Everyone’s life on earth has an expiration date. Where will you be when you expire? I watched Sully at the movie theatre, which was a true story about a pilot that had to land a HUGE plane in the Hudson River in NY in 2009. According to news reports there are no atheist on a plane going down. There was no one thinking they were good enough in their own merit to get into heaven or that they could be reincarnated and get a do over getting to heaven on their own works and merit. We all want credit for what we did to deserve what we can never earn. They were crying out to The Lord when their expiration date was before their very eyes.
One thing people don’t realize is when engines go out in a plane, there is no thrust to keep the plane in the air or climb to an altitude
where they could have made it safely to an airport to land. Speed is the only thing keeping you in the air when the engines go out and that is what was happening in this movie. If you bank or turn to either side, you lose speed as the air flowing over the wings maintains an even flow of air and speed. That is all you have keeping you air born for the longest period of time when the engines go out. To turn to the left or right in order to land on a runway or sure thing, meant dropping out of the sky onto the city below. No plane, especially of that size, has ever survived a water landing. It wasn’t a crash as they kept correcting the investigators. It was a water landing and it had never been done without the plane breaking up, killing all aboard.
Anyway, Sully, due to years of training and sizing up the situation knew what not to do and sometimes, that is more important than knowing what to do. He had to rely on God and a miracle and of course everyone crying out to The Lord in the back while being suddenly converted and crying out for mercy got the Lords attention according to news reports. Maybe this encounter with viewing their life’s expiration date is what it took to get theirs. Just saying! God will do what it takes to get your attention and sometimes it has to be drastic because He wishes that none would be eternally lost. What does He have to do to get yours?
The flight attendants went into crash mode after being warned by the pilot, Sully, to embrace for impact. They followed procedures shouting at the passengers, “Head down, arms crossed, brace for impact”! Much like a humble praying posture. Over and over again they shouted this and I realized this was my life’s purpose. Warning people that your life has an expiration date and there are certain things you need to do to prepare yourself for it and that is to be born again and be a doer of the word and not just a hearer only. Not only that but we live in end times and you don’t have the engines left to turn to the left or the right. Going back to the comfortable runway with a predictable landing is no longer an option. You best trust your pilot, Jesus, and the trained attendants to prepare the way to ensure that you land safely in the water. In the bible, water represents the word of God that washes us. All the representations or metaphors were illuminated to me by The Lord. There is a clear message He wants to convey. There needs to be a baptism in water and the Holy Spirit after crying out to The Lord and hopefully before your expiration date stares you in the face. His word is vital to a safe landing. He is the pilot steering the aircraft and His flight attendants are well trained in helping you survive impact. They have to buckle in themselves and they are on the same plane you are. They even tell you that if you do not listen and obey, you will die. You have to trust that the pilot and attendants have your best outcome in mind. When the reality of the situation sunk in, you didn’t have rebellious back talkers and other disobedient people in denial justifying their sin. Everyone listened and complied. So why are we afraid to talk about death, hell and our expiration date? When the reality of that sinks in, you will have everyone trusting the pilot, listening to the flight attendants and obeying and not being a hearer only. They will not be trusting in the predictable safe runway that is no longer an option but instead they will be posturing themselves in a humble attitude of prayer as they cry out to The Lord while bracing for impact that takes them straight into the river with immediate water baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit and being washed in the water of the word. The whole combination is what saved them, but it took the reality of their expiration date staring them right in the face. What will it take for you to obey and brace for impact? What will it take for you to not be a hearer only but a doer of the word and comply? The bible says to save some with fear, hating even their garments that are spotted by the flesh.
The flight attendant doesn’t view herself as better than the people she is called to save and serve. Sometimes she is there to serve up a spiritual snack or beverage to keep you going as you travel to your destination. It is her job and not because she is better. She just recognizes that you are hungry or thirsty as you travel on your journey and need to be sustained. Occasionally we check your boarding pass to make sure you are on the right flight so don’t get offended if we make sure your boarding pass is accurate so that you are permitted to board. We all have our flight 1459, which in the movie was the flight #. What is yours? Is it a divorce, bad medical report, financial difficulty, loss of a loved one or something else dear to you? God does not allow us to be tempted without making a way of escape but it is up to you to grasp that way of escape which can come in many forms like a DVD series, TV show, person at work, someone you know or that God put in your path, or the dusty bible that lays on the shelf or bottom drawer. He is faithful to throw you that floatation device, but until you grasp the severity of your need for it and what is at stake, you may not grab it or comply by humbling yourself, putting your head down, crossing your arms and bracing for impact. Without being a doer, you shall surely die. Don’t be afraid to preach our expiration date and the consequences of not being in compliance. It may just be that you are the flight attendant on someone’s flight 1459.
