What's in your future?

The times they are a-changing. (In case anybody perceives that as an ungrammatical sentence, I'll advise you those are song lyrics). The evidence starts adding up that we seem to be approaching the end times. Sure, people have been predicting the end of the world for a long time. Religions have been born from such bogus forecasts. A few years ago the members of a group in Korea sold all their property to get ready for the return of Jesus. I don't get that. If he was returning, what use was their money going to be?

Many Christians have the idea that Jesus is going to swoop down and rescue the believers before any bad stuff happens. Is that Biblical? There's a lot of argument on the topic. I have met a new friend and brother in the Lord who boldly goes where no man wants to go. He is predicting that Christians are going to face a lot of persecution (they already are in many foreign countries, but this show could be coming to the US of A sometime soon).
I'd like you to meet Joe Ortiz:

Former Talk Show Host Writes Book Challenging the Politics of Evangelicals

Redlands, CA - A former Los Angeles-based talk show host and Public Relations Consultant has written a book that challenges the evangelical doctrine that attempts to influence the U.S.’s political decisions concerning the state of Israel. Joe Ortiz, the first Mexican American to host and English-language talk show on a commercial radio station, claims evangelicals who support the dispensational, premillennial doctrine have been misinformed by proponents who have misinterpreted the Bible.

Ortiz (an Indio, California native) claims in his book, The End Times Passover (published by Author House) that careful scrutiny of the Bible proves that the Promised Land is not in the Middle East, the state of Israel is not God’s time piece to Armageddon, that there will be no Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and that God’s true disciples will experience great tribulation.

“Right wing evangelicals who promote the Left Behind doctrine (like Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Hal Lindsey and others), believe the State of Israel is key to Bible prophecy,” said Ortiz. “The proponents of this erroneous doctrine have unwittingly been pounding their theological hammers on U.S. foreign policy for over a century, only to drive a bigger wedge between Jews and Arabs who want peace in the Middle East.

Ortiz stated his book is not a politically-motivated treatise designed to influence people to choose sides between Palestinians or Jews. He said his is an academic polemic designed for people to recognize their role should be one of peacemakers rather than promoting military solutions to a feud that’s been going on for centuries. He said his research was based on analyzing the etymology of key words in the Bible that prove conclusively that the Left Behind notion promoted by many evangelicals begins to fall apart when examined carefully.

“It took over 20 years of research to provide conclusive answers to the premillennial, dispensational debate,” said Ortiz. The author’s media experience includes more than 20 years of news reporting and hosting programs on TV and radio, as well as writing for a syndicated publisher in California. Ortiz claims that “when those preachers and teachers of Bible prophecy read this book, they will soon realize they have been promoting a militant and destructive doctrine instead of a genuine gospel of peace.”

Joe has also written a sequel called Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation
You can get more information and his books on his blog at:

http://groups.msn.com/TheEndTimesPassover

Is the future etched in concrete? Is there anything we can do to alter what is coming through repentance and prayer? Let me point out one sobering detail: John the Baptist led the way for Christ. He was beheaded. Jesus came next and was crucified. Ten of the original twelve apostles were executed. Paul was as well. Do you see a pattern here. Not exactly the picture that is painted when the pastor says - with everyone's eyes shut and no looking around the room - is there anyone out there who wants to give their heart to Jesus? Just slip up your hand.

I'm not a prophetic person, but I am able to look at facts and make sense of them and predict what could happen. Here is what I see as a possibility (and this is not original thinking on my part) Christians who stand for their faith will continue to reject evolution, the homosexual agenda, abortion, etcetera. In a world crying out for peace and unity they will stick out as a sore thumb as troublemakers. The only way for peace to break out is to remove the people causing the problem so the rest of society can get along with their attitude of anything goes. But surely our constitution doesn't permit that kind of thing. You're right; it doesn't. But people in high places are making their own interpretations of the Constitution that would make our founding fathers roll over in their graves.

Are people like Joe Ortiz doing anyone a favor by sounding the alarm about approaching tribulation? I truly believe that if one isn't ready for it and it does arrive, that it will be extremely difficult to stand firm in the faith. Many would choose temporary safety to save their lives, so they can die of cancer or AIDS or in a car accident. I don't want to face a guillotine or some other lethal method of dispatching rebels, but even less do I want to deny Christ.
We were born in order to die.Publish Post I just hope I have the courage to die like Stephen if faced with such a decision.

Leonard Ravenhill Quotes

Great RAVENHILL QUOTES
-Leonard Ravenhill.

“A popular evangelist reaches your emotions. A true prophet
reaches your conscience.”

“The last words of Jesus to the church (in Revelation) were ‘Repent!’”

“A true shepherd leads the way. He does not merely point the way.”

“Your doctrine can be as straight as a gun barrel—and just as empty!”

“John the Baptist never performed any miracles. Yet, he was greater
than any of the Old Testament prophets.”

“I doubt that more than two percent of professing Christians in the
United States are truly born again.”

“Our God is a consuming fire. He consumes pride, lust, materialism,
and other sin.”

“There are only two kinds of persons: those dead in sin and those dead to sin.”

