I obviously cannot cover all world religion in one short article but I think that I can adequately convince most real Christians that mankind displays its depravity in world religions.
Human Depravity in Christendom
About a third of the world identify as Christian but most in Christendom never had a spiritual rebirth into the body of Christ. These false Christians are self-deceived. The proof that they are false Christian is that in one way or another they are still trying to earn their own salvation. False Christians have not been born of the Spirit. They are still dead in their fallen fleshly depraved human nature (Col 2:13, Eph 2:1-2, Eph 5:8, Rom 3:23, Rom 5:12-15, Ps 51:5, Gen 6:5, Gen 6:11, Mk 7:21, Jer 7:9, Ecc 7:20 Gal 5:17).
About fifty percent in Christendom identify as Roman Catholics. They do not believe that Christ paid for all sin on the cross. They believe they have to do something to get their own sins forgiven. One recent proof that they believe this is that Pope Francis recently declared that during his proclaimed Jubilee year Roman Catholics can have all their sins forgiven by walking through holy doors. Obviously then, the Pope is teaching that Jesus did not pay for all sin, but, obedience to his own decrees get your sins forgiven. That is nothing but Blasphemy. The Pope is a false prophet and people who believe this absurd doctrine are deceived by their religion.
Either Jesus paid the price for forgiveness of our sins or you are still separated from God by your sin. You cannot pay for sin by doing something yourself. If you could, Jesus would have never needed to come and die to be God’s Lamb sacrifice for mankind’s sin. This is what the Pope wrote:
To experience and obtain the Indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the Diocesan Bishop, and in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a sign of the deep desire for true conversion. Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence may be obtained in the Shrines in which the Door of Mercy is open and in the churches which traditionally are identified as Jubilee Churches. It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world.
No one in true Christianity would think that doctrine of indulgences for sin comes from God. Catholic sheeple need to see the Light. They think that Christianity allows for a priesthood clergy, prayers for the dead, worship of Mary and the saints, purgatory doctrines, infallible vicars of Christ on earth, grace from holy water and images, rote prayers, grace from saying the Rosary, indulgences for sin, adoration of a cracker as Christ, etc, etc,. True Christianity doesn’t allow for any of that. Many of the teaching of Roman Catholicism are antichrist.
Catholics believe they have to do what their church tells them to do to get their sins forgiven. If they are still trying to get from their religion what Christ already paid for, they are not yet forgiven, and thus they cannot be in Christ.
Those counting on superstition, ritual, sacraments and their church leaders to give them brownie points and merit badges to earn salvation prove that they are still depraved. These have not put on the mind of Christ. There should be no doubt that those that trust in any works based religion for their salvation are not in Christ. They are still among the depraved.
The gospel (good news) is that Jesus paid the price for all sin with His sinless sacrifice of Himself on the cross. Roman Catholic blasphemies in the largest religion on earth displays human depravity in world religions that even identify as Christian.
The Orthodox church’s are no better. They make up over 10 percent of Christendom. They also have a false gospel of works and rituals. So, we already identified 2/3rd of Christendom as having a false gospel that leaves them in their depravity and we have not even got to the Protestants yet. Yes, there may be some exceptions in the Catholic religions but one has to wonder why truly saved people that have access to the Bible and its truths would stay in a system of harlotry.
Probably less than one half of Protestant churches still teach the gospel of salvation as it is defined by the foundation builders of the Church in the New Testament. Further, even in the churches that still do teach biblical salvation doctrine many in their membership never had a spiritual rebirth into the Body of Christ.
I think at least 2/3rd of those claiming to be Protestants just have some identification with Christianity, a denomination, or a church. They have never been born of the Spirit. That is evident by the unbiblical rubbish and the sinful lifestyles that these people support.
Protestant sheeple need to see the Light. Why do most of you support all the anti-biblical social programs of the far left? Don’t you know that the Progressive movement is based on Communist socialism and that Communism breaks every one of God’s Ten Commandments? And why do even so many right-wing Protestants believe that God is dependent on you? Jesus is not calling you and telling you things that add to his already revealed word. God is not giving new revelation through Osteen, Jakes, Copeland. Meyer, Moore and ilk, Many of you say you are Christian but you seem to have nothing more than deceitful and presumptions religion.
Now do the math. If what I say is true, the vast majority of those identifying with Christianity are not in the spiritual Body of Christ at all. Therefore, I confidently believe that the number one religion in the world (called Christianity) is mostly full of unsaved depraved people.
Ever wonder why there are few “Christians” that believe in the biblical doctrine of the pretribulation Rapture anymore? Maybe it is because only about ten percent that identify with Christianity will be going in the Rapture. The rest will remain here because they are members of the religious Harlot of Revelation 17.
Human Depravity in Islam:
Islam is the number 2 religion in the world and its doctrine shows that those that believe in Islam are depraved. Control freaks run everything, and everything is about submission to the control freaks.
Muslims would claim their submission is to Allah but Allah is just a deity that the control freaks made up. No moon-god named Allah even exists. YHWH is God, and Yeshua is His Son. Those in Islam are depraved and they show their depravity in their laws, their brutality, their hatred, and the violence that they support. They are separated from YHWH by their sins. They don’t know YHWH or His Son. In fact, even the Muslims will claim that God has no Son.
Any religion that believes God will reward people with sex in heaven for murdering people is depraved. Any religion that treats humans in the manner that Islam teaches is totally depraved.
Islam is the most depraved religion on earth. It really is more a fascist brainwashing cult led by evil people who want to take over the world by force than it is any religion. Islam shows that there is human depravity in world religions like no other religion on earth.