COUNTING THE COST
As I read Luke 14:26-33 with my morning coffee it is speaking about Christ being first in our lives above any relative or thing. Jesus said if He is not, we cannot be His disciple. Jesus said that if we do not pick up our cross daily by crucifying our flesh, or animal instincts from the Greek, and walk by His spirit, we cannot be His disciple. He tells us to count the cost, lest you not be able to finish the race or what you started. No little salvation prayer is mentioned in order to follow Him, but submission, Jesus first and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and being led and controlled by Him. In these verses, Jesus uses the word hate. If you hate not your relative or even your own life, you cannot be My disciple. Jesus tells us in Luke14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. The word Christian means follower or disciple of Christ. What is required is not a salvation prayer but admonition to count the cost! The word “forsake” does not mean reckless abandon, but it comes from the same word apotasso or apostasy which means to properly categorize them for their intended purpose. So to hate or forsake something or someone means we do not place them above Christ in importance. The great apostasy or falling away before the son of perdition is revealed comes from Christ not being first in our lives and churches, although we write about Him, preach Him, praise Him with our mouth, yet our hearts are far from Him because we love pleasure more than God. We love our flesh and want smooth words that tickle the ears and pat the flesh. We want our prosperity and the things it buys us. Is there anything in your life that you would not give up if Jesus asked you to? A relationship, money, job, video games, alcohol, pet sin, pastor or leader, your country, etc.? You might be part of that great apostasy or falling away because Christ is no longer first even though we say He is and give lip service. He is coming soon for His bride that has prepared herself for Him by properly categorizing everything in her life so that Jesus comes first. She has taken up her cross to follow Him by walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Jesus is faithful to warn because He wishes that none would perish. Get your things in order, light your lamps and be wise. Don’t be a part of the great falling away because Jesus said that before He returns, He will gather out of His kingdom all who offend and all workers of iniquity. The word iniquity means “you knew it was wrong and did it anyway”. Jesus claims He never knew these people and they never knew Him. They HEARD and followed the wrong gospel. Hopefully they didn’t HEAR that from you. They believed they were eternally secure because they recited a little prayer and all sins, even future willful sin, is forgiven so what is there to stop them from engaging in a lifestyle of sin. Nothing! No one told them they needed to count the cost, pick up their cross, die to self, their will and way and put Jesus first above all else. You can fall away from the faith, and become a son of perdition, which is what Judas was called. We can be as well. The reason why Jesus exposes the son of perdition prior to His snatching away His bride is so that they have time to repent, wake up and light their lamp and take enough oil because He wishes that none would perish, no not one. God is faithful. The son of perdition is not necessarily the anti Christ, but a son who has gone away into perdition because he fell away from the faith and became apostate, believing a false gospel and loving pleasure more than Jesus. We do live in these perilous times. We need to preach the right gospel so that people are not deceived because of damnable lies or heresies brought into the church by the anti Christ or against Christ spirit. People are willfully deceived and we may be as well.
We tell people that they have to say a little salvation prayer accepting Jesus as Lord and savior in order to be saved or born again yet we fail to quote Jesus’ own words where He said “Why do you call me Lord Lord and don’t do what I say?” We can’t just give lip service. To accept Jesus as your Lord means you will walk in obedience to the word and will of God. How can you do that if you don’t read the word? Jesus can’t be savior if He isn’t Lord. If they do not obey, they have not REALLY accepted Jesus as Lord. We do people a great eternal injustice by teaching them that a prayer and lip service is all that is required to enter eternal life in His kingdom. Obedience is not optional nor is it legalism. Jesus isn’t Lord of their life if they walk according to their own will and way in disobedience. They are not saved no matter how many times they give lip service without fruit demonstrating that what they said is how they will walk by the power of His Holy Spirit who empowers us not to sin. This empowerment was not available before Pentecost. Jesus said He didn’t come to do away with the law but fulfill it and the baptism in the Holy Spirit is that fulfillment after the penalty for sin was paid by Jesus’ death and resurrection. So let’s tell people that they need to count the cost and finish the race, because they have been empowered to do so and quitting during the race by deception, the cares of the world, the love of pleasure or the deceitfullness of riches will result in being gathered out of His kingdom. God counts you as righteous as long as you are making the trip and we all fall and sin. I am talking about a lifestyle of sin, trodding the blood of Christ under our feet dispite the spirit of grace. It is time to repent and return!
