The "Falling Away" of 2 Thessalonians 2

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” – Thessalonians 2:1-4

2 Thessalonians 2 is a passage in the Bible that warns us not to be deceived about the second coming of Christ. I have often used this passage to show people the truth about when the rapture will take place, but lately I have been shocked at the response that some people have given me. Apparently, those who believe that the rapture takes place before the tribulation actually believe that the “falling away” mentioned in verse 3 is referring to the rapture!

First of all, things don’t fall up! How can anyone actually believe that the “falling away” is referring to believers being “caught up together” in the clouds?! Not only that, but the Bible uses the term “falling away” in other places, and the meaning is clear:

“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” – Luke 8:13

Is this a passage on the rapture? No, it is clearly referring to people falling away spiritually, which is a bad thing. This may seem basic, but when something falls it goes down, not up.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” – Hebrews 6:4-6

Again, this passage is definitely not referring to the rapture. This is talking about people falling away spiritually.

In an article entitled “Left Behind at the Rapture,” David Stewart of the website “Jesus is Savior dot com” writes:

“The word ‘rapture’ is not found in the Bible, but the phrase ‘falling away’ certainly is. Though some theologians have concluded that the ‘falling away’ is only referring to ANARCHY, this erroneous teaching does not harmonize with the rest of the Bible. ‘Falling away’ in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 in the Greek simply means ‘a departure.’” – David Stewart

Here is an excerpt from his article “The Pre-tribulation Rapture:”

“I also believe that the word ‘Rapture’ does NO injustice to the Scriptures. The word ‘Rapture’ means ‘to be caught away.’ In the following Scriptures (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4), we read the term ‘a falling away.’
“The Greek meaning for this phrase is ‘a departure.’ I believe this that this term refers to the departure of the Saints.” – David Stewart

Since things don’t fall up, David Stewart has decided to “go back to the Greek” to tell us what the Bible REALLY says. Since I believe that the King James Bible is the preserved word of God, I don’t think it is necessary at all to “go back to the Greek” since the term “falling away” is used repeatedly in our English Bible, and it is very clear what it means.

Mr. Stewart here deceitfully uses the Greek as a justification for changing what the Bible says. He claims that the Greek word simply means “a departure.” What he fails to mention is that the Greek word here is “αποστασια” or in Latin letters “apostasia.” If he had mentioned that, it may have been a little too obvious that the Bible is referring here to apostasy, i.e. falling away from the faith, not the rapture! The “departure” being referred to is a departure from the faith which is exactly what “apostasy” is!

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” – 1 Timothy 4:1

The Greek word “apostasia” is used in only one other verse in the Bible:

“And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.” – Acts 21:21

"Forsake" is the English translation of the Greek word "apostasia." Again, this is a forsaking of doctrine, which is the definition of “apostasy.” This deception illustrates why you should always take everything you hear with a grain of salt when preachers are “going back to the Greek.” Usually they are just trying to change what the Bible says, as is the case here with a “falling away” being twisted into being “caught up” to the clouds.

Now that we have seen how the Bible itself defines “falling away” (departing from the faith), look at the passage again:

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” – Thessalonians 2:1-4

The passage clearly states that the Day of Christ is not at hand, and that we should not allow people to deceive us that it is at hand. It goes on to say that the Day of Christ shall not come until AFTER there is a falling away, and AFTER the man of sin (antichrist) is revealed by sitting in the temple of God and claiming to be God. This event is referred to in the Bible as the Abomination of Desolation (see Daniel 11, 12 and Matthew 24).

Anyone who tells you that the Day of Christ is at hand is deceiving you according to the Bible. What is the Day of Christ? The "Day of Christ" is referred to 7 times in the Bible:

1 Cor 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Cor 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The rapture cannot occur until the day of Christ since that is when the good work of sanctification he began in us will be complete, and we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Phil 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Phil 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

2 Thess 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

The Bible is very clear that the rapture takes place AFTER the tribulation:

Matt 24:29 Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Why Baptist Kids Grow Up and Go to Charismatic Liberal Churches

Why Most People who are Saved through Soul-winning will not Come to our Church

Many critics of door-to-door soul-winning say that soul-winning "doesn't work" or is a fraud because so few of the people who get saved in the process ever end up coming to church. Therefore, they say that these people "must have never really gotten saved." Here is a list of 11 reasons why most of the people who are saved through the soul-winning of Faithful Word Baptist Church will never come to church, even though they are truly saved.