Human Depravity in Eastern Religion and Related Spiritualism:
Those identifying with Christianity or Islam make up 55 to 60 percent of the people on earth. What we mostly have left are those in various eastern religions and non believers in God.
God already called the latter group fools (Ps 53:1), so what else needs to be added? People that do not believe in God are about 10 to 15 percent of the world.
Most of the thirty percent of people on earth that remain are in one of the eastern religions of Polytheism and Pantheism. They claim to have encounters with spirits and forces, or they worship the creation rather than the Creator. Some worship themselves as some evolving spirit being. New Age, Mormonism, spiritualism, etc., can all be thrown into the same category of the eastern isms. These are blind guides leading the blind (Rom 1). They learn methods to communicate with spirits or to contemplate voices in their minds but they do not know God. These are lost depraved people deceived by the black light of their father the Devil.
Mankind’s total depravity is reflected by human depravity in world religions. Maybe about 5 percent of the present population of the world has overcome their depravity by trusting in Jesus to save them from their fallen sinful nature. You must trust in God’s Christ and be born of the Spirit to have any fellowship with God. Those not in Christ are still sinfully depraved.
Only Jesus was given the mandate from Father God to intervene for the fallen depraved son of Adam. Jesus, as the last Adam, intervened by paying the full price for all the sin’s of the fallen Adamic race. Jesus also will intervene at the end of the age otherwise the depravity of mankind would bring about the destruction of every creature on earth (Mt 24:22).
Jesus is the Savior that God sent to save mankind from its depravity and only individuals that place their trust in Jesus will be delivered from their sinful human depravity and the depravity found in mankind’s world religions.
If you have not trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. You need to. We all need to turn from our own self-righteous efforts to appease God and instead trust in God’s righteousness to provide a way for forgiveness of our sins?
That way was provided through the God/man Jesus with the sacrifice of Himself on the cross to atone for mankind’s sins. The proof that this sacrifice was acceptable to God was that Jesus rose from the dead and is now sitting with the Father in Heaven. When the number in the Bride given to Him is completed (the believing Church), Jesus will first come to get her. Then after the marriage in heaven and the tribulation plays out on earth, they will come together to rule the earth.
You can now be saved by calling on Jesus and trusting in Him for your salvation. There is no other name given under heaven whereby we all must be saved (Ac 4:12). If you deny this gift of salvation from God, you are calling God a liar and you remain in your human depravity.
Amen to that!
Matthew 7:13
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
Matthew 7:14
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Don, think u left out a .. nt .. in doesn’t
True Christianity does allow for any of that.
Yep, my proof reader is taking a nap. I fixed it.
I was going to erase my pointing it out by watching the count down clock then u commented now I can’t. lol. I got a question, the people that are left behind then are martyred for Christ, now are those the only one’s that are going to repopulate in the Millennium? Or all of us take part in that? Being the raptured also.
Bill,
The Bride of Christ will become immortals like the Angels in heaven. And I suppose those that were beheaded in the tribulation will also be risen immortal. These will not have children to repopulate the earth. Those that will repopulate the earth will be natural Jews that lived through the Tribulation and Gentiles that lived through the tribulation and demonstrated hospitality toward the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists that were preaching the Gospel of the coming Kingdom to the whole world.
That’s what it is, the one’s that make it thru the tribulation but just the Jews, I thought it was gentiles too. I was listening to Less Feldick last year quit a bit, he spoke on that subject. I believe if I remember correctly, that he said both. Tomatoes or tomatoes we all will find out. Just as long as I get on out of here. 😉
Hi Don,
I was raised a Catholic and went to 8 years of Catholic grade school. As soon as I got to public school, I never looked back at the Catholic church. I was never born again and never told I needed to be. The Catholic church is truly a cult in every sense of the word. I am not saying that there are not many born again believers (I hope) but the numbers must be few as their “Religious System” (which Christ hates) leads you away from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I was truly born again at the age of 26 and I am so thankful for my salvation and the great price that Jesus paid to provide it for me.
The Just shall live by Faith. Who are the just? The ones who accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for their forgiveness of sins. (also the OT believers who looked to the blood sacrifice offerings and accepted by faith that the promised Redeemer would come in the future.)
What is Faith? It is stepping out and accepting something that you do not fully understand but believe that it is truth.
Also, what is Grace? It is a free gift that we get by Faith even though we don’t deserve it!
Oh what a great salvation we have in Jesus Christ!
Rev 18:4 COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!
I am now 65 and I am looking up and lifting up my head! Looking for His appearing!
Bill,
If you read what I said you would see that I said Gentiles that survive the tribulation and are allowed to remain on earth after the sheep/goat judgment also repopulate the earth.
Don Palmer,
Sounds like you has a similar experience as me.
I recently read a book that goes into extreme detail of the history of the Catholic church and her popes and doctrines. Suffice it to say that the Catholic church has committed so many atrocities in the past (and still do) that it is chilling and mind-numbing. The depravity of the popes (those who call themselves the Vicar of Christ on Earth) is unparalleled. Even those that history showed beyond a reasonable doubt to be depraved are still listed in church history as “Vicars of Christ.” Go figure. The Catholic church never admits to any wrongdoing.
If the average Catholic would just do a little research of their own church history, they would be aghast at what they would find. Sadly, it is probable that the average Catholic has never read the Bible (I know theirs is different, but I don’t know what those differences are – I’m too busy studying my own Bible) and they have no idea what it says. They rely on their priests to tell them what’s in there – just like in the Dark Ages.
So many people think the Catholic church is THE church that began with Peter and the Apostles, which is par for the course with the “sheeple” who would rather be told what to believe than to work at finding out the truth. Don’t Catholics get tired of having to “work” so hard for their salvation? It never ends for them, and they can’t even be sure then. So sad!
