A lot of people seem to think we are at the end of times. I disagree.

With the whole Covid 19 virus and now a new report out of China that a new strain of Swine flu could be the next pandemic, it is easy to read Revelation 15 and conclude that these two viruses could be the first two of seven plagues.  But I think that would be an inaccurate reading of Scripture.  

Revelation 15:1(NKJV)

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

Why do I think that?  Because the seven plagues happen in the second half of the Tribulation.  How will we know when the first half ends and the second half begins?

Look for the two witnesses in Jerusalem who are slain, left to rot in the square for 3 days, and then are raised from the dead and asscend into Heaven.  Gonna be hard to miss.  Until you see that you can know that we haven't reached half time yet.  

Could I be as forgiving as Joseph was?

 

Genesis 50:19-21(NKJV)

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 

Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Think about that.  His brothers sold him into slavery.  (No Senator Tim Kaine, the US didn't invent slavery).  Joseph endured being a slave and spending time in prison.  He faced bitter disappointments.

But still he kept his faith and when things worked out he kept in mind that all things work out to the good of God.  He not only believed that but could look back at his own life and see where it had happened and why the hardships were necessary. 

So when his brothers asked for forgiveness, even thought their intentions were evil when they sold him into slavery, he forgave them.  Not just forgave them but cared for and helped provide for them the rest of their lives.  That is some complete forgiveness in my opinion.

You know Jesus forgives us that completely as well.  All we have to do is ask.  Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and lead you?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

This is certainly a different portrayal of Jesus, isn't it?

Revelation 12:3-6(NKJV)

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 

She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

I believe the Child is Jesus.  It says He will rule all nations with a rod of iron.  That certainly gives a different picture of Jesus doesn't it? 

Many people picture Jesus as all love and forgiveness and no discipline or consequences.  Ruling with a rod of iron sounds like just the opposite doesn't it? 

As I've said many times, the Bible is a book of balance.  One of the areas that seems to be lacking balance sometimes is our view of Jesus. 

Is the Rapture Pre Tribulation or Post Tribulation.

I'm not sure what the majority view is but I think it is Pre-tribulation.  That was the story line in the Left Behind series of books. 

But is that what Scripture says?  I haven't studied the question extensively but here is some Scripture I found today in Revelation.
 

I think this passage gives us a clue.  Let me set the stage.  This passage appears 3 1/2 years into the Tribulation.  The two witnesses have been killed, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven.  Then the 24 Elders in Heaven start singing this song.
 

Revelation 11:17-18(NKJV)

saying:      “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,     The One who is and who was and who is to come,     Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

    The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,     And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,     And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,     And those who fear Your name, small and great,      And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

That indicates to me that the Rapture is yet to come.  We are told that Jesus will return descending from Heaven.  At that time the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him.  After that then those who are alive in Christ will ascend to meet Him.
 

With the reference to "the time of the dead, that they may be judged" gives us the clue that we need to see that the Rapture is yet to come. 

Why does God so this? :)

Genesis 46:1-2(NKJV)

So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 

Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”

God tells Jacob to change his name to Israel.  So why does God then go back and call him Jacob?  Is it just to see if we are paying attention?  Trying to keep us on our toes?

:)   

If you were in Joseph's shoes, what would you have done?

We all know the story.  Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and sold him into bondage in Egypt.  Joseph had been a slave and then was elevated to a place of honor.  Then someone lied about him and he was in prison.  In prison he helped people who promised to help him when they got out.  They betrayed him.

But through it all Joseph continued to look to God and believe that God had his back.  After all of these struggles, in God's perfect timing, Joseph is elevated again to a place of honor.  He is basically managing all of Egypt for the Pharaoh. 

During a famine his brothers come down to buy grain.  Joseph recognizes them.  He screws them around a bit but doesn't kill them for all that they had done to him.  While they had refused to heed his pleading back in the day, he has pity on them.

If that had been you, how would you have handled it?  Could you have been as forgiving?  Remember, this is Old Testament times.  An eye for an eye.  Jesus hadn't come on the scene with His message of forgiveness yet. 

I'm not sure I could have been as forgiving. 

God can bless us not matter our circumstances

 
 

Genesis 41:52(NKJV)

And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”