The Last Days: What Does That Look Like (1). God’s Word consistently warns with regards to events in these last days, including the Rapture of the bride of Christ, that the Lord shall come like a thief in the night & that many, including many in the Church, will not be ready when Jesus comes. As a consequence, like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25, many will hear Jesus say, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” This message is the first in this series that addresses a number of questions, errors & false convictions that have led to scepticism & confusion regarding the Doctrine of the Rapture. As a consequence, many in the Church are indifferent, unaware & asleep to the lateness of the hour & to what that means for us today.
Online Sunday Morning Service
17th December, 2023
Slides from this service are below. Click on the “SAVE” button above or on the download page icon in the bar below the Slides to download these.
Last-Days-1-Communion
7 Comments
Harvey Rosieur
Dear Peter , I have been listening to your sermons for several years now and am encouraged by the fact that I have not found any area of disagreement, including your latest -17 Dec 2023. The only question I have is concerning the ‘doctrine of imminence’. 2000 years does not support this, unless I misunderstand the intended meaning. We simply do not know when the Rapture will occur, as it was for those in the early church. They would have hoped for it, as we do, but now we think from the signs of the times that we have reason for it to be soon. I am concerned for the ‘cessationist’ teaching that there is nothing which needs to happen first. This is based on their belief that there is’ no new revelation beyond what is written in the Bible. For example, Olive Tree Ministries and associated churches are telling their people that it could come tonight. I say it cannot/ will not. I have been given many visions over the years of a coming world wide Revival. They deny this, as’ new revelation’. I point to Acts, ch. 2, re Joel’s prophecy, and Pentecost, but this cuts no ice because they simply reject the Gifts and ‘marginalise’ the work of the Holy Spirit , rejecting the Baptism as ‘ Pentecostal craziness.’ and ignoring what is written in the Bible. which does not accord with their beliefs.I believe God, and have His assurance, that the Revival will occur in my lifetime.I am concerned that a great deal of the churches, in New Zealand and elsewhere ,still resist the Holy Spirit. Especially so, as Matthew chapter 25 was ‘quickened’ to me as being especially relevant to the Rapture and now you have brought it up as well. It raises a serious question about those who will be taken. I believe the revival is absolutely vital , providing a last opportunity to all who may waiver, or doubt, or resist the Holy Spirit. None of us are perfect and the Lord is coming for a Bride who is without spot or blemish. However it is by Grace that we are saved -we are’ hidden’ in Christ by His spotless garment. God is not willing that any should perish and I believe the Revival shows the extentof His love and grace towards us all.In a recent experience God gave me a ‘ night of visions’ extending over 7-8 hours. I have little specific recollection of what I saw but I am confident that it will come back to me when the time is right.It stands out that the last thing I wrote in my journal was ‘separation continues’. Exactly what that implies I can’t be sure but it seems to me our last opportunity to’ get ready,’ like dressing for a special occasion -helping one another to ensure that the whole ensemble is in order. Have you any comment?
PHW
Thanks for your excellent comments & questions Harvey. I will do my best to answer them!
Firstly, the doctrine of imminence. The primary thought expressed by imminency is that something important is likely to happen, and could do so without delay, so be ready, be awake & alert & be seeking the Lord wholeheartedly because He could come at any moment for His Bride.
In John 14:1-3, Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them to go prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. He promised them He would one day return and take them there. To those in the upper room that night, this was clearly a metaphorical reference to the Jewish wedding custom of the day. Once a man was betrothed to his wife, he returned to his father’s house for a period of time, during which he would construct a room or addition onto the house for the newly married couple to live in. At an appointed time set by the father, the groom-to-be appeared unannounced, he snatched up his bride and took her away to his father’s house where the marriage would be consummated. For this reason, the bride was always to be ready for her beloved to appear.
And this is exactly what we see in the rest of the New Testament, as this perpetual anticipation for the imminent coming of Jesus as the Bridegroom for His Bride was regularly on the minds of the early church. This is precisely why we are told to “look for” and to “hope for” the appearing of Christ at the rapture, which could occur at any time. This imminence is expressed by Jesus, Paul, Peter, James & John in various ways but all around the thought that Jesus could come at any time, like a thief in the night, so we should be ready for Jesus to come for us at any moment.
What is an issue for some people is the teaching that there are no prophesied events that must occur first, that no prophesied event stands between the believer and that hour when the Bridegroom comes. Obviously much will happen & much has happened in 2000 years but the doctrine of imminence teaches that no specific time-related events in relationship to the rapture & the second coming must occur first. And that is the key statement for me! No specific time-related events in relationship to the rapture & the second coming must occur first.
There is a difference between prophecies whose fulfilment dates are unknown such as the birth pangs that Jesus speaks about, prophecies that relate to Israel & the last days & what you mention regarding the promise of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days (Acts 2 & Joel 2) as opposed to prophecies that fit within the timeframe of the Tribulation. We understand from Daniel 9:27 that the Tribulation begins with the Antichrist strengthening or confirming a peace treaty in the Middle East. From that moment, specific last days prophecies concerning the Tribulation & the Second Coming can be timed from that event. For example, after three & a half years the Antichrist reneges on his covenants & desecrates the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
What this means is that only a pre-tribulation rapture truly can be imminent because all other rapture views (mid-trib, post-trib, pre-wrath) can be predicted according to events & signs that occur in that specific timeframe.