1. They don't speak English.

About 50% of the people that I personally win to the Lord speak only Spanish. Although I speak Spanish well enough to effectively preach the Gospel and dialogue about Biblical doctrine, our church does not offer services in Spanish. Our church will never offer services in Spanish. However, it is our goal to preach the Gospel to every single person in the greater Phoenix area. We do not want the Spanish-speakers in our area to go to Hell without getting a chance to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. There are several people in our church who are able to speak Spanish, and I would estimate that about 20% of the people who are saved through our soul-winning efforts don't speak English.

2. They are older children or teenagers.

Many of the people we win to the Lord out soul-winning are teenagers or children and are therefore not in a position to drive themselves to church. Since they are not the decision maker in their home, they will probably not be able to get their family to go to the church of their choice.

3. They live too far away or have no vehicle or gas money.

Our goal at Faithful Word Baptist Church is to knock every single door in the greater Phoenix area, which includes approximately 4 million people. Therefore, we do not only knock doors in the immediate vicinity of our church. As we radiate outward with our soul-winning, we find ourselves knocking doors that are 20, 30, or more minutes away from our church. Let's face it: someone that we win to the Lord in a ghetto 30 minutes away from our church is probably not going to make the 1 hour round trip drive to come to our church. But does that mean that they are not really saved? No!

In addition, our church does "Small Town Soul-winning Marathons" every few months, and dozens are saved in small towns across Arizona that are usually about 1.5 hours from our church. These people will probably not make a 3 hour round trip commute each Sunday to be a part of our church. However, if we don't bring them the Gospel, who will?

4. They are too shy to visit.

I have been in church my entire life and am by nature an outgoing person, and yet many times I have been very shy and nervous walking into a new church for the first time and not knowing anyone. One time, there was a young lady in her twenties who came to visit our church. She had been in church her whole life, and her father had been a Baptist pastor. After talking with me a little bit, she told me that she had actually come to visit the week before but had chickened out when she got to our parking lot and saw "the crowd.," so she turned around and drove off. She worked up enough courage to come back the next week and come to the service. Some people are just too shy to walk into a church where they don't know anyone - especially if they have never even been to church before.

5. They already go to church somewhere else.

Many of the people who get saved through our soul-winning efforts already go to church somewhere. Many of them are already even attending a Baptist church. Once they get saved, they may continue to attend a liberal Baptist church or a new-evangelical church because of the fact that they have ties with friends and family there.

6. They are recruited to another church by friends or family.

Often I have won someone to the Lord who has family or friends who are already saved. Although these watered-down Christian family members or friends never took the time to get their loved one saved, they will jump all over them to get them plugged into their church, now that they are saved. People are much more likely to go to a church where they already know people than to a church where they don't know anyone. Also, a new believer may not know all the specific things they should be looking for in a church, and therefore, they may easily end up going to an inferior church because they already know people there.

7. They are too lazy to come to church.

Because as a church we knock every door in each area we go soul-winning, much of our time is spent knocking doors in slums and ghettos. Many of the people who get saved have very little character and are very unreliable people. Many of them want to come to church and have every intention of coming to church but do not have the character to get themselves out of bed in the morning and drag themselves to church. Many of them can't even hold down a job, let alone come to church on Sunday.

8. They are physically disabled.

As we knock doors out soul-winning, we are able to preach the Gospel to many people who would otherwise never hear it because they are physically disabled and almost never get out of the house. Many are hooked up to machines, crippled, very elderly, or in some other way too impaired to get to church. Thank God, we are able to bring the Gospel to them and give them the opportunity to place their faith on Jesus Christ for salvation.

9. Their spouse does not want them to come.

Obviously they should come anyway:

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29

However, many who are saved will allow this to keep them from coming to our church.

10. They are offended by something in our church invitation.

At Faithful Word Baptist Church, we are very clear about who we are and do not pretend to be something that we are not. We want people to know what kind of a church we are. Therefore, our church invitations are filled with information that we want people to have, and that will give them a clear picture of our church. These are the three invitations we hand out:

FWBC Invitation - KJV

FWBC Invitation - Mesa

FWBC Invitation - General

Because our nation has become so wicked, our church seems extreme to the world. Many people will take offense to something in the invitations we hand out, and therefore decide not to visit our church.

