8 March 2005
Brother Noah, I just came across your site today
Hi Joyce,
thanks for stopping by. great to meet you :)
and what I'd like to know is concerning the 144,000: is it literal
it sure seems to me like it is.. a relatively small number like 144,000 certainly is an indictment against our current christian church system now, eh?
It all seems so "customized" now.. With this understanding, all of the verses and thoughts in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc talking about "falling away" now MAKE SENSE in reference to todays church. She HAS missed the boat.. She has been duped... She has been found to be lukewarm, and are about to be "spit out of His mouth - into the tribulation. A member of orthodoxy (or more specifically evangelical) beliefs think that all those verses have to apply to ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT THEMSELVES. But such a small number points out that these verses all apply not to only the ancient Hebrews, but also to the vast majority of the modern church.
and do we all have the opportunity to be in that number?
YES!!!!
You know, back in the 1970's, when I was in high school, the number one selling book for the decade? "The Late Great Planet Earth". Everyone was talking about the return of Jesus being "any minute"..
Now, 30 years later everyone is asking (or should be) "what is the delay"...?
The delay is that HE HASN'T FOUND enough people to meet the minumum number that He set to "get the show on the road." He has NOT YET found 144,000 mature (truely dedicated and committed) Christians who "follow the lamb wherever He leads".
Is God calling all of us to be in the firstfruits
YES indeed
Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
or could it be that it is too late for some-- maybe they disqualified themselves
do you see or remember anywhere that He talked in those terms? Maybe
Luke 12:47 That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
or
John 10:1
[ The Shepherd and His Flock ] ?I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Paul certainly had his opinions - Gal 5 comes to mind:
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
or...As a side note, someone had a dream or vision that seemed to indicate that the
firstfruits would be ready by Sept. 6, 2006.
The 2006 is certainly possible, but I don't think that a Sep rapture date is possible. For a number of scriptural reasons, we believe that the rapture of the firstfruits can happen only on one day - the 10th day of the Jewish month of Nisan. The Passover always falls on the 14th day of Nisan. So approx 6 days before what christians call easter. This was the day that the Jews were to "set aside" the lamb that was to be sacrificed on passover. More details are on the site and I can find them if you need about why it must be a spring date.
It also makes sense - what is 3 1/2 years after the spring time? the fall. Just in time for the feast of tabernacles - when the Lord will return to tabernacle with His people.
I appreciate your reply-- if you
haven't guessed, I want to be in that number! A sister in the Lord Jesus
Joyce R.
AMEN!! I join with you sister in making THAT a worthy goal to shoot for and to help and encourage others to attain the same..
Blessings 2 U :)
Noah Russell