It is time to wake up, light our lamps, clean up, take extra oil and watch and pray! Repentance is not a one time act, but a way of life. As Jesus said to Peter when He knelt to wash his feet, “If you don’t allow Me to wash you, you have no part with me”!
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SON OF PERDITION REVEALED
Can you lose your salvation? The question is phrased incorrectly. The question should be “can you fall away from the faith?” The biblical answer is yes, you can fall away from the faith. You can become a “son of perdition” as Judas was called. Judas is not the only “Son of Perdition” referred to in the bible. Son means mature child who went away into perdition or destruction/eternal damnation. Before Jesus returns the “son of perdition” shall be revealed. We don’t think we can become one because we believe the false “Once Saved Always Saved”, but can we become a son of perdition and how? Regarding the rapture of the church and the “son of perdition” spoken together in this context, let’s read what the bible says viewing the “son of perdition” as a child of God that has fallen away or became apostate or has departed from the truth, instead of as the Anti Christ. Not saying there isn’t an anti Christ. I am just saying that Jesus is returning soon and in our false “Once Saved Always Saved” gospel where one can never fall away, Jesus may be trying to expose the spiritual stronghold or state of people that believe they are saved, when in fact they have fallen away or became apostate. This He would do because He wishes that none would perish and He is trying to call these apostate ones back to Himself, but before He can, they have to indeed know they are apostate or fallen away so let’s explore this without any biblical strongholds or preconceived beliefs you may have. https://www.latter-rain.net/index.php?p=1_44_Strongholds-in-the-Church
Let the TRUTH, Jesus, wash you so that no one hears, “Depart from me you worker of iniquity”. Iniquity means you knew it was wrong and you did it anyway and these were people who stood before the Lord believing they were saved. How deceived do you have to be to believe that you can knowingly do something wrong and still get into heaven, but that is the fruit of this “Once Saved Always Saved no matter what you do you will get into heaven if you asked Jesus into your heart” doctrine, which is equivalent to what the devil told Eve in the garden. “Go ahead and do that. You shall not surely die”. Nothing will happen and the source of that lie is the devil. Some believe that if you are practicing sin, you were never saved but that is not what the bible says.
II Thessalonians 2:1-6 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together (rapture, collection or snatching away) unto Him (There is an event in regards to something that will happen right before the rapture.)
hat ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man DECEIVE you by any means; for that day (rapture) shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY (DEPARTURE FROM THE TRUTH OR APOSTASY) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”. Falling away or departing from the truth produces this son of perdition and that is what is being revealed because it is something that was hidden or not known. Is this just one man who departs from the truth or a group of people? Was it the church being warned not to be deceived and why is there so many bible verses that talk about how deceptive things will be in end times just before Jesus returns, warning us repeatedly not to be deceived? Because we can depart from the truth, that is why and to be deceived means you have departed! It doesn’t mean you don’t go to church, read your bible, pray or anything else. These warnings are given to church people. You could do all that and still be deceived about what is true. To be deceived means that you don’t know you are wrong. II Thes 2 verse 6 says the son of perdition will be revealed when it is time and that time is now. Jesus is about to come for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Keep in mind Son means child of God and perdition is one who departs from the truth and is damned. Is the man, the anti-christ a Son of God that departed from the truth? If you are a son of the devil, if you are going to depart from your father the devils beliefs, you would have to become a Christian, right? So this “son” would have to be a believer who departed or has fallen away from the truth and thus went into perdition or damnation as Judas did.
Now as you read this, notice it is plural in verse 10 and not about just one man. The word falling away comes from the Greek word apostate which means a departure from the truth and there is a strong warning not to be deceived. This is not just one man that is departing from the truth but the church. Verse 10 goes on to say “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them (plural) that perish because they (plural) received not the love of the truth that they might be saved”. Also, what they are deceived about is righteousness and because of their strongholds of false beliefs (grace is a license if you can never lose your salvation or fall away) and they could be saved if they would just repent and receive the love of the truth, which is “grace” or empowerment not to sin through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He didn’t do away with the law but fulfilled it. The law was to show us we couldn’t keep it and the baptism in the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost is the empowerment (translated grace) to become Holy. Grace is used as an excuse not to be Holy today so people are deceived about their unrighteousness. This empowerment was not available before the resurrection of Christ. God’s moral law never changed and never will. Animal sacrifices and traditions are done away with, but not God’s moral law. It is finished. There is no more sacrifice for sin. Now you have been empowered not to sin after water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit who is Holy and the word Holy means set apart.