[Concerning the darkness that has enveloped most of Christendom:]
“When you’re sitting in a dark room, you can either sit and curse the
darkness—or you can light a candle.”

“Children can tell you what Channel 7 says, but not what Matthew 7 says.”

“Some women will spend thirty minutes to an hour preparing for
church externally (putting on special clothes and makeup, etc.).
What would happen if we all spent the same amount of time
preparing internally for church—with prayer and meditation?”

“Maturity comes from obedience, not necessarily from age.”

“What good does it do to speak in tongues on Sunday if you have
been using your tongue during the week to curse and gossip?”

“The only time you can really say that ‘Christ is all I need,’ is when
Christ is all you have.”

“The Bible is either absolute, or it’s obsolete.”

“Why do we expect to be better treated in this world than Jesus was?”

“Today’s church wants to be raptured from responsibility.”

“Testimonies are wonderful. But, so often our lives don’t fit our testimonies.”

[Concerning one of the new “movements” in the church that was
causing a stir among Christians:] “There’s also a stir when the
circus comes to town.”

“My main ambition in life is to be on the Devil’s most wanted list.”

“You can’t develop character by reading books. You develop it from conflict.”

“When there’s something in the Bible that churches don’t like,
they call it ‘legalism.’”

“We can’t serve God by proxy.”

“We must do what we can do for God, before He will give us the
power to do what we can’t do.”

“There’s a difference between changing your opinion, and changing
your lifestyle.”

“Our seminaries today are turning out dead men.”

“How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don’t even have
the strength to turn off your TV?”

“Everyone recognizes that Stephen was Spirit-filled when he was
performing wonders. Yet, he was just as Spirit-filled when he was
being stoned to death.”

“If a Christian is not having tribulation in the world, there’s
something wrong!”

[Concerning the fixation that today’s church has with numbers,
with growth at any price:] “The church has paid a terrible price for
statistics!”

“Any method of evangelism will work—if God is in it.”

“Church unity comes from corporate humility.”

“You can have all of your doctrines right—yet still not have the
presence of God.”

“Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But
do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me,
saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously’?”

“If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach
today, He would never have been crucified.”

“You can know a lot about the atonement, and yet receive no benefit from it.”

“If the whole church goes off into deception, that will in no way
excuse us for not following Christ.”

RAVENHILL's MOST POWERFUL BOOK - "Why Revival Tarries".

~SOURCE - http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/Ravenhill.html

Florida Revival - or Deception

A short time ago I got an electronic newsletter with an article about a revival happening down in Florida. I read the story with great interest. It would be wonderful to have God pouring his Spirit out upon his people. Stories of miracles abounded. More material followed from different sources. I actually watched a news story (yes – the press actually reported on something going on in church!) about the outpouring. Then I watched a video of some of the action. An aura of skepticism descended upon me. The man leading the revival, Todd Bentley, spent a lot of time yelling and playing up a miracle that a woman testified to. It was more like a carnival/circus environment than a tribute to Jesus. A man divided against himself is very uncomfortable. After watching this I was involved in an internal tug-of-war. I went on like that for a couple of weeks until I ran across a website called The Revival School ( www.revivialschool.com ). I read a lot of informative posts concerning the Florida "revival". I was even able to get a book written touching on it by Andrew Strom entitled True and False Revival. I read that book immediately when it arrived. I was no longer divided. Strom makes a clear cut case that what is happening down in Florida is not designed by the Lord. One thing to consider however is that God still might be working on some people in the midst of that mirage.

Ironically, I had a chance to participate in the Toronto outpouring back in the 90's. Coincidentally my company sent me to Toronto on an assignment at the same time my local pastors were visiting in Toronto. That was enough of a sign that I needed to attend one of the meetings to propel me into action. The service started at 7:00 PM. We left around 2:00 AM. My pastor was inflected with "holy laughter". He couldn't stop giggling. I was almost completely untouched by the experience, except the fact that people barking like dogs gave me much fuel for my skeptical fireplace. The dogs and other wild animals are being manifested down in Florida as well.

It is wonderful to see people seeking the Lord and wanting to be with Him. In this type of scenario, however, I had to question whether people were seeking God or seeking experiences (can we read signs here?) Jesus said it is an adulterous generation that seeks a sign. That always gives me pause to think – especially when I want to lay out my own personal fleece.

This situation leaves me in a state of confusion. How can two factions of the Lord's body be so diametrically opposed? What is going on here? This passage of scripture was mentioned more than once: Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Scary words. But words that need to be heeded. How do you judge this situation? Compare what Jesus taught with what is happening in Florida. Who is getting the glory down there? And who is reaping the financial benefits? And are the miracles being reported real?

I could go on here and talk about this situation but I feel others are much more qualified to speak on the subject. What I will say is that I'm convinced that the end is approaching. Everyone has to decide for himself/herself where truth lies. I just pray that you don't make such decisions hastily and without due caution. So check out the Revival School and read about revival which involves personal penitence, Godly sorrow, and holiness. God does perform miracles – but not on demand in the center ring of a circus.