I enjoyed your article, Don, as I do all your articles. You are one of the very few who speaks the absolute truth and I look forward to your opinions. I’m so tired of politically correct people who don’t want to take a stand against anything but true Christianity. The only way to the Father is through the Son. But that’s way too restrictive for this depraved world.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The Catholic church has and continues to devour billions of lost souls. No wonder the false prophet is thrown into the lake of fire.
Don,
It is a pleasure and a thrill to be on this end as a reader of your blog posts, especially when you open up both barrels on the harlot.
In any case, I have a question… Since you have laid out some numbers / percentages on current population numbers…
Regarding the people during the tribulation (well, the first half, at least) that are beheaded (and, I guess those that die of other causes — after that rapture that is) — what do you think are the numbers / percentages of the population of these that end up in heaven, washed in white, as described by Apostle John?
The reason I bring this up is that I think those numbers could be significant if not daunting, certainly compared to the abysmal numbers of those saved (5%, if I recall from above?) that you lay out in your blog.
And correct any ignorances on my part (I’m just typing this off the cuff).
Blessings to all…
Don,
My bad. You did say gentiles too. I must of read over it too fast. that’s what u get when u multitask. Excellent post by Don Palmer & Linda. Craig P too! Great question.
I don’t know if this is true? But I seen on a video on u-tube that the gov’t bought 30,000 guillotines…
Revelation 20:4 “..And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God,..”
Craig P,
The Numbers that are saved during the Great Tribulation are so great that no man could number them according to Revelation, so I would think that there will be billions. Keep in mind that we do not get into the eternal state until after the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on earth. There could be tens or even hundreds of billions more born and saved during this period with the ideal conditions that will be on earth.
The Bride/Church is just the leadership for the thousand year reign. The purpose for which the earth was created will happen after the Lord takes His Throne. The numbers of people saved will be like the sands on the sea shore during this period. Even so, keep in mind that there is a difference between Heaven or the Holy City made for the Bride and the New Earth where most of the people saved during the millennium will occupy after the White Throne Judgment.
Amen! Amen! Good message. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Great article. I am confused on one issue. If you try to get someone to except the Gospel
of Grace and they reject it – will they have a second chance after the rapture?
11 Thessalonians 2:11?
I was thinking about asking that very question. I have heard that they will be deceived by a delusion, referencing 2 thess 2:11 but I hope & I do pray for individuals in my circle’s that are rejecting God right now that they will be saved in the trib. Even though they may not be. Maybe that’s where God’s mercy could come into play? One of the area’s.
the article is right on point, im 30 years old and my group of friends are all unbelievers, none of them even know what the rapture is and they all say the bible is old school and fake. I’m astonished by their ignorance sometimes and i even cut off my friendship with half of them.
Hi Don, all,
Thanks for the reply.
Hmmm… seems like we (the bride) have a pretty impressive eternity / position / role ahead of us.
Just gotta get through the next how-ever-many years/days (I’m thinking I will probably be taken before the rapture, if you know what I mean — at least, here in America).
I should enjoy my Willy’s CJ while I can, I guess (I can’t take this all too seriously, as scary as it is, seemingly).
Take care.
Don,
Do you think the analogy Jesus mentioned about the narrow vs wide gate will be reversed in the millennium, or will most people still be unsaved during this time?
Btw I moved to your old hometown for college…can’t say I’m impressed with the city or the snow lol. I’ll be sure to leave as soon as I’m finished.
donni and Bill,
God does not lose any of His own. Most of us have had many chances to receive Jesus until we finally did. If people believe the two witnesses, or the preaching of the 144,000 they will spiritually saved although it will probably mean that they will lose their mortal life.
God sends the strong delusion to those that will not receive the truth. The delusion is sent so the sons of the Devil will believe a lie and not come to Jesus and be saved. Read 2Th chapter 2.
Jim,
All that go into the millennial Kingdom are believers. Even so, some of their children will be deceived by the Devil after the thousand year reign and rebel. One thing that you might keep in mind, is that in the passage that you are referring to, Jesus was talking to Jews. The context of that passage is implying that most of the Jews would not find salvation through the Messiah given to them.
I think we Christians like to take passages directed at a specific people for a specific time and make it a general statement to all. That is not good hermeneutics. We must determine who God is talking to and apply correct understanding.
God created man for a reason. The Devil planted some tares in the field where the sons of God would mature but I have never seen a harvest where the tares outnumbered the wheat. It certainly will not happen during the period when the Lord is reigning.
Thanks for the clarification.
Don,
In what the pope stated in the quote you mentioned in this article…
“It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world.”
Prayer for ME ?
If he is the vicar of Christ and has direct correspondence to Christ himself, why is he asking for prayer for himself by us lessor minions ?…couldn’t he just send an email to Christ and get more anointing and insight from the divine Himself ?
I am not fond of any of the Popes and their nonsense that I have seen in my lifetime…is he so self absorbed that he wants all to pray for him ?…then again, with the Pontif’s real standing in the Body Of Christ, he likely needs all the prayer he can get.
In fact, July 2013, Pope Francis offered those who follow him on Twitter for a specific event, some time off in Purgatory, so for those of us who don’t have a Twitter account, I guess no time off in the Catholic invented fantasyland of purgatory.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vatican-get-time-off-in-purgatory-by-following-pope-on-twitter/
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I am not particularly astute in all of the aspects of pagan/satanic world religions, but for me I have found somewhat of a common denominator for most, if not all of them.