Can we know we are going to heaven? The biblical answer to that questions is yes we can know we are going to heaven. The cross is an accomplished fact. Jesus died for our sins. It is finished. There is no more sacrifice for sin. It’s a matter of faith . . .
Eternal security” or “once saved always saved” teachers will often ask the question “what particular sin can cause someone to “lose their salvation.” The biblical response to that question is that when faith fails and love grows cold a person will fall into their old sinful lifestyle. It’s not a matter of a believer stumbling, falling into sin, and then repenting. It’s a matter of falling away from the faith entirely and falling back into their old sinful lifestyle. There is no security in sin. Repentance is not a one time act.
I Timothy 5:11 in talking about widows who were in the church and Christians: But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. (Fell Away or became apostate).
In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught that there would be those who would believe only for awhile and endure only for a time. He said some would fall away.
Luke 8:11-15 They fall away because the devil takes the seed of the word of God from their hearts. Other methods he uses are: Temptation, persecution and trials, deceivableness of riches (prosperity doctrine), pleasure, cares and worries.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 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.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. (This is what one looks like if they have a good ground heart)
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
This is how one falls away which means: FALL AWAY – “aphistemi” – to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. Jesus spoke of continuing in His word.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
CONTINUE – “meno” – a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):–abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry.
Consider also . . .
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
KNOWLEDGE – “epignosis” – recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgment.
2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to TURN from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
TURN – “epistrepho” – to revert (literally, figuratively or morally): come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn (about, again).
2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was WASHED to her wallowing in the mire.
WASHED – “louo” – a primary verb 3068; to bathe (the whole person; whereas 3538 means to wet a part only, and 4150 to wash, cleanse garments exclusively): wash.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have KEPT the faith:
KEPT – “tereo” – from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon;
Knowledge of danger helps us avoid danger, and keeps us safe. Knowledge of danger is like a fence around a rooftop patio, it keeps us safe, it keeps us from falling. Knowing you are going to heaven, and the doctrine of falling away from the faith, are not contradictory doctrines, they are two sides of the same coin. Our assurance should not be threatened by this doctrine, it should be strengthened. Why? Because those that teach that repentance is a one time act, that there is security in sin, or that a believers can never make shipwreck of their faith, are not teaching “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 1:3 and there can be no security in that.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Don’t let anyone or anything steal your faith! And don’t let anyone tell you that because you reject the unbiblical “eternal security” teaching that you do not have assurance of salvation. I pray that the Lord, through the Holy Spirit and the Word, would give all His children discernment concerning this doctrine.
The devil brings in demonic doctrines that sound like truth to deceive Christians and this is also a way to fall away nor become apostate. We need discernment. There is too much witchcraft in the church today masquerading as the Holy Spirit. Like the frog in the pot, you don’t put him in boiling water right away. You put him in water that is comfortable and then slowly turn up the heat until death occurs. The devil seduces and leads one away from the faith so that they are apostate by disguising deception in truth. Once a small amount has been accepted, more is added and now you have departed so far away from what the bible teaches that you are apostate or have fallen away from the original gospel so that you don’t even recognize it and it has happened one step at a time.
Hebrews 10:26-31 talks about willful sinners after knowing Christ, being judged and cut off by God. The word “judge” means crisis or the time it is determined when one will be cut off. Jesus said that before He returns, He will gather out of His kingdom all that offends and all workers of iniquity. Rev. teaches that you can have your name removed from the lamb’s book of life and if your name is not found there, you are thrown into the lake of fire. I can go on and on regarding new testament scripture where it tells believers that if they are doing this or that, they won’t enter the kingdom of heaven with one of the worst being fornicators and that word “fornicate” comes from the Greek word pornia which is where we get the word porn. Jesus warned in Matthew in the context of lust and sexual sin that if your eyes offend you, pluck it out and if your hand offends you, cut it off because it would be better for you that you enter heaven maimed then enter hell with all your body parts. Don’t let anyone tell you masturbation and porn use is not found in the bible. We might not use the same word, but the concept, in context, is there. This is a sin against one’s own body, not just adultery against one’s wife and sin against God, so pastors and leaders, if you aren’t addressing this and other sins in your church, you will BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE WITH WORSE JUDGMENT. I warn because no one’s blood will be on my hands. The bible says that men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God in regards to perilous times before Christ returns. Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that enter. Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there be that find it. If your path is broad and anything is acceptable, you are on the wrong one.
