealt with the disobedient believers. (I Cor. 10:1-11)


Heb 3:8-12
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
(KJV)


The above verse is speaking to “brethren” not the lost of the world, and the warning is for them to not depart from the living God with an evil heart of unbelief. If we do, then by example of the Church in the Wilderness, we know our fate. They all died without receiving the “rest of God”.


Matt 10:22
22 "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
(NAS)

The above verse warns us to continue to the end, steadfastly to be saved. As we can read, it is not the one who starts only, but he that starts and finishes the race, who will win the prize.


Luke 9:62
62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
(NAS)

Again, we find verse teaching us that once we start we are not to look back, remember Lot’s wife. Putting your hand to the plow speaks of beginning, and looking back speaks to us of desiring the old life. Couple this verse with Heb 11:15, and we see, we must count ourselves strangers to this world and continue in faith seeking that Heavenly.

We are saved by grace thru faith. It is our faith and God’s grace that saves us. If we lose our faith then there is no grace available to save us. See below.


Gal 5:4-5
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
(NAS)




Heb 12:15-17
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
(KJV)

The above verse speaks to us of believers who fail of the grace of God that allow bitterness or sin to corrupt them, they are compared to Esau, who found no repentance.



John 15:2
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
(KJV)


John 15:6
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
(KJV)

The above verse speaks of believers (branches) that are attached to the Vine (Jesus). Any believer that does not bear fruit will be cut off from Jesus and cast into the fire and be burned. You can not be a branch in Him, unless you had, by faith, been grafted in. Thus according to this verse believers can be cut off from Jesus and be destroyed.

Paul warned that he himself must keep his body under subjection to the Spirit or suffer the fate of the “reprobates.”

1 Cor 9:27
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (reprobate)
(KJV)

The word castaway in the original means “reprobate”.

Paul warns believers in the Church to examine themselves to see if they be in the faith or if they are reprobate (lost). In the below verse, this warning was not written to the lost but to the believing Church.


2 Cor 13:5
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(KJV)




Eph 5:4-6
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(KJV)

“Let no man deceive you” could only mean that there is a deception possible. Obviously we know that the “lost” who do such things that are mentioned above, shall not inherit the Kingdom, so of course, no one could deceive us in that. So where could they possibly deceive us? By teaching us that the “saved” who do such things, since they can’t lose their salvation, will be saved anyway. That would be deception.

The scriptures teach us that it is possible to believe in vain.


1 Cor 15:1-2
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
(NIV)

The promise of salvation in the above verse is qualified with the “condition” if you hold firmly. Thus teaching us that it is possible to believe, but not continue in faith, thus we have believed in vain.

The Prodigal Son is a perfect example of the father’s son…

The once saved doctrine teaches that since we are born sons of God, we cannot become unborn, thus no matter what we do we can not lose our salvation. But listen how the father described his son:


Luke 15:24
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
(KJV)

So we see the son was dead and was lost, while still being the son.


Gal 5:21
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(KJV)

The above verse, written to the Church and not to the world, warns the Church that those that do such thing, though they may be called believers, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. Of course we know that the lost shall not inherit, so obviously it is speaking of believers that do such things, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.


Rev 2:4-5
4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 'Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place-- unless you repent.
(NAS)

Written to believers we must note “removing a lampstand” can only mean one thing. That they shall have not part in the Kingdom, unless they repent and return.



Exod 32:33
33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
(KJV)




Rev 22:19
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
(KJV)


Rev 3:5
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
(NIV)

These verses together teach us that a name can be removed (blotted out) from the Book of Life, thus that person, whose name was removed will have not part in the Kingdom of God. There is only one way to have your name written into the Book of Life, and that is to be a believer. And there is one way to have your name blotted out, by being disobedient, and faithless.


Heb 6:4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(KJV)


The above verse is a perfect description of someone who was a believer, saved. This is a misunderstood verse. It is speaking of a Jew, who came to Jesus and became a believer, then returned again to try to practice the Jewish religion, instead of continuing in faith. He has fallen away, and is rejected, who end is to be burned.