They all want their followers to jump through various hoops to attain their proposed nirvana…but really, these hoops are to further a demonic agenda, including world dominance via their theology.
True Christianity is the only one that is based on faith and belief, above all…which makes Christianity the most complex for many, even among self proclaimed Christians.
Jesus Christ did the “works” for us, so it is incumbent for us believers to seek Him with all of our mind, soul, and spirit.
And, for many lukewarm Christians, this presents a widespread apathy because of misunderstanding by these lukewarm Christians, from what I’ve observed.
While Christians must have faith and belief in Christ to attain Salvation, it does not stop there in my opinion.
Galatians 5:22 – 23 define the fruits of the spirit….these Fruits can not be something that a true Christian can strive to be….these fruits are freely given to believers who love the Lord Jesus with all their mind, soul, and spirit.
The gifts that a true Christ Loving Christian receives are not tangible, I have found that they are an awareness of ultimate truth…something that nothing tangible can compete with.
I have found for myself that I have a daily accountability to The Lord Jesus in everything that I say or do…this in no way implies that I am without sin, quite the opposite, it does show me how sinful I am and that I must repent…there simply is nothing on this earth that can compete with my daily accountability with Jesus Christ.
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Islam…
The ultimate in works based theology.
I have to give credit to Islam for convincing an entire culture to kill themselves and others to reach their nirvana wonderland.
Obviously a lot of thought went into creating this demonic foundational belief system, and it works as we are seeing today worldwide.
Most Muslims have never even read the Quran, nor will they….as they blindly follow what their taskmasters tell them.
For example, it is NOT written anywhere in the Quran that when one martyrs themselves, they will receive 72 virgins…yet, the ill informed Muslims follow this doctrine as if it were fact.
If one tries to tell an acting Muslim that there is no mention of receiving 72 virgins in their books, they will get hostile…even if one tries to show them.
Islam, from what I’ve learned has a very effective back up plan for those who are not inclined to martyr themselves….the Islamic taskmasters simply threaten their family and loved ones to the point that a Muslim who rejects martyrdom has no choice.
The list goes on with Islam…bottom line, Satan has found a prime vehicle to do his bidding with Islam.
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In my view, whether it be Islam, Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, etc…they are all selling the same thing but have differing methods to get their followers to comply with their demonic ideologies.
This Pope very well could be the False Prophet that promotes the Beast.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/is-jesuit-pope-frances-the-antichrist-or-the-false-prophet.html
At the very least he is probably the most qualified false prophet of our time.
I am quite puzzled at the lack of deep coverage and analysis of the implications and ramifications of the new islamic london mayor i am certainn this will affect the rest of europe and THE USA!!!still no real schock or indignatino on either the press or even here in this great dicussion blog STRANGE Professor Helmer Rdriguez
Helmer,
Foreign born people make up 40 percent of London and the numbers are climbing so it was inevitable. Muslims are in much higher positions in the USA and we are less than 2 percent Muslim. The appeasement of Islam in the “Christian” West is what is truly shocking.
When the rights of transsexuals become the main concern of the government but it still has the support of the majority of people why would anyone expect sanity? The “progressive” left shows that they are categorically insane. Even so, they seem to have won the cultural war in the West. Romans chapter one applies.
Hello Helmer,
We seem to live in a world, and a United States of America that is terrified of declaring facts for the sake of political correctness.
The famous red double-decker buses in London now declare, for all Londoner’s to see, on some of their buses “Glory to Allah”.
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/05/08/london-buses-declare-glory-allah/
If that is not enough, right here in the USA, our very own CIA Chief is a converted Muslim…John Brennan.
Many more stories are available for all to see, but negative or contrary talk regarding Islam seems to have an unwritten law attached to it…forbidding anything against Islam.
Islam is doing exactly what they set out to do, they are infiltrating many nations effectively in the name of their caliphate….to take over the world, so they think.
We obviously know that they are winning many battles along the way, but Islam will lose the war in the end.
Don,
I have been following you and have read through a chunk of your articles for about 2 months now. I have also gone through Jack Kelly’s articles too. Thank you so much for putting in your time and further the kingdom of God with His truth.
Forgive me for my ignorance and I am sorry if you have to repeat yourself, but I do have a few questions on the rapture, that I haven’t put quite in order yet. I am not sure if my thinking is not quite right or if the people who claim to be Christians around me are not quite in line with the scripture. I see many Christians who still watch tv and tv programming that doesn’t glorify God, or listening to mainstream Christian music that really isn’t about God or contradicts scripture. My question is, are they people being raptured? Or who really gets raptured? Do the people who claim to be Christians but live by the bare minimum of a relationship with God get raptured too?
Not that comparing is good, but sometimes I see how much the Lord has changed my life, so much so that most people tell me that I am going to the extreme when I make life changes to sell all my things and move to an apartment to pay off debt. I find debt to be against what the scripture teaches and the principles laid out by God. Also most people look at me strange when I tell them that there are messages behind music and the way music effects people emotions and feelings and thinking, and don’t believe me.
I guess I don’t know when people are just being “sinners saved by grace” or when they really are not a Christian either. I know that all of this is in scripture, but an example of what this looks like in real life would be helpful or how to discern it too? Most of the time, I don’t see Jesus being represented well and I am not sure of if these people who live the comfortable life will be raptured or not?
