We chose this article because there are those who do not truthfully teach and preach the word. Biblical doctrine has been watered down in order that people are comfortable with their sin. There is no more teaching the Truth and confronting sins. The saddest part is pastors are not teaching biblically in the church anymore.
Please read the article by CNN on “For some Christians, ‘rapture anxiety’ can take a lifetime to heal.”
This article written by CNN on the rapture is an example of how twisted the teaching of scripture has become. There is no mention of the Grace, Mercy, and Deep Love with which God loves His OWN. It is written based on feelings and worldly knowledge. The biblical standpoint is missing.
What do we mean by biblical standpoint?
It means you study the bible verse by verse through the original Hebrew and Greek. Here is a bible study that is verse by verse.
If you read this article, what do you see is missing, and is there any truth in it?
CNN Speaks on the Rapture of the Church
So instead of CNN sticking to “news,” they have decided to put in their two cents about religion. Why? Because every single person has an inborn general knowledge of God’s moral law (Romans 2:14-16). And in order to discredit God and His word, there is the need to “suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
I never thought I would be reading an article on the rapture of the church through a CNN article. It is interesting to me that Jesus was taunted as a threat in His day as well. He is the good news for every sinner, and they killed Him. In reality, nothing has changed at all.
Romans 1:22 NASB1995 22 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Yes, this article starts out about the rapture, but it takes a moral turn.
In this article, we will look at the questions and let God speak for Himself.
April Ajoy was taught about the rapture in church. At 13, she was alone at home and her “mind began churning, trying to remember, trying to make plans. When was the last time she had sinned? Should she refuse the mark of the beast? At least, she thought, if she was put to the guillotine during the time of tribulation, it would be a quick death.”
Should You Refuse the Mark of the Beast?
Her question was, “Should she refuse the mark of the beast?”
Revelation 14:9-11 NASB1985 9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Those who take the “mark of the beast” are followers of the Antichrist and the false prophet. They will find themselves in misery and torment for eternity.
So, no, do not take the “mark of the beast.”
What is the mark of the beast? — The main passage in the Bible that mentions the “mark of the beast” is Revelation 13:15-18. Other references can be found in Revelation 14:9, 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, and 20:4. This mark acts as a seal for the followers of Antichrist and the false prophet (the spokesperson for the Antichrist). The false prophet (the second beast) is the one who causes people to take this mark. The mark is literally placed in the hand or forehead and is not simply a card someone carries…. by GotQuestions.org
What About Premarital Sex or Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain?
“….What does that do to the teenager who just had premarital sex or even simply took the Lord’s name in vain?”
What Does God Say About Premarital Sex?
1 Corinthians 7:2 NASB1995 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.
Sex the way God intended is between 1 born male and 1 born female who are married. This means sex outside of marriage is sin and falls under sexual immorality. The inborn knowledge of God’s laws of right and wrong will cause guilt and shame. Sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
What is sexual immorality? —- In the New Testament, the word most often translated “sexual immorality” is porneia. This word is also translated as “whoredom,” “fornication,” and “idolatry.” It means “a surrendering of sexual purity,” and it is primarily used of premarital sexual relations. From this Greek word we get the English word pornography, stemming from the concept of “selling off.” Sexual immorality is the “selling off” of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship… By GotQuestions.org
Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain?
This is just 2 verses out of many in the word of God.
Deuteronomy 5:11 NASB1995 11 ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 NASB1995 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
God will not turn a blind eye to those who “simply” take His name in vain. This is not limited to using His name as a curse word. It includes uses that make His name worthless and meaningless. That is, denying the holiness of His name (Psalm 99:1-3; 111:7-9).
The True Church Stands on Biblical Ground, and That is a Problem?
When the church teaches verse by verse, there is no escaping the truth? Those who know the Truth are set free.
“One of the common things people are deconstructing for is, they don’t feel welcome. They don’t feel the church matches their personal values. They are tired of what they see as a system peddling in shame and rejection.”
Church Does not Meet Personal Values
The truth is, there are no “personal values” acceptable to God. The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Our feelings lie and will never match the thoughts and will of God on their own.
How Can I Be Set Free & Made Righteous Before God? — …The world tells us to follow our heart that it will lead us to do good, but here’s the problem.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Every sinner’s heart is deceived by the father of all lies, Satan. Our heart refers to our inner man, mind, and will. Which means, all sinners thinking, feeling, and desires are influenced through lies and evil…
Matthew 7:13-14 NASB1995 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. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“Personal values” are taken through the wide gate. It is big enough to accommodate all ungodliness. But the narrow gate is so small, only the righteousness of Christ Jesus can enter. The narrow path is governed through Christ’s holiness, God’s values. The wide path of the world is governed through self-governance, “personal values.”
The System is Peddling in Shame and Rejection
Adam and Eve sinned against God, disobeyed Him. They immediately felt shame and fear. Why did they hide? They hid because they now stood guilty before God. This put them and the whole human race under the holy and righteous judgment of God (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Genesis 3:10 NASB1985 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
As a Christian, your old way of life should show that your old self is dead. Therefore, you understand there is no fear, shame, guilt, or rejection by God.
Old Way of Life vs. the Newness of Life (the battle begins!)
Conclusion
John 3:19-20 NASB1995 19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Pride dominates every human heart from birth. No one seeks God, is righteous (not guilty) before God, or understands the Truth. The unbelieving heart has no real fear of God (Romans 3:10-18). Because of this, those who have not received saving faith are judged already (John 3:18). That is, there is the sense of shame and rejection ever present on the inside. That at its deepest place has nothing to do with people.
Fortunately, God in His rich mercy and deep love made the way to an everlasting cure to our sinful pride and fear. Jesus the Christ took our shame and our guilt on Himself at His cross. He paid the price that satisfied God’s required payment. A payment we can never pay. It is the righteousness of Christ Jesus alone that takes your shame and guilt away.
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB1995 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Sin, being under God’s wrath, living in this world without the true living God, His promises, and life with no secure hope, are very heavy burdens to carry (Ephesians 2:12).
Jesus the Christ is calling, “come to Me.”
The only way to be justified (not guilty) before God is to repent, confess you are a sinner, and ask God for mercy (Luke 18:9-14).
Colossians 1:13-14 NASB1995 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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