11. They consider our church "too extreme."

Our church is considered "radical" and "extreme" simply because this world has become "extremely" different from the standards set forth in God's word. When people hear real Bible preaching, it can sometimes be shocking to them because the television has brainwashed them their entire life with messages that are contrary to the Bible. A person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ still may be worldly and not able to handle hard preaching.

Conclusion:

Does soul-winning work? Well, it depends on what you consider the goal of soul-winning to be. I believe that the goal of soul-winning is to get people saved. Therefore, it works! If your goal is to have a larger church attendance, then it may not work as well as other methods. Jesus Christ promised that HE would build the church, and so I will leave that to him. He never commanded us to build the church; he commanded us to preach the Gospel to every creature.

Now, reader, if you have read through these 11 reasons and are still not convinced, then I have two questions for you:

1. Are you saved?
2. Do you want to attend Faithful Word Baptist Church?

If you answered "yes" to question 1 and "no" to question 2, then you may have just discovered the 12th reason why many of the people who we save* out door-to-door do not end up joining our church!

*Epilogue:

Many Calvinists and other non-soul-winning hypocrites will object to my terminology here because they are ignorant of the following scriptures:

"To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22

"If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them." - Romans 11:14

"And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." - Jude 22, 23

"For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" - 1 Corinthians 7:16

Evolution Art Contest Results are In!

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1st Place: Kayla Hoosier
Entry #2 - Motivational Poster


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2nd Place: Karen Elderkin - Fall River, Massachusetts
Entry #7 - watercolor (click to enlarge)


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3rd Place: Joshua Elderkin - Fall River, Massachusetts
Entry #13 - pen and ink drawing, colored in photoshop (click to enlarge)

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Voting Now Open ------------------>

Click here to see the entries!

Evolution Art Contest

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ENTRIES...



1. Create the artwork described in the video (entries will be approved by Pastor Anderson)
2. Entries must be submitted by February 9, 2011
3. Submit your entries to info@faithfulwordbaptist.org or leave a comment with a link to your entry at http://sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2011/01/evolution-art-contest.html
4. Entries can be made using any medium (pencil or ink drawing, painting, computer drawing, photoshop, etc, etc)
5. Entries will be voted on between February 10 and February 14 at http://www.sanderson1611.blogspot.com

Prizes:

1st prize = $30 gift card
2nd prize = $20 gift card
3rd prize = $10 gift card

for your choice of either Amazon.com, Bass Pro Shops, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Whole Foods, Michael's, or Fry's Electronics.

void where prohibited

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM

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Entry #1 - Pencil Drawing with a few touch-ups in an editor


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Entry #2 - Motivational Poster


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Entry #3 - Photo-editing Software (click to enlarge)


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Entry #4 (click to enlarge)


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Entry #5 - colored pencil drawing


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Entry #6


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Entry #7 - watercolor (click to enlarge)


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Entry #8 - pencil drawing


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Entry #9

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Entry #10

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Entry #11 - pencil drawing

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Entry #12

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Entry #13 - pen and ink drawing, colored in photoshop (click to enlarge)

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Entry #14

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Entry #15

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New Website Designs

I've been doing a little bit of web design lately. I redesigned 2 of my websites:

http://www.kjvprophecy.com
http://www.repentanceblacklist.com

Built a website for my dad's business:

http://www.aaelectric916.com

And helped my brother build his new website for his artwork:

http://www.clintandersonart.com

I finally found a web design software without any glitches: Notepad.

Ancestry Map

100% of my known ancestors came from the circled regions.

93.75% from the big circle, and 6.25% from the little circle (Switzerland).

25% of my known ancestors from the big circle are Danish and Swedish. The rest are from the British Isles.

What am I doing in Phoenix, AZ?! My ancestors were all from a cold, sea-faring place, and I live in a scorching hot desert! hahaha

The Day of the Lord

“The Day of the Lord” is an important phrase in the Bible referring to the coming day when God will begin to pour out his wrath upon this earth. Whether in the Old or New Testament, scriptures dealing with the Day of the Lord are very consistent and upon comparison paint a very clear picture of this coming day of God’s wrath.

Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Isa 13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

Isa 13:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Isa 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Isa 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Isa 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Here are some elements found in this passage that will be seen repeated again and again in scriptures dealing with the Day of the Lord:

1. God’s wrath
2. Destruction upon the wicked
3. Sun, moon, and stars darkened
4. Heaven and earth shaken
5. Likened unto a woman being in travail (labor)

Joe 1:15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joe 2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

Joe 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

In these scriptures from the book of Joel, we find many of the same elements:

1. God’s wrath
2. Destruction upon the wicked
3. Sun, moon, and stars darkened
4. Heaven and earth shaken
5. Likened unto a thief
6. Clouds and darkness
7. Fire

Amo 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

Amo 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Amo 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

In Amos’ description, we see again:

1. Destruction upon the wicked
2. Total darkness

Zep 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Zep 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

Zep 1:17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Zep 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

In Zephaniah’s description, we see again:

1. God’s wrath
2. Destruction upon the wicked
3. Clouds and darkness
4. Mighty men crying bitterly
5. A trumpet
6. Fire

When we get into the New Testament, God is still making the same type of references to the Day of the Lord:

Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In Acts 2, Joel 2 is being quoted, and again we see:

1. Destruction upon the unsaved
2. Sun and moon darkened
3. Clouds and darkness
4. Fire

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Once again, the same elements are associated with the Day of the Lord:

1. God’s wrath
2. Destruction upon the unsaved
3. Darkness
4. Likened unto a woman in travail (labor)
5. Likened unto a thief

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

1. Likened unto a thief
2. Heavens pass away with a great noise
3. Fire

Now that we have seen all three explicit references to the phrase “the Day of the Lord” in the New Testament, we need to put 1 Thessalonians 5 in its proper context. 1 Thessalonians 5 begins with the conjunction “but” and is a continuation of the thought begun in chapter 4.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

This, of course, is the clearest, most famous passage in the Bible concerning the rapture. However, many stop reading there instead of going on to chapter 5 and getting the rest of the story.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

What is he referring to when he says, “the times and seasons”? He is referring to the times and seasons of what he just told us about in chapter 4 – the rapture. The church at Thessalonica had no need for Paul to write unto them of the times and seasons of the rapture because they already knew that the Day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night. Therefore the timing of the Day of the Lord is the same as the timing of the rapture.

1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:9 is referring back to the rapture discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4 and helps tie the entire passage together. Believers will be caught up in the rapture the same day as God pours out his wrath upon this earth. God’s wrath will be poured out upon the earth immediately after the rapture takes place. This is exactly what Jesus taught in Luke 17:

Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luk 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

Luk 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.

Luk 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Luk 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Luk 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luk 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luk 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Here Jesus is comparing the day when the Son of man is revealed to the days of the flood. Just as it began to rain the same day that Noah entered into the ark, God’s judgment will come on the same day we are taken out of this world via the rapture. Likewise, just as fire rained on Sodom the same day Lot was taken out by the two angels, God’s fiery judgment will be poured out on the same day we are taken out of this world by the rapture. That day is known as “the Day of the Lord.” Luke 17 is 100% consistent with 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5.

Now let’s look at another classic “Day of the Lord” passage from the New Testament.

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Here we see another clear reference to the day of the Lord, and all the key elements are there.

1. God’s wrath
2. Destruction upon the unsaved
3. Sun, moon, and stars darkened
4. The heavens rolled back
5. Earthquake

It is important to note that here the King James Bible states that the day of his wrath “is come.” Modern Bible versions have changed this to say “has come” and have thereby slightly altered the meaning. The phrase “is come” is clearly letting us know that the day of God’s wrath had not come at a previous time but had just arrived at this instant. The Day of the Lord is again marked by the sun, moon, and stars being darkened, just as it is over and over again throughout the Old and New Testaments. Thus it is undeniable by anyone that the great day of the Lord’s wrath occurs directly after the sixth seal is opened in Revelation 6 and not sooner.

Next we see the following statements opening chapter 7:

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

It is clear from these verses that up to this point, God has not begun to damage the earth, the trees, or the sea. God’s wrath is about to be poured out in the form of hail and fire mingled with blood that will burn up a third part of the trees and all the green grass. However, the rapture must first take place before he begins to rain fire upon the earth and pour out his wrath. Directly after this pronouncement and before God begins to pour out his wrath in Revelation 8, an innumerable multitude appears in heaven:

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Now that all believers have been removed he can begin to pour out his wrath the same day.

Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Rev 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Now let’s look at the clearest passage of all, Matthew 24, in which Jesus clearly lays out the timeline of the rapture in relationship with the Day of the Lord in perfect harmony with 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5 and Luke 17:

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Here we see that the Day of the Lord and the rapture (which take place on the same day) occur immediately after the tribulation. Therefore the “tribulation” is not God pouring out his wrath since the great day of his wrath does not come until after the tribulation!

Let’s keep reading in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Many people will refer to the fact that “no man knoweth the day nor the hour” of Christ’s coming at the rapture which is referred to in verses 36 and 42. They are right to do so. However, they conveniently ignore the statement in verse 29 that this day will come after the tribulation and teach that Christ could come “at any moment” even thought the tribulation has not yet taken place.

Breaking News! A Pastor Actually Preaching the Whole Bible!

Complaint Letter Sent to Benson Police Department

November 4, 2010

Dear Sir/Madam:

On October 6, 2010, at approximately 12:30am, Benson police officer MERRILL (badge #132) pulled me over because my license plate light had burned out. Officer MERRILL greeted me and asked for my license, registration, and insurance, which I handed him immediately. He told me why he had pulled me over, and I responded, “Okay.” He then asked me where I was headed, which I told him was my own business. He then asked my passengers for their ID’s. I began to remind him that in the United States of America, passengers do not need an ID card to ride in a vehicle, which prompted him to tell me, “You keep your mouth shut!” I didn’t appreciate being interrupted and spoken to in such a rude manner by one of my public servants who was apparently there to protect and to serve me, the citizen.

I invoked my 4^th amendement right to be secure in my property, and my 5^th amendment right not to answer any questions of the officer who had stopped me. As a result of me peacefully asserting these rights, officer MERRILL became very emotional and angry and removed his GUN from its holster. His partner (hereafter referred to as officer JOHN DOE) drew his taser and pointed it at me. I told officer JOHN DOE, “That is a deadly weapon!” to which he responded, “Yes, and it’s gonna get even more deadly!”

Officer JOHN DOE announced his intent to kill me when he stated that his deadly weapon “was going to get even more deadly.” Officer JOHN DOE admitted that his weapon was a deadly weapon, and then explicitly threatened to kill me, thereby committing AGGREVATED ASSAULT. I exited my vehicle and was then placed in handcuffs and sat on the ground humiliated for about 20 minutes. Eventually I was allowed to go free and was not charged with any crime. I am the pastor of a Baptist church, owner of a small business, father of five, and an upstanding, law-abiding citizen.

A video-recording of this incident can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYjI138u1z0&

I would like to file a formal complaint against officer MERRILL for his emotional, irrational, and militant behavior. Officer MERRILL threatened and intimidated me with a DRAWN GUN and a BATON into answering questions that I was not legally obligated to answer, but that I answered under duress.

I would also like to file a formal complaint against officer JOHN DOE and press criminal charges against officer JOHN DOE for committing AGGREVATED ASSAULT against my person. Please inform me of any other steps necessary and/or any other forms necessary to press this matter to the full extent of civil and/or criminal law. Please respond to this letter as soon as possible to inform me how you will resolve this matter.

Sincerely,

Pastor Steven L Anderson

The NIV and NKJV Strategically Remove the Word "repent" from 46 verses

The word "repent" occurs in 105 verses of the King James Bible.

Many people wrongfully define "repenting" as "turning from your sins" or "being willing to turn from your sins." However, the person who repents more than anyone else in the Bible is God! God never sins! This proves that you can repent of something other than sin.

However, the NIV and NKJV (NEW King James) perversions of the Bible have "fixed" that by simply removing the word "repent" from every verse that deals with God repenting. The NIV removes the word "repent" from 46 verses, and 36 of them are about God repenting.

One of the other verses these modern perversions of the Bible change is Matthew 27:3 where the Bible tells us that Judas Iscariot repented. Judas Iscariot was unsaved because he did not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (see John 6:64). He repented of his sin, yet he went to Hell because we are not saved by repenting of our sins: we are saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as saviour.

The Bible clearly teaches that turning from your sins is works. Therefore, those who teach that you must turn from your sins to be saved are teaching works salvation:

Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

God called the fact that they turned from their evil way "their works."

The NIV and NKJV have strategically removed the word "repent" from the following 46 verses in order to bolster the false teaching that "repent" always means "turn from sin" or "be willing to turn from sin."



Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Exo 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exo 32:12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Exo 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Deu 32:36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Jdg 2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

Jdg 21:6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

Jdg 21:15 And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

1Sa 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

1Sa 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

1Sa 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

2Sa 24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

1Ch 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Psa 90:13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

Psa 106:45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psa 135:14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

Jer 4:28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

Jer 15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

Jer 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

Jer 20:16 And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

Jer 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Jer 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Jer 26:19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

Jer 42:10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Eze 24:14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Hos 11:8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Amo 7:3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

Amo 7:6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

Jon 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Jon 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jon 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Zec 8:14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

Heb 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Police threaten to KILL Pastor over License Plate Light being Burned Out

The main action of the video is between minutes 0:00-4:00 and 10:50-15:35. The death threat is found around 2:10-2:30.

Overkill for a burned-out license plate light? (no pun intended)

The officer who pulled me over is Officer Merrill - Badge #132

Benson Police Department
360 South Gila Street
Benson, Arizona 85602
(520) 586-2211

This incident took place on 10/6/10.

The song at the end of the video is "Poor Wayfaring Stranger."

An Explanation of the Archaic Spanish Word "salud"

Many proponents of the phony, modern, critical text Spanish version, the Reina Valera 1960, will criticize the older editions of the Reina Valera (1602, 1865, or 1909), by saying that "in the Romans Road, instead of saying that you'll be 'saved,' it says you'll be 'healthy!' " This is due to two things:

1. A misunderstanding of the word "salud"
2. The mistaken belief that the word "salud" is in the "Romans Road" plan of salvation

As I far as I can see, the "Romans Road" does not even contain the word "salud" (salvation), so I'm not sure where they are getting that information. Here is the "Romans Road" as I have always seen it my entire life:

Romans 3:10
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12
Revelation 20:14,15
Romans 5:8
Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:13

None of those verses contain the word "salud" in any Spanish version

All of these verses are correct in the RV1909 or RVG2010, but some are wrong in the 1960. For example, in Revelation 20:14,15, the word "infierno" is used in the old Spanish Bible, but in the 1960, "hades" is used, just like the NIV. Romans 5:8 in the 1960 changes "commendeth" (encarece) to "demonstrates" (muestra = shows) just like the NIV. The NIV changes Romans 10:9 to confess that "Jesus is Lord" instead of "confess the Lord Jesus." Again, the antigua version is right here, and the 1960 is wrong.

In sum, the 1960 is wrong in 4 of the Romans Road verses, while the 1909 and RVG2010 are right in 100% of them.

In regard to the word "salud," that word is correct in the 1909. The word "salud" is simply an old word for "salvation," much like the KJV is filled with "archaic" words. Let me help you understand the word "salud."

The letters "u" and "v" used to be exchanged in European languages. That is why our letter "w" is called "double u" even though it looks like 2 "v"s. In the original 1611 KJV, all "u"s are "v"s and vice versa (e.g. "saluation").

Here is Romans 1:16 from the KJV 1611.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation, to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iew first, and also to the Greeke.

The verb for "to save" in Spanish is "salvar." Verbs in Spanish are made up of stem + ending.

Stem = salv
Ending = ar

Notice that the stem of "to save" is indentical to the first 4 letters of the word "salud." This is because in old Spanish "salud" was the noun of the verb "salvar."

S-A-L-V-A-R
S-A-L-U-D

In modern Spanish, the more common word is "salvacion," but "salud" is simply an older form. In today's Spanish, the word "salud" is usually only used to mean "health." That doesn't make it wrong; it's just an older translation. The KJV is also not written in today's English.

However, that is not relevant to the Romans Road since it does not even contain the word "salud." The Romans road contains the word for "saved" which is "salvo" which means "saved" and has NEVER meant "healthy." The word for "healthy" in Spanish is "saludable," and is nowhere to be found in the Bible anywhere near the Romans road in any Spanish version.

Beware of the phony RV 1960 version. It does NOT match up with the King James Bible or other Textus Receptus based European versions. The best version I have seen so far is the Reina Valera Gomez 2010.

(I win souls to Christ in Spanish out soul-winning almost every week in Phoenix, AZ, where I am pastor. I have read the New Testament cover-to-cover in the RV1960 once, the RV1909 twice, the RV1602 once, and the RV1977 once, so I actually know what I am talking about based on my own personal study, not just repeating something I heard.)