What does the scripture that talks about the great falling away of faith/truth mean to those Christians who believe in their heart that Jesus died for them but they are following the false teachers/prophets that are in the world-thinking they are from God? What happens to them? I just recently left a church that was “Spirit-led” but they were starting to follow the charismatic movement of songs that repeated many stanzas and loud singing and people, yet none of the sermons brought conviction or changed hearts. I even talked to that pastor about some of his sermons where he plagiarized a false teacher word for word without giving the false teacher credit, but stating that his own sermons were from God. I don’t think the pastor has wrong intentions, but do think he is deceived and so is the congregation. And even still, I left that church and now, I have tried to get together with people there, who I thought were my friends or family per say, but they won’t even return my phone calls. I am shocked this is how “Christians” behave-I guess for only being 30 years old, I expected more maturity from believers especially when they have walked with the Lord for many years, and my they consider a baby of walking with the Lord only 2.5 years. I also thought there was only one real way to interpret scripture (what is this called?), but they had many views. It was thoroughly a confusing experience, that the Lord has since removed me. Praise the Lord.
Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to read my message, and any feedback that you have, I appreciate.
What would happen if “Glory To Allah” was written on public transportation vehicles right here in the United States ?….I think we know absolutely nothing would be done about it.
What would happen if “Jesus Is Lord” was written on public transportation vehicles right here in the United States ?…I think we know that the outcry of “Separation of Church and State” would be so loud by the American public that it would be deleted off of public transportation vehicles immediately.
Personally, I think an event like this would be a prime opportunity to educate our public what “Separation of Church and State” was meant to be by our forefathers, and it’s true definition.
Yea David I know,
The so called ‘church’ would DO nothing we can bet on that.
On our news lately a church was struck down by a tornado & it got rebuilt & God was looking out for them because if it didn’t happen the floor would of caved in sooner then later, (structural beams) it was a God send that the church was destroyed by tornado but in brief interviews no one mentioned God or Christ just said ‘we were blessed’ I was waiting for a public confession or something but nothing just “we were blessed” or “we were fortunate, thank goodness”.
Sport stars give the Lord more praise then those particular church members. It pleases me to see athletes give God the glory.
It was like they didn’t want to offend anyone so just keep it very general. You make a great point. People would say “well that’s okay”
Hi Brenda,
I have to keep this brief because I am away from my computer and have work to do.
The simple and true answer is those that are actually born of the Spirit will be going in the raptue. Those born from above are the body of Christ on earth. The Lord will not leave his bride body behind.
As I said in the article, most that identify with Christianity have never been born of the Spirit And are not part of the Bride. These will be left behind to go through the great trial that will come upon all that dwell on the earth.
I do not belive that there is any inerrent way for us to determine what people actually believe in their heart. The Lord knows those given to Him.
The great falling away is not talking about true Christians falling away from the faith. Actually the word means the departure. I think it is talking about the departure of belivers in the Rapture
Brenna,
You will know true Christians by the fruit of the Spirit, if their watching garbage on tv regularly & it doesn’t even phase them especially after u lovingly point it out to them it’s more then likely their not born of the Spirit. Doesn’t mean your judging them your just reading the signs.
You are right there definitely are messages in music and tv programs. Designed to get the public to accept a status que of what the elites of this world want, it’s also programming to make it easier to be deceived after the rapture. If u pay attention u can see it, I can see that u are.
Also people want to remain comfortable in their skin or I should say sin, that’s why they don’t follow up w/ you. You ask too many question!! Like why are u watching that sinful show? Or How does that song glorify God? I mean how dare u ask such pointed questions u must be judging us?
Your not alone, a true Christian would see their own fault’s and change their behavior. Keep at it though, I lovingly correct my wife she bites back at the time then gives way eventually. Why, I have her now repenting in the beginning of her prayers now if she wants them answered or to be heard. It never really dawned on her to repent ever, she’s catholic, that’s why.
But, no, those people won’t for sure be caught up in the rapture. You might be w/ them one day and BOOM! Where’d she go?? You’ll be in the air looking down and they will & I also have ‘Christian’ friends that will literally be crapping their pants a minute into the rapture.
Stay real & keep looking up… BOOM !
Bill,
I hate to tell you but you seem to want to add works to salvation.
Jesus said you can know false prophets of Isreal by their fruits. He was not saying that you can know who are or are not Christian by looking for fruit. Do you expect baby Christians to have fruits? And just when is the time to do the fruit inspecting? When they are on a mountain top or when they are going through a crises? Or maybe you can judge the fruit of people with defective brains, for example the fruit of the retarted or those with early altzheimers?
We all have our own unique baggage,burdens and defects to carry around related to the body of flesh that we occupy and the environment issues that it was exposed to. Until you have walked a few miles in another Christians shoes you really are not qualified to evaluate them. Jesus is.
It is not what you think that defines a Christian. The Lord knows who are His and He looks at the heart.
Hi Don,
I got that mixed up then, false prophets, false Christians, I assumed if u see someone acting like the world rejecting any gospel or talk of it but they say, Hey I go to church though, hung over but I’m there. I cant see their heart only God can.
I see what your saying, works cut both ways, I was judging someone’s works as a qualifier or dis-qualifier because their living as the world does. Your right to call me on that. I was pretty bad for a long time until I hit bottom then I got where I am now, relationship wise w/ the father. I often remember how I thought in various other situations & compare it to how I am now. And thank God for changing me. But I would of been left behind in those day’s even though I was a (weak) Christian.
That’s good u corrected me, I want u too.
Bill,
I hate to keep doing this to you but how weak a Christian do you have to be to be left behind?
It seems to me that you are either a new creation in Christ or you are not. If you are born of the Spirit and in the Bride I do not think Jesus is going to deny Himself. The two are one flesh, I speak of Jesus and his bride Church.,
If Jesus only takes us when we are living holy what makes any of know for sure that we will be in that state when He comes? Not much of a blessed hope for some unless we somehow learn to keep our act together Every mininute. Huh?