Secondly, you mention a coming world wide Revival according to Joel 2 & Acts 2, the ministry of the Holy Spirit & the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It has been said by a number of scholars that the end-times began with the birth of the Church at Pentecost & I agree with that. However, Joel 2 speaks about the restoration of Israel & God’s blessing on the restored nation & on the land & verse 28 says “And it shall come to pass afterward (after the restoration of Israel that occurred on May 14th, 1948), that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” Peter specifically uses the term “last days” in Acts 2:17 rather than “end-times” so Scripture clearly speaks about a last days outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Joel 2:23 speaks about the early rain & the latter rain which is also represented in the feasts of the Lord, the early rain feasts of Passover & Pentecost & the latter rain feasts associated with the Feast of Tabernacles.
My convictions are firstly, that there is a coming move of the Holy Spirit. The promise that God gives that “I will pour out My Spirit” encourages me that God will have a Church in these last days walking in the power & in the presence of the Holy Spirit rather than in the wisdom of man, rather than in the best efforts of the flesh & according to the wisdom of this world. “Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord” will be the evident experience of the remnant in the Church. The remnant Church will be light & salt & a glorious expression of Jesus in the earth.
I agree that a separation is coming, or rather it has begun, between that which is done in the name of Jesus which is according to business models, that which is founded in our best efforts & in our wisdom as opposed to that which is birthed by the Holy Spirit & which is empowered by the Holy Spirit through those who are being led by the Holy Spirit. The early rain outpouring at Pentecost was the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit & I believe the latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit will likewise be an even greater manifestation of the baptism in the Holy Spirit so that “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” I believe that Matthew 7:21-23 also warns of this separation with Jesus not “knowing” many who did mighty works “in His name.”
I believe secondly, that this will be a selective outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We see in a number of Scriptures (e.g. 1 Timothy 4:1f) that much of the Church in these last days will be in deception & will be teaching all manner of false doctrines, even the doctrines of demons. Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 10-11 about those who refused to love the truth so “God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.”
My understanding also is that in Bible times, the latter rain that fell in the land before the fall harvest fell selectively which means that some areas got rain & harvest, other areas didn’t whereas as the former rain fell everywhere.
Lastly, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment: “it seems to me our last opportunity to’ get ready,’ like dressing for a special occasion – helping one another to ensure that the whole ensemble is in order.”
Hope all this helps.
Peter
Harvey Rosieur
I have your interim response but look forward to your considered reply. Meanwhile I have something further to add .(I am a watchman and have therefore applied my attention considerably to end times scripture and trying to get a correct understanding. It is hard, as you will know. I believe the two scriptures which you quote more appropriately apply to the Day of the Lord (I Thess.5:2). Verse 4 tell us” You are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” and V 5 “You are all sons of light and sons of the day.” V.8 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the Hope of salvation. The Day of the Lord comes after the Rapture, according to my understanding.
I have a need of clarification if you will indulge me further. I had occasional doubts , until I was Baptised in the Holy Spirit. It was like being truly born again for the first time, during the Charoismatic era. I would confidently reject pronouncements from scientists which contradicted Gods word. We are told by scripture to be baptised in the Spirit as well as water , yet a large portion of the church still refuses this. Can they be truly born again yet disobey God’s word?
PHW
Hi again Harvey,
I agree: the day of the Lord is a term that relates to God’s wrath & judgment & it specifically relates to the Tribulation which occurs after the rapture.
As to your comment about whether people are born again if they have not been baptised in the Holy Spirit.
I believe that an important Scripture is Acts 2:38 where the crowd ask Peter, “what must we do to be saved?” He replies, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The difficulty I believe is that we have made salvation into crossing over a line having made a decision for Jesus rather than an on-going journey of discipleship that calls us to enter into all that God has for us, including baptism in water & baptism in the Holy Spirit. Most presentations of the gospel call people to make a decision & anything beyond that is “an optional extra” including water baptism & baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Being born again equates to new birth & birth is not crossing over a line into life, it is a journey of growth & maturity & more!
Also, is the issue of free-will & disobedience.
So, my conviction is that people can be born again but that they still exist as babes in Christ. Because of disobedience they remain as those who are “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14) & they live without the promised empowering of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).
Shalom & blessings
Peter
Harvey Rosieur
Dear Peter, Thank you for your time and trouble in answering my questions. I think I understand what you are saying, but it depends on where people are in their walk. I have a sure knowledge of a coming revival and therefore, for me, the Rapture must occur after that, (before the Tribulation) but not everyone knows or accepts that knoqwledge. I realise that I have erred in calling it a’ world wide’ revival. I recall seeing it in different countries as far apart as NZ. and England , America and South Africa,for example, and elsewhere, but not all countries in-between. That was assumption, since it was on- going and I did not get to see it all. I simply cannot recall what I saw at that time.
I have a growing compassion for those who simply accept what they have been taught without testing everything., and the many eroneous traditions that abound, as Jesus warned in Mark 7:7 . I believe God shares that compassion and that the revival will be a final opportunity for all to make the neccesary changes. Jesus prayed for the church in John 17 “that they also may be one in us “. The world has to see that as a witness.
Peter Whitcombe
Bless you Harvey. Good comments. Yes, everything must be weighed against the plumb-line of Scripture, no matter who the preacher is. Exciting days ahead! Someone described them as the best of days & the worst of days. Praise God for the promise that Jesus gave that HE would build HIS Church.
Harvey Rosieur
Certainly the best has yet to come, for those who believe, but my heart is burdened for those who will not receive the truth. The added measure of the Holy Spirit will enable us to be more effective in our efforts during what I call the ‘finale’. God’s Blessings to you and yours.
May this be the year. I am not getting any younger, but who knows?
Harvey