My latest take on the end times
This is my latest take on end-time prophecy.
As probably all of you know, the main theme of this newsletter is Bible prophecy, passing along news and/or insights that seem relevant to discerning the times. Jesus repeatedly commanded, "Watch," referring to the signs, which, sadly, not too many believers are doing.
Other useful subjects are occasionally included in this newsletter, such as health and nutrition, a favorite subject for my wife and me. Messages with social commentary are sometimes sent where the situation described is indicative of the apostate times described in the Bible just before Christ’s return.
In 1971 I believe the Lord began to show me that we were in the last days just before Christ’s return. In 1993 it was like He began to shout it to me, and I believe He called me to proclaim the message, which I have since done.
I am not a scholar, but I have studied the Bible for many years, and I draw from many scholars. I am drawn to conclusions that seem the most biblically sound and which bear witness to my spirit and understanding of the character and nature of my heavenly Father.
In my rapture view, over the past 31 years I have vacillated from pre-trib to post-trib and back to pre-trib. I am tolerant of opposing views, but that does make me agree with them, nor do I appreciate the arrogant, know-it-all, mean-spirited attitude of some detractors. I believe the purely post-trib view to be biblically untenable and the pre-trib view the most biblically sound, although I am flexible as to exactly where in the final years the rapture may come.
Those with the post-trib view generally do not grasp that the Bible reveals God has a different plan for the church and for Israel. Many think it would be "unfair" for God to treat the church differently and for Israel to have to suffer the tribulation, relying on their emotions rather than Scripture. This is especially true for those who have chosen to practice Judaism. However, it seems clear to me from Scripture that God has carved out of history a specific time for the church, which will be removed just prior to His final dealings with His people Israel in the 70th week of Daniel, the "time of Jacob’s trouble."
One of the chief arguments I hear against a near-time rapture is that the church is not yet "without spot or wrinkle," and we need tribulation to purify ourselves! To this I can only reply: Tribulation never purified anybody! The late, eminent Dr. Roy Hicks once said that if the blood of Christ is not sufficient to purify you, then starvation, torture or getting your head chopped off will not do it either. Jesus’ blood is that heavenly spot remover. Nothing else will work, not even OXYCLEAN (which, by the way, works great on other things).
Another argument is that we have not yet seen the great revival that certain "prophets" have been predicting. Well, first, there has already been an incredible outpouring of God’s Spirit in the past ten years that most people do not even know about. You will never see this on CNN or read it in the NY Times. I have documented much of this at http://www.oocities.org/bramlett2000/revival.2001.html. This may be what these prophets have been seeing. Or more likely, this revival will occur after the rapture, when former fence-sitting or lukewarm pew sitters and others suddenly realize what happened, that the Bible is true, that they were wrong, and they will get on fire for God.
Exactly where are we on God’s timetable? I am not completely certain but based on many biblical signs, such as Israel, I believe we are very, very close. Major reasons for this belief are contained in my article, "Christ’s Soon Return: The Overwhelming Evidence," at http://www.oocities.org/bramlett2000/christsreturn.html
Not long ago I heard Pastor John Hagee interviewed on television, saying that the rapture is so close it could occur during the interview. I have heard other Christian scholars say essentially the same thing. It could occur while you are reading this email.
Jesus said it would be as in the days of Noah, and as in the days of Lot, a total surprise to those not watching, and in a strange time of relative quiet and normalcy (Luke 17:26-29). Such a time of normalcy rules out anytime during or at the end of the tribulation and the near-total devastation and disorder that accompanies it where half the world’s population will be killed.
Such a time is now! There is relative peace and normalcy. But many things underneath the surface are about to explode -- such as the Middle East, Iraq, other radical Muslim nations and terrorists with weapons of mass destruction, all of whom are probably burning the midnight oil figuring out how to hit the U.S and Israel with them in attacks that will make 9-11 look like a Sunday School picnic.
Yet, as in the days of Noah and Lot, most Americans are oblivious to these times. Politicians play politics with our national security, stalling, delaying on actions needed to protect ourselves, jockeying for political advantage. If America goes down, much of the blame will be on those self-serving politicians.
Our national sins are coming home to roost: (1) offending God by the government and institutions eliminating Him from our culture, giving Him less than equal-opportunity status with the world’s 300+ million other would-be gods; (2) more than 40 million unborn babies murdered, some during birth with their brains sucked out, their blood crying our from the ground to their Maker for justice; and (3) a degenerate culture similar to Sodom and Gomorrah. (These conditions apply worldwide, not just the U.S.)
The people are dancing on the deck of the Titanic, except in our day some boys dancing with boys and girls dancing with girls. The band is playing. There is laughter, fun and frolicking.
But the iceberg is dead ahead. It is as in the days of Noah and Lot.
"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left" (Luke 17:30-35, NIV).
Jesus is coming! Possibly before you close this file.
Jim