Wow, pretty interesting. If we are born of the spirit then we were born of the spirit before the foundation of the Universe/earth and it’s been about Him getting His bride ready.. thus getting us to where He wants us to be individually and together as a body.
So now I’m I closer?
So when the Father say’s it’s time Jesus shouts “Come up hither” ready or not here we come! We all go up regardless the condition we may or may not be in…right then? Then we are judged accordingly not for salvation just for rewards or lack of..
This is only for His own that is. If we are then we feel a pull towards Him whether we fight it or whatever but eventually succumb to His will. By our own free will we choose & accept His will. We Just say okay. Obedience.
Now I believe I got it, finally!
Don,
I agree with you that the physical remnant of true, born again believers will be a tithe (ten percent) of confessing Christianity. It makes sense as God always preserves a remnant for Himself.
Bill,
Its really not like that at all.
True Christians are predestined to be saved but all humans are dead in sin until they hear and believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and that He fulfilled all that was said about Him in the scriptures.
Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that all believers of all dispensations of time become members of the Bride of Christ. In this dispensation of Grace, God is calling out the predestined that He elected to rule with His Son. They are the ones that will go in the Rapture to take part in the Marriage in heaven. That is what we are really talking about when saying those in Christ are saved by Grace through faith by the Holy Spirit and placed into the Bride/Body of Christ.
There still will be countless other people saved on earth but they are not part of the Bride.
Hi Don,
Predestined to be saved not all of His chosen are saved just yet but their predestined.
He’ll I’m sure will get all of His chosen elect to that point one way or another thru His divine will. That’s why He sends storms into peoples lives to humble their (our) hearts towards Him. His elect are the bride, others get storms too but that’s to save them, all are invited.
Before I did think if u got saved u were part of the bride in Christ which they are to rule w/ Christ in the millennium, but it’s the bride only. The invited are the saved.
This helps my comprehension of Gods purposes.
Good post. THANK YOU
Thanks for telling it like it is. Very thankful for your ministry
On some past comments about “works” and works by the faithful in Christ, I think it’s quite simple, from my perspective anyhow.
If one truly loves The Lord Jesus and His Word, I think one is going to have a natural accountability for their actions…which likely is going to manifest itself into what might be termed, “good works”.
When I was young, I was a Rock’n Roller, I enjoyed recreational drugs, and I was like some other American males in my quest for sex.
I didn’t stop doing those things from any merit of my own, I stopped doing those things because of the accountability I developed with my relationship with The Lord Jesus.
I have heard more than one Christian say, “I’m a Christian but I won’t give up X, Y, and/or Z”.
Really ?…and how much do those who say such things really have a love for The Lord ?
How many people who take such a position on their supposed relationship with Christ would not give up something that would harm the relationship with their wife or children…assuming a valid, sane, ethical relationship with their wife and children exists, of course.
How many would use their children’s name in vain ?..or perform some act that is contrary and hurtful to the ones they love ?
I think there are many Christians ‘in name only’ who do not take his/her relationship with Jesus Christ seriously and literally is what it amounts to.
–
As somewhat of a joke, but I really did observe this happening from a Catholic…she told me that the priest assigned the congregation to give up something in their life…to show some sort of a sacrifice.
What did she do ?
She told me that she is going to give up broccoli because she doesn’t like broccoli anyway.
I guess in a works based by human effort theology, these kinds of things are of no surprise.
~David,
All individual walks in Christ are different. Certain good works in your mind might not be good works in the mind of other Christians. To whom much is given much is required. Conversely then, those we might call sad sacks or simple maybe were not given much to work with to start with and they will be judged differently than those that are very gifted. That is why we cannot judge our brother before the time.
Keep in mind that if one is Christian in name only that person is not a Christian at all and that person has no relationship with Jesus Christ to even take seriously.
Now if a true Christian does things good or bad he will account for it at the judgment seat of Christ but he does not lose His salvation. Therefore, you cannot determine anyone’s salvation through their works. People have all kinds of motives why they do certain things. Even unbelievers do what many would label good works.
Yeah, I can see that.
I guess even the degree and meaning of loving one another and even loving Christ will differ greatly with each individual.
That makes sense.
My biblical doctrine is solid. Don Koenig gets some of the credit for teaching me some things I didn’t know but I was brought up on sound biblical doctrine.
I suppose most believers have had a mental list of “approved Christian behaviors” at one time or another. Because I’ve been the subject on many of these lists I’ve wondered whether the other Christian was really concerned about my spiritual condition or whether they were bound and determined to make me over in their own image.
If I’m with people on the left they think I’m a religious nut. If I’m with people on the religious right they think I’m a liberal. I am neither. I’m unconventional. I don’t fit into anyone’s mold. What God has had written in His Word I believe. I may allow myself more freedom in Christ than another person can allow for his or her self.
If you need to deal with a Christian who is willfully sinning be sure it is actual sin according to God and not just a thing on your list of acceptable behaviors. Nit picking can retard a person’s spiritual growth and maybe undo what Jesus has been doing with that person.
Don, I’ve wanted to ask you for a very long time if you would consider writing an explanation on predestination vs free will? That is one subject I am not clear on. I remember you said the bible doesn’t say to pray for someone’s salvation. That was a stunner and changed the way I pray for people. It has to do with being predestined.
Hi Caitlin,
Very good advice.
The Bible teaches both predestination and free will. Some of the best minds in Christianity have written on this subject and they cannot adequately explain how both can be true. Some things are mysteries that only God knows. We are limited by our human brains. Some attempting to explain that the Bible only teaches one or the other mostly just created theology that Christian denominations divided over. I do not think I can help in this.