The once saved, always saved is not biblically accurate because they base everything they believe on “Grace is a license to sin” or sins past, present and future are forgiven and nothing you can do will change your eternal destiny if you just said your little prayer. Grace is the power of God given to you not to sin and the bible warns that in end times, some will deny or reject that power and its teaching and with such we are not to be associated. So, don’t be deceived is a HUGE WARNING BY JESUS HIMSELF REGARDING END TIMES! CAN YOU SEE WHY? Let’s teach people how to get into the faith the biblical way and remain there and come along side of them when they struggle. https://www.latter-rain.net/index.php?p=1_77_What-Does-It-Mean-to-be-Born-Again
The foolish virgins run out of the oil of the Holy Spirit. All ten virgins accepted the marriage proposal of Jesus and knew He was about to return. Only half received the truth in order to be saved. The reason you see Christians on the scene during the tribulation is because they were the foolish ones and they were shut out. Don’t be foolish. Read your bible and be careful how you hear. The bible even says that before God judges the world, He judges His church first before He returns. Judgment or crisis (the time it is determined when one will die eternally and be cut off) starts in the house of the Lord, so how can people claim you are eternally secure when all the biblical evidence points otherwise and they base it on half a sentence and stop reading after “no condemnation” when the sentence goes on to say that there is no condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit and are led and controlled by the Holy Spirit only. It goes on to say that this eternal security is not for those who walk according to the flesh. The Holy Spirit led group doesn’t have to worry about condemnation. But if you are practicing sin and walking in the flesh and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, you can be sure there is no eternal security in that, only a fearful looking for of judgment or condemnation. So I pray that you receive the love of the truth that you might be saved and not reject the truth because it doesn’t conform to your stronghold or lens through which you read the bible. Jesus is faithful to warn, reveal deception so that the gates of hell do not prevail against His church, but man has free will. Will you be wise or foolish? You don’t become born again by works of the flesh to please God. You respond to Him in faith and obedience and this is not dead works. You are responding to what He has done and provided. If you willfully sin and do not repent, you are rejecting or choosing not to respond to the truth and what Jesus did. These are not works, but responses to the truth, which is who Jesus is, not what He does and your response of acceptance and obedience or rejection of Jesus determines your eternal destiny and whether you will be cut off, so choose wisely. The Holy Spirit is only given to those who choose to respond in obedience.
In Jewish culture a betrothed virgin could have the legal engagement broken and this is what Joseph was seeking to do when he found out Mary was pregnant with Jesus until an angel stopped him. That legal process to break an engagement is a judgment that releases the groom and at the time one is engaged because they accepted the marriage proposal of the Lamb, we are “sealed” with the intention to purchase, much as one is given an engagement ring. That is what the word “sealed” means: a deposit or down payment. We are not the bride yet and our ignorance of Jewish customs has caused so much deception in the church. To be sealed, does not mean, sign, sealed, delivered and can never be broken. It is merely a deposit of the Holy Spirit, not to be confused with the baptism in the Holy. It would be like putting a deposit on a house with the intention to purchase and if the deal falls through, you get your deposit back. That is why the foolish virgins ran out of oil. They were judged, cut off and the deposit was returned. Sealed has been interpreted incorrectly, as well, to mean “secure” and that is not what it means.
To be In Christ Jesus where there is no condemnation means that you are walking and being led and controlled by the Holy Spirit because you have been empowered not to sin and not your flesh and sinful old nature. Don’t base a doctrine or belief on half a sentence and saying a prayer does not make one “born again”. Your freedom in Christ comes from no longer being a slave to sin as John 8:34 states: Whosoever commits sin is the servant or slave of sin. Jesus is coming back for a Glorious Church and it is just around the corner. With this word and revelation and the sons of perdition being revealed, the glorious bride of Christ is about to be raptured or caught up, but He wishes that none would perish, no not one. How will you respond? The son of perdition is being revealed to give him time to repent because He wishes that none would perish. The rapture is not going to take place until this son of perdition has been revealed and this is God’s nature and mercy.