My Eschalogy

What is my eschatology, my end time doctrine? Is there a imminent rapture or are we a generation or generations removed from his return?

I am about becoming the Bride.

I will embrace the preparation time. Regardless of how long it takes, I am ready today. I'll be ready tomorrow.

Here I am waiting with my lamp trimmed.

Readiness. An analogy for being being filled with the Holy Spirit. I have extra oil. No matter how long it takes I am filled and I have a ready reserve.

In terms of theology, this is what I embrace. Christ is returning for a spotless Bride. He is interceding for a unified body. His prayer:

“I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy.” (Jhn 17:21-22, TPT)

This is the adoption of redeemed humanity into the Godhead. Go back and read those two verses again.

This mitigates every other theory, every end-time doctrine. I don't dismiss any scriptural speculation, but I hold it at arm's length for examination. It interests me but it does not possess me. 

Only my preparation for the Bridegrrom possesses me.

Like a deer by the waterbrook I pant for his presence. 

Like a loyal canine waiting at the door. 

I am not a dog but I have that kind of loyalty for my master, that kind of appreciation for his boarding and feeding of me.

He is the Shepherd of the sheep and one of his flock am I. I am the one that he sought, who had strayed, who was in peril, who is carried back.

The memory of his wrestling with the wild beast of the field on my behalf is vivid. I am held against his beating heart and his lungs heaving, fresh from the battle. So I am twice loyal. 

My theology is personal. Today, and tomorrow, I know his voice and I follow him.

http://e-quips.blogspot.com/2023/08/my-personal-eschatology.html

I Am...Says the LORD

I am, hands down, the most interesting person you will ever encounter in your journeys through life, says the Lord. I know everything about everything. I am the best story teller. I have a great sense of humor (I made you, lol!), and I am an expert on every subject that you have any interest in. If you don't mind Me saying so, I am a genius, but I condescend to your level, because I am very humble. Not to mention, I really would like to spend time talking with you because I think you are a very interesting person.

You are! I say that you have genius potential. If we can uncover your strengths and natural abilities, and connect you with the perfect employment, others will be able to see your genius as well. Everything you put your hand to will prosper.

Why don't you spend more time with Me? And when you do spend time with Me, why do you do all the talking? I have always tried to communicate with you, but there you are, falling asleep. There you are, distracted. Put your blasted phone down, child, for ten minutes. Turn off the box. Open your Bible, if you want to hear My voice. Really.

Give Me a bigger slice of the pie, more time out of your day. I've asked you for one day a week. How much better would your life be working out if you actually gave Me one day. Think about what we could do with your life if you set aside an hour each day! I'm talking about soaking in My Presence. Come and s.o.a.k.

Please don't interpret this legalistically! I'd rather have ten minutes of a passionate, beating heart, than an hour, and you are watching the clock. Yes?

Kiss the Son. Oh, behold His beauty. See how We love you. See how We have conspired to capture you and elevate you. We invite you into the Godhead; be seated in Christ, My beloved child! Really, will you turn down an offer like that?

This adversary, satan, is a booger. He is so afraid that you will get this. He will watch you closely and use your own passions and interests to fashion dumb idols. Please wake up, child. 

Don't run ahead of Me in your ignorant zeal. Don't lag behind, but snap to attention when I call. Hone an ear that discerns knowledge from My lips, that discerns the so-called wisdom of this world so as to turn away and seek Truth.

Very soon, the truth lovers will be exalted. Those who deny the truth, and deny My open door, will suddenly find the door closed. They will be eyewitnesses to My power, and judge themselves unworthy of My Kingdom by continuing in denial.

Now is the time to soak. Soak and pray. If you don't know how to pray, just soak and read and listen and you will begin to actually see and hear with spiritual senses. Your prayers will be uttered with authority. You will pound and slice the enemy with so little effort. Then the way will be clear.

Prepare the way of the Lord!

I CAN'T Believe, I DON'T Believe

Did you ever know something was true, but you chose not to believe it? Or you knew in your heart it was true, but your head couldn’t accept it?

Scenario #1

It’s too good to be true! You won the lottery, the big check has your name on it, the news people are camped out on your lawn, but your brain is not able to accept the new reality that YOU ARE SUDDENLY A MILLIONAIRE!

You keep shaking your head and saying, “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”

So, that may have never happened to you, but you get what I’m saying. Your psyche has a choke point, and needs some time and space for reality to sink in. 

*.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *

Scenario #2

Everyone around you knows. The evidence is unmistakable. Your spouse is cheating on you with his coworker. But you choose to deny reality because to accept it is harder. A good friend lovingly confronts you but you shake your head and say, "I don't believe it, I won't believe it." You choose to remain an unbeliever.

*.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *.    *

The reality of the gospel is a prime example of something good that is rejected. “I can’t believe that Jesus would die for ME.”  “I can’t believe God loves me so much that He could forgive (or heal, or bless) ME.” 