Thank you Don. I did some research on predestination while you were away last year. It was futile. As you said, the writers made it an either/or explanation. I’ll just take it by faith as I do God’s other mysteries.
Hi Don and others,
What a fascinating post and discussion. What an easy trap it is to attempt to determine the level of other’s Christian commitment by works. I have enjoyed this discussion.
Rod in Oregon
I agree. Caitlyn did an excellent job of explaining why we do not have a right to judge others. Even a true believer goes through different stages of development and has different opinions of right and wrong. The top two might be water baptism and alcohol but the point is not to judge others.
Don can clarify if I am wrong but one thing that comes to mind is – when a person claims to be a true believer and commits a known sin such as adultery we are suppose to approach that person in a biblical manner. I myself would probably wimp out but I think a person such as Don could handle it appropriately and would be able to judge how or when to jump in.
Also, Don did a great job trying to get Bill on the right track. Bill – I have been wanting to mention to you that I am pretty sure that repenting each time you pray is wrong. Once you
believe Paul’s gospel of Grace you are forgiven for all sins (past, present, and future). If you have slipped you can apologize and promise to try harder. We all slip because we were born sinners through Adam. Again – why we can’t judge others. Only the Lord Jesus
who has never slipped can do that. A good verse for knowing how to pray is: Philippians 4: (6-7).
donni,
Just go to BibleGateway and type in ‘repent’ then read all the scriptures that come up about repenting for your sins. Don can correct me here but sin still separates u from the Father but Jesus is there to hear your confession of any known sin & I always ask the Lord to bring to my mind of any sin I’m not aware of or forgot so I can be in agreement and repent. Now sin does not lose our salvation but it does impedes us from His answering our prayers if we have unconfessed sin. I just want to be clean when I go to the Father.
If I know I plan on cheating on my taxes or just something to be sinful and then go and ask for blessings for my family or for some need I have KNOWING I’m sinning.. my repenting & change of heart needs to come first THEN I can pray for other things & not be a hypocrite about it.
Yes, Don did a nice job of keeping me on track. I misunderstood some things. I’m still a student of the Word.
One other thing donni, I’m not boasting here but I’ve been doing this approach for some time, keeping a pure heart, not a sinless heart but a repentfull heart. And I kid u not, my prayers get answered pretty quick. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m expectant in my prayer petitions which is a command. It’s amazing to me how God answers my prayers pretty quickly as according to my faith. If no faith no answer lots of faith it gets answered. God taught me a nice lesson in faith & answered prayer.. faith is like the one hand & God is the other hand, He cant do anything w/out your faith, He needs that other part & that’s you. Your faith.
Once u activate faith u engage Gods power in u. It’s impossible to please God w/out faith and sin damages your faith, it’s like getting dirt in your gasoline then ur car is sludgy. No up & go. I will continue to repent each time I pray that u can take to the bank & cash it in, then go buy something.
Bill,
Sin of course impedes our walk with God. For that reason we should not seek to sin. I believe the Bible says that all that is not done in faith, for him, it is sin. Blessed is the man walking in faith that does not condemn himself. Those under self condemnation cannot live by faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.
If you believe what you are doing in the flesh is sin, you need to deal with it. We cannot be pleasing God if we are sinning, and if you think you are sinning even if others think what you are doing is not sin, it is still sin to you. You would be sinning if you continue in it.
On the other hand, what you are doing in faith is not sin even if some others claim it is. We have liberty, but that is not a license to deceive ourselves by doing what we know is sin either.
We cannot possibly even be aware of all our sins, yet, ask for forgiveness or repent of all of them. Jesus died to atone for all of our sins, past, present, and future. Believers are in the family of God, we should now seek to please our Father by not loving what He hates.
In other words, our past is past, the only thing we can do about our past performance is to realize our errors and change for the better in the future. I guess you could call that repentance but you might call it going forward to fulfill your calling into the body of Christ.
Sorry for the mess, I am away from my computer.
Don,
Couldn’t of said it better myself.
“We all have our own unique baggage,burdens and defects to carry around related to the body of flesh that we occupy and the environment issues that it was exposed to. Until you have walked a few miles in another Christians shoes you really are not qualified to evaluate them. Jesus is.
It is not what you think that defines a Christian. The Lord knows who are His and He looks at the heart.”
Absolutely accurate!!! If only professional pastors would understand this point. I wonder what they learn at seminary schools while they obtain a masters degree in divinity in pursuit of a churchian career. Perhaps just church marketing??
Don, I have always been confused about where those who are raptured go, where those who get saved during the Tribulation go. Who repopulates earth afterwards, when is judgement for all, when do all decieve eternal bodies, etc. Do you have a specific article/column that addresses these issues.
Robert Rivera,
Those in the Rapture go to be with the Lord in heaven. Those that get saved in the fires of the tribulation also go to be with the Lord in heaven. They all are part of the first resurrection that has more than one phase. They will all rule and reign with Christ during His millennial reign.
Some people will physically live through the tribulation. These are spoken about in Mt 25-31-40. They and the surviving Jews will repopulate the earth.
After the thousand year reign and the final rebellion, the judgement for all that did not achieve the first resurrection will take place. At the time of this second resurrection, all receive eternal bodies. Some or most will occupy the New Earth but those damned because they followed the Devil will occupy the Lake of Fire.
This comes from Bill Salus…. thought it was worth sharing.
AMERICA IS CERTAINLY IN THE DANGER ZONE
Over the past fifty years, America has transgressed over all of these dangerous boundaries and this fact is attested to by the Supreme Court decisions listed below:
1962 – Engel v. Vitale: the removal of Prayer in public schools by the Supreme Court.