I feel any honest person can view the above verses and know assuredly the truth about a Church teaching that says after you have become a believer you cannot be lost, no matter what you do (good or bad). Are we to believe the Word of God, or men’s teachings?

Be blessed in Jesus,
Billy Wells

Where the Dead are now

WHERE ARE THE DEAD NOW?

We will use the Word of God to establish were the dead are now. Some teach the dead are in heaven/hell, or in Paradise. Some teach the dead are gone and lost forever. But our question today is where, exactly, are the dead? Not only must we determine where the dead in Christ are, the dead before Christ Jesus and the lost dead are now.

The Bible is quite clear, but unfortunately we have been taught to selectively view the Word, with our particular "polarized lenses" (which let in only certain light). We need to take off our predetermined opinions and open our minds to "Thus says the Word of God".

Where did Jesus say the dead are?

Matt 9:23-25 23 When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,24 he said, "Go away. *The girl is not dead but asleep*." But they laughed at him.25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.(NIV)

John 11:11-14 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,(NIV)

Jesus declared Lazarus to be asleep.

When Jesus called Lazarus forth, where did He go to call him? Jesus went to where he was, in the tomb asleep. Did He call Lazarus from heaven? Or did He call Lazarus from Paradise, back to this world to die again? No, He simply woke Lazarus from sleep, and called him forth from the grave where he was.

Where did Paul say the dead are?

1 Cor 15:16-23 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who *have fallen asleep in Christ* are lost.19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.20 *But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.*21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, *when he comes, those who belong to him.*(NIV)

Paul said the dead in Christ are asleep, and this is in agreement with Jesus teachings.

When will the dead be raised? The dead that belong to Jesus will be raised when Christ comes, at the first resurrection.What does the Bible say about the dead? Are they somewhere looking down,conversing, worshiping, or leaning over heaven’s balcony looking at you? Exactly what do the dead know about what is going on in the earth?

Eccl 9:55 For the living know that they will die, *but the dead know nothing*; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.(NIV)

Isa 26:19-21 19 But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. *You who dwell in the dust, wake up* and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.(NIV)

You mean there is no one in heaven now? What about the righteous men of old, like King David, Moses, Solomon, Noah, Abraham? Are they not now in heaven? Let's hear what Jesus says about that.

John 3:12-13 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?13 *No one has ever gone into heaven* except the one who came from heaven-- the Son of Man.(NIV)

Well, that is before His resurrection, what about after, where is King David now? Let's hear the Word.

Acts 2:29 29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch *David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.*(NIV)Acts 2:3434 *For David did not ascend to heaven*, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand (NIV).

So we see, by the mouth of 2 witnesses, that the righteous dead are not in heaven, in fact no one has ascend to heaven, but Jesus who came down from heaven. David did not ascend, but died and was buried and his tomb is with us still to this day.

Where was Jesus during the 3 days and 3 nights He was buried in the tomb. Let's allow Jesus own words declare to us where He was.

John 20:17 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for *I am not yet ascended to my Father*: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.(KJV)

So during the 3 days and nights, Jesus was in the tomb, not in heaven.

What about all the people who are in Hell (torments) now? What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? To correctly divide the Word of God, we know that no scripture can contradict other verses. So we must rightly divide the Word. 1. Do we believe this parable taught us about salvation, and being lost? The rich man did nothing to be lost, and Lazarus did nothing to be saved in the parable. The Jew taught that riches showed blessing and poverty a curse. Jesus reversed that thinking.

2. Do we believe the lost communicate with the saved across the great divide? The Bible says the dead know nothing.

3. The purpose of the parable was for Lazarus to come back from the dead, which he did, but did the Jews believe? No they sought to kill Lazarus and Jesus.