God will try to win you over to his way of thinking with great patience, but sometimes you have a reason to persist in unbelief. Something more than just having to get your head around it. There is something in you that is too difficult to let go of. It keeps you from responding to God's loving prods.

That is a dangerous place to be.

The children of Israel were not able to enter into the land of blessing because of their unbelief. 

It was not just too good to be true that kept them from going in. It was a generation that had grown up with a slave mindset, that was more comfortable going back to Egypt than staking a claim for their freedom.

We see how difficult it has been for generations of African Americans to adjust to being a free people. At first, their emancipation was for most, a “can’t believe it!” 

Next, there were many that embraced the reality of equal opportunity being afforded them.

But there were others that turned to “won’t believe it” for whatever reason. No doubt, there were still seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But for some, freedom carried much responsibility and it was easier to remain on the plantation. 

In some cases, their unbelief became embedded for generations.

God says of unbelievers, “They shall never enter my rest!” Hebrews 4:1-3

Jack Nicholson’s character in the climactic courtroom scene in the movie “A Few Good Men” barks through the eons a statement that is true for most if not all of us at one time or another--”You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!”

What he meant was you really DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH! 

The word of God teaches that there is a generation who persists in unbelief and so God actually sends a spirit of delusion SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE A LIE! (2 Thessalonians 2:11)

This is also true of individuals who keep hardening their hearts and who do not accept reality (Romans 1:28).

The truth is, THE TRUTH HURTS sometimes. But God says that He will comfort and encourage us when the truth is devastating. He will empower us to overcome obstacles!

Ultimately, the beautiful words of Christ reassure us. "...For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.”

John 8:32 TPT

Pray now: "God help me to LOVE the truth enough to EMBRACE the truth so that I might find FREEDOM in the truth no matter how difficult it might be! AMEN!"

A PERSONAL REQUIREMENT

A personal requirement of mine is to spend enough time meditating everyday until I convince myself that God loves me. It's written in so many different places and in so many different ways that by now it shouldn't be hard. 

However long it takes, when my head finally connects with God's heart I'm free. Free in a world that wants to manipulate me or bind me in a box. And I'm free to love all people everywhere with His love, unconditionally!

I can't be intimidated and I can't puff myself up as better than anyone else. Because a perfect God so deeply loves such an imperfect me, it would be a miscarriage of Justice for me to harbor hatred. Yesterday, today and every day,  I can only respond to become an ambassador of love and an agent of change in this little sphere of influence.

A Worm, Not a Man?

I ran over a worm today. A quick in and out to pick up some fast food. I could still see the tire tread on the wet asphalt and there in the middle was half a worm and worm guts. If I wasn't observant I would have never known. The worm would have been squashed and never missed by the world. Except for possibly his close circle of worms.

 ...I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. Psalm 22:6

These are the very thoughts and feelings of Christ on the Cross, written by the prophet psalmist generations before that fateful day. All the transgressions of a rebel race heaped upon Him. "He was despised and rejected...and we held him in low esteem." Isa 53:3. He hung suspended between the earth and the sky, shunned by His nation, condemned by God. Anyone passing on the road that day, from a distance, would have seen a common sight, three criminals being executed Roman style. 

"No one cares, my life makes no difference here. I've failed in my mission. No one would notice if I ceased to be." These thoughts plague many if not all of us at times. They can be regular ponderings of those with chronic depression.

It is notable that those thoughts were assaulting Christ on the Cross at the moment His own life being poured out was making a difference for all of mankind. If He had yielded to despair and given up the fight, how different the world would look! 

I'm reminded of George Bailey in the film It's A Wonderful Life,  who was ready to give up on life, not realizing the powerful impact he had had on the town where he lived. It is not a stretch to think that any of us in our moments of desperation, by refusing to yield to dark musings, are accomplishing great feats of faith!

Joyful Consecration

What a privilege it is to consecrate myself to Him at the expense of everything else. To be misunderstood, to be used and abused, to be overlooked and unappreciated, to be poured out on behalf of others with no expectation of reward or recognition, only serves to conform me to His likeness in His death. Apparent failure is not my enemy, but a beautiful constriction in humility, a siren to deeper prayer. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted...I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." (Psalm 119:71,75)

On the front side of consecration there is immeasurable loss, but the reaping of reward is equally without measure. A bubbling, joyful expectation of resurrection power energizes me daily, looking forward to the hand of the Father coming upon me, when at last I hear the pleasure in His voice, "Well, done. Never lost faith, you. Come up here!"

In Christ

Paul the Apostle helps us understand the mystery of being "in Christ." He said "I know a man IN CHRIST... I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses." 2 Cor 12:5. He knew himself in himself to be frail and sinful, but he moved in the power and ability that God provided. He intentionally, daily, stepped into the role, the Anointing, which was who God called him to be. "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ [the Anointed One]...(1 Corinthians 1:1)
That is the image that God had of him before the foundation of the world, before sin marred creation.