1963 – Abington School District v. Schempp: the removal of Bible reading in public schools by the Supreme Court.
1973 – Roe v. Wade: legalized abortions by the Supreme Court. Since then, America has performed over 58 million abortions. Presently about one million abortions are occurring per year in America. This law means that about one million children annually won’t be able to grow up, populate the earth and potentially become godly offspring.
1980 – Stone v. Graham: in this case the Supreme Court ruled that a Kentucky statute was unconstitutional. The statute in question required the posting of a copy of the Ten Commandments on the wall of each public classroom in the state. The Court ruled that because they were being placed in public classrooms they were in violation of the First Amendment.
2003 – Lawrence v. Texas: This was the landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that struck down the sodomy law in Texas, which by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states.
2013 – United States v. Windsor: the case that the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA stated that one man should be married to one woman. DOMA was biblically supported according to Genesis 2:24, which says; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Marriage is the ordained relationship through which a man and woman can become fruitful and multiply the earth with godly children.
2015 – Obergefell v. Hodges: the Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of Same Sex Marriages, which is unbiblical according to Romans 1:27 and elsewhere. Same sex couples are unable to procreate naturally. Therefore, it is humanly impossible for them to be fruitful and populate the earth with godly kids.
2015 – Treatment of Israel: The present White House administration has turned its back on Israel. As an example, Obama believes the Iran JCPOA nuclear deal is good, but Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu believes it’s the worst deal imaginable. A recent poll conducted by the “Panels Politics in Tel Aviv” confirmed the concerns that Israelis have about U.S. President Barack Obama. The poll overwhelmingly rated him as the worst president for Israel in the last 30 years.
The Lord has provided ample warnings to Americans that the country is headed for destruction. These forewarnings have come in the forms of remedial judgments, prophetic voices, and ultimately by giving them the ungodly leaders they deserve. For instance, U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama is the most pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, and anti-Israel president in America’s history!
(my words) Now we either get Trump, Clinton or whomever.
It is getting harder to tell which is Abel and which is Cain. It seems many have religion, even self sacrifice, but then boast in their good works instead of doing good works because of Jesus finished work on the cross. It is because Jesus paid the price that we are saved. But we give lip service to what He has done for us and then go about trying to establish our own righteousness by our own works.
The bible says if we say we have no sin we are a liar and do not the truth. But many believe they are walking in sinless perfection, boast in there own goodness, and hold every one else in contempt because they do no live up to their standard of righteousness. Those are the ones that want to be accepted by God on their terms instead of His terms.
IF we could live a sinless life, Jesus would never have had to die for us. Those that are true believers walk in humility towards God and show grace to others on little things because we all come short of the glory of God. But these super saints strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Stealing a paper clip is not the same as stealing a car. And if these people believe they can live up to Gods perfect holiness I guess they do not really need Jesus. True believers know that Jesus gave us His perfect righteousness as a free gift, and it is the only righteousness God will accept. Those born of the Spirit of God have it and those that do not have the spirit do not.
Self righteousness and pride are sins too. But many of these Christians believe they are so good they can walk to heaven barefoot.
But maybe they have just lost there first love.
Of course there are those on the other side that live in out and out sin where the bible gives absolutes, and we let them lead the flock.
But God said it would be this way and so I guess we should not be surprised.
True believers know that all their sins are forgiven and do what they do because they love Jesus for what He has already done for us.
And they know they are not perfect, so they don’t expect others be perfect either. God shows grace to the humble and resists the proud.
Christians do not do things to bring glory to themselves because Jesus will not share His glory with another.
But old Satan gets us one way or the other. We either live in out and out sin, or we believe we have become so righteous that we do not need a savior anymore. As one old time preacher use to say, “when you got Jesus, that’s all you are going to get”. But we seem to love our own righteousness instead of trusting in His. We pick at every little thing that others do to make our selves look better.
One is Satanic religion, the other is trusting in Jesus, and our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
so what does it look like or how does or do all these religions come together under one banner in the end times to have one religion to worship the Beast?
What is the common trend that binds all these religions together?
Is it Tolerance ?
Hi Jeremy,
The common thread of all world religions is that mankind can achieve God through his own righteousness and self efforts. In other words, salvation is not based on faith in what God did at the cross to save humankind but is based on man’s own performance. It is not based on God’s righteousness to save, but on man’s own self righteousness to ascend to become like God.
World religions are coming together under the banner of universalism. However, don’t confuse the Harlot of Revelation 17 with Beast worshp. When he is satanically indwelt he will replace all world religion. They will all come to worship the Beast because the Beast will claim to be above anything called God and many people in the world will believe Him. This will happen because they did not want to believe the truth so God will send all unbelievers a great deception so that they will believe a lie.
So Don does the Harlot Church have to have a leader? Or could it just be the conglomeration of Catholicism, New Age, Universalism, etc? I only ask because it would seem improbable that, for instance, a Pope would promote the Harlot religion only to abandon it for direct worship of the Antichrist. Then again who knows? Or am I missing something? Thanks.
Hi Steve,
I think the Harlot is represented by a leader and he is in Rome. In order words he is the Pope. The Harlot does not worship the Antichrist she rides him until he is indwelt by the Devil and turns on her for the last 3.5 years.
Keep in mind that in the great tribulation the Harlot herself will be persecuted. Countless people will be saved because of the message given by God’s Jewish witnesses. Many into religious Harlotry will come to true belief in the God of Heaven. That is why so many are saved but killed during the great tribulation. It will be the pagans that worship the Antichrist. The Harlot is in harlotry with the things of the world. She does not worship Lucifer.