4. The purpose of the parable was to teach us to believe the Word and not miracles. But doesn't the Book of Revelation speak of the souls under the altar beheaded for the gospel? Where is the altar? Where was the blood sacrifice offered? On the earth, so the altar of sacrifice was on the earth.Calvary was the offering for sin, the altar of sacrifice.So we have the martyrs under the altar, buried in the grave (Sheol, hell). The Lord told the souls under the altar to rest a little while longer. The dead are asleep, resting in the grave, awaiting the resurrection.

Rev 6:9-119 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw *under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held*:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that *they should rest yet for a little season*, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.(KJV)

But didn't Paul say, "Absent in the flesh and present with the Lord? Doesn't that mean when we die we immediately go to the presence of the Lord? No, for no man has ascended into heaven. The dead know nothing, so they are not aware of the passing of time. The dead close their eyes in death and open them again in the resurrection, which seems but a minute, but could well be the passing of thousands of years. This agrees with the rest of the Word.

But are there not millions in torments burning forever and ever now? Don't the dead go immediately to their eternal reward? Answer: Would it be right for the dead to be punished before their judgment? No! After judgment the wicked will be cast into the Lake of Fire,the Second Death. Let's hear what the Word says about the unrighteous dead.


1Thes 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
(NIV)

Above is exactly what Paul preached. Let’s review: Paul says I don’t want you ignorant about the dead (those who fall asleep). He could have stopped right here and said, “They are with Jesus”. But he did not! What did he say? He said when Jesus comes from heaven, He will bring the dead with Him that are now in heaven? NO! He said when Jesus comes from heaven He will raise the dead first. Jesus does not bring them with Him until after He raises them from the dead, out of the grave. The dead are raised, brought back to life, at the first resurrection.

Rev 20:4-74 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast,neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5 *But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished*. This is the first resurrection.

(The dead are not alive some where, the rest of the dead lived not again, until after the 1,000 years.) 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,(KJV)

Rev 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 *And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (the grave) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works*.14 And death and hell (the grave) were cast into the lake of fire.This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.(KJV)

Here we see the order of Resurrection. The first resurrection, the dead in Christ are awakened to live with Jesus for 1,000 years on the earth, then at the end of the 1,000 years, the rest of the dead will be raised(awakened) to be judged. No one will be punished before their judgment day.Where then is the Lake of Fire? Peter spoke to us about that:

2 Pet 3:10-1310 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, where in the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.(KJV)

Here we have examined the Word concerning the state of the dead. No one is in heaven, and the wicked have not been judged yet, thus cannot be suffering for their sins yet. There are 2 resurrections. The first when Jesus comes,and all the dead in Christ shall be raised, but the rest of the dead lived not again until after the 1,000 years. At the 2nd resurrection all the dead will be brought forth from their sleep to be judged, after which they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, consuming the heavens and the earth, and a New Earth and a New Heavens will be created.


Be Blessed,
Billy Wells

End Times

The Truth about End Times


Matt 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
(KJV)

Three questions asked here:

1. When will the Temple be destroyed?


Matt 24:1‑2
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(KJV)
70AD

Matt 24:15‑20
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
(KJV)



2. What are the signs of your coming?


Matt 24:4‑14
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.


Matt 24:27‑28
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
(KJV)


3. The sign of the End of the Age (World)?

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
(KJV)



TRIBULATION (JACOB’S / NATURAL ISRAEL)

Matt 24:21‑31
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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.
(KJV)

Jacob’s Trouble. (Persecution of Natural Israel by the AntiChrist) (Tribulation)


Jer 30:5‑8
5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
(KJV)

This is the day when the Lord shall break the yoke off Jacob (natural Israel). He will at this time restore the Kingdom and sit on David’s throne, beginning the 1,000 year reign.

The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God. There is a time coming when God will subdue all the kingdoms of this world under His authority. When the meek shall truly inherit the earth. When He will at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel. And His Holy Mountain shall fill all the earth.


Acts 1:6‑7
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(KJV)



1,000 YEAR REIGN

Jer 3:17
17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
(KJV)

Rev 20:4‑7
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
(KJV)


There is a 1,000 year period when there will be no Tempter and we will rule and reign with Jesus for 1,000 year period.

1 Cor 15:25‑26
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
(KJV)


1 Cor 15:51‑55
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
(KJV)

FIRST RESURRECTION


Rev 20:4‑5
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(KJV)



Zech 8:3‑8
3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
(KJV)



Isa 2:2‑5
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
(KJV)


YEARLY PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM REQUIRED



Zech 14:16-17
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
(KJV)



The Second resurrection happens just before the creation of a New Heaven and New Earth.



THE SECOND RESSURECTION



WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT

Rev 20:11‑15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(KJV)

Joel 3:15‑21
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
(KJV)




END OF THE WORLD (PRESENT AGE)

What will the end look like?

BAPTISM BY FIRE

NEW HEAVEN NEW EARTH


2 Pet 3:10‑13
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
(KJV)

THOUSAND GENERATIONS

This is the thousand generations.

Rev 21:1‑4
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
(KJV)

His everlasting covenant, promised to give Canaan to Abraham and his desendents. Abraham died in faith not having received the Promise. Heb 11. Is God going to go back on His Word? NO!

Heb 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
(KJV)


Heb 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
(KJV)


1 Chr 16:15‑18
15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
(KJV)


Israel shall inherit their everlasting covenant of Canaan, and Abraham will lead the procession.


Luke 13:28‑29
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
(KJV)

Isa 11:6‑10
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
(KJV)


Isa 65:17‑25
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
(KJV)


Isa 25:8
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
(KJV)



Rev 21:2‑5
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
(KJV)



Just as the Believer must be born again of Water and Spirit. And everything used in the Temple had to pass through the water and the fire. So God’s whole creation will be baptized in water (Noah) and fire (2 Pet) before the New Creation. What we must pass through as believers, God will do to His whole creation.

The Truth about Tithing

THE TRUTH ABOUT TITHES



Eph 1:1-3
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(KJV)

I would like to repeat what the Word says, that we have been blessed and are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Now, if we have been and are blessed with all spiritual blessings, let me ask why? Why are we blessed? Is it because we earned it? Is it because we deserved it? Is it because we have done something to possess it? Or is it because He gave it to us, freely, with out any action upon our part? In other words, do we possess all spiritual blessings because of the free gift, the grace of God, or because of something that we did? Of course the answer is the grace of God gives us freely all things pertaining to life and godliness. Freely.


2 Pet 1:3
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(KJV)


According to this verse we already possess all things that pertain to life and godliness, and this must include all spiritual blessings. In other words we are blessed with all spiritual blessing by the grace of God. It is our Father's good pleasure to give to us.


Eph 1:5-6
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
(KJV)

He has made us the accepted. We have already been made to sit in heavenly places in Christ, by His grace and love toward us, that apart from good that we have done, He freely has given us blessing upon blessing. That is His expressed love, grace.

Now, if we are justified by the keeping of the Law then grace is no longer grace, that means divine favor comes from the keeping of the Law. But we know that is not true, because grace is given freely by God apart from the works of righteousness, or keeping of the Law, or what ever we may do. Grace and God’s goodness is not dependent upon my good deeds, but upon God’s faithfulness and free gift.


Rom 3:20
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
(NIV)

Now my question to the Body is this: "If we are already blessed with a blessing, how then can we be cursed with a curse?" Is that possible, to be blessed and cursed at the same time? The "pro tither" is always quick to quote the verse from Malachi to prove we must do something to be blessed.


Mal 3:8-9
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
(KJV)

Now, Bible reader please tell me, as a Saint of the Most High God, are we, the Body of Christ, blessed with a blessing or are we cursed with a curse? Did the blessings that we are blessed with come from doing some righteous act, or the keeping of the Law? And does the curse come from not doing some righteous act and not keeping the Law? You be the judge.

The Word of God is true and let every man be a liar.

Why didn’t Jesus receive tithes of men? Why wasn’t the New Testament church commanded to pay tithes? What was required of the New Testament gentile church? Only the following:

1. Refrain from fornication.
2. Refrain from eating meats offered to idols
3. Don’t drink blood.
4. Don’t eat meat from animals that were strangled.
5. Remember the poor.

Nothing was mentioned of circumcision, keeping the Law or paying tithes. If it was so important for the Gentile Church to pay tithes in order to buy a blessing, wouldn’t the Word of God so state? Where is the paying of tithes mentioned in the requirements to the Gentile Church? Wouldn’t it spell out plainly in the New Testament that if you don’t pay tithes you are “cursed with a curse”?

There is no mention of monies being collected by the New Testament Church and placed in some kind of Church treasury. There is no mention in the Bible of the New Testament of born again Christians taking their tithes and offerings to a church building, to put in the offering plate each week. In fact the opposite is true. There was to be a collection for the poor saints in Judea (see above “remember the poor”). The belivers were instructed to lay in store at home, in his own personal place of save keeping, a portion of his earnings, for the giving to the poor in Judea. It was a specific purpose and the collecting was to be done personally and keep at home for day when the offering would be sent to the poor in Judea Some how the modern  Church equates this to paying tithes and offerings each meeting, so they pass the plate and preach “Give”.

 We are giving, not to the poor, but to the church i.e. (men’s kingdoms). How much of the church  money collected actually gets to the poor? Very little, if any at all! Doesn’t most of the church budget go to running the church business and salaries for the paid professionals? Some how, we have equated the work of the Lord with a church building  and building up men’s kingdoms.

Under the Law of the Tithe  only herdsmen and farmers were required to pay tithes.  The giver of the tithes got to participate in the eating of the tithes.  The tithe was never paid in money.   The poor were exempted from paying the tithe, i.e.  the tenth animal passing under the rod, so if you only had 5 you paid nothing.   Only the Levites were commissioned by God to receive the tithe and since there are no Levites modern day Jews do not tithe.  (what does the Jew know the Church does not?  There is no one to pay the tithe to!)


In the modern day church the tithe is disproportionately unfair to the poor.  How you ask?   If you only earn $1,000 per month try to live on only $900 compared to the man who makes $10,000 per month and has to live on only $9,000 per month.   The church says the tithe is fair to everyone.  That is a lie, it is unfair to the poor.  God exempted the "poor" farmers and herdsmen from the tithe.

Just suppose there was a Body ministry that did not spend large sums of money on church buildings, lawn maintenance, professional salaries, parsonages, building programs, utility bills, pastor’s cars, TV/ Radio ministries, and really did “remember the poor”?

Why are we wasting God’s money trying to make the men's kingdoms  bigger? The Body of Christ, the true Church is not a building/ nor organization, but believers in the Lord Jesus. We have the commission from God to “remember the poor”, and not to build buildings and denominations!


2 Cor 9:7-15
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
(NIV)

The most striking word in the above verse is “under compulsion”. Have you ever been threatened if you don’t pay tithes you will be cursed? That is “compulsion”. When a New Testament preacher uses Malachi 3: 8-9 to prove you must pay tithes or be curse, he is using “compulsion” and not rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  In short is he lying on God and using the Word deceiptfully to get personal gain.

But, what about......???

The question “pro-tither” will raise is this: “What about Abraham and what about Jacob, they paid tithes before the Law?” Answer: Abraham paid a tithe of the spoils of one war, only one time, and used none of his own wealth to pay the tenth part. Jacob made a deal with God that, IF God would bless him, save his life and bring him again to his land, he would once and only once, pay 10% of all he owned. So as we can see from the Word of God, neither example will support the argument that the Church is required to pay tithes. Or that the Church is under the Law of the Tithe.

Don’t mistake “Law of the Tithe” with “giving”. One is free will, the other a commandment. We are not under the the Law of the Tithe but under grace.

If you attend a church where they say you must pay to pray, the leave.

 Be blessed